The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-19
Wednesday, June II, 1856.

WedneS0dy, June !, 1886.
The President of the Senate laid before that
body the resolutions Of the Legislature of Mas
sachusetts, condemning in strong terms the out
rage on Mr.. Sumner. They have already been
printed in the Era.
Mr.. Butler said that he had given notice on
a former occasion, that when the resolutions
came to the Senate he would speak to them.
They seemed to denote foregone conclusion,
inasmuch as they had undertaken to pronounce
judgment six days before the investigation in
the other House had been communicated to the
public. He held it as an insulting mockery for
them to ask the Senate to investigate matter
upon which they (the Legslature) had already
pronounced judgment. He would say no more
at present, but simply ask that the resolutions
be laid on the ta>'e and printed. At the proper
time he would speak to them.
The resolutions were laid on the table, and
ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Crittenden moved to take up for consid.
GRAFTON the following resolution, submitted by
him yesterday:
Whereas dangerous popular disturbances,
with instruction and obstruction to the due ex-
ecution of the laws unhappily prevailed in the
Territory of Kansas; and whereas it is of great
importance that the military forces which may
be employed for the suppression of those insur.
rectionary disturbances, and for the restoration
of law, peace, and protection, to the good peo-
pie of the Territory, should be conducted with
the greatest discretion and judgment, and
should be under the command of an officer
whose rank and reputation would render his
services most useful and beneficial to his coun-
try in the present crisis-s crisis requiring firm
ness and prudence, energy and Cancellation
BE 1t therefore resOloed by the Senate of the
United States, That the President be and he is
hereby requested to employ the military services
of Lieut.. Gen. Scott in the pacifcation of Kan.
sas, and in the immediate direction and com.
mand of all the forces employed or to be en-.
ployed for that purpose, under such instructions
and with such authority and power as the Pres.
ident can and may think proper to give to and
confer upon him.
Mr.. Clayton, of Delaware, anticipated much
benefit from the resolution. The sending of
General Scott to Kansas must have the effect
of calming the public mind
Mr.. Brown, of Mississippi. opposed the mo-
ton, believing that it would be an interference
by the Senate with the Executive functions to
advise the President, as the resolution propos-
ed besides, he could not see such a state of
things in Kansas as to call for the extraordinary
proceeding contemplated.
Mr.. Bell, of Tennessee, asked Mr.. Brown
whether he did not credit the reports from both
Sides dailyreceived, regarding the affairs of an
sas. No Senator could doubt that affairs in that
quarter demanded immediate attention.
Mr.. Brown said that to a very limited extent
he credited the Geographic reports in relation
to the disturbances in Kansas; but he believed
that the greater portion of them were manufac-
tured for the occasion. 1t had been SO hereto
fore, and was very likely to be so now. He was
not prepared to cast censure upon the course of
the President; but the adoption of the resolu.
ton would be understood by the country as an
expression of the opinion of the Senate that the
President had not performed his dutv AZ he
ought to have done.
Mr.. Ioucey, of Connecticut knew of no pow.
er in this body to act in the manner proposed.
more than would be possessed by an equal
number OF Citizens assembled in any portion of
the country. IT Gen. Scott should be sent, what
would he DO there? We live under Govern.