The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-03-13
Friday, March Z, 1856.
The Senate did not sit to-day.
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The Senate did not sit to-day.
HOUSE.
The House then resumed the consideration
OF the resolution empowering the Committee
OF Elections, In the contested election case from
the Territory of Kansas, to send for persons
and papers, and to examine witnesses upon oath
or affirmation.
Mr.. Oliver, of Missouri, a member of the
Committee of Elections, contended that the
House could not, with any sort of justification,
adopt resolution comforting upon the COM
mittee the extraordinary power which the ma
jority sought to obtain.
de then referred to the Emigrant Aid Socie-
ties, whose only object he declared, was to de-
feat an ordinary act of Congress by extraordi-
nary proceedings-by an association of men
and capital. In this connection he contended
that Governor Reeder, when Governor of Kansas,
accommodated his movements to the action and
convenience of those societies, and he charged
upon him all the trouble, strife, and bloodshed,
that had attended the disturbances in Kansas.
Mr.. Cumback, of Indiana, remarked that the
gentleman from Missouri had recently become
convert to the Democratic party, and new
converts were always Jealous to proclaim the
doctrines they had but Just embraced.
Mr.. Oliver inquired, if the gentleman had
| not become a convert from the Democratic to
the Republican party?
Mr.. Cumback. No, sir. When | was con-
nected with the Democratic party, its doctrine
was that Congress had the right, and should
exercise it, to prevent the extension of Slavery
into free territory; and when it receded from
that doctrine, let it slide. never will go with
any party, by whatever name, that will not stand
up for the doctrines of our fathers.
He denied that men had gone from the North
me or no of fha
tutions of Kansas, and without the intention to
become citizens of that Territory. Some OF
| them might have returned, but their intention
| in going to Kansas was to become citizens and
| to make it a free State because by the legisla-
ton of our fathers that Territory had, by a
solemn compact, been guaranteed to Freedom
forever.
Mr.. Cullen, of Delaware, thought that this
question should be settled with calmness, and
recording to the principles which regulated
courts. He maintained that the House could
not impugn the act of the Legislature under
which General Whitfield had been elected.
Governor Reeder having decided that the
| members of that Legislature had been duly
chosen, and having commissioned them, and
sent message recognising their acts as legal,
the. House had no right to open that investiga-
ton, because they could not go behind the
| record.
Mr.. Walker, of Alabama, contended that
Governor Reeder and General Whitfield were
in no legal and technical sense contestants for
the seat of Delegate from Kansas. Governor
Reeder did not present himself in the attitude
of a contestant, and it therefore followed that
there was no fact in the contest that demanded
the attention of the House. He also argued to
prove the validity of the law under which Gen.
| Whitfield had been elected.
| n II e Al. IL III.
floor, but yielded to motion that the House
adjourn.
| Numerous bills and resolutions were intro
duced and the House then adjourned.