The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-21
Thursday, February ID, 1856.
SENATE.


Mr. Brown introduced bill to establish a
library for young men in the District of Co
| lumbia.
The bill provides that the Justices of the
Circuit Court of this District, the Mayors OF
Washington and Georgetown, Secretary of the
Smithsonian Institution, and their successors
in office, with such persons as the Mayors OF
the two cities may designate, shall be created
| a body corporate forever, under the name oil
columbia Library for Young Men," and in
this name to sue and be sued in any court
may possess property for the aforesaid purpose
real and personal. If lot be granted for said
library, no sale shall be made without the as
sent of Congress. Power is given to appoint
| all needful officers, messengers, and laborers,
and to compensate them; also, the power to
pass all bylaws, &c , and to alter or amend
them; to limit the ages within which young
men may be entitled to the provisions of the
act; to diffuse knowledge among them in such
ways as are best calculated to instruct them,
elevate their morals, and fit them for useful
ness, &c.
The Senate then proceeded to consider the
following resolution, submitted by Mr.. Wilson
on the Sd of January last:
ResOlred, That the President of the United
| States be requested to communicate to the
| Senate all information in the possession of the
| Executive in respect to the disturbances in the
| Territory of Kansas, affecting the freedom of
elections, and that he be further requested to
inform the Senate by what authority armed
men from the State of Missouri were marched
into the Territory of Kansas, against the peace
and good order of the said Territory, and also
| what steps have been taken by the Executive
to prevent these outrages upon the legal rights
| of the people of that Territory; and what per-
L. &c ~
ment have participated in these acts, and to
what extent.
Mr.. Clay moved that it be indefinitely post
poned.
Mr.. Wilson expressed the hope that such a
| course would not be pursued. 1t was very
| desirable that the Senate should have the in
| formation called for by the resolution.
| Mr. Weller thought the resolution had better
| be postponed. The Executive had no special
information not already in the possession of the
| Senate.
Mr.. Fessenden contended that the Senate
| had no information other than that derived from
public rumor and the public press. The Pres
ident had called their attention to the doings in
Kansas and it was fair to infer that the Presi-
| dent had not acted upoH rpE,or, but had infor'
| nation from authentic data, which it was desi-
| rable that the Senate should also have.
Iur. ulee OnOugut IHtTS Was uO ucCcSSity iOI
| the passage of the resolution, as the subject
was under investigation by the Committee on
Territories, who could call on the President for
any necessary information touching the subject.
Mr.. Geyer had no other objection to the res
uution, than that it was not sufficiently enlarg-
ed, but assumed as fact that men from the
State of Missouri had been marched into the
Territory of Kansas, for the purpose of taking
possession of said Territory. He thought the
difficulties had grown out of the doings of the
Emigrant Aid Society, who had sought to take
possession of the Territory, and exclude from
it others who had like right with themselves.
That men had gone there from Missouri for the
purpose of settling, he was aware; but that
they went there armed for the purpose of con-
trolling the elections, he did not believe. Why
had there not been societies for the settlement
of Nebraska, Utah, New Mexico, &C.?
Mr.. Fessenden contended that the sole object
of the resolution was to have any information
in the possession of the Executive, and spoke
of the excitement in the public mind in relation
to the subject, and that it was due to the occa-
| sion that they should have communicated to
| them all the facts in the hands of the President
Mr.. Toucey hoped the resolution would be
| adopted, but in proper form, calling on the
President Tor any information in his possession
relating to the affairs in Kansas. He thought
| Congress should direct its attention to the mat
| ter, and come to the aid of the Executive in
sustaining the laws. He approved of the whole
course of the President and, so long as we
had Constitution and laws, it was the DUTY of
all to sustain them. He thought the subject
had better be postponed, as the Senator from
South Carolina Mr.. Butler was entitled to the
| floor on another subject.
Mr.. Clay withdrew his motion to postpone
indefinitely; when
| Mr.. Wilson avowed his willingness 10 allow