Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-01-12

& rs House 81 Rep-esentatiYas en- ihe "a inst L
shows the absur5ityof the charge af tie Southern
0unosition aeainzt the Democratic representatives
a CONGRESS- SIR Aviu1s immediate constituents
viii give it a hearty welcome We ask for il the
attention Of the people Of the whole State.
Nr. AennY. Dir. Clerk, did not intend, during /
the whole course of TINS debate. % Say word /
doubtful as Was whether IN this, cur un0fganizld l
condition 70 was the propitous time TO enter
int, the unlimited field Of discussion into which
re House has driltod Nor is my purpose now more
than TO say one word in order, IL possible, to bring
back this debate from the Do1ndless range II has
slen ard cOnfine il % the legitimate question be-
fore this body-the organization OF this house-and
IA that connection 10 say word ia regard 60 where
the responsibility rests FOR not having, according 70
the forms Of law organized this houses and pro
ceeded 70 the legitimate business that is so much
required Of us at the hands Of our people, as has
been so properly portrayed BY the gentleman from
aissou.i VINO preceded me, Mr.. Anderson
J think we have talked quite enough. am for
action on the part Of the people from the South II
am asked what sort Of action, viii say first and
preparatory to any future move that may be deem
d necessary that sort of action which has been re-
Gently illustrated in the movement Of more than
i,- lisnared southern medical students in seeking
southern institutions; 1 viii say that sort of action
sxemplified il the resolves i have recently seen Of
she women of Mecklenburg county, North Carolina,
where first Numbered forth the declaration Of
independence. llat Lley are no longer dependent on
the North for what they use and wear I viii say
such action viii open up direct trade between
our Southern seo-pOrus and the commercial marts
of Europe; such action as VIII cause manufactures
70 spring up rs If by magic on cur own streams, in
our own smiling valleys and thriving cities and I'D
a word make us Independent Of Northern enter
prise and Northern art Touch these nerves of
Northern interests and more is accomplished than
by all the speeches that have been or viii be made
here or elsewhere Let this De done, not By hasty
then what more 70 be done TO meet future exigen-
eies time alone can determine.
How, sir, do we present ourselves before the
country and upon the record We came here the
Representatives Of great people each the political
peer Of the other representing constituency alike
entitled to the rights and equaities which were
guaranteed by the consttu ION Of the country Each
particular party, or sections Of parties perhaps
some may be more properly termed, presented their
respective candidates tor Speaker Of this body. In
one Of the candidates presented to wit, the candi
date of the Republican party what do we tindg We
find the leader Of that party in this House, Mr.
ohermanl and sixty odd members OF that party
have ind0rsed, recommended signed and published
to the world, book which strikes not any polite
cal creed, but at the very vitality OF one section Of
this Union What then2 Was anything more natu-
raj more legitimate than that a resolution such as
that offered by the gentleman from Miss1pr lllr.
Clark should come from some quarter Ing that
no man who ndorsed those sentiments was fit to &C.
cupy that third place, in point of dignity in the gift
/ of this Government That resolution was present
ed to this House. In my judgment, the question
embodied in it is not a debatabe one. I think no
man of any party ought 70 shrink from the respons
I ibility Of vote upon that resolution; and with
deep regret did witness the distinguished gentle
man from North Carolina, IAr. Gilmerl offer the
amendment he did at that time viii not attribute
motives to any gentleman. 1t is n0tmy business here
to do so; and accord until the contrary is shown
to every gentleman the same patriotic motives
which should exist in the breast Of every member
upOn this floor: but l can say what would be the
result of the amendment Introduced by the gentle
man from North Carolina. It was a sort Of light
ning-rOd resolution to snatch away the Just light
ming which had gathered, and which about to
fall and which ought to fa upon the heads Of those
who signed thar Helper book Such was the effect
of the resolution 1 say it should have fallen from
the clouds which OYerhung the Republican party
and scathed and struck down whoever did ndOrse
that most incendiary document
And with what deep regret did / witness my dis
tinguished colleague Mr.. Nelson1 come to the sup
port Of that resolution. speak it with all due re
spect for have the highest for that honorable gen
ueman. lie is a gentleman of ability, and stands
high both personally and politically in the State he
in part represents; but am sure does not represent
the sentiments Of the State Of Tennessee. / say, 1
witness with regret my colleague coming to the as
sistance Of the gentleman from South Carolina, and
bearing hand TO hold up this rod that this retribu-
tive bolt might fall harmless at the feet of the Re
publican party.
That was the first question presented to US and
would that could strip that resolution of all its
entanglements and come directly to a vote upon it
before we do anything else, in order that we may
see if any member upon his oath is willing to say
that any representative upon this floor, who has
dorsed that book, is fit 70 occupy the Speakers
chair and preside over the deliberations Of the Rep
resentatives of the people Of the prOudest nation
upon the earth. Is there anything in that resOu-
ton they should shrink from voting upon. The
question is. is such man fit or not? Does any gen
tleman in this body think man fit be the Pre-
siding Officer Of this House who has given currency
to the doctrines Of that book They have been suf-
fcently descanted upon; the country IS familiar with
them.
What next? We presented our candidate: the
South Americans presented their candidate the Re-
pubcans theirs we vote for a week or more until
Is found impossible to elect under that course Of
procedure. Then the gentleman from Virginia,
Mr. BOcock,1 the candidate Of the Democratic
party. periodically withdrew his name as candi-
date for the Speakership. in order 10 remove any
objection that might be urged because he was the
nominee, and leave the door open to our South
American friends to vote for any member of the
Democratic party. Why, four years ago, when
the candidate Of the Democratic party was pre-
tented TO the House, what was the objection urged
against him! Gentlemen said that they could
not vote for the Democratic nominee because his
nomination was accompanied by a resolution
which declared principles they could not indOrse.
We presented q Candidate TINS time without TINS
to them obnoxious platform. In the meantime,
the gentleman from Virginia Alr. Botelerl pre-
scented to this House, in the Of his colleague
[ Mr.. Millson,l a man for whom it presumed
a majority of the Representatives on this floor |
could rally What was the result? The whole |
body Of the Democrats. with only about One-half |
of the South Americans came TO the support Of |
Mr. MisOn, showing desire upon the part Of /
the Democratic members on this floor to do every
thing which might be properly, legitimately. and |
l. 10,
prevent the seat being filed by a member Of the |
Republican party.
When the name Of my colleague MIR. Maynardl /
was presented to the House, what then the ac-
ton of the majority Of the Democratic party upon
this floor? They willing to lay aside these par
~ differences for time, and periodically rally to
that standard of common opposition to q common /
enemy, if it could be made available. SiXty-fve 1
votes were cast for Mr.. Maynard What was the /
action of some of the members of the American |
party when Mr.. Wilson's name was presented? They /
said they could not vote for him, for rea-
son and some TOR another. Some, my colleague,
Mr. Etheridgel believe, among others, said they
could not vote for Mr. Milson. because he had aided
IN fastening on unwilling people the worst Of po-
itcsl despOtsms that ever afflicted nation. Is 1t
right and proper and patriotic in times like these,
20 let these points of belief operate stumbling
block TO the patriotic action Of gentlemen who ought
% be banded together against common enemy.
viii gentlemen of the American party charge that |
RS were guilty Of attempting to force this worst
If despotsms upon an unwilling people.
What other objection was raised. Why, they say
hey do not want q united South say for one, that
DO want South united and banded together, and
lot only united among themselves, but united with
hat patriot band Of Democrats from the North who
ave stood and still stand unfnchingly and unfal-
eringy by the rights of the South with the same
atliotic devotion as if they had themselves been
orn aud nurtupel under a southern sun, and rep
esented as / 90, proud and patriotic southern con-
tituencies. But for this unity, where would we
ave been IN 1856 Those are the mon tC whom we
must look for safety and in the coming conr
est A proud monument Of Lofty patriotism is !
resented in the character and persons of those ]
orthern Democrats. There they haYestOOd unawed
y influence and unbribed by gain. There they have
food and sometimes fallen SCARED all over fighting
DIP our ii rhts under the constitution That is the
1rt of unity [ want-thc South united with these
atriotic gentlemen from the North that stand by v
nd protect our every right under the constitution.
Mr.. Clerk did not inlend 20 occupy the time of G
ne House for more than moment wished to J
" that in my Judgment, the responsibility for the I
lilurc to organize the House Ihas not rested from 3
IL