Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1859 — Interesting Scene in Congress. [ARTICLE]

Interesting Scene in Congress.

The following spicy scene occurred iii the House of Representatives last Friday. Cox, a new member from Ohio, and a renegade; Anti-Lecompton Democrat, should have j more sense than to seek a “bout” with n | man grown gray in the public service, like old “Josh Giddings.” Before Giddings let him go he was completely Cox-combed. Giddings gave notice of an amendment to abolish the traffic in slaves to which this country in a treaty with Great Britain in 1840 is committed. Will gentlemen countenance a traffic in human flesh and involve the nation in guilt of perjury. Smith —“Wlrat doyou think of the Coolie trade and French traffic in Africans!” Giddings—“l think it us bad as the coastwise slave trade. If it was to sell the gentleman’s wife and children I should object.” (Laughter.) Smith suggested whether it would not be as well to comment on an interesting fact that thirty-five vessels in the, Free States and only five in Southern are engaged in this trade, before he undertakes so reform the morals of his neighbors. Giddings—“l would as soon lay niy hands on a northern as a southern pirate. lam j not sectional in my views.”—(Laughter.) In the course of his remarks, he said if he should be nominated for Governor of Ohio, he wanted to make a straightout issue with the Democratic party, lie wished to know from his college Cox, whether the latter, party was for or against the slave trade! Cox rose to pay his respects to his colleague, for a lew moments, and a crowd gathered around him; he said Giddings knew that" the Democratic members of the former session voted that it was inexpedient, and unjust to restore the African slave trade, and that the Democratic party nprtli and south were opposed to it. Giddings remarked he had alluded to the coastwise slave trade. Cox resuming, said Giddings had undertaken to prove that the Democratic party was pro-slavery, when he knew it is neither pro nor anti-slavery, but placed itself on the doctrine of leaving the people to regulate matters as they think proper, lie hoped his colleague may be nominated for the Governorship of Ohio, and when the election is.over the latter would be left to ponder over the result and exclaim with Aristides: “I yield to popular opinion, in everything, even when the people drive me into exile.” (Laughter.) His colleague said negro equality in his speech the other day, but in the printed, speech, modified his language. Giddings remarked that his colleague misunderstood him. Cox—“ Are you in favor of negroes in Ohio voting?” Giddings—“l expressed no such opinion.” (Laughter.) Cox—‘‘Will you permit them to vote!” Giddings—“l would whenever negroes excel the Democratic party in intellect and jnoral virtue.” (Excessive laughter.) Cox—“My colleague does not conic Tip tc his doctrine. Is he orJs he not in favor of African equality, and negro suffrage in Ohio!” Giddings—would put them and Democrats dn-the same footing,” (laughter) “but will not interfere in the quarrel between them.” Cox—“ The difference between my age and that of my fiiend, (if I may scfcnll him.) will not allow me to put him to the torture, because he cajtnotjtie elected Governor of Ohio. In rising, all I wished to do was, to put the Democratic party right, and it is right. The gentlerhan can come with his forces, and we will meet him.” Stanton wanted to ask Cox a question. Houston objected, “the House had had enough of this.” Much confusion during the proceedings: Everybody was evidently interested in the dialogue.