Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-01-06
THIRTY-sIxTH CONGRESS.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.
SENATE.
Mr. KING presented the petition of E. S.
Morgan OF New York, and 800 Others praying
for the passage of a homestead bill.
MIR. HAMMOND asked to be excused from
serving on the finance committee.
Motions TO print the message and treasury
report were referred to the committee on
| printing.
Mr.. FEssENDEN asked to be excused from
serving on the special committee on the Hou-
mas land grant.
Adjourned till Monday.
HOUSE.
Mr. MORRIS of Illinois offered a resolution,
which was read for information, that the Su-
perintendent 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, lie be directed to prepare
the old hall for temporary occupancy. He
said he would not call up the resolution this
morning.
Mr. BINGHAM and others objected.
MIR. MONTGOMERY said Mr.. Cotax yester-
day attacked his former proposition for a tenn
| porary organization, on the ground of viola.
ton of the constitution. He had offered it in
good faith. We are in debt to the mail con-
tractors 100000. Its an honest debt, hon
estly contracted for service honestly perform
ed. 1t is not Democratic Republican, or
American debt but national debt; adopt mis-
proposition, and they could pass the Post Of
flee Appropriation 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.
MIR. MONTGOMERY replied that if he was
willing to accept it, others were unwilling to
do so. If thrce-fourths were willing to accept
the other ourth protest against it. An organ.
ization could not be effected, when half of ten
men protested. His proposition was fair,
honest, and just. He insisted it was constitu-
tlonal, and he referred to our past legislation
to show the presidents in such cases
Mr.. STEVENS asked whether his colleague
could show that before an organization, a
Speaker pro tenn. had been elected
MIR. MONTGOMERY replied that in 1839-40
| MIR. Adams was elected chairman.
MIR. STEPHENs-Was Mr.. Adams Speaker
MR.. MONTGOMERY considered him such.
Mr.. Corwin will be to-day temporary speaker
if the House would adopt his resolution.
Mr.. Morris of Pennsylvania asked wheth-
err there was any legislation while Mr.. Adams
was chairman.
Mn. MoNTGoMERY-I have not examined
the records to see, but if there was no legisla
ton, that would not have been. He renewed
| his resolution.
MR.. STEVENS raised the point that the reso-
luton was not in order that previous to en-
| terlng on business, the act of Congress re-
| quires that the oath shall be administered to
the Speaker, and by him to the Clerk and all
the members; and that no resolution of this
body can repeal the acts. The proposition
now offered is therefore an absurdity. The
cases referred to by Mr. Montgomery we're
not applicable to this proposition.
n
| yesterday, attacking the Republicans and their
candidate for Speaker, and called the doctrine
Of Helpers book reasonable.
MIR. WELLS OF New York said he was pleas
| ed with the remark of Mr.. McRae, who had
said he was ca fair man and believed he liked
to see fair play in this pugilistic ring" He
thought it was not fair play for the Republi-
cans to keep scaled lips while gentlemen on
| the other side discuss disunion and enunciate
doctrines which disturb the peace and prospect
| ty of the country. He didn't rise to make
speech, but to ask how the House can be or
| gained. No party had a majority ; and men
OF different parties must combine, or they must
agree to the plurality rule. The South Amer
leans and Democrats can't unite ON any man,
they being radically opposed to each other as
| they are Jointly to each other. Either some of
| the gentlemen must withdraw from the con-
test, or they must adopt the plurality rule
AT any rate, let us quit discussing general
principles, and, like men, vote until we reach
some conclusion. He was here to work and
vote; and even when the turkey was hot he
didn't mean to go to dinner.
There was call of the House preliminary
to voting for Speaker. Mr.. John Cochrane
wished some Republican to pair off with an
| absent Democrat who was sick but there
were cries of "No no! p from the Republi-
cans.
Mr. CocHRANE said the action of the Re-
| publicans forced him to make a diIatory
| speech, and that was to adjourn.
| On this motion, the Democrats demanded
the yeas and nays, which were ordered. 1t
was rejected by the following vote Yeas 76
| nays 1885,
| Mr.. BARKsDALE nominated Mr.. Vallandig
ham. Mr.. Potter of Wisconsin said that Vul-
landigham was somehow mixed up with the
| John Brown affair, and therefore he could not
vote for him, but should vote for Sherman
| (Laughter.)
Mr. VALLANDIGHAM said he should very
much like to vote for Mr.. Potter but, as the
latter was contradiction of the remark of
| Shakespeare, that "when the brains are out the
man is dead" he should vote Mr.. Houston
| (Cries of good, and laughter, by the Demo
Gratis.
The ballot resulted as follows =
Whole number of votes, 2l2
Necessary to a choice, 107
SHERMAN (Rep) had 104
| NALLANDIGHAM, (Dem) SO
GILMER, (Op.)
| HORACE L. CLARK, "a. L. d.
Scattering, 2S
The House again voted Mr.. Reuben Da-
Wis of Mississippi nominated Mr.. Bocock, and
| the ballot resulted as follows -
| Whole number of votes, oil
Necessary to choice l06
SHERMAN (Rep) had 103
BoCoCK dem. Sc
NELSON of Tenn. (Opp.) s
DAVIS of Ind. (Dem.) 6
Scattering 3S
| Mr. MILES of South Carolina said it was
evident that an organization was not probable
for an indefinite period of time. Voices from
the Republican side, "We doubt itP') Mr.,
Miles didn't suppose there were ten men in
| the country who believed they were one jot
nearer solving the question, than when they
| first assembled here. How long was this state
of things to go on? Some gentlemen, in per-
fectly good taith had urged the adoption of
the plurality rule, while there are many,
whether right or wrong, who believe such
rule is unconstitutional in spirit, and there
fore, could not vote for it consistently, and
would oppose it to the end of time. He never
could vote for the plurality rule. The Demo.
cratic and The Republican are the two great
parties lie differed from those who stood
outside of them, but was willing to concede,
till the contrary was shown, that every man
here acts from his own convictions of duty,
and would be the last to impute unworthy mo-
tives.
Mr.. ADRIAN replied that he did not believe