The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-03-12


instant 10 be printed for the of the members of th
House; which adopted IL. -.
! Aso, from the same committee, to whom was referred
the saDee resolution ordering the printing of 900
copies o The report OF the superintendent OF the
meht insane Asylum to be placed at the disposal OF said
superintendent which resolution was adopted
KANSAS ELECTION
The House then resumed the consideration of the resou
ton reported from the Committee of Elections authorizing
that committee to send for persons and papers, and
tesumony IN The Kansas contested-eection case.
Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia. opposed the resolution He
dd not however question the power Of the House to ex-
ercse ihs extraordinary authority. Gentlemen who ad-
dressed the house spoke those who adverse
the passage Of The resolution opposed sending
persons and papers He favor OF the fullest inyest-
gaon o every fact which IL proper for the House
KNOW III ofuer 10 determine the particular point before it.
lie desired that the House should exercise the widest and
fullest latitude In the before the House was II proper
Tor them 10 have the testimony which sought to
be obtained lie thought that If the question was sfed
down IT would be found to amount TO this that The prop
osln was 70 send for witnesses and by their testimony
to ptQSe the nvaiidity of the territorial government In
hansn on the ground that the members Of it we're i'm
properly aud unconstitutionally elected.
In the character i'll which the House was sitting as
court he was in favor of bringing witnesses here to throw
light upon every question before them into which they
had right TO examine but he contended that in this
case as court they had and that il had never
been attempted to assal law by inquring into the con-
sttuonal organization OF the body that passed it, They
had no right to back and inquire into the legality Of
the election Of the members of the Territory Such ques
hon had been raised in of Justice and
the that it fundamental maxim of the British
law laid down by Sir Ed Coke and illustrated by Black
stone and enforced by every writer the subject that it
Is The Inherent right Of every legislative and parliamentary
body 10 settle the question of its organization for it
SELF
The Committee Of Elections of the House examining
Into the case OF the memorial of the Hon A. H. Reeder
der that clause of the constitution which gave the House
power TO judge of the qualifications and of their
own members They had full power do this but they
had M hi "A
the qualifications and returns OF the legislature of Kansas
for which purpose the committee asked authority to
send for persons and papers That question closed
question Gov Reeder the constituted Judge to decide
it, and he had done So and admitted and certified the
legality Of the election and of the members of that
Legislature The judgment record, and the ques
uon closed and there appellate jurisdiction to
the House. TO the Supreme Court any other tribunal
The House, by attempting it, would assume attitude
aud prerogatve which did not belong to it, and render it
self n usurper
lie opposed the investigation and entered his pro-
test against because it setting most ngerous ex-
ample to the future 1t was not only undermining the
very pillars OF every State legislature but it under
mining the foundation-sone of every State organization
and tue widest chaos would from such legislation
lie referred to the of Gov Reeder and said that it
his statement true be guilty of the fla
grant, gross, and cupabe derelcton of duty that any
public officer in the United States had ever committed
aud that if the Territory committed his charge had
invaded and overrun and the qualified voters there driven
from the polls and he the goverHor had slept upon his
post and disegarded his duty what famy of degradation
would De low enough 10 consign him TOT
Mr. DUNN, OF Indiana, in favor of the fullest and
fest investigation into the general affairs of Kansas
only TO enable them to Judge TO who entitled
represent that Territory the floor Of the House but in
order that the present OF affairs there might be
recty understood He opposed sending for persons
and papers, thinking that the better way send
a commission aud he had series Of resolutions read by
the Clerk which he gave notice that he intended offer
substitute for the resolutions Of committee providing
that committee Of three members of the House should be
appointed by the Speaker proceed 10 inquire into and
collect evidence in regard to the troubles in Kansas gen
orally, and particularly in regard TO any force fraud
used in the elections which had taken place in that Terri
tory that the members of the committee be excused from
attending their duties in the House, furnished with
clerks and sergeants-at-arms enable them TO fully dis
charge their duties and appropriatng $4,000 from the
contingent fund Of the House for their support
Mr.. WRIGHT Of Tennessee, next addressed the House
In opposition TO the resolution He said that the commit
tee desired bring persons and papers before the House
not to nvaidae the legislature of Kansas but iuva
date all the laws passed by that legislature including
those relating land and TO marriage contracts
he denied that this could be done by single branch
OF Congress lie spoke very highly Of MIR. WHIT
FIELD the sitting delegate who desired nothing but
70 take his seat, II his friends desired IT, by
other than fair lie (Mr. W. desired full uves
gRtiou and wished TO conceal nothing that pertinent
or relative to this case but he unwilling adopt
resolution that would only delay the termination of the
controversy aud lead result He defended the people
OF the South nom nsinuations made against them The
people OF the South and the people Of Missouri law
abiding PEOPLE much as the latter had been denounced
upon this hoor border rufans There single
instance in the history Of country in which the people
Of Missouri had been found resisting the laws either State
national aud he thought that the charges which were
made against that State with little grace from
Of the members-especially those from Massachusetts,
Mr.. TRAFT0N, OF Massachusetts, obtained the floor
Nr. LETCHER Of Virginia, moved that the House do
DOW adjourn which motion NJ reed to and half
past o'clock The House adjourned,