The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-03-20
THE NATIONAL ERA: WASHINGTON, D. c. MARCH 20, 1856

inembers of the American party, and so with
the gentleman-but, that was their candidate
is not true.
I The colloquy was further continued; after
which,
Mr.. Sumner replied to the remark of Mr.
douglas, that the former had obtained weeks
delay of the Nebraska bill in order to circulate
la libel on the latter. He said that was untrue
He united with other members in sending an
address to the people of the United States, ex
spressing the true character of that proposition
and predicting the many evils which have since
iensued.
|. Mr.. Douglas said that both Mr.. Chase and
Mr.. Sumner, on the occasion referred to, came
Ito his seat and asked him to postpone the Ne
:braska bill one week, in order to give them time
to examine it. He did so, but the day after he
discovered that they had written an exposition
of that measure, and scattered it broadcast. II
was false statement that they had not had time
TO examine the bill of which Mr.. Douglas com
planned. That address attributed to him to a
base purpose of selfaggrandizement and not
proper sense of public duty. The Senator
from Massachusetts did not consider that libel
lous. Oh, mol This might accord with his
ideas of a gentleman and Senator.
Mr.. Sumner. l shall enter into no contest
here or elsewhere, as to the character of gen
fleman. The Senate shall decide whether the
Senator from Illinois is proper Judge of this
matter. 1t is not true that / went to the Sena
tors seat to make the request to which he
aludes
L Mr.. Douglas repeated that Mr. Sumner, while
pretending that he wanted time to read ant
examine the Nebraska bill, had previously
franked a grossly lbellous pamphlet on that
subject.
Mr.. Sumner said the address was predicated
on the first Dill, and not ON the last.
Mr.. Douglas remarked that the reasons as
signed by Mr.. Sumner, as an argument for the
postponement of the Nebraska bill, were not
true in fact.
Nh. Johnson's motion to print the reports was
5hen adopted, and the Senate adjourned till
Monday.
Mr.. Washburn, of Maine, argued in favor of
The resolution empowering the Committee on
Elections to send for persons and papers in the
kansas case. He said that Governor Reeder
was removed because he would not be slave
and tool Of the President, who had offered him
4 mission to China or Great Britain if he would
resign the Governorship of Kansas
Mr.. Smith. / believe it to be bold, unmiti-
gated falsehood. 1t is unbecoming any mem.
ger to repeat such newspaper statements
Mr.. Washburn. | believe every word of it.
There are gentlemen here who can speak for
the Executive.
Mr.. Smith, of Virginia. Do understand the
gentleman to make such charge?
Mr. Washburn. | have seen it in the news
yapers-a correspondent made it, and dared the
Washington Union to deny it dare the gen.
deman from Virginia to make such denial
Mr.. Washburn then continued his remarks,
| argued that the committee must have plenary
yower in order to an impartial hearing, and an
honest, intelligent Judgment He concluded by
| moving the previous question, which motion
~as disagreed to-yeas 79, nays 90.
Mr.. Bennett of Mississippi, contended that
| Governor Reeder sets up an extraordinary claim,
| without shadow of law or Justice
The House adjourned until Monday.
Monday, March II, 1856.
| +, SENATE
Mr.. Douglas, from the Committee on Terri
tories reported bill to authorize the people OF
She Territory of Kansas to form Constitution
and State Government, preparatory to their ad
MISSION into the Union, when they NAV have
che requisite population; which was read, and
| ordered to be printed.
!; The first section provides that whenever it
shall appear, from the taking of the census,
that there are 93,420 inhabitants in the Terri.
tory, they be authorized to hold Convention
and form State Constitution, preparatory to
admission into the Union on an equal footing
With the original States, in all respects whatever
Second. That the said Convention shall be
composed of delegates from each Representative
5istrict within the limits of the proposed State
and that each district shall elect double the
humber of delegates to which it may be entitled
70 Representatives in the Territorial Legisla
yure and that at the said election of delegates
all white male inhabitants, who shall have ar
lived at the age of twenty one years, and shall
have been actual residents in said Territory for
she period of six months, and in the district for
| the period of three months next preceding the
Jay Of election, and who shall possess the other
Qualifications required by the organic act of the
| Territory, shall be entitled to vote, and that
none others shall be permitted to vote at said
| election.
Section three provides that certain PROPOSE
lions be offered to the said Convention of the
| people of Kansas, when formed, for their free
acceptance or rejection, and, if accepted by the
gaid Convention, and ratified by the people at
Che election for the adoption of the Constitution,
shall be obligatory on the United States and
Che said Territory of Kansas.
| LIST. Relates TO a grant of sections l6 and &c,
I'm every township, for the use of schools, &c.
! I'd. Seventy-two sections of land shall be set
| apart for State University, to be selected by
the Governor, subject to the approval of the
| Commissioner of the General Land Office &c.
Z Cd. That ten entire sections, to be selected
| BY the Governor in legal subdivisions, shall be
granted to said State for public buildings, to be
erected under the authority of the Legislature.
tth. That all salt springs, not exceeding
Twelve in number, with six sections adjoining,
be granted to said State, to be selected by the
| Governor within one year after her admission
as State, provided no right vested in any in
sividual sor which may hereafter be confirmed
or adjudged to any individual, shall be granted
10 said State
9TH. That five per cent. of the proceeds of all
lands sold by Congress after said State is ad-
nlitted, after deducting expenses incident to the
same, shall be paid to that State, for purposes
Of internal improvement, as the Legislature
Ray direct that said State shall never inter
fere with the disposal of the soil by the United
States, or with any regulation Congress may
tnd necessary for securing the title in said soil
n bona tide purchasers thereof; that no tax
saall be imposed on lands belonging to the
United States, and that in no case shall non
resident proprietors be taxed higher than resi-
dents.
Mr.. Clayton asked the Senate to indulge him
~ taking up the motian made some time ago,
70 refer the message of the President communi-
eating copy of the letter of Lord John Russell
to Mr.. Champion, on the subject of the treaty
Of Washington of April 10, 1850, to the Com
npittee on Foreign Relations, as he desired to
offer some observations in reply to remarks
made in the course of the debate; and the mo-
tion being taken up
.Mr, Clayton addressed the Senate at consid-
cradle length. touching Central American af-
fairs and the disputed Interpretation of the Clay
ten and Bulwer treaty. He spoke of the very