The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-04-29
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT.

sake of the country, to become the tar
get of attack. He would have offered he
resolution if the next moment had driven
him into private life. Before he proceeded
to analyze the speech of the gentleman
from Ohio, he desired to advert to some
things which had been said on the Opposi-
ton sid. The gentleman from Ohio
| (COx), while pleased to speak highly of his
fairness as Speaker of the House, said that
he had descended from the chair to the
floor of the House. But he had an illus
trous example in one whose shoe latches
he was unworthy to unite, but who had
filled the seat the generosity of the House
had given him-him of the lion heart and
| eagle eye, DETAINED by some while living,
but beloved by all now that he had passed
to the spirit land. Mr.. Clay, during the
war of 1872, came down from the chair,
i, not once, but frequently.
MIR. Mallory supposed the gentleman al
luded to the period Of 1912, when the
Speaker of the House descended from his
position to reply to the remarks of Josiah
| Quincy, of Massachusetts. But Mr.. Clay
did not move resolution of expulsion.
Mr.. Cox said that in the Congress of
1928 Mr.. Clay came down from the
chair nine times to make speeches in one
session, and six times in the next.
Mr.. Mailory-Did Mr.. Clay ever move
to expel or censure member?
Mr.. COlfax replied that Mr.. Clay's
| speeches were on the side of his country.
and that statesmen never lesitated about
the words he used, which were far severer
! hon, ho
Mr. Davis called upon Mr. Mallory to
state what language Josiah Quincy used
to Justify Gays speech.
Mr. Mallory did not recollect the pre-
else words. He recollected that Mr.
Quincy denounced the war Is being cause
less and against the interests of Massa-
chusetts, and his constituents were opposed
toit.
Mr.. Davis said Josiah Quincy was enc
of the most venerated an: distinguished
statesmen of the land. He knew Mr..
Quincy was opposed TO the war of 1912
Bot as lover Of his country he bad no
equal
Mr.. Mallory Opp. KY said the gentle
man could not get Kentucky and Massa
chusetts into collision.
MIR. Ooliax, resumiDg, said if an one
had remarked at that time that traitors
should be permitted to plant their confed-
eracy on cur soil, he believed that Mr..
Clay, with his patriotic impetuOsiiy, would
have m we'd 10 expel the member from
this floor This was no gladiatorial arena,
as called by Mr.. Fernando Wood, as it
was when men with weapons sought to
suppress discussion in behalf of freedom.
That time had passed away. They were
here as patriots, as representatives, to
discharge the duties committed to their
charge.
Mr.. Colfax quoted some remarks attrib-
uted to Mr.. Wood, when the latter said it
was not true. .
Mr.. Colfax said that he took it from the
New York Herald, which he supposed was
good authority. If the gentleman said his
Bergen speech was incorrectly reported he
would let it pass His colleague Mr..
Voorhes) had declared himself in favor of
unlimited freedom of speech. If man
should arise here AMI advise the assassina-
ton of the President, would his colleague
have advocated such freedom of speech {?
And yet the speech of the gentleman from
Ohio had not only encouraged the assassi-
nation of the republic, but also of the SOL
diers defending it. His colleague had
| quoted the inculcations of the Saviour. He
(Colfax) had been taught to bow to them
with respect and authority, but found the
Saviour himself prohibited free speech
when he prohibited profanity. His COL
league had said something about the Helper
book. He (Colfax) had been asked to give
| his name as recommending book con-
| trasting Northern with Southern agricul-
tural prosperity, and he had found some
pretended extracts from it forgeries. With
that old charge before bis district, he was
| reelected by three thousand majority.
Notwithstanding what Rad been said by tie
gentlemen who opposed the resolution, he
| (Colfax) cOntended that the speech OF the
gentleman from Ohio did encourage sedi-
ton, aid would stimulate such riots as had
taken place in New York and Illinois, and
would be hailed with applause in Rich
mond and in the rebel camps, and would
discourage our veterans as they prepared
for battle. 1t would, if unrebuked here,
Justify jeff. Davis and recognition meet
ings elsewhere. In the course of his re-
marks, Mr.. Colfax said the presumed
offence of Joshua r. Giddings, in 1912,
was the declaration that slavery did not
exist in the ships OF the United States on
the high seas.
Mr.. Rogers asked whether Mr.. G;ddings
was censured or expelled.
Mr.. Colfax said Mr.. Giddings was CEN
sured, and under the previous question,
but regarded it as virtual expulsion, and
resigned. A widely circulated paper had
compared Mr.. Long to Chatham; and
spoke of the resolution he (Colfax) had
offered as duty, as disgrace and out
rage. He would retort on no one. But
he wanted no uobler epitaph on his tomb
stone than that he dared to do his duty to
his country according to his conscience.
(Hreat applause.) He wanted the rules to
be enforced, as gentlemen on the other
side insisted who did not like these re-
sponses. He had sat here when these gal
leries had applause for slavery, and moth
ing but lowering brows and Kisses for free
dom. Then there was only mild rebuke.
He would rather have the s'God bless you"
of some poor soldiers widow, or the love
of the soldier for what be had done in be j.
half of country for which so much was