The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1856-08-29

WAsHrScroN. Aup,

WASHINGTON, Aug. 20.
II SEsArx,--Mr. Crittenden asked leave TO
introduce bill to alter and amend the Kan
sas-NebraskA act.
Mr. Briggs objected to its reception, when
Mr.. Crittenden gave notice he would intro
duce il tomorrow.
Mr.. Weller introduced the bill OF which he
gave notice yesterday.
Mr.. Weller said he was willing TO do all in
his power to obviate existing difficulties the
House had in different form expressed their
dissent from the laws Of the Kansas leEisla-
ture, and he agreed with that body that some
Of those laws violated not only the organic
act but the Constitution of the U. S. He
was therefore anxious to wipe these obnox-
ious laws OF the statute book as infamous
and atrocious in their character. lie was
the more ready to take this step, being chair
man Of the Committee on Military Affairs,
and of course anxious that the right arm of
public defence should receive proper susie
nance il such bill passed he thought there
would be no difficulty in passing the army ap-
preparation bill.
Mr.. Briggs desired that tho bill should be
referred to the Committee on Territories, but
withdrew his motion to enable Mr.. Wilson
to offer an amendment, declaring null and
void the 18th chapter OF the laws OF Kansas,
being an act to punish offences against slave
/ property, together with such other provisions
J OF said laws as recognize or protect slavery
! us n legalized institution in the Territories,
together with all the provisions to establish
official eaths, ether than those specified in
| the organic act, or which require any test
with regard 10 slavery and the fugitive slave
law to be applied to attorneys, jurors, or
voters, or which suspend the right OF ha-
beas corpus, or which allow any other than
actual residents OF that territory to vote, or
! which allow Jurors to be selected in any 9TH
+ er manner than by lot, or which Furnishes
citizens Of the Territory by claiming them
/ together and exposing them to labor on the
public works, or causing bonds or chains to
! be attached to them. IL also further de-
! cared that it is the deliberate opinion Of
| Congress that persons under arrest in the
( Territory, under indictment for treason or
other political offences, are wrongfully de-
tanned and orders their Immediate release
/ Ii orders the Governor of Kansas to order
an election in the Territory on Tuesday sue
ceeding the first Monday in November next;
and all persons when actual and bona fide
residents of the Territory on the first Of May,
/ 1850, shall be entitled to vote and eligible
to Office. 1t provides that both branches Of
the Legislature shall be chosen. and that the
election shall be according to the enumera-
/ ton and apportionment ordered by the Gov
ernor, Delegate to Congress, County Com
missioners, Clerks, Recorders, &c. False
! swearing at an election is declared perjury,
which shall 10 punished by IN imprisonment
/ Of not less than three nor more than twelve
months, and by fine of not less than 500
nor more tina $500. Ten days after elec-
ton all persons chosen shall be eligible to
enter upon taeir duties, to the exclusion OF
4 oil persons now claiming such authority.
Mr.. Bayard regarded Mr.. Wellcr's bill Of
no more force than declaration Of rights
/ AMI as such could vote for it. He was free
| to admit that some Of the laws Of Kansas
were shocking To the local sense OF the CON-
munity, and some Of them invaded national
| rights; such laws he was willing by declar-
alton Of rights to abrogate, because that
was the only way in which Congress could
act.
/ Mr.. Mason voted for and approved OF the
| bill passed May, 1854, to organize territories
/ of Nebraska and Kansas, because it gave the
| people the right To regulate their domestic
institutions in their own way. This bill pro-
posed to undo that work and prescribe how
far they should be free to make their own in
stutions, and in what respect they should not
be thus free. Tais proposition did not meet
his appreciation; he would move to lay upon
the table every proposition of that kind, un-
I'll they who were endeavoring to carry into
effect their revolutionary purposes should be
/ reduced to submission. He moved that the
( bill and amendment be tabled.
| Mr.. Weller urged him to withdraw the mo-
| tipo, as he wished to speak on the subject,
and Mr.. Mason acquiesccd.
Mr.. Weller said he was one of the last
Senators that would sympathize with the
House in it's fuctious course on the Army
bill. The only object which he had in view
was to do what the Senator had done some
three or four years ago, and the bill which
! he offered Was no more nor less than one
section Of the hill which the Senate had
passed, but which for some reason or other
had been suffered to slumber on the Speak
er's table; but AS the House lind 80 much
fault with the oppressive laws Of Kansas
and he would admit some OF them were OPP
pressive and infamous as any laws which had
ever found their way upon the statute book
Of free people in any age Of the world
why should the Senate declare them null and
void as he had before declared, many OF
them were not only in derogation of the Or
gnnic laws, but Of the constitution of the
United States. Freedom OF speech was
guaranteed by the constitution, but by some
Oh THESE laws IL wan utuicu. w men nc IOuno
laws which were in conflict with the consti-
tuition, he did not choose to wait for the
judiciary, but wanted to wipe them out at
once.
Messrs. Butler and Brown we're opposed
to further legislation in the matter.
! On motion Of Mr.. Hunter the Senate al
journed.
HorsE.-The reports Of the Committee on
the McMullen and Granger affair were laid on
the table.
Campbell Of Ohio, moved an adjourn
mcnt, but withdrew it after some satirical
remarks by Letcher on the report Of the Com
mittee.
j Harris made nm unsuccessful effort to pro-
coed to consider the unfinished business Of
last session.
Il The House refused by two majority to
agree to Orr's motion for q all. Adjourn
ed.
WAsHtsaros, Aug. Is.
The feeling OF the Senate now is to sit the
session through until next March, unless the
army bill is soan passed. An effort would
be made to take up the regular order of bu-
! sincss Notwithstanding they agreed in caucus
to do nothing until the army bill was dis
I pnana nf uh.r ..a .jaotIu not rc.taI -.