The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-07-12
Congressional.
WASHINGTON, July 3.
SENATE.

" ~,SA~~~'N OA'1 ~ -
SENATE.
Several slight amendments were adopted
during the night others rejected. [Ths re-
fers to Mr.. Douglas bill to authorize Kan
sas to come in as State, and provides for
the appointment of five Commissioners, to be
selected by the President from different
sections of the Union, to represent fairly all
political portions parties 2 They shall take
census of all the voters in the Territory,
and make fair apportionmcnt of Delegates,
to be elected by each county, to form Conz
stitution and institute state Of government
When the apportionment shall be made, the
commissioners are to remain in session every
day except Sunday, at the place most con-
venient for the inhabitants of said Territory,
to hear all complaints, examine witnesses
and correct all errors in said list of voters,
which list shall lie previously printed and
generally circulated through the Territory,
and posted in at least three of the most pub
lie places of each election district; and, so
soon as all the errors have been thus correct
ed in said lists, the Commissioners are re-
quested to cause corrected list of the legal
voters to be printed, and copies furnished to
each Judge Of election, to be put up at the
places of voting, and circulated in every
county in the Territory before the day of
electiOn-no person to be allowed to vote
whose name does not appear on the list as a
legal voter; the e'cction for Delegates to
take place on the day of the Presidential
election, and the Convention to assemble On
the first Monday in December to decide,
first, whether it be expedient for Kansas to
come into the Union at that time, and if so
decided, to proceed to form constitution
and State Government which shall be of re-
publican form, Kansas then to be admitted
under such constitution on an equal footing
with the original States. The bill provides
| further that no law shall be enforced in tie
Territory infringing the liberty of speech or
of the press, or the right of the people to
bear arms, &c. 1t also provides punishment
for Illegal voting or fraud and violence at
elections, and authorizes the use OF the mill
tary for that purpose. The main point is
that the persons designated by the census
as the present Inhabitants of the Territory
shall decide all points in dispute at fair
election without fraud OF violence, or any
other improper influence. All white male
inhabitants over 81 years of eye are to he
allowed to vote, if they have resided in the
Territory three months previous to the day
of election, and no other test shall be re-
CURED; no oath to support the Fugitive
Slave law, or any other law, nor any other
condition whatever]
Mr.. Geyer offered an amendment to the
effect that no law shall be made to have
force or effect which shall require test oath
or any oath to support; any act of Con-
gress or other legislative body as quaifica-
ton fer any civil Office or public trust, or
Tor any employment or profession, or to
| serve as juror, or vote at election, orwhich
shall impose any tax upon, or condition to
| exercise the right of suffrage by any quail
| fled voter or which shall restrain or pro-
hlbit tie free discussion of any law or sub
ject of legislation in the territory, of the
free exercise of opinion thereon by the
people Of tic territory. This gave rise to a
debate involving the questions OF. soil, soy
elcignty, and whether Congress ought to
interfere, as proposed, it having let the
people free to settle their own affairs.
Gen. Cass said some of the acts passed
by the assembly Of Kansas were dissracefnl
to the age. How could the people properly
pass laws unless they had the right of free
discussion.
Geycr's amendment was adopted only
three nays, namely: Brown, Fitzpatrick and
Mason.
Mr.. Wilson's amendment to form part
of the proceedings was rejected Nays 25;
Yeas 8.
Mr.. Seward offered a substitute admitting
Kansas with the Topeka Constitution Re-
.jectcd. Yeas-Bcll of N. H., Collamer.
Durkee, Fessendcn, Foote, Hale, Seward.
Trumbull, Wade, Wilson. Nays sc.
The bill as amended by Geyer was finally
passed. Yeas So; Nays ~. Namely: Bell,
of N. H., Colamcr, Dodge, Durkee, Fessen-
den, Foote, Foster, Hale, Seward, Trumbull,
Wade, Mason.
10000 copies of the bill were ordered to
be printed.
Adjourned at II O'Clock.
The President pro TEN took the Chair at
noon. No Senator present besides himself
The only persons on the floor were the Sc
cretary, Sergeant alarms, one door-deeper
and two pages in the gallery, one reporter
and two spectators. The Chair announced
the signing of several enrolled bills nclnd-
ing the Kansas bill, then in accordance will,
a previous understanding declared the Senate
adjourned till Monday.
HOUSE.
A message was received from the Senate
announcing the passage of the Kansas bill.
Mr.. Campbell in response to question of
Mr.. kimball's, said he intended to call up
the report Of the select committee relative
to the assault on Mr.. Summer on Tuesday
next but that lie would not then move the
previous question. Tie friends of the par
ties involved desire discussion.
MIR. Clngman said there would be dis
cussion.
Mr.. Campbell said he would move the pre-
vious question on Thursday next.
MEN MAY CHANGE, DUT PRINCIPLES ARE