The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-02

The resolution was adopted.
The message from the House of Representa-
tiyes announcing the appointment OF Joint
committee to confider an amendment to the
Constitution, in the mode of electing tho Presi-
dent and Vice President of the United States,
was, on motion Of Mr.. Gwin, laid on the table
After the transaction of some other business,
and an Executive session,
The Senate adjourned
House of Representatives.
After Mr.. Drum had concluded, Monday,
MIR. Campbell took the ground that great
national interests were involved in the contro-
versy now going on in the city of Erie--in-
terests which not only concerned the commerce
of this nation, but which, TO some extent
affected the perpetuity Of the very institutions
under which we lived The supremacy Of the
law was involved In this affair, and it was in
part to indicate the supremacy of that law
that his voice was heard on this occasion.
When he saw the sovereignty of the great Com
m0nwealth of Pennsylvania sunken in munich
pal powers granted to q sort of seven-by-nine
town on the lake shore, and when he saw off
GERS of the law ridden down by an enraged
populaoe, and that there was no arm stretched
forth by the keystone State to uphold those
officers, it strack him it became something
more than a controversy between Ohio and
Pennsylvania. He earnestly condemned the
course pursued by the people of Erie, deeming
it contrary to all law.
MIR. Washburne of Illinois, replied 10 MIR.
Richie. He was glad this subject had been
brought to the notice of the House, that the
country might be fully informed, by its discus.
sion, of the facts of tho case
Mr.. Oliver, of Missouri, then obtained the
floor when the Committee rose
Mr.. Ewing asked consent to submit mo.
ton, requesting tie Senate to return to the
House q resolution adopted in the latter body,
upon report of its Judiciary Committee, ask
ing for the appointment of select joint COM
mittee for the consideration of q proposed
amendment to the Constitution in reference to
the mode of electing the President and Vice
President Of the United States He stated that
he had learned from Senator that the reso
luton was not in conformity with the usage
of the two Houses, or Of the Senate at all events
and that the precedent set by the Senate in
relation to tho steamship San Francisco was a
departure from the custom of Congress He
had also learned from private source that
since the defeat of a certain bill from the Sen
ate, there existed no disposition on the part OF
that body to indulge in any stretch of courtesy
towards the House, such as might be called
for in the adoption of tho resolution he had
alluded to.
Mr. Hubbard objected to the motion, stating
that he was opposed to the amendment to the
Constitution which the resolution proposed to
refer to select committee.
MIR. Ewing moved to suspend the rules
which motion was agreed to.
And the question recurring on the adoption
of the original motion, the vote was taken by
tollers, and resulted-ayes 80, noes SO.
The yeas and nays were then demanded
pending which, the House adjourned.
Senate, Tuesday, January "a, 1854.
A number of petitions were presented, and
appropriately referred
On motion of Mr.. Jones, of Iowa, the bill
granting pension to the widow of Gen Jacob
Brown, deceased, was taken up and passed.
Mr.. Douglas moved that the Senate proceed
to the consideration of the bill providing Ter.
ritorial Government for Nebraska
Mr.. Norris hoped that the bill would net be
taken up Senators had not yet read it.
Mr.. Douglas said that he had been told by
several Senators that they had not yet read the
bill. He thought the best way to get Senators
to read it, would be to take it up. He wished
as there was much Territorial business, to have
it advanced at as early a day as practicable.
Mr.. Chase hoped the Senator would not
press his motion to-day. The bill had under
gone many important changes since originally
reported IL involved principles of great mo
ment and he hoped it would not be taken ur
till Senators had had at least an opportunity Of
examining it.
MIR. Jones, OF Tennessee, suggested that the
chairman of the Committee 60 on to day in ex
PLANTATION of his bill, and it might then be post
poned till tomorrow.
Mr.. Cass said that, under all the crcum.
stances, he thought the bill should be postponed
for day or two.
Mr.. Douglas said, that, as such. seemed to
be the general desire, he would consent to
postpone the bill till Monday, and made mo.
ton to that effect
Mr.. Dixon said that he had submitted an
amendment to the original bill, and had been
charged by q newspaper of this city with hav.
ing done 80 with a view to embarrass the DEM
ocratic party; it was also said that he was O
Wing from Kentucky, and that anything offered
by him should be looked upon with dis!rust
by the Democratic party. On this question OF
Slavery he knew no Wing, no Democracy He
was a pro slavery man. He represented q
slave State and his constituents were slave
holders, and he would do his best in the Sen,
ate to serve the interest Of his State and con-
stituents But as the substance of his amend
mcnt had been Incorporated into this bill, he
would give it his support. The bill, as it now
stood, would carry out the principle he desired
to see established, viz: the principle of Con-
gressional non-interference. He never had
approved of the Missouri Compromise He
did not believe that it had ever received the
nf y. hood
Mr. Douglas said he was glad to hear the
Senator express his desire to support the bill
as it now stood. The Senator's amendment
had been understood by the committed and
by many others, as going beyond what it was
now explained by the Senator to mean. The
amendment was construed as legislating Sla-
very into the Territories. The committee did
not approve Of this. They proposed to legis-
late Slavery neither in nor out, but to leave it
altogether free from Congressional interven-
ton.
Mr. Dixon denied that his amendment was
susceptible of the construction said BY the
Senator to have been placed upon it,
The bill was then taken up and postponed
till Monday next.
On motion of Mr. Hamlin, the French Spoil
alton bill was fixed for Monday week.
The resolution by Mr. Chase, to amend the
rules by providing for open sessions on such
business as now is considered in Executive ses-
sion, unless otherwise specially ordered by the
Senate, was taken up.
Mr.. Mason, with a view Of testing the ques.
ton, moved that the resolution lie on the table,
which motion was agreed to-yeas % nsys 4.
The following private bills were takon up
and passed:
For the relief of the representatives of Daniel
Loomis deceased
For the relief of Noah Lincoln, of Maine,
and others
For the relief of the heirs of William Weeks
For the relief of Ira Baldwin.