Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-08-07
From washington.

In the Senate on the 18th ult the bills
making appropriation for the construction of
harbors at the mouths of Grand River and
Beach Lake, Michigan, were passed.
The House passed the bill appropriating
5000 600 for continuing the improvement of
Des Moines Rapids in the Mississippi. The
vote stood II to 40.
Mr. Dunn moved to take up the Senate
bill, providing for the admission of Kansas
into the Union; his intention being to otscr
a Substitute, recognizing the Territory,
resotring the Missouri Compromise, mud dis-
missing indictments for treason, etc. Tho
motion was negatived by u vote of LOB against
72-hot two-thirds.
The House then went into Committee Of
the Whole on the Army Appropriation bill.
Mr.. Sherman offered an amendment that
no part Of the military force of the United
States shall be employed to aid in the eaforce-
ment of the alleged laws of the Legislative
Assembly, convened at Shawnee Mission,
until Congress declares whether those laws
were passed by the Legislature chosen in
conformity with the organic law; and until
Congress SO declares, hat it shall be the duty
of the President to use the military f rces
to preserve peace, suppress Instruction, repcl
invasion. aud protect persons and property OF
the citizens Of the Territory on the highways
OF Missouri and elsewhere against unlawful
search aud seizure, aud that the President dis.
arm the present militia, recall all U. S. arms,
and prevent armed men fom going into tho
Territory to disturb the public peace or en-.
force real or pretended laws.
The chairman. Mr.. Letter. decided the
amendment out of order but was everreled
by majority Of two.
MI. Sherman said his amendment was Just,
fair, and honest, and would do morn for the
settlement OF the Kansas difficulty tAan all
the bills for that purpose put together
Mr.. Stephens con,ended tAat Congress had
no right to decide on the validity OF the laws
of Kansas. That was question for the
judiciary. He was for the people of the
! Territory governing themselves.
: Mr.. Grow insisted that it was the bounden
t duty of Congress to protect the citizens in
, all the rights guaranteed them 10 the organic
act. They were controlled by despotism and
usurpatiou, aud he was not willing that the
i, Federal troops should coerce them after they
had been tramped down by maurauders.
Mr.. Smith OF Virginia wished the country
to know that party in,the House designed
to stop the wheels OF government, and force
the Senate into cooperation with measure
not practicable and the only effect of which
would be revolution.
Mr. Davidson of La. said the Representa-
tives proposed attaching to this bill an OBJ,
Jectlonable feature, to which they knew the
e Senate could not and dared lot agree. II
was treason thus to pass appropriation bills
Let them stand on their merits.
= Mr.. Warren of la. maintained that there
, was no power in Congress to pass on the
validity of the laws Of Kansas that it was
tor the judiciary to do so.
MT ohermans amendment was adopted b,
% against ~, when the Committee rose.
July 80
o ), internal improvement bill,
) on the Calendar we're then considered. fo,
inc construction of a new harbor at the mouth
, OF me Clinton River; Tor completing tn,
t aaroor OF st. Josephs, and for completing the
, piers OF the harbOr of Monroe, Mich, were
a al debate. prsscd. Adjourned.
doUsE'-The House took action on the a
mendments of the Committee to tho Army
Appropriation bill. Mr.. Barbour's amendmcn
declarlng the laws Of Kansas null aud void
was re)ected--yeas So, nays 80.
u MT Shcrnan's amendment was copcurrec