Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1856-12-05
COsNGR f IS S.

| ~ Os.N ~ II H - -
WA.HINGroN, Monday, Dec. 1.-The
I'd session of the S4th Congress commen-
ced to-day.
In the House, Messrs. Hodges Of VT
Garnctt of Va, and Allen and Morrison
of H., new members, we're sworn in.
A motion being made to swear in Gen.
Whitfield, Border Rufian Delegate from
Kansas, Mr.GRow (of Psnn'a) objected.
He said the course be proposed was not
unprecedented, and there was throng Of
cases in the books to justify it. In that
Of the New Jersey contested election, nei-
ther set Of delegates we're admitted until
the Committee on elections, after two or
three months, reported. The House, at
the last Session, sent commission to Kan
sas, to investigate the affairs of that Ter
ritory and, after fulldcliberation, the House
decided that no valid election had been
held, and hence Mr.. Whitfield was elected
from his seat. What change had taken
place in the organic act of that Territory
since the last Session? Its Legislature
stands exactly as it did six months ago,
uher tho Daloo..a --.. -~;.~.od The Leg
Islature was o usurpatiOn, and its acts had
been characterized by unprecedented tyr.
amy and unconstitutional wrongs. Its
laws were the blackest and most odious to
be found among those of despotism. The
House was now ordered to oyerturn its de-
cision, and give validity to the tyranuous
acts forced on an unwilling people by the
arm Ofthe Government being used to shield
the invaders of their rig hts from the neigh
boring States.
A motion to admit Mr.. Whitfield was
lost-97 Yeas to l0i Nays. A motion to
reconsider and to lay that motion on the
table, was debated by Mr.. Whitfeld's
friends until adjournment. Among those
who voted to admit Whitfield, were the
following from Pennsylvania Broom, Cad
wallader, Florence, Fuller, Hickman, Jones,
Packer, and Tyson all the others against it.
TUESDAY, Dec. 2.-The House contin.
ued the discussion on admitting the Border
Ruftian Delegate from Kansas
The President sent in his last Annual
Message, af which the following (from his
particular friend of the Ledyer) isa
SYNOPSIS
The President enters into an argument
as to the right and policy of repeating the
Missouri Compromise. The principle of
popular sovereignty underlies our Govern
nent, and Congress, in legislating upon
the subject of Kansas, was acting in &C.
with that principle, aud couso-
nantly with The great principles of our
institutions, the equality of the States.
The disorders which followed were not tie
of the assertion Of this prin.
,iple, but unjust interference on tho part
Of persons not inhabitants Of the Terrific
". The President had no power, under
he laws, to interfere with the Kansas elec-
ions. The people are themselves the
guardians Of their own right, and to sup
pose that they could not themselves rem.
'dy any irregularities in their elections,
to suppose that they are incapable of
Calm reflection, the
hopes, will enable the Lsgisla-
i've Assembly of Kansas to remove all
Questionable snactments from the statute
'Ook, or Congress will see that the laws of
he Territory are consistent with the pro-
'isions Of the Constitution. .-
Passing from these unpleasant topics,
be President refers to tho receipts from .
ustoms, which amounted during tho year
0 s7S,9lS,l41, and the total resources ,
the year are s92 ,s5O,ll7. The pay
lents, including nearly thirteen millions
public debt, amounted to $72,94S,792
be Public debt, which in 1853 amount !
1 to 81, ,s79, ,937, has since been reduced !
$30,737, ,l2l, all Of which might be
lid within the year without embarrassing !
e Treasury. The average expenditure il
r the last five years has been siS,000,.
10, and the President thinks it will not I
beyond that for the next five years.
lis fact justi6es reduction Of the Gus G
ms duties SO as not to exceed that O
lount of revonue Over nine mil c.
US Of acres of public lands have been v