The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-03-11
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
= REsoLUTIoss.

PRESCRIPTIONS.
On motion of Mr.. SMITH, of Virginia. the following
oution adopted
eed That the Secretary of the Interior be- and he is
hereby this House the
money which would be required complete the bridge
the Little Falls near Georgetown, ageeaby to the plan al
ready adopted. VS..
Mr. WHEELER Of New York. offered the following res
ouon; which, after come discussion referred to the
Committee the Post Ohiqe and Post Roads
Reopea, That select committee of iye members be APP
in cities of Boston, New York. Philadelphia, and Charles
ton suitable for post offices and United States
and that the of the President of the United States
the House Representatives in relation thereto be
ferred to the said committee.
On motion of Mr. Walk, of New York.
Ropsd That the Secretary of War be requested
muncae to this House such Information be p
the fertilization Throgs Neck Weshester county New
York, aud knirma, Fort Schuyler also, whether not
said fort is mounted with suitable cannon and is in cond
ton be properly defended also whether the forts
compilation armament and defensive efficiency, would
sonaby secure against attacks by land also whether
troops Also what steps may be necessary il any, place
these forts and forthcaons In proper condition to repe
aggression.
On motion of Mr. HAVEN, of New York, the House pro-
ceeded to the consideration of Senate bill TO admit reg
lister or enrolment the schooner Zadock Pratt
The bill was read three times and passed
BILLS REPORTED.
III.
and Means reported bill making appropriations for the
consular and diplomatic expenses Of the for
the year ending June 30 1857 which was read twice and
reyea the Committee Of the Whole the state Of the
Union and ordered TO be printed
Also bill making appropriations for the support Of the
army for the year ending 3oh Of June 1851 which was
read twice and referred TO the Committee OF the Whole
the state OF the Union, aud ordered to be printed.
KANSAS ELECTION.
The House then resumed the consideration Of the follow
ing resolution
Re.olred That the Committee Of Elections In the contested
election case the Territory OF Kansas be- and
BY empowered send for persons and papers, and to
anime witnesses upon oath or affirmation.
Mr.. CRAWFORD, OF Georgia, addressed the House al
length 10 opposition TO the resolution lie did not the
necessity sending for and papers for the purpose
of establishing facts Of which they already had official
ce lie called the attention Of the House to the laws
touching this question BE found an act authorizing the
establishment of the Territory Of Kansas defining its
boundaries, authorizing the appointment Of a governor
authorizing the election Of members Of the legislature and
further declaring who should constitute the legal voters OF
the Territory Of Kansas He also found that tho governor
TO declare the time and place at which the election
be held and the number Of members Of the council
and house Of ayes TO which each district to
be entitled under the act IL made the duty of the
governor declare the persons having the highest
Der of legal In each district for members Of council
and house Of representatives 1t was known that A. H.
Rceder appointed governor OF the Tertory that be
accepted the position and that he entered upon the dis
charge Of his duties and they knew officially that he order
ed the election OF legislature and in pursuance Of that
order legislature elected and that he having been
declared by the organic law the proper party make the
declaration decided who the properly and legally
elected members of the council and house
and that on the Sd Of July, having passed upon that
branch Of the question he sent message TO the legislature
which contains this passage
"The solemn trust which Is couhded 10 for originating
the laws institutions and moulding the destnes Of
republic impresses with deep and solemn OF the
heavy responsibility which we have assumed"
lie desired then ask whether the committee asked for
power send or persons and papers for the purpose Of
dsprovng Of Congress for the purpose Of dis
proving the appointment Of Reaer and for nqurng into
The validity the election Of the members Of the Kansas
LEGISLATURE lie did know whether the House would
take the responsibility Of giving the committee the power
they asked lie that the good Of the Amer
lean people would sustain them in II II they did II
they desired testimony let IL be obtained by sending
commission to Kansas and by putting the government
Of the United States to the expense Of sending
for persons and papers be brought from the Territory Of
Kansas TO the national capital lie contended that this
testimony, when they Ind il nothing more less
than the testimony of witnesses in opposition and in
tradcton Of the official record Of the United States
Mr. CAMPBELL, Of Pennsylvania argued in favor Of
the adoption Of the resolution Of the commtee aud
tered into discussion OF the question generally Tie wss
of opinion that II the Hon. A. H. Reeder had by his
own act debarred his rights Ia relation to the matter
which he did not admit he could not eop the people Of
the Territory Of Kansas from their right Of sending del
egnte here whom they thought entitled TO represent them
lie thought that If Reeder allowed the opportunity Of
explaining his official while acting governor Of the
Territory be would fully justify himself in all the posi-
tons be had assumed