Year: 1860

Ia the House, December 10, upon with.
drawing from the contest for the Speaker.
ship. MIR. Bocock said:


"Mr. Clerk, | think | can with Justice
demand hearing at this time from you
aud the members of this body. During the
space of two weeks, my friends of the Demo-
cratic party have voted for me with con-
stancy and unanimity which demands from
me my heartfelt and greatful acknowledge
ments. 1t was the belief of ml friends at
one time that my name might present a
point around which the sOunder aud more
conservative elements of this House might
rally, and that this might result in success.
That hope has continued to grow more and
more dim until it is now entirely gone.


"Tho country. sir, is intensely excited /;
feeling prevades it, so far as l know any
thing of its condition, the like of which has
never been known before. The expecta-
ton of the people comes up to US in every
direction, demanding to know whether we
cannot here unite among ourselves those of
us who have sounder and more constitution
al views cannot unite for the defeat Of a
party which they regard as sectional.


For myself, sir, have been willing at
all times. in all stages of this ballot, to unite
in any feasible mode to accomplish that OBJ
ject Believing now that the further use
of my name, standing before the House as
the nominated candidate of one of the par
ties of the House-believing, | say, that
the further use of my name must be. to
some extent, stumbling.block aud bar
in the way of this union. beg leave to
withdraw it from the further consideration
of the House.


Before l take my seat, l will say that
l do not fail to appreciate the honor of pre-.
siding over the House of Representatives
but there is one feeling scarcely less dea,
to me, if at all less dear. than that. 1t is
that during two weeks Of excited and ami
mated discussion of an active canvass,
feel that l have conducted myself in 9
manner worthy Of representative Of 8
free, chivalrous, and generous constituency
Had | gone into that chain. would have
gone entirely uncommitted, free to do equa
and exact justice to every member Of thl'
body. l took care, also, to provide, tha
should l remain upon the floor. (which il


now certain.) l should remain with hear


unsubdued by any mean completely. viii
hands unshackled, free to think and to wori
for the protection of every section of thi
country, for the honor and glory of tn


whole"


No idea could be more absurd, than tha
J the conservative elements" in the Hous
or out of the House, could be "rallicd'
upon one of the men who had outraged th
sense of all moderate and judicious person


BY voting for the repeal Of the Missouri
Compromise If Mr.. Bocock, and other
! in the same position wish to know ho'
they really stand in the judgment Of tn
conservative portion of the country, le
them read Mr. Flllmore's letter to the lat


New York Union meeting. Mr.. Fillmor
} has too much sympathy for the Democrat
! t. be any more severe upon them than b


was forced to be BY an overwhelming pub
lie opinion, but he is actually compelled {


say that to the repeal of the sime-honore
, arrangement Of 1920, and to the subsequen
. attempt to force Slavery into Kansas. i
} both which things Mr.. Bocock Was oonspicu