The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1860-01-28
Capital CorrssPonAsncs.
DHs MorNxs, Jan. 81. 1856

i
CaPttai CorrssPenAsncs.
Dss MorrHs, Jan. Il, 1850.
A debate occurred in tho House to-day
which rivsted attention and gave rise to some
amusing incidents. Reports from commit
tees being in order, Clay Caldwell, Chair
man Of the Judiciary CON-, reported back
bill, offered by Beall, Of Boone, who appears
to have an instructive Democratic hatred OF
the African rs-iustating that clause Of the
Code preventing the enegro, mulatto and
Indian" from giving testimony. Mr.. Oald-
veil recommended the indefinite postpone
ment OF the bill inasmuch a. il oonfioted
with that clause Of the Constitution which
provides that any person may be witness.
7. w. Clagstt thought he smelt ! ssnigger in
woodpils" and wanted the bill rs-sommit-
ted 10 the committee, but for what purpose
no body could understand. He attacked
some decision OF the Supreme Court OF Iowa,
and seemed to intimate that the committee
might 6nd out some way to avoid the Consti-
tutional provision 90 that the negro might
be excluded.
Mr.. Caldwell again read the clsusa Of the
Constitution, and showed that Clagett, in
order to make p oint, must either asssrt the
power Of the Legislature to repeal tho Con-
stitution, or take the position that the negro
is nota person. He further jastly and So
vsrely rebuked the gentleman from Lee for
taking up the time Of tbs House and spend
ing the peoples money by making, and talk
ing upon, frivolous propositions. He said
there was no sense in such cOurse.
Clsgett, in reply, went into long rigma-
| role about the resolutions OF tho last Assem-
| bly, on the Dred Scott decision, provisg ~
clear as mud that Republicans denied psr-
sonality to the negro. He also renewed his
attack upon tho Supreme Court, although
the decisions referred 70 had no moro agree
mont with the question IN hand than ssths
sune Of Green Cheese has with the llosh
Psalm" But Clagsst olinohed his argument
BY suggesting that Caldwell wss afflicted
with . peculiar disease oAllsd tho stbig head. y
Caldwell replied that he had the advan-
sage Of the gentleman from Lee, inasm uoh
rs, being young, he might outgrow the dis
case, while il Was too strongly confirmed in
Clagett, and hs was too old ever to OUT
grow 1t.
At this point Jennings, (Dsm.) Of Du-
buQns, intsrfered with very handsomely
worded speech. he wished to remind the
gentleman from Van Buren, that every mem :
Der on this floor Was the equal Of every other
member, and that il was quite improper for
any Chairman 70 put on the air OF dlc,Ation.
Especially Was it unbeooming in tho young
gentleman from Van Bafsn 70 1show such
discour.esy to the venerable gentlemen from
Lee!v
/ Some persons present were highly amused
and laughed somewhat. But Mr.. JenninR,
did not see the joke. Having had NO 40.
quaiDtaDce with and no knowledge Of Clag.
EFT, he supposed, from his gray hairs and
assumed air Of dignity, that he rsally Va.
venerable. Sad, but amusing mistAkel
think Mr.. Jsnnings il NOW satisfied tina,
Mr.. Caldwell 10 too just and honorable to 90,
discourteously toward any osntleman, ant
that his manner toward the venerabls mem
Der from Lee 10 governed by his knowledg,
J of the man.
Mr.. Caldwell has reported bill rsgulA.