The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-03-27
THIRTY-FOURTH CONGRESS-.
First Session.
Wednesday, March 10, 1856.

of Representatives making appropriations for
the payment of invalid and other pensions OF
the United States, for the year ending the Goth
June, 1857, reported back the same without
amendment.
Also. from the same committee, reported
book House bill for the support Of the Military
Academy, for the year ending the 3Oth of June,
1857, with sundry amendments, and asked their
immediate consideration; which was agreed to.
The amendments reported from the commit
tee having been agreed to- the bill was further
amended, on motion of Mr.. Weller, read a third
time, and passed.
Mr.. Clayton had asked for portion of the
morning hour to reply to the Senator from
Texas, but would prefer to wait until the speech
of that Senator was printed.
Mr.. Houston said that he should claim the
right to reply.
Mr.. Clayton moved to take up the motion to
refer the message of the President, communi.
eating Lord John Russells letter respecting
the treaty of 1850, to the Committee on For
eign Relations.
The motion having been agreed to-
Mr.. Clayton addressed the Senate for some
minutes beyond the appointed time, in the
course of which he sent to the desk a letter
from Mr.. Vanderbilt, complaining of the treat
ment received by the Accessory Transit Com.
pany at the hands of Walker, saying that the
pretences of Walker for so doing were false,
and known by him at the time to be so; touch
ing at the same time on matters connected with
the affairs of Central America, and the inter
probation of the treaty of 1850. He was for
endeavoring, by a continuance of negotiation,
to bring England to a sense of Justice; and, in
the mean time, we could go on strengthening
our defences, and increasing our navy, not so
% .,,tl hat e -
ly to render it more efficient. He thought of
all times this would be the worst to go to war
with England, armed all cap-d-pie as she was,
with 10000 veteran troops returning from the
Crimea and with naval force such as was
never known before. He thought, however, if
Great Britain saw that we were preparing our
defences, and that there was united feeling
here to resist her Interpretation of the treaty,
that the British people would compel the Min
istry to abandon it. The correspondence be-
tween Mr.. Buchanan and Lord Clarendon, pub
lished in that country, had worked very per-
ceptible change in the minds of the British
people.
No question was taken on the reference, nor
was it known whether Mr.. c. had concluded, or
had merely given way for the special order.
On motion by Mr.. Hunter, the Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration of the bill from the
House, to supply deficiencies in the appropria-
tons for the service of the fiscal year ending
the 30th of June, 1856, and reported from the
Committee on Finance of the Senate, with sun
dry amendments.
The item of 100000 for continuing the
works on the aqueduct was one of the amend
ments reported by the Committee on Finance.
Mr.. Hunter stated that it was placed in this
bill because it was the appropriate time for 60
with tho xuorG xubop 1ab or Me
and the shores of the Potomac healthful.
Mr.. Clay demanded the yeas and nays, and
the amendment was agreed to by the following
vote:
YEAs-Messrs. Allen, Bayard, Benjamin,
Bigler, Bright, Brodhead, Brown, Clayton, Col
lamer, Crittenden, Dodge, Durkee, Fish, Foot,
Foster, Geyer Hale, Hamlin, Harlan, Houston,
Hunter Iverson, Johnson, Mallory, Mason,
Pratt, Rusk, Sebastian, Seward, Stewart, Sum
ner, Thomson of New Jersey, Trumbull, and
Weller-34.
NAYs-Messrs. Adams, Biggs, Clay, Fitz-
patrick, and Wade-5.
Among the amendments agreed to were items
for the improvements in Washington.
HOUSE,
The House then resumed the consideration
of the resolution empowering the Committee of
Elections in the contested election case from
the Territory of Kansas, to send for persons and
papers, and to examine witnesses upon oath or
affirmation.
Mr.. Bowie, of Maryland, reviewed the allega-
tons contained in the memorial of Governor
Reeder, and contended that they were not such
as would justify the House in comforting upon
the Committee of Elections the extraordinary
power of sending for persons and papers. He
then entered into an argument to prove that in
every respect the Legislature of Kansas had
been properly and rightfully constituted.
Mr.. Washburn, of Maine, then demanded the
previous question.
The previous question was seconded.
Mr. Hickman, of Pennsylvania, then claimed
the floor, under the rule which permits mem.
Der, reporting the proposition under considera.
ton, to close the debate thereon.
Having declared that the opponents of the
resolution had been utterly annihilated by dis.
charges from their own battery, he alluded to
the Importance of the question which the House
was called upon to decide. We, of the North,
he remarked, have been invoked to stand by
the law. l will stand by the law, wherever /
find it, and | ask that other gentlemen will do
the same. We have stood by the compromises
of 1850, and / appeal to gentlemen now not to
set us an example of characterization, and teach
us to usurp the law. tell you, if you SOW that
seed in the North, you SOW it in good ground
it will bring forth an hundred-fold.
was opposed to the Kansas ebraska act
and if L had been a member at the time of its
passage should have voted against it. was
opposed to it because it repealed-rather, be
cause it did violence to-a solemn and long-sub
sisting compact. l was opposed to it because
the legislation was predicated upon lie be
cause it violated the pledges of the Democratic
party, and destroyed the plighted faith of the
Chief Executive of this nation to the people
But it is a law, and | will abide by it, and shall
vote against the restoration of the Missouri
compromise, whenever that measure shall b.
brought before the House. will do 80, be
cause it has been filched from us, basely ant
ANONYMOUSLY filched from us. 1t has gon,
into the arms of the debauchee; it has beer
defowered, dishonored, and you cannot restor
its sanctity or purity. l will not again take
into my arms; / will not take it back. again T.
be polluted. will look upon it rather as
thing once loved, but now abandoned forever
look forward to the day. may not, vii
not live to see i'll see the day in the distanc
when those who were instrumental in the pei
petration of this act of wickedness or of foil
will repent the deed in bitterness, in sackclot
and ashes.
He then replied to various arguments tina
had been advanced, and argued to prove ths
the House possessed the right to inquire int
the validity of the Legislature of the Territor
of Kansas.
The question was then taken on the motto
of Mr.. Bennett, of Mississippi, to recommit th
resolution reported by the Committee of Ele
tons, with instructions, and it was disagreed t
The question was then stated to be on Il
substitute offered by Mr.. Dunn, of Indiana,
] lieu OF that offered by Mr.. Bennett, of Mississi