New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-11
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The motion TO excuse Mr. Hawkins from service on
the Select Committee of i~ythrce, TO take into con-
fiderJtion tic perilous condition of the country,
corning ~,
NJ HAWKINS Dem, Fla furthe- explained
why he did not wish TO serve on the Committee. He
hid been guided by lis own IDEAS as to what ar-
prOpiate on this OccaOn. The solution of the queJ
ton, and the conclusion, being so simple, he acted
entirely on lis responsibility. 1t was true that
after he had marked ont his course he asked the Opn
ION of the great majority of the extreme Southern
members and q cy with or two exceptions agreed
with lin. BY virtue Of the powers intrusted TO him.
he night act on a Committee under circumstances diff
ferent from those now existing but he could
not now DO so, as Florida has initiated
measures for State Convention on the Sd of
January, and will take such steps will be
compatible with her dignity and honor. 1t was true
that the population Of Florida had been retarded by
uutOward circumstances. She is numerically weak,
but for that she is not the less sovereign, and is
titled 10 all the rights ard immunities of the other
SOVEREIGN States Florida cannot be forced to remain
in the Union if she wants to go ont. Such attempt
vOuld be reisted by ten times the number of Federal
t"oops marched against her. The Southern States are
pledged to do 1t. Virginia stands pledged not 10 see
sovereign State coeced if she thinks the time has
rived WHEN her honor and safety require her TO ont
of the Union. Florida he repeated is determined to
settle for herself, and in her own way, the mode and
manner of redress, without trusting 10 Congressional
compromises WI ch have never been productive Of peace
ard harmony. The component parts Of this Committee
were peculiarly unfortunate and ill-advised. If the
Speaker lad consulted his Judgment and the hon
est dictates of lis pure and manly heart he MIR. Haw
kns) believed the material of the Committee would
have been very different. No Democratic member
from the Northwest is on the Committee. The inter-
ests Of that section have been singirly ignored The
material OF the Committee Is most homogeneous and
Heterogeneous, and, a sample of others, he did not
believe that the appointment of Mr.. Davis of Mary
land was fair and appropriate. Maryland at the last
session Of Ter Legislature, passed resolution denounc-
irg that gentleman, more particularly for voting for
ht.tl hot
tu.ing lin the pre- iding officer of this House. The
people of Maryland, well of the entire South,
assumed this ground namely: that every Southern
who thus voted for Speaker was traitor TO that
section and that vote is also regarded as in opposition
to Slavery.
Mr.. BRIGGS in explanation said that his vote for
Mr. Pennington not given for the object the gen
tleman attributed namely onpositon to any section,
but az q naioUal vote for national man.
Mr.. IAWKINS-I was speaking Of Southern men.
Mr.. BRIGGS beg pardon.
Mr.. HAWKINS-If YOU were not an Alexander,
am satisfcd YOU would be a DiOgenes. lie proceeded
TO say that Maryland being noble State, will be true
TO Ter destiny when the proper time arrives Mr..
Davis il not proper representative OF Maryland.
The appointment Of the Committee Is constructive
fraud az some persons believe it il great pacltCator
to heal our wounds and produce political millennium.
TIE effect, If carried out would be to demoralHe
and degrade tie South. He was soITy the
proposition came from of the noble sons
of the South The Republicans have no idea
of yielding anything. 1t was ridiculous to try
to stop the Slavery agitation The only man who IL
authorized to speak for Mr. Lincoln is Senator rrum.
bull who SAYS the Interpretation of the Presidential
election s that his Administration will be on the side
of Freedom, meaning thereby opposition to Slavery.
He (IIaw kns) might he called a Catalina, bat be
wished to utter a few words OF warning. lie would
tel the North, speaking by the book, Mis,i siPp,
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina are
certain secedc from the Union. Arkansas Louisiana,
and Texas are sue TO follow.
MI VALLANDIGHAM Dem, Ohio rose and ad-
q ced fla He said Iuagmuch |
conveed bv the rules Of the House to vote upon the
auction OF eXcusng the gentleman from FLORIDA Mr..
HawkDs) from serving upon this Committee desire,
I'm few words TO assign my own reasons for the vote
shall give. With many Of the reasons assigned by
TIE gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hawkinsl /, as a
representative from of the Free States OF TINS
III ion have nothing to do but there are considerations
which impel me, such representative TO vote Tor
tie motion 10 II Is idle Sir, TO attempt to
coerce ntleman 10 serve upon this COMMITTEE VINO
assigns such reasons the gentleman from Florida
has given: and in justice TO him and to his state
but above all to tie very purpose OF tie Committee
itself ! cannot 90 vote II Is simply unreasonable 10
regn propositions for peace and reconciliation by at
emIng u compel d e members OF this House to serve
upon Committee raised for the very purpose OF peace
and Cancellation. What prospect in Gods name-and
sreak il revereutly-is there OF any ina settlement
wien you are tLus obliged to begin with oompul5lon to
fiji n this Committee? j pass by without comment
the considerations pressed by the gentleman from Flor
ida, that tin proposition Of Committee might with far
moe rorIiey and effect have from tie Republic
can NJ rty I'm this House-t at uary which has Just tri
umphed in the election which is the eliminating point
Of III our controversies, and Of the dangers winch
surround us, and that with great honor to himself,
and with great ana soothing 90 d It mght lave been
TO tie whole country, FIJI of alarm and excitement
now The gentleman who is the Chairman OF tbs
Committee distinguished for his age, his experience,
III eloQuenCe lis moderation, to say nothing OF his pO
ftiOn ~ the leader of that Iary might have assumed
tie Tonsbilty Of taking the initiative in that eat
work OF reconciliation aud reconstruction which alone
can save us now instead of allowing Il TO be devolved
al Harpers Ferry, which abolition madness ana
fguatici,m selected Ga the weakest point
of assault along the entire spveholding borders Of
tlis Coufederacy | pass by, also, the cumbersOm
construction Of the Committee, with the re mark
tia. counsel never Ggts, and committee Of thirty
nuee members will never agree upon anyiiny-al
least not committee 10 weak 80 dhu-ed, 30 dlltod,
as 10 he ultimately iuade1uair 20 the solution 81 inc
greatest gGavcst and most diihcplt aud perPi5Ml4
question ever presented in modern history. Will not
say - much Sir the possibility thai All tne lIOois
Of the committee may all end IN noihug ana III worse
than nothing; nor will even remark, ~ lhe gcl'.-
lar done, upon the peculiar position o TINS com
ntee, in having men laced upon il who repTe'enl NO
body not even Themselves who peculiarly Odous
aud d.tasteiul 10 the section from which they me,
ard are hoso calculated far 20 embarass and de-
feat thsn TO advance tie avowed purpo e for winch
the Committee WIS framed. But there il one cOnsd era
lion which viii absolutely prcclade me from vo,g to
cocrce any nan 10 act upon hs Committee. The gen
tlelr,n from FOrda has alluded TO IT,, bu be IA. not
cone far enough There D. not one nuse reprcscnta-
live f tlc Democratic party upon This Committee from
lie flcen Fite States east OF the Rocky Mountains.
Tie Pacific r. indeed repre.enicJ-no thanks 40 .iF
however "a was llobFuus c'7ice, bca@rst tc.t
no rcyl..rfatiye hce from t-ii.o.h9, though Nr
Lincoln bv t.c tI,iior iu tbo r.Ygs Of lI. 'p'O