Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-12-21 00:00:00

ARRIVAL OF THE AFRICA.

The royal mail steamer Africa arrived here hot
evening with four days' later news, sixty-five
passengers, and 1,601,509 dollars in specie 03
freight. The Africa sailed from New York at her
regular time on the 9th inst., but, owing to a foe,;
she wan compelled to anchor at the " Narrows,
from w'aielt point she took her departure on the
10th, at 8 a.m.
Congress met for the despatch of business °T:t
the 7th inst. After some discussion, Mr. Orr Was
elected Speaker of the House of Representatives,
and the House adjourned until the following day'
when the President's Message was read. After-
wards a short discussion took place in the Senate;
Mr. Douglas submitted a merlon for printing the Olt
number of copies of the message and documents, an
'i
15.000 copies for the use of the Senate. He remarles,i
that he concurred heartily and cordially in the views of
the President, therein expressed, with the exception of that
portion relative to Kansas, and the action of the Lecompton
Convention. At an early day he would express his 'lel
and give reasons why he believed that the people 9
Kansas had not been left, as the organic act declare,
" perfectly free to form and regulate their institutions ltt
their own way." Mr. Stuart concurred in Mr. Thuglas.:
views respecting the Lecompton movement. At a filter'
day he would speak on the subject, and insist to the el'
tent of his abilities that the people of Kansas should
.be
treated like all others, and have the fullest opportunit/
to regulate such institution as they wish to live nad,e;
Mr. Davis concurred in the views of the President on the
Kansa, question, and would await the promised recisX
of Mr. Douglass Mere he expressed his own views.
Bigler gave notice that he should defend the position as'
sumed by the President to the best of his ability, and that
he would respond to Mr. Douglas. Mr. Douglas accept°
Mr Gwin's substitute. Mr. Hale spoke in opposition to
the Constitution formal by the Lecompton Convention
arguing that it would perpetuate slavery in Kansas, 11°
matter whether the people accepted or rejected the slaver/
clause. Mr. Seward would be glad to hear the supporters
of the President explain hs position, for it seemed to
him that tho message was very lame and impotent 13
its arguments on Kansas, and that something rao?
would be required to satisfy the public mind than 13
contained in the document itself, He trusted that the
debase upon this point would not be delayed long, f°,e
before we were aware of it there might be civil war 3
Kansas. After reviewir.g other parts of the mess4..;.l
,`'
he said he hoped that it would be understood that ontlt'"
affairs Congress was substantially unanimou , that
world might be pssueed that the government of the teetteu
States world not suffer its fame to be tarnished, its power
insulted, and the lives of its citizens destroyed by, as
enemy, entrenched although it be in the Rocky Mounta.nied
and under the forms of the Constitution of the 11111.te„
States. Mr. Mason was free to declare that all informati%
for the last six months, relative to Kansas affairs, had c°l",'" ,
from questionable source. If he understood the President "
position, and he thought he did, the President's position
was impregnable Mr. Trumbull denied that the legisla-
ture of Kansas had authority to initiate the Cenveattea:
It was, according to a speech once delivered in the Senate
by Mr. Buchanan himself, an act of usurpation. covi
press had repeatedly refused to authorise the people °.,
Kansas to form a State Constitution. Much had been
said about popular sove•eignty, but this now merely
amounts, according to the great expositor of the pat'-''
ot
to giving the free white people of Kansas the right
determine the condition of a few negroes, while they gr°
precluded from regulating their own institutions in their
own way. Mr. Brown said there seemed to be a ge!t
anxiety to enter into discussion, and especially to find faulty
They They had heard the message imperfectly read by the Clerl.e
and, therefore, could not properly understand it. ll°
asked Senators to pause and sleep on the documents before
indulging in a debate which would go to the country everd
the telegraphic wires, penetrating even to Kansas, alt
giving tone to public opinion, on the premises not let
perfectly understood. He asked Senators to reflect before
takieg their positions and uttering sentiments, under
circumstances to which he had referred. On his mottos
the Senate then adjourned.
The general news is not of the least importanaa'