Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1856-05-16
TuIury.fouRTn C0SGREss-rIrst Session
MONDAY, MAY l., 1886.
XIV A'nE

MONDAY. MAY l., 1886.
SENATE.
Mr.. Crlttenden Moved the Reconsideration Of the vDi
by which the Iowa Rail Road bill was passed ou Fr
day.
MIR. Pugh presented the memorial of the Phllade
phia, Fort Wayne and Platte River Air Line Ra
Road Company, praying an am -ndment OF sali on
as il in the present form nerferes with their r1gnt
Mr. Jones of Iowa. srenuously opposed tbs motor
Mr. Crttenden replied and the subject was pos
pOned until Tomorrow.
Mr.. Cass addressed the Senate at length on IN
Kansas question. He vindcatei the doctrine OF sci
government, or IA it had been called in derIsio
.'squatter sovereignty" He said this term origln'
ted in relation to the frat settlers of California wht
having no government, made one for themselves an
asked the General Government to recognise II; ou
they were dersively called squatter soverelgns AS
people who were thrown rs waits upon olstai
strand where there were no laws had no right to max
regulations for their own government.
| They were called squatter sUyereigns because the
did not the land; and the use of this cant Tern
proceeded upon the assumption that there was N
true sovereignty except landlord sovereignty. Thl
reasoning carries back TO the dark ages when mel
| were considered rs nothing and land and rocks AM
trees were regarded everything. In connection
with this he quoted al Apologize OF Dr. Frank
lin, who discussed the property qualification IN TN!
way: If there is a property qualification OF 800,
man who owns a iackass worth S3O has right L
vote to-day, but tomorrow the jackass dies, and hi
loses the right to voe;-then in whom does the righ
|
| ton Mr. Casa not cauist enough TO determine.
He proceeded to discuss the question of the power
| of Congress the territories. He said If Con
:,ress desired The power 10 make government for
the territories from the owner>p OF the land just
suOn II tho general government sold all the land
there would be no longer any foundation fer the pow
er. The rights must therefore be in the people aud
| not in the land
| Mr.. Cass proceeded to examine and criticise Mr..
| Douglas report on Kansas matters, and dssented
IL
Iude ut all to the true object for which Governments
/ were instituted, and it contained many ideas which
We're erroneous in theory and dangerous in practice.
Tie committee say that the organization of Terri
tory is Dnlnently necessary and proper, AZ means
Of enabling the people thereof To form aud mould
their local and domestic institutions and establish
State Government under tho authority OF the Con
s,uon preparatory to its admission into the Union;
and they argue that the right OF Congress 10 pass the
organic act is included in the provision which au
thnrises the adm .ssiUn Of States.
But he thought that the doctrine that Congress had
the power to pass any measure which they thought
would promote the prosperity OF the territory, would
lead to false conclusions Congress might think that
the Wllmot prOviso would he good thing but they
would not have any limits 10 their discretion ii they
proceeded upon such loose grounds. III also said
that the bill of tho committee did not allow the peo
pe Of Kansas to regulate their affairs as they
yeased AID hence did not carry ont the doctrine Of
the committee in regard 10 that subject.
Tie Senate hers adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The Speaker announced the first business In order
tu he Mr. Ciingnars resolution for the better pro-
lection 1T American citizens IN transit the 18TH
mus Of Panama.
Mr.. CliusIian asked its postponement to day Ger
tain. He understood that the Information called for
relative to the Panama outrage would be sent in to-
morrow or next day.
Mr. Campbell of Ohio, said he had no objection If
he would offer substitute requesting the President
10 negotiate, through the department of State, with
Great Britain Tor the acquisition OF Canada and all
other British and Russian possessions this CONT
nent; and with Spain for the acquisition Of Cuba,
consistent with her honor and the consent Of the peo
pie thereof provided that, il said possessions be- an.
nexed, there shall be neither slavery involuntary
servitude except for crime.
Mr.. Faulkner asked Mr.. Cngman what objection
he could hive to his resolution being referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr.. Clingman replied that he had none. That COM
mittee had the subject under consideration, but be
doubted whether they would be able To report for the
next two months owing to other committees having
prpcedence.
Mr.. CIingrnan said that some such action Of the
kind he proposed was necessary. If he could have
the of the House for ten minutes hs could satisfy
them by reference to the treaty lie held in his hand
tbst we ere bound to give the President some such
authority as his resolution proposes.
The question on suspending the rules to enable Mr.
Clingmau to Introduce his resolution was negatived
yea. 80, nays 70.
On motion OF MIR. Barbour 1t was resolved that the
President be requested tp inform the House whether
the United States soldiers have besu employed in
Kansas to arrest persons charged with violations Of
supposed laws Of the supposed leg satuTe Of said ter
ritOry, assembled at Shawnee mission; GEd if such
soldiers hav. been employed that the President
inform the House by what authority they We're en-
pluysd.
the House passed the bill for enlarZng the post
office. custom house and court rooms nj Milwaukee
On motion Of Mr. Grow one week, commencing on
the first Monday OF June. set apart for the cons
Ieration OF Territorial business
Mr.. Guoie made an Intellectual effort to have taken
up the bill from III. Senate defining the duties Of com
missiuners Of elections in the city OF Washington, pro-
vding for the opening of the polls at earlier hour
than is required by the charter etc. The House by
vnt. of yens So, nays 6G-two thirds being necessa-
ry-refnsed To suspend the rules Tor that purpose
The House passed the Senate bill appropratine
SlOHOOU for deepening the flats Of the channel of ST.
Mary's river and the Senate bill apprupriatoy
$33,DOO for Keeping open the mouth Of the MissIs
sippi.
Pending motion to suspend the rules in order to
afford MIR. Wheeler an opportunity to offer resolu.
ton OF sympathy with the sufferers of the Cape de
Nerd Islands, and authorizing the President to em-
ploy national vessel to convey donations of provi-
sions thither, the House adjourned.