The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-11
Monday, December 8, 1856.


SENATE.
On motion of Mr.. Pearce, of Maryland, the
usual Standing Committees were reappointed,
by vote upon general resolution introduced
for that purpose, instead of by a resort to bal
lot, which latter is customary only at the be-
ginning of each new Congress.
Mr.. Trumbull desired the yeas and nays. 1t
would appear that one great party of Ike coun-
try had been utterly excluded, and he asked the
yeas and nays, in order that it might be seen
who were sectional.
The yeas and nays having been ordered on
the adoption of the list, it was decided in the
affirmative by the following vote:
YEAs-Messrs. Adams, Allen, Bayard, Big
Ter, Bright Brodhead, Brown, Butler, Cass,
Clay, Comegys, Dodge, Evans, Fitzpatrick,
of Iowa, Jones of Tennessee, Mason, Pearce,
Pratt, Pugh, Reid, Rusk, Sebastian, Slidell,
New Jersey, Toucey, and Wright@s4.
N&Ys-Messrs. Collamer, Fessenden, Fish,
Foot, Foster, Hale, Hamlin, Harlan, Seward,
Trumbull, Wade, and WiIson-l2.
The motion with reference to the number of
copies of the Presidents Message which it is
proposed to print for the use of the Senate be.
ing then taken up. Mr.. Bigler, of Pennsylvania,
delivered an elaborate speech in reply chiefly
to certain charges made on the floor of the Sem
ate by Mr.. Wade, of Ohio, and Mr.. Wilson, of
Massachusetts, who, in former debate, alleged
that the Democracy of the North had "blink-
ed" the real issue of the late Presidential can.
vass.
Mr.. Bigler proceeded to sum up what he
deemed the results of the late Presidential cleo
ton, which he defined to be as follows l. The
election of James Buchanan and John C.
Breckenridge; 2. The popular ratification of
the Democratic principles enunciated at Gin
cinnati; 8. The defeat of the Republican par
ty in twenty-three out of the thirty-one States
of the Union; and, 4. The Reputation of the
American party in thirty out of the thirty-one
States.
He next proceeded to specify the elements
which constituted the Republican party and
which he declared were sectional alike in their
nature and origin. The Democratic party, on
the contrary, was national in all its features
To the charge that Democratic meetings were
called and Democratic banners were hoisted at
the North in favor of Buchanan, Breckenridge
and Free Kansas" he responded by question
ing the accuracy of the statement in the extent
which was given to it, and also by contending
that, even if true it argued no breach of politi-
cal faith on the part of the Northern Democra-
cy, who, while agreeing with their brethren
elsewhere in maintaining the principles of pop
ular sovereignty as announced in the Kansas
Nebraska bill, might yet be naturally expected
to desire that Kansas should be free State,
and to express hope that this end would be
attained under the auspices of the late Terri
torial legislation of Congress. If he were living
in Kansas, he would vote against the introduc.
ton of Slavery, but he could not subscribe to
the dogma that its Territorial extension was
tantamount to the increase of the number of
those held in bondage. The diffusion of Slave.
ry was not its aggravation, but might tend
rather to mitigate its evils. And, on the other
hand, any Congressional restriction of Slavery
would not check the multiplication of slaves
within their present limits for a century to
come. He therefore defended the wisdom of
leaving each Territory to determine its own do
mestic institutions-a policy which he contend.
ed ;sea not meant to favor the extension of
Slavery in Territories now free.
Mr.. Bigler declared that he had no sympathy
with extremists of either section-with those
partisans of Slavery whom he designated as
belonging to the +" Barnwell Rhett school," any
more than with those fanatics at ihs North,
who, in their hatred of Slavery, advocated q
dissolution of the Union, He expressed his
great disapprobation of recent suggestion,
made by the Governor of South Carolina, in
favor of renewing the slave trade, and rejoiced
w huo ~ oo SOhOAoAiy AOPuuioeoU Wy CouScIVd-
tives at the South.
Mr.. Trumbull asked Mr.. Bigler to allow him
to correct what he Mr.. IT, considered a mis-
representation of facts; but Mr.. Bigler declined
to yield, on the ground that interruption would
interfere with the continuity of his argument.
Mr.. Collamer obtained the floor immediately
after Mr.. Bigler had concluded, but gave way
to
Mr.. Trumbull, who gave his understanding
of Mr.. Dupn's bill, in contradistinction to that
of Mr.. B. He glanced also at the arrangement
made by the adoption of the committees, as
doing injustice to the minority.
On this portion of Mr.. It's remarks, quite a
protracted discussion ensued, in which Messrs.
Stuart, Clay, Butler, Hale, and others, partici.
pated, when, without taking any question, the
Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
The Speaker laid before the House the annual
message of the President of the United States
which was read.
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, moved that the mes.
sage be referred to the Committee of the Whole
on the state of the Union, and printed; and also
that the Committee on Printing be instructed
to inquire into the expediency of printing ten
thousand extra copies of the message and &C.
companying documents.
Mr.. G.. remarked that he regardad the mos.