New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-12-22

STOOD IN sucn JuxfaposiEon. He TN feTieNed
with singular per,picuity the historica, circum-
stances which preceded and were cotempof?aeo0s
with the adoption Of the clause cited. showing that
Virginia had made the cesson Of the northwest
territory to be held in trust by the United States
for thu formation Of new States and how il hai
occu sied the attention Of Mr.. Jeferson, Mr.. Ran
doph and others. who BY the ordinasce and the
resolutI.ns which fcyned the basis Of the Constita
ton. loesed especially to the rsede and power by
which 'hss trust coule be best administered. He
then show - under wins. promptntNr Gouyerneur
Kemble fnaly brought n the amer3ment now used
as the wordt Of the Constitution TO accomplish this
object, and thus riveted the purp,se which had
been contemplated in other forms.
In replying t, the argument on the other side
that the prohibition Of slav-ry north 81 So 81
forever in TIE Missouri compromi., fixed
perpetual character to the sol Mr.. Curtis main
tanned that this restriction aprSed only the ter
ritoris condition, which the peOle could r,peai on
the instant OF becoming State And he begged
the counsel TO dismiss their fear, in regard 20 the
consequences of such legislation UPON the CD Mons
Of the new State, because, as al the dyns,tes
which had passed away had by their legislatiop in
greater or less degree, designed to Influence these
who came after them, the people in the States 10 NJ
formed would adopt OF reject. as we had dons
what most accorded with their own conditions. az.
commOdating themselves to the great laws Of
climate and soil Passing from these and other
points he proceeded to examine the particular Ian
gusee Of the Constitution showing that its compre-
hensive meaning admitted no construction but that
which be had applied, and that any other was forced
and unnatural.
The speech commanded marked attention from
the Court, and attracted the largest audience from
Congress which has yet assembled as well As
number Of the most distinguished jurists. II was
most happily conceived in style and manner and BY
some of its concessions, such for example as de-
~ ipnpo
States Supplying for adj. ,ssion except such as the
people saw fit to adopt in establishing Republican
constitution doubtless commended il 10 special
favor in particular quarters. The admission was
general and frank all sides that Mr. Curtis
acquitted himself with eminent ability, and left an
impression for high argumentatiye power and logi-
cal closeness which honorable ambition may well
aspire TO attain At the close he was congratulated
warmly, and it was noticed among others BY several
Southern Senators, who wholly dissented from the
the doctrines which he had so properly indicated
II has been much observed to-day that the
most conspicuous habitxes of the lobby belonging
10 the class of ex. Members particularly have found
il prudent TO absent themselves from the accus
toned haunts, being unwilling to give the admOni-
tions of THE TRIBUNE too much practical yeritca'
ton. Still the halls of Congress are infested with
set of old politicians who are applying their sup.
posed influence to objects of personal profit aud
who are scandalOusly leagued with Members
on the floor in matters of mutual interest The
schewes and the schemers are both understood,
and they are likely still to be better known, not
withstanding all the sly management by which in-
trieue il sought to be concealed, and under an at
fected exterior protestation Of indifference selfish
enterprises are labOrousy pursued. A catalogue OF
the projected operations may contribute to the pub
lie enlightenment aid would be refreshing chapter
in Congressional life if illustrated with portrait
gallery.
TIE agitation in the House was strictly sectional
to-day. Quitman and Branch and Davidson, all OF
the most Southern stripe, consumed the sitting
without conjunction. They devoted themselves
speciay 10 various metaphysical disquisitl0ns on
popuar and other sorts of sovereignty, and by way
OF diversion turned their little guns from the Re-
publican side into the American camp, pouring
broadside after brOadside into Humphrey Marshall
ard such like iTreclaimable subjects Marshall took
tie liberty of dischargiDg occasional battery at
odd times, when he thought the subject worth the
powder and ball, but the Chiyalry had pretty full
swing. Mr.. Branch, in a paroxysm OF zeal, an
nounced substantially that the Free States had no
right TO abolish Slavery within their own jursdic-
tiSD. qualifying it with reservation, unless their
Constitutions expressly conferred the power Con-
siderinQ this gentleman is OF the stars OF State
RIGHTS this is pretty broad doctrine. Why did he
NOT 90 step further, and deny the right unless the
South consented Then he would have reached
the ultima thule Of sectional devotion. Let New
York be looking sharp after her emancipation ACT
for Rip Van Wrinkle is clearing bis eyes and wiping
his honored spectacles for peep. into the con-
di,ions. How the State House will quake when
the news gets through the hair Of the old KnlcAer'
bOckers!
As "piggers" were the staple Of the Supreme
Conrt and the House, OF course the Senate could
do no less than keep time to the music OF the
Union. So Mr.. Jones of Tennessee refreshed that
chamber with one of his peculiarly classic produc
tions. in which he FIRST demolished everybody, and
then magnanimously terminated by, demolishing
himself. The spectacle might have been sublime
had il no, been ridiculous. After this performance
tomorrow was set apart for Mr.. Wilson and MI
Brown. INDIA
OCEAN POSTAGE-THE CASE OF DRIED