Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-01-13

SENATE.
A communication was received from the
Secretary of the Treasury in reply to the res
olution of the Senate calling for information
as to the unexpended balance of the amount
appropriated under the treaty of Guadaloupe
Hidalgo,. to pay the claims of the American
citizens. The balance is stated to be over
S200,000 The communication was ordered to
be printed.
Mr.. DAVIS of Mississippi introduced a bill
for the better organization of the army. Re-
ferred
Mr.. WILSON, of Massachusetts, presented
the petition Of Sampson & Tappan and several
other merchants OF Boston, respecting the
drawback to be allowed on Manila cordage.
Mr.. SUMNER, Of Massachusetts,, presented
petition in favor of the Homestead Bill. He
also introduced a resolution calling on the
President for information relative to the out
rage on American citizens at Perugia, in the
Pontitical States, and what means have been
adopted to procure redress. Adopted.
Mr.. CHESTNUT of South Carolina presented
some memorials from South Carolina, asking
for the reimbursement of money expended
during the revolutionary and Mexican wars
Referred.
Mr.. SLIDELL of Louisiana moved that when
the Senate adjourn it adjourn to meet on Mon
day next.
MT. IOEBASIlAN VI lLtlUuuSSQ IL
resolution to supply the Choctaws and Chero-
KEGS with such laws and journals as are fur
nished to the states and territories, which lies
over
Mr.. PUGHs resolution was taken up, and
Mr.. Pugh resumed his remarks. He explained
the meaning OF the Kansas Nebraska bill,
which he regarded as a surrender Of the power
of Congress over the territories. He denied
that the bred Scott decision was susceptible Of
the Presidents Interpretation. The President
seemed to think that the frequent assertion Of
the same thing would cause it to be finally ac-
cepted as fact. 1t might be accepted by
placemen and personal admirers, but the claim
that there was any vested right to hold slaves
in the territory by virtue of that decision, was
not sustained by the facts He reviewed the
bred Scott decision at length.
An exciting debate followed in which Messrs
Pugh, Douglas, Davis, Green, and Clay, par
tcipated. Mr. Douglas defended the consist
ency of his course, charging that others had
changed their views, and said he would not
accept the nomination of the Charleston con.
vention, unless the platform agreed with him.
He would reply fully hereafter to the attack
made on him.
AS the attendance of members was slim,
there was a call of the House.
Mr.. SHERMAN desired to call attention to
the remarks of Mr.. Houston, yesterday, to this
effect:
81 do not mean to say that those gentlemen,
Adrain and Clark, will vote for the Democrat
ic candidate, but have no doubt they will re-
turn to their first love, calm the agitation OF
the country and save the House from the
burning and whitening curse and shame Of put
ting into the Speakers chair the gentleman
from Ohio"
Mr.. Sherman inquired whether Mr.. Houston
designed to reflect on him personally or poIiti-
caly
Mr.. Houston replied that he should have
supposed that the gentleman would not have
propounded that question to him, for there
could be no doubt as to the proper construc
ton of the language. He did not suppose any
gentleman thought he meant or intended Il
personal application. The gentleman had been
charged with having endorsed the sentiments
OF Mr.. Helpers book, and had never disavow
ed its doctrines. The statement which some
of his friends said was disavowal, he (Hous
toni contended was not fair and candid one.
Instead of making stingy explanation, that
he did not know what was in the book, he
ought to have disavowed the reasonable and
infamous doctrines contained therein.
This did not relieve the gentleman from
having endorsed the doctrine of the book, and
until he should relieve himself in manly
manner, which he has been called on to do, then
he (Houston) would say, Mr.. Sherman was
subject politically, to the remarks he (Hous
toni had made
Mr.. SHERMAN said every one ought to be
satisfied with Mr.. Houston's personal explana.
ton. All would bear him witness that he had
listened to the character of the debate here
without objection. He had not been disposed
to regard the remarks made as personal, SO far
as his disclaimer of the doctrines of the Help
er book was concerned. Every man who had
any sense of feeling knew that his lips,
in a great measure, had been sealed from
the first day of the session by what he
must regard as an offensive resolution
thrust on the House at an improper time, and
i'll an improper MANNER and insisted on Ill a
way without precedent in parliamentary his
tory. That declaration was made on this floor.
If the explanation which he made to the hon
orable gentleman from Virginia, MIR. Millson,
in the presence Of the House, was satisfactory
to the gentlemen on the other side, they should
insist on the ground of manhood and justice,
that the offensive resolution should be with
drawn He said to his friends, and now said
to others, that he would consent to have the
Helper book read page by page, and then he
would avow or disavOw every statement there
in. He had never concealed his opinions, and
if the offensive resolution of Mr.. Clark of Mis-
souri,, SuOulu ne NllHuFdWu, lie WOulu De pre-
pared to speak further upon the subject. I'm
til it was withdrawn, he appealed to every man
to decide whether he could say more.
Mr.. HoUsToN said that Mr. Sherman could
not thus escape the responsibility.
Mr.. HARRIS of Indiana proposed that Mr..
Clark's anti-Helper resolution be removed out
of the way, and that the House adopt the sub
stitute proposed by the committee Of Demo
Gratis, Americans, and anti-Lecomptons, at the
meeting held Sunday evening, in which it was
declared that no man who recommended, or
still insists on, and does not disclaim the Help
er doctrines, and who is not opposed to the
further agitation ofslavery, is fit to be Speak
err He explained the circumstances under
which the substitute was adopted.
Mr.. HAsKIN asked question of Mr.. McRae,
to which the latter gave sharp, harsh reply.
Mr. Haskin made some remark amid cries of
order. Soon the members on all sides were on
their feet. Many rushed to the main aisle.
The Sergeant-at-Arms was called on, and he
appeared with his mace, demanding peace.
The clerk kept rappng for order amid tie ut
most possible excitement. Subsequently,
Mr.. CLEMENS said he saw Mr. Haskin take
pistol out of his breast.
MIR. DAVIDSON gave notice that when he
again came to the House he would bring his
shot gun with him.
Mr. HARRIS of Indiana said that was making
game of the House.
Mr.. HAsKIN subsequently explained how
the pistol happened to fall from his breast
Every one who knew him knew that he
would not use it except in an honorable way.