The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-03-20

Slidell, Stuart, Sumner, Thomson of New Jer-
sey, Trumbull, Wade, Weller, and Wison-29.
NAYs-Messrs. Brodhead, Brown, Butler,
Hunter, Iverson, Mason, Reid, and Toucey-S.
The bill making an appropriation for deep
ening the channel over the fats of the St.
Mary's river, in the State Of Michigan, was also
passed.
The Senate then took up the bill to remove
distractions to navigation in the mouth of the
Mississippi river, at the Southwest Pass and the
Pass POutre, on which the yeas md nays were
also ordered and, being taken, resulted as fol-
lows
YEAs-Messrs. Adams, Allen, Bell of New
Hampshire Bell of Tennessee, BENJAMIN, Big.
Ter, Brown, Glass; Crittenden, Dodge, Douglas,
Durkee, Fish, Foot, Foster, Hale, Hamlin,
Harlan, Jones of Iowa, Pratt, Pugh, Reid,
Rusk, Sebastian, Seward, Slidell, Stuart, Sum,
ner, Trumbull, Wade, Weller, and Wilson-32.
NAYs-Messrs. Clay, Iverson, and Mason
The following bills were also considered and
passed:
A bill for the improvement of the navigation
of the Patapsco river, and to render the port
of Baltimore accessible to the war steamers of
the United States.
bill for the improvement of the harbor of
San Diego, in California.
The Senate then proceeded to the considera-
tion of Executive business, and, after some
tirae spent therein, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, from the Committee
OF Ways and Means, reported a bill making
appropriations for Notifications and other works
OF defence, and for repairs of barracks and
| quarters, for the year ending June 30, 1857
which was read twice, and committed.
| The House then resumed the consideration
of the resolution empowering the Committee of
Elections, in the contested election case from
the Territory of Kansas, to send for persons
and papers, and 10 examine witnesses upon
oath or affirmation.
Mr.. Galloway of Ohio, addressed the House
In support of the resolution. He trusted that
they should have an investigation of this whole
subject. If the rights of the people of Kansas
had been trampled upon, he wished the ras.
calities of those who had perpetrated the out
rage to be exposed fully before the public, that
the guilty parties might suffer punishment ade-
quate to the crimes they had perpetratcd upon
the rights and interests of the people, and upon
the peace of the country. He proceeded to
show that the Territory of Kansas had been in
vaded by an armed force, and contended that
the Legislature, having been elected by frand,
its acts were utterly void. The evils which are
upon US, he attributed to the Kansas-Nebras
act, remarking that unnatural deeds do breed
unnatural troubles"
Mr.. Walk, of New York. denied that any case
had been presented that would authorize the
House to confer upon the Committee of Elec-
tons the power they had asked of the House.
MIR. Robson, of Pennsylvania, urged the pro-
priety of an investigation into the facts of the
case.
Mr.. Richardson, of Illinois, believed that al
most every member WAS constrained to admit
that the legal right belonged to the sitting
member.
Mr.. Millson, of Virginia, briefly replied to a
portion of Mr.. Galloway's argument, and, in
conclusion, expressed his opposition to all the
propositions before the House. AS a most con-
venient mode of terminating the discussion, he
moved that the whole subject be laid on the
table. He, however withdrew his motion at
the earnest request of
Mr.. Smith, of Virginia, who, preferring to
proceed with his remarks in the morning, yield
ed the floor to
Mr.. Simmons, of New York, who held that
this was not q contested election. He looked
upon the memorial of Gov. Reeder as a mere
remonstrance by the people of Kansas, whose
agent Gov. X. was, against the right of Gen.
Whitfield to the seat of delegate from Kansas.
He then cited various precedeuts to prove that
the House, in deciding this case, bad the power
to inquire whether the laws of Kansas were in
conformity with the organic act.
Mr.. Dunn, of Indiana, (Mr. Bennett, of Mis-
sssippi, having withdrawn his motion to re-
commit for the purpose,) then submitted a
substitute for the substitute heretofore offered
by Mr.. Orr for the original resolution. The
substitute of Mr.. Dunn provides for a commit
tee of three members of the House, to inquire
into and collect evidence in regard to the
troubles in Kansas generally, and particularly
in regard to any fraud or force attempted to be
practiced in reference to elections in that Ter.
ritory.
Mr.. Bennett then renewed his motion to re-
commit, and, at quarter past four o'clock, the
House adjourned.