The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-01-06
NEWS BY TELEGRAPH.
EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE JOURNAL
NXXVT CoNGREsS-FIRsT sEs


WASHINGTON, Jan. s, M.-HousE.-Mr
Morris, of ILL.,, offered a resolution which
was read for information, that tie Super
intendent of public buildings be directed
to replace the desks and chairs as they
were in this hall previous TO their removal
and to enable him to do so, he be direct
ed to prepare the old hall for temporary
occupation. He said he wonld not call up
the resolution this morning.
Mr.. Bingham and others objected.
Mr.. Montgomery said Mr. Colfax yester-
day attacked his former proposition for a
temporary organization on the ground OF a
violation Of the constitution, which he had
offered in good faith. We are indebted to
the mail contractors $4,0OO.OO0. 1t is an
honest debt honestly contracted, for ser
vice honestly performed. 1t is not an
American, Democratic, or Republican debt,
but national debt. Adopt his proposition,
and they could pass the Post Office appro-
priation bill, and redeem the credit of the
nation.
Mr.. Wilson said if the gentleman was
anxious to pay the debt, he would ask
him to adopt the plurality rule now.
Mr.. Montgomery replied, if he was will
| ing to accept it, others were unwilling to
| do so. Three -fourths were willing to ac-
| cept and the other fourth protest against
it. An organization cannot be effected
now if ten men protested. His PROPOSE
ton was fair, honest and just He insist
ed that it was constitutional, and he referred
to our past legislative history to show the
precedent in such cases.
Mr.. Stevens asked whether his colleague
could show that before an organization,
speaker pro. tenn. had been elected
Mr.. Montgomery replied that in 1889 and
in 1910 Mr.. Adams was elected Speaker.
Mr.. Stevens-was Mr. Adams Speaker?
Mr.. Montgomery considered him such.-
Mr.. Corwin would to-day be temporarily
Speaker, if the House would adopt his reso-
luton.
Mr.. Norris of Pa, asked whether there
was any legislation while Mr.. Adams was
chairman.
Mr., Montgomery said he had not exam
ined the records to see, but if there was no
legislation, that did not prove there could
not have been. He renewed his resolution.
Mr.. Stevens raised the point of order,
that previous 10 entering on business, the
action of Congress requires that the oath
shall be administered by the Speaker, and
by him to the clerk and all the members;
and that no resolution of this body can re-
peal the act. The proposition now offered
is, therefore, an absurdity. The cases re-
ferred to by Mr.. Montgomery were not ap-
p!icable to his proposition.
HoUsE.-Mr. Davis, of Indiana, said for
the FIVE weeks he had been here, he had
carefully abstained from opening his mouth
He would fain have contented himself with
silence to the end of the contest, but for the.
remarks of Mr.. Hickman. He did not un-
derstand the right of any man to catechise
him as to the vote he should give. He in
tended to represent freemen as became him.
The gentleman from Pennsylvania had re-
ferred to the manner in which some Anti
Lecomptonites were elected. He Davis
never designed inquiring how that gentle
man was elected. 1t was not his business.
He desired to tell the gentleman, the House,
and the country. ha-.E"s elected by
majority of 1000 votes He was elected as
a Democrat, and in the seventy speeches he
delivered in which he declared himself a
Democrat, he did not cross at" or dot an
'i' as to his political faith. He challenged
any man in his District to say whether he
ever made q S; ;eech in which he did not ut
ter that declaration. He ran against the
Administration as Democrat, as an Anti
Lecompton Democrat, and had not changed
his opinion us to that policy. He had stead
lily voted for an Anti-Lecompton Democrat
for Speaker, and not for a Republican. l
will not, he said vote for Mr.. Sherman,
much as l respect him personally, though
these walls should fall down. When l
fought this battle, | never thought was to
be thrown into the arms and embraces of the
Republican party. (Applause.l l never
intended to be sold to the Republican party
with their present doctrines. Applause.
Mr.. Davis was interrupted by Mr.. Hick-
man, who wanted to know if Mr.. Davis had
not denounced the Administration as a mass
of living corruption and dishonesty. He
had raised no controversy with Mr.. Davis,
but if that gentleman desired to compare
records with him as to Democracy, he was
ready.
Mr. Davis Very good.
Mr.. Hickman. The gentleman has not
said whether he received Republican votes.
Mr. Davis said he had not denounced the
Al ninstration except on the Leeompton
issue. He had got a majority of Democrats,
every American, and n large majority of
Republicans.
Mr. Porter, of Ind.-Did you not de-
nounce the bred Scott decision before 1000
people at Indianapolis and say that no man
could carry single township who did not
denounce that doctrine?
Mr.. Davis say ttat | did no such
thing.
Mr.. Porter-T have the Indiana State
Sentinel of November l9, 1853, the Demo-
cratic organ, containing your speech on that
occasion.
Mr.. Davis-I have no objection to the
reading of the speech. The Sentinel, you
say, is my organ?
Mr.. Porter said the Sentinel was the
Democratic organ of Indiana and that the
report is correct, for he Heard the speech in
question.
Both spoke with earnestness. Much con-
fusion prevailed.
MesSrs Burnett and Grow insisted on
order being preserved.
The Republicans called for the reading of
the speech.
MessrS Porter and Davis had some an
CRY words, and Mr.. Davis pronounced the
charge that he had denounced the Dred
Scott decision, as totally, wilfully, and ma