Weekly Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1853-1861, 1856-12-18
CONGREGATIONAL.

open violation of the plighted faith which !
marked the repeal Of the Missouri Compro
mise as the sole cause Of the past and still
existing excitement concerning slavery as a
recognized institution. He reviewed at
length the recent election, and replied to
the Arguments Of Messrs. Mason, Butler and
Bigler.
Mr. Rusk introduced a bill granting furth-
or time to the creditors of Texas to present
their claims.
The motion to print the Presidents Mes
sage and accompanying documents pending,
Mr. Collamer said When he began his term
OF service in the Senate, he entertained the
conviction that questions pertaining to the
business before that body were the only le-
climate subjects of discussion; but he soon
found that other able and experienced Sena-
tors held different opinion. They thought
there were more important duties devolving
upon them than listening to petitions and re-
dressing tho grievances and enacting laws for
the government of the people, and they I'M
dertOok to guide and prepare the public mind.
his own opinion was, that the public mind
should prepare itself, and not receive its d.
rection from the debates or action Of either
house Of Congress. lie thought these bodies
should rather be the echo of public sentiment
than the formers of it, for that was in fact
Transforming the Senate from legislative as
sembly into an arena Of political debate. bu.
1t seemed he was mistaken in his idea, for it
was not for moment to be supposed that the
practice of all these old and experienced Sem
atOrs was founded upon any erroneous theory.
He would confess that all his previous views
were completely overturned by his experiences
here. He found that on those questions
= IL
jects for debate, it took very Naturalization
range. Much that was said here, was not
said to produce an effect on the minds of the
members, or with the expectation of changing
their vote; but speeches were made, to use a
common phrase, for buncombe. Inasmuch
as this is the case, all parties must participate
in the discussion. IL would be idle for any
body to attempt to elevate himself above the
current Of debate, as it proceeded from day to
day.
When he heard the annual message read
he other day, he thought some parts of it
were in rather bad taste, but it was not mat
ter for the Senate to complain of. "De gusts
bus non" &c. - ~
The aspersions which the President cast
upon che people of the Northern States who
voted for the Republican ticket seem to have
been dictated by an impotent sort of rage,
worthy Of no importance, in themselves con-
sdered, but coming as they do, &c catledra,
from the highest executive officer in the ma
ton, they deserve some remark.
Mr.. Collamer quoted from the message
those passages charging the Republicans with
being influenced with desire to change the
domestic Institutions existing in the States,
saying the President imputed false pretenses
to them, and had further charged that they
seek an object which they well know to be
revolutionary, and that with this knowledge
and fully aware of the consequences which
must result from their action, they endeavor
TO prepare the people of the United States for
civil war by doing everything in their power
to deprive the Constitution and the laws of
moral authority, and to undermine the fabric
of the Union. A little further on the Presi-
dent spoke of an attempt of portion of the
States, by sectional organization, to usurp the
control of the Government of the United
States.
MIR. Collamar regarded these as grave and
very serious charges, and as being unwarrant-
ed by facts. He proceeded to give history
ofslavery in connection with the administra-
ton Of this Government from its foundation
to the present time, maintaining the power of
Congress, which is now questioned, to pro-
hibit slavery in the Territories, had always
been exercised until veryrecent period, and
that with a very few exceptions there was
never any question as to their right to exer-
else it.
Adjourned.
HoUsE-The House resumed the conside-
ration of the motion to refer tie Presidents
Message to a Committee Of the Whole.
Mr.. Smith, of Tenn, replied to the argu-
ments of Messrs. Campbell and Sherman,
saying that he saw in the remarks of the lat
ter gentleman an effort to unite all the ele-
ments of opposition to the Democracy in the
next Presidential election; but he believed
the scheme would fail. He proceeded to ar
que Tat the repeal Of the Missouri Restric-
tor vas not condemned in the recent can
vas as had been so freely asserted by gentle
men on the other side.
Mr.. Smith, of Tennessee, replying to the
remarks Of Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, and Mr..
Sherman, said that if they confined them
selves to making excuses for their defeat, he
would not have thought proper to respond
They had charged on the Democratic party
the entertaining of different sentiments in
different sections of the Union, but this was
so silly it amounted to nothing in the public
mind.
lie saw IN Mr.. Sherman's speech an effort
to unite all opposing elements, North and
South, against the Democratic party in the
next Presidential election. He saw back |
down from all the positions taken by the Re- |
publican party in this House relative to the
question of slavery, but the scheme viii not
succeed.
The other gentleman, Mr.. Campbell, had
stated that the great principle of the Nebras-
ka Bill and the repeal of the Missouri Com
promise, and the policy of the present Adj |
ministration had been condemned by three |
hundred thousand votes. So far from this.
as he proceeded to show, they have been |
Overwhelmingly approved. The people of |
the country, he maintained, are opposed to |
sectionalism, as was shown in the result of
the Presidential election. AS to Buchanan's |
principles, they are embodied in the Nation
al Democratic Convention.
The House then proceeded to the consid- |
Grafton of the special order, the Whitfield
case, and reconsidered the vote by which the
House, on Monday week, refused that he be |
sworE as delegate from Kansas-111 against |
los.
Mr.. Grow moved the whole question be |
referred to the Committee on Elections |
Negatived by majority.
The oath was then ordered to be admins |
tered-112 against los.
Mr. Whitfield advanced and took the oath |
to support the Constitution.
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, from the Commit |
tee on Ways and Means, reported a bill ma
king appropriations for the support of the
Military Academy and invalid pensions
Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Dec 10.
SENATE The Senate resumed considcra-
ton of the motion to print the Message and
accompanying documents.
Mr.. Pugh entered into a defence of the