Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-05-02
CONGRESSIONAL.
XXXVI CONGRESS-FIRsr SESSION.

saic that Maryland tolerated open and ac-
tive efforts among her citizens for the abo-
lition of domestic slavery, and that vir
ginia felt and saw in every fibre Of her ex.
istence that she must either throw off that
great wrong or perish by reason of its con,
| tinuance.
Mr.. Smith said that supposing the gen.
tleman from Ohio did not desire to do him
injustice, he (Smith) sought to correct him
by remarkiug that he did not want the
gentleman to say that Virginia did that,
some other politician did it, but he repu-
dated il
Mr.. Bingham replied that in speaking to
politicians of Va. he wished to say the
South has men superior TO sucn bigoted,
selfish, mereenary prejudices. but unhap-
PLY the gentleman frcm Va. is not one Of
them.
Mr. Smith after reading the above said
il would be observed the broad denuncia.
ton of the entire South. and especially the
greet body Of its people are accused of be-
ing narrow, bigoted, selfish and n ercena.
ry, aud that he (Smith) was one of them
that he understood Mr.. Bingham as mean
ing what he said.
Mr.. Bingham meant what said.
Mr. Smlth-ltis false, deliberate, calum.
nious.
Mr. Bingham replied that the gentle
mans declaration was not very likely to
cause him to strike out the facts of history.
What he said he stood by. He repeated
what he had said as to the former move.
ment in Va. to abolish the slave system,
but for the last 90 years the sectional strife
has been continued by making war upon
the great and bene6cent policy of free la.
Dor; evtry one knew it to be true that no
man could to-day stand up in the Legisla-
ture of Va and express his nti-slavery
sentiments as were announced there in
1882. Why was Mr. Underwood driven
awayf where was the gentleman then
(SmithI who was anxious to vindicate the
right Of free speechY he knew that mob
assembled in Wheeling to suppress a
peaceable meeting called to effect Repub.
lican organization; he repeated what he
spoke Of politicians Of the South; he did
not include everybody in the Sou but OF
those who gave direction to public opin
ion; the opposition TO free labor rests on
nothing but mercenary foundation. II
was the old story OF Alexander the copper.
| smith; the class of men to whom he refer
red as superior to all such practices con
stitute large majority in the Southera
States. but unfortunately they nave moi
the power which is conferred by wealth
and social opinions, and therefore have moi
the power to make themselves felt.
/ Mr.. Smith returned TO the charue insist
ing that he had given proper interpre
alton to Mr.. Bingham's remarks If Mr..
I B had spoken of politicians merely he
/ (Mr. 81 would not nave a word to say
but if he spoke Of the great body Of Va. in
view of what Va. had done in having given
Ohio and other western States to the Uni
on the gentleman dared to describe Va. a:
selfish and mercenary. the man who bring:
such charge is guilty Of uttering a calum
ny. He defended Va. for preventing per
sons from going into tina. commonwealth
with torch in hand TO fire her social and
( political edfice.
He said that Mr.. Underwood was treated
with great delicacy, and reminded tn.
gentleman that there we're mobs in Ohio, Z
violation of the law, and that the governor
of that State refused 10 surrender a wit
ness to the demands of Justice; were they
to have lectures on propriety from such
source. he simply wanted to reply to al
attack upon his State, and the South gen
orally.
Mr.. B. replied that the gentleman drew
on his fancy for his facts, and imaginatio
for his arguments, aud ia the course of hi
remarks referred to the opinions Of Gov
Mason and Gov. Mellow ell, of less than 8
years ago, in favor Of emancipation. II
repudiated the charge that he did iniustic
to Virginia, and eulogized that State.
Smith rejoined he knew that Mcdowell
had expressed such an opinion. but i
l643 4 5, while he was governor of th
commonwealth, his opinion underwent
change, and he was not elected because b
was friend of emancipation.
Florence moved that when the house ad
journ it be until Monday, in order ths
gentleman may attend to business at th
departments. There was an understand
ing no legislative business should he tran;
; acted.
Ashmore hoped that the gas and bur
combe speeches would all be made, s
that on the return Of the abseniees th
House might proceed to business.
Adjourned.
SENATE.-Several Executive eommu
nications were received.
r Mr.. Foster introduced bill TO provid
, for progress in the useful arts.-referred.
The veto message of the President o
/ the bill for the relief Of Arthur Edwards
= wondered to be printed.
Adjourned till Monday.
WASHINGTON, April 81.
HOUSE Mr.. Curtis asked leave to o