, 1862-02-25
HICKMAN AND vAlLAhDiGHAM,
SPICY coLoQUY EN- THE HOUSE.

NAsH1SGToN, Feb. II, 1862.
In tile House Of Representatives Mr. Hick-
man rose to privileged question, and sent up
to The Clerk the following resolution to be
read:
WHEREAS: The Baltimore Clipper Of this date
contains the following publication:
"pocGsKSTs EoraD.--Dnring yeEterday, po-
lice force visited the Office OF he South newspaper
and took possession Of . number Of letters writ
ten BY Senators Ea5ard and Salisbury, OF Deia-
ware, ard the notorious yal1andighaaa, Of Ohio
The documents contain touching sentiments Of
EcoE bleeding Dixie, and various suggestions hoT
the Yankees might be defeated
z1ey9ors Kss0tred, That the Committee on the
judiciary Ec directed to inquire into the truth Of
the allegations therein made agafnat G. L. Ealian-
digham, member Of this Ho1:c, with power to
Dcsscs Oh cath or affirmation, and TO make report
thereon
Mr.. Va1landigham Of Ohio, {Opp.,) imme-
dlatelJ rising, said he had waited for an op-
port1Eity to call the attention Of the House
to this statement himself. He did not knoy
wlat were the motives OF the gentleman, nor
did lc core. His purpose some time Since
vas just the same as it vas now He gave
plain, direct and emphatic contradiction to
the statement in question He had never
boafh, or to any other paper, or to any man,
south Of Mason and Dixon's line. The article
ia question WIS most Infamous and scan
da!ons. Was mans reputation to be placed
at tic mercy Of local irresp ponsiDe paper, with
its lIbe1ous, slaDderous falsltias, like this one
He would not enter defense in this cuse tin
the letters should be produced that he hai
Written, and their m1ttera and character stated,
He distinctly stated that such letters were
furge1ics. and denied that it it WAS the duly or
the right Of any member Of the House to GILL
the attention Of this body to irresponsible
statements Of this kind. He dcprccate,I gcn.
tlemen making personal statements in regard
to newspaper paragraphs, and lie himself, h11,
with ore exception, refraihed from it. Ha
had always acted and spoken in manner
which lie deemcd to be consistent with his
duty and the oath lc had taken to support
the Constitution Of the United States. He
agaln alluded to the charge in question, as
being unfounded and irresponsible, and IS a
dyty TO himself he felt called upon to deny
the truth Of the charge.
Mr. Hickman Of Pennsylvania Rep.} re-
marked that even Z suspicion, an ordinary
suspicion, would justify such an Investigation
as the resolution contemplated, and the gentle
| man from Ohio himself, rs well Us otler mem
bers on this floor, knew there were s1Epici ,ns
against him. He would not say whether those
s1sriciens were just orunjuEt, but certain It was
that they had been numerous for . long tiuc
| past. 1t was duty Of the House 10 purge
itself Of unworthy members. He did not kno~
| whether the gentleman from Ohio ccc1pied
| properly or improperly his seat on this leo.
Br Offering the resolution he did not prejudice
the gentleman. It was lis duty to urge the
| invcEtigation- he referred to the seizure Of
| the publisher and editer Of the SoHA ncWsp1-
| Per st the instance Of the Government, aca
hence presumed the effects Of the nj
tlec were at the time in National custody.
The Clipper article Has based On in5orn.ai.'n
| received from tie Government, for those who
| actetl as It's agents. The article was therefore
responsible, as far as he could judge. In reply
to Nr. Vallandighan1, who held that the Hy1se
| WIS net justified in such an Investigation OF
/ Sfa mtg nf ftit
him to page go Of the latest edition Ut the
! Manual. By this, common tales wcre worthy
tic attention of-tie House. Now he. .lle1d that
the matter under consideration was more than
g common tale. It was direct Charge by a
| responsible newspaper.
| Mr. Vulland!gham asked Mr. Hickman to
| observe that it was mere local item. He
Was Of the opinion that tie editor nsyer saw
the article in question.
Mr.. Hiekm7n did not care whether it was OF
| not local item. It Tas sufficient fcr hic,
| that it wss u Ordinary article in responsible
peRer-, p ~
ports in circulation p1ejuaiciai 70 the eharac'
ter Of Vallandighan, the latter said TIC gen
tIcma1 from Pennsylvania hada suspicion. II
He desized the gentleman from Penn53iVaE !
to mention one specific item CT charge, or
| which the suspicion rested.
Nj. Hickman replied tlat he couId refer tc
| such charges.
Mr.: Valizsdfghsm called upon She gentle
nun to give them.
A!r. Hickman did. not desire just th51 tl
make 1hc required statement.
Mr. Yallabdisham asked the geaAeuan Il
| eEccif: ona single item. :He did lot mes1
rsteIy neWspspt- SANDERS, for tlo5o Ee hat
dsnoaaced ea tbs f1oos Of the Reuse on for
usr occasions. - :. !.
Mr. Hickman knew nothing; shout nc8epa
PEI EIsnderE. us only know : suspicion la
existed sgsiast the gentleman from Ohio, sui
existed even now. BE was a:ked BY The gcn
tie1nan to specify certain things, and il this b
he war1d eirr him one or two "reminiscences
Hs IN. e ickman} then referred to the. Breck
tIE1dge 'mSeting in Baltimore. at which th
| Esot::ma1 Was present, and HEich Eaye il