The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-17
THIRTY-F0URTH CONGRESS.
First Session.
Wednesday, July 9, 1856.
SENATE.

SENATE.
We copy from the correspondence of the
New York Eoening Post a summary of the de-
bate in the Senate on the 9th.
The Senate was nearly nine successive hours
engaged discussing the merits of the Kansas
bill which it had passed the d. before notice
able example of the "quieting" effects which
commonly follow such one-sided and arbitrary
measures of pacifcation. The motion from which
this debate sprung was simple resolution to
print u, 900 extra copies of the bill.
MIR. Trumbull observed that he saw no rea.
son tor publishing an extra number of this.
more than of any other bill, except as An cleo
pioneering document, as illustrating the change
of views in its trainers in regard to squatter SOW,
ereignty. But in that case, it would be well t.
have the bill accompanied by the various re-
jected amendments which were offered by Sen
ators opposed to it. Other remarks followed,
from Weller, Wade, Wilson, Hale, and Douglas.
the last of whom, in his peculiar manner, adj
verified to the Black Republicans assertions
that the object of the bill was to plant Slavery
In Kansas, and in turn charged them with de-
string to continue the reign of anarchy and
murder in that Territory, merely to make polt'
ical capital. For this abusive imputation he
was rebuked by Mr.. Fessenden.
After assuring Mr.. Douglas that the effect of
his arguments was not enhanced by the style
and language in which they were usually de-
livered, he reiterated his opinion that the ex-
tension of Slavery was the object of the first
and of this Kansas bill. That it was the object
of the original bill, he proved by briefly recitng
its antecedents and its consequences. Among
the antecedents he mentioned the peculiar line
established for the northern boundary of Kan
sas. Instead of selecting the Platte river, the
natural boundary between Kansas and Nebras.
ka, as the northern limit of Kansas, it was, ap.
parently without reason, brought down parallel
with the northern line of Missouri, so that the
Territory could not be entered from the east ex-
cept through a slave State. The Slavery prop
agandizing societies organized by Atchison
and others in Missouri, in advance of the pas
sage of the bill, another indication of its OBJ,
ject, and of what was expected by the Border Ruff
fans of its results.
Mr.. Toombs, of Georgia, undertook uns1c-
cessfully to reply to Mr.. Fessenden. His legal
argument, however, was too foggy for ordinary
comprehension, though the same cannot be
said of other portions Of his speech, particularly
of his eulogy of the Border Rufians, whom he
seemed to consider, with the Richmond Enqui.
rer, "the highest style of men,"
The speeches which followed, most worthy Of
remark, were those of Stuart of Michigan, Trum.
bull of Illinois, and Pugh of Ohio. Stuart, with
the rest of his Northern political associates. feel
uneasy at the prospect before them. Thef
dread the effect of their bill for the ensavemeut
of Kansas among their constituents, as was man
ifested by the faltering support which they gave
it. Stuart protested against the acts of violence
committed both by the Free State and the Bor-
der Rufian parties. He said that he had to with.
stand, in maintaining his position at home, the
general sentiment of the people, and hence his
Southern friends would appreciate the sacrifices
he had made in supporting this bill.
In reply to the statement that the Democrats,
who voted to repeal certain Territorial laws in
Kansas, had abandoned the doctrine of Congress
sional noninterference, he said that the bill only
repealed such laws as conhicted with the act
organizing the Territory. He also averred that
the argument for the immediate admission of
Kansas without a previous enabling act of Con-
gress, derived from the case of the admission of
Michigan without such an act, was wholly un-
sound. The cases were not parallel. Michigan
was part of the Northwest Territory, and, by
the Ordinance of 1877, a provision was made
for the admission of FIVE States, with requisite
population. She therefore had an enabling act
sufficient to justify her admission by Congress.
Most opportunity, Mr.. Trumbull stepped
Into the argument just here, and effectually de-
molished the himsy reasoning Of the Michigan
Senator. He said that the Ordinance of 1887
dated before the formation of the present Unicn
How then could State be admitted into the
Union under an instrument which was framed
and adopted before that Union was founded?
AS for Mr.. STARTS assertion, that no laws were
repealed in the bill, except such as were incon-
sistent With the organic act, and that therefore
those who sustained it had not abandoned the
doctrine of "squatter sovereignty" he world
ask whether it was inconsistent with the organic
act for the Territorial Legislature to appoint
the law ordering an election on the first Mon
day in October is expressly repealed in this
bill.
Again, was it inconsistent with the organic
act for the Legislature to prescribe the quail f..
cations Of voters? And yet this bill expressly
abrogates the Territorial law to this effect There
we're many other instances of the kind bat
these two were enough to show how completely
Democratic Senators had thrown overheard
their old favorite of squatter sovereignty.
Pugh's speech was but an echo of that of
Stuart, though delivered with greater agony
of gesticulation. Shortly after its delivery, the
Senate, at nine o'clock at night passed the bill
ordering the printing, and adjourned
HOUSE.
Mr.. Cragin, of New Hampshire, from the
Committee on printing, reported resolution
providing for the printing of one hundred
thousand copies Of the majority and minority
reports of the select committee appointed to
investigate the assault upon CHARLES SUMNER,
Senator of the United States, by member
Of the House of Representatives. Mr.. c. stated
that the cost Per copy Of said report would be
nine cents.
Mr.. Cobb, of Georgia, moved to limit the
.la~D 10 har ,fadf tan hon nd
The amendment was then agreed to-y4-s
SO, nays SO and the resolution as thus amerld.
ed was adopted-yess l29, nays 68.
On motion of Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, the
House proceeded to consider the following reso-
iutions, reported by the special committee to
investigate the assault upon Charles Sumpsr,
Senator of the United States from the State
of Massachusetts, by Preston s. Brooks, a
member of the House of Representatives from
the State of South Carolina:
Resolced, That Preston s. Brooks be and he
is forthwith expelled from this House as Rep
resentative from the State of South Carolina.
Resolred, That this House hereby declares
its Interpretation of the said acts of Henry.A.
Edmundson and Lawrence N, Keitt in regard
to said assault. Fl
Mr.. Cobb, of Georgia, moved as a substitute
for the resolutions the following resolution, sp-
pended to the report of the minority of She
committee;
Resolred, That this House mas no jurisdiction
over the assault alleged to have been commn
ted by the Hon. P. s. Brooks, a member of this
House frsm South Caro- lima, on the Hon.
Charles Summer, q Senator from Massachusetts,
and therefore deem it improper to express any
opinion on the subject.
Mr. Clingman, of North Carolina, said the
matter had produced great excitement in the
country. He had not been here many yeArs,
and yet had seen much stronger cases than
this Of fights when the House was in session
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