New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-20

Mr.. COLFAX asked whether the signatures were
private, or in'nced for tho pubic eye.
Mr.. MCQUEEN replied that the object was they
should not be careo TO the Republican party; but tho
gentleman could lot have become acquainted with the
agre' merit Il il bad been priyste one.
MIR. COLFAX ASKED MIR. Lamar, who had risen,
how may Democrats had signed it, and whether any
Nortb-NesicIn Democrats were included.
Mr. LAMAR Dem, Miss did not know the num-
her Of Signatures. but he was satisfied no Northwest
EN- Democrat attached BIZ name 10 it. He signed the
recommendation for cooperation to resist the ADOPTION
of the pluiHliy rule.
Mr. COLF&X-DoI understand, that if the plurality
rule should be moved and the question about to be put
by the Clerk and even il you aware OF the TACT,
that there il an overwhelming vote to end this im-
roeo would you resist it to the end OF this Congress
SIGNAL term
Mr.. LAMAR-Tbe resolution commits us to no such
thing. AS to whether this is NY purpose the gentle
will ascertain hen the contingency shall arise
There is this difference between the circulation Of the
teutments of the Helper book 10y the Republicans and
by Southern men, We commend the book to public
execraioD aud you recommend il 10 public confidence
aud support.
Mr.. VAILANDIGHAM DEM, Ohio said he was
one Of tie nuuher who, after consideration, bad ar
rived 81 the belief that the plurality Iule is unconstl
tiCDal So long the resolution proposing 1t shall be
insisted ont ct order, he woul1 resist by al
Iarlau eriaIy MACHINERY but when offered in order
and consistently with the rules then so ia AS he was
Individually cOnce ed after eXhaust M all leg Innate
Cobac. he would consent that there should &c vote
The resolution. Ire PAPER was t1esch'eu 10 hlu
hut he respectfully declined signing ii. lie was an
sweiahle 20 Ii constituents alone.
Mr. PENDLETON Dem, Ohio concUred IN the
opinion of air. Vallardigham, believing il WAS the
opinion of the Northwestern Democracy
Mr.. CLARK DEM. Mo- declared he never would
ccrsent TO vote OH The plurality rule.
Mr.. COLFAX-Will you allow the Clerk to pat the
question Yes or No 7
Mr.. CLARK will resist il by every expedlent
known to The laws of ibe land. | mean what say
Mr. STEVENSON Dem XVI inquired whether
Mr. Seward DID not recommend the Helper book and
whether Mr. Seward was the gentlemen's candidate
for the Presidency
Mr.. COLFAX was understood to say he did know
whether it wend be Mr. Seward, Orany body else.
Dir STEW ENSON asked whether, II the Republi-
cans soDld nominate ndorer of the Helper book he
would not eceve the support of that party.
Mr. COLFAX-Unquestiopab he will
Mr.. STEVENSON Dem, Ky.)-Ihen you become
an indorser of the Helper book.
Mr. COLFAX abiding TO the former par of tue
debate, said that Mr.. Lamar abored under mistake
ss TO the language he (ColiaX) used. We take the
ground that there is nothing egitimatey in order till
the election of Speaker; and when he is installed,
am ready to give my views on the Helper book Up
TO the pTescnt time have not read solitary page oil
t. / am in the habit Of acknowledging my. response
bility for my own acts and not for the gentlemen on
The other tide. ,
Nj. BARK SDALE-I understood you to say that
the q IL question in order ia the election OF Speaker
| ask you whether, in the commencement OF the
XXXINth Congress, you did not vote for resolutions
having direct reference to the qualihe atoms Tor
Speaker
argument, II Was then done by common consent Let
that pass | am in the habit of acknowledging my
responsibility not TO gentlemen upon the other side OF
the House, but TO my constituents. nave heard gem
epsn Oh the other side of the House, after denoune-
inc tie teostn of John Brown, 60 on to state that II
the TeOpe of the United States lii to elect lresi-
cent hey do not like they viii resist his inauguration by
force aid prevent that election from being eonsun-
Il. AETaVf a
rise here TO bold these gentlemen responsible, nor TO
use offensive aI guage in relation 10 these senrment
they are accountable 10 their constituents aOue'
am therefore, accountable to my constituents, aud
not 10 the gentleman from Mississippi. l am not
afraid TO meet that constituency before the tribunal
where / have often met them, and if they
see fit 10 accept my explanation, II chose to make
spv il should certainly satisfy the gentlemen VINO nave
10 respC nsby for my coming here, and no power TO
prevent my coming. give them the same rght which
demand and if either Mr.. Sherman or myself sec it
to rise and give any explanation here 1t VIII DC no.
upOn comIulsiOu or demand, bat voluntarily because
We see fiji to do 10. Now come back 10 me Pc nt
from which ] stared. In regard to these develop
melts ] did not propose 20 hold any person ae
oouItable but the country viii find that for tue
first time in the American Congress members have
not teen willing to cOnfDe themselves to me
orderly legitimate manner Of conducting Proeteu
nps 10 sitting in their seats and debating prop
osiiion ard then voting upon it, bat in the extremity
of their opposition they have seen nc to draw up
written agreement, and procure signatures to 1t, IN
oIGe. 70 nIeveLt majority 81 the House from express
ing It's viii upon matter oil vital concern 10 'ilS
llJufe
Mr. NOEL Dem MOI merely wish to say
did not sign II.
MIR. KEIIT Dem, S. C.)--I wish to refer only 10 a
matter Of fact The merit OF this conroversyIS whether
or rot we are justified in resorting to Parliamentary
means to prevent direct vote upon the plurality reso
luton lwish 70 say that upon one OCCASION, When
resolution was pending 10 expe from this lionSe Johh
Quincy Adams of Massachusetts, and the resolution
ha ffQk he N.
spole for Fix or day . declaring that he would
vi. Id for motion TO lay the resolution on the table,
but would never yield hr vote on that resolution,
and that vote never should be had upon II II ne
died speaking against it. lApplause.l And he dld
AIR. C0LFAX-I thank the gentleman for remind.
ing me Of this incident in the history of the Old man
eloquent. Sir, he was vindca,lng Tue cohS'i'u'oi"'
rilLts of bis constituents upon this hoor'
Mr. KEITT-And so are we maintaining the consul
utiona rights of our constituents. Applause.
Mr.. COLFAX-But we are hot proposing TO eXpel
the GEL teInan lIom South Carolina. II we were, ne
might be justified in taking that course Inc posi-
ton of this Home is simply this: we are willing,
as we have BEEN 10 vote without debate npoh inc
proposition now pending, or which may be pend
9g BY EcHE OF PrsSSgv " so that tie majority
OF the Representatives here shall say what shall be
the action of this body. We are ready to vote upon
the points of order raised by the gentleman IRON Penn
syyana ihat the previous question Is not before the
House and if The House decide hat it Is not, we VIII
submit, az il is our habit in the North to submit to
the will of the majority. We shall not adopt the eX-
ample Of gentlemen who say that they VIII suomi
if 1bey believe that The will of the majority is right,
and il not they will disrupt every tie that binds them
TO the Union. After that, we are willing to vote
whether the plurality rule is or is not constitutional,
and then whether or not II shall be adopted ana wheii
il is adopted if it shall be, TO hazard the result,
knowing as YOU do thst there some members that
have rot voted thus far with either of the great par
ties. Let me state this fact 10 show why we stand
do 4 Is bsc hen the DeOple assem-