Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-12-03
For interesting news. Geographic, etc, see outside.
Congress. First Day.

We extract from the National Intelligenccr Of yes
terav the following synopsis Of the proceedings Of
Congress on Monday-the first day Of the session
An unusually large number Of members pre-
pent-forty-two members Of the Senate and upwards
Of two hundred members of the House answered to
their the call of the roll This full attend
ance on the first day, the Intellgencer maintains, is
the result Of the salary law Of the last session and
\ the penalty imposed by it on members for absence
from their posts Upon the subject of this law rails
ing the salary Of members, the Inteigencer says -
The good effects Of this law viii become more and
!" more manifest time moves A similar act
"was passed forty years ago, and certainly legis
1lative experiment succeeded better, or more
completely fulfilled the promises and predictions Of
ats advocates; but the popular within denounced
,a "h; it fell under popular odium the popuii
"(which doubt to be always the cor DeD de-
''manded its repeal, and repealed it was in quick
time. The public voice is better informed now,
ct we hope, and the present law we trust win be
'pentted to stand to prove its wisdom by its bene-
"fts."
1t will be seen from the proceedings below that
the eternal Kansas question is again the taps up
va on motion to admit to his seat Mr.. Whitfield the
delegate elect to Congress from that Territory. The
Black Republicans, it seems, determined, under
no circumstances, to recognize the validity OF the
laws oil the Kansas Legislature under which Whit
field was elected, and claims his seat The
Southern members and the conservative members
from the North appear equally firm in their resolu-
ton to maintain their original position on this ques-
ton, and to meet the factious Fremonters at the
Threshold From present Indications it is not I'M
likely that many weeks Of the session will be again
frittered away in useless and mischevous discussion
upon the affairs Of Kansas As the Black Republi-
cans will no longer have majority in the House az
ter the close Of the present session. presume they
intend to make the most Of the time left them by
keeping up constant agitation the subject OF
slavery. In our judgment, the logged spirit and
determination evnced by them SO soon after the de-
feat Of their party for the Presidency constitutes the
most ominous and alarming sign of the times. Ii
shows that though defeated, they not conquered
and that they earnest in their purpose to keep
alive sectional agitation and to discipline and conso
idae their forces for another great battle in 1861
Under these circumstances it only remains for the
South to show a compact and undivided front and
adhere with solemn and inaexibe tenacity to its de
termination to yield ot or title to the factious
spirit of the enemies Of the countrys peace and the
Unions perpetuty. Let moderation, calmness anG
wisdom, however, be its constant practical motto
The following is the Intellgencer's synopsis o.
Mondays proceedings:
The SENATE in session yesterday but short time
and its business merely of formal character speca
committee appointed wait upon the President of the
United States and inform him OF the readiness of the two
Houses to receive any communication he might be pleased
to make reported that the President would place bis An
nual Message before Congress this day IL o'clock
I'm the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES the credentia Of
John W. Whitfield delegate from the Territory Of Kansa.
were presented by Mr.. Phelps, Of Missouri who moved
that the oath Of Office be administered the said delegate
Mr. Grow, Of Pennsylvania objected, in argument
some length the ground that the election law of Kan
sas was not valid, and the claimant not therefore en-
titled to his seat Mr.. Phelps replied and urged that
was very unusual and irregular object to n member
being sworn in upon prnG fdee evidence of a right t
the seat The certificate OF Gov Geary gave the Gilman
that right and he maintained that the question should on
ly be brought up after reference In the usual way and
report from tho Committee OF Elections
"The question being taken the motion Of Mr. Phelp.
TO administer the oath Of Office Mr. Whitfield Il wa
decided in the negative by vote OF q TO lOI motto,
then made to reconsider the vote and to Law that mo
ton the table, but before the question was put by tb
Chair, several motions for adjournment and for call
the House were negitved. Finally a quarter past
o'clock, the House adjourned, leaving the motion to re
consider still pending"