The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-07
THE NATIONAL ERA: WASHINGTON, D. G., AUGUST T. 1856

Mr.. Sherman's amendment of the army bill.
restricting people in the bearing of arms in
selfdefence, was debated. Mr.. Sherman re-
piled to Mr.. divers minority report, and en-
deavored to maintain the truth of the state
ments of the majority report.
Mr. Savage declared that the whole transac.
ton was an assault on justice and truth. He
said that, instead of facts, the majority report
was composed of the grossest misrepresenta
tions and falsehoods, not to say perjury, and it
was entitled to no credit whatever. The state
ments were base, fictitious, Munchausen. He
denounced the Aid Societies, their supporters
and abettors.
Mr.. Oliver followed, defending the minority
report. He said the House would be lost to
Justice and decency, to admit Reeder
The Clerk commenced to read a statement
from Reeder, who is now sick in PHILADELPHIA ::
but before concluding, the House adjourned.
Friday, august l, 1856.
SENATE.
Mr.. Crittenden presented the memorial of
Lieut.. Bartlett, relative to the action of the
Naval Board in his case, and that of the Sem
ate Naval Committee thereon. Mr. c. spoke
on the subject
Mr.. Crittenden submitted resolution, that
the papers bearing on Lieut. Bartett's case.
be printed, which was agreed to.
Mr.. Cass and Mr.. Stuart presented petitions
of citizens of Michigan, praying the admission
of Kansas with the Constitution.
On motion of Mr.. Seward, a resolution was
adopted directing the Committee on Commerce
to inquire whether it is expedient to require
the hre rooms of steam vessels to be construct
ed of ire-proof material.
The Senate, without taking the question, adj
journed till Monday.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Boyce said that he had received certi6.
cate from the Governor of South Carolina, sta.
ting that Preston S. Brooks had been reelected
to Congress, and he asked that he be sworn in.
Mr. Brooks then advanced to the chair of the
Speaker, who administered the oath to support
the Constitution.
The Kansas contested election case was then
resumed. The Clerk continued and finished
the reading of Mr.. Reeder's statement from
yesterday. The latter part refers to prece.
dents, and quotes, among others, the remarks
OF Messrs. Cass and Buchanan, to show that
Delegate may be admitted, in the absence of a
specific law for that purpose, and Mr.. Reeder
agrees to support the position heretofore as
sumed by him.
Mr.. Whitfield, the sitting Delegate, said his
election should not be reversed without a full
and impartial hearing. He maintained that
he was elected under the statute passed by the
organic law, and therefore was entitled to re-
main where he was. There has been no proper
legal challenger of his rights, from the fact that
ne had no competitor in the canvass. Hence,
Mr.. Reeder, being volunteer, had nought to
contest But. apart from this, Mr.. Reeder is
estopped, he having certified the Legislative
Assembly as legal, and had power to right such
wrongs as were represented to exist He in
sisted that every rule of testimony in his case
was violated by the Investigating Committee.
Mr.. Washburn, of Maine, replied to Mr.. Ste
phens, contending that, from uniform principle
and precedent, the House has the right to in
quire, as it has inquired, into this case-into
the question of fact, whether there was or was
not Legislature which could pass laws of
binding force; and it has been incontestaby
proved that the Kansas Legislature was elected
by the aid OF votes of Missourians. He insisted
that Mr.. Reeder should be admitted as Dele
gate, MIR. Reeder having received majority of
the legal votes of the Territory.
The House then voted on the resolutions of
the Committee on Elections, viz:
"That John w. Whitfield is not entitled to a
seat in this House as Delegate from the Ter.
ritory of Kansas"
The House agreed to it-yeas ITO, nays 90.
The next resolution voted on was,
That Mr.. A. 81. Reeder be admitted to seat
on this floor as Delegate from the Territory of
Kansas"
This was reiected-yeas SO, nays 49,
Mr.. Washburn, of Maine, asked, but did not
obtain leave, to offer a resolution to pay Mr..
Feeder mileage and per diem to date
The House then went into Committee on the
private calendar; after which, without acting
on any private bills, as reported from the Com.
mittee of the Whole, the House adjourned.