Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-03-14

the Free States will not vote for him.
The Thirty-fourth Congress
In the Senate. on the 9Th, the bill cstnb- |
fishing the Collection Districts was passed;
after which, Hon. Lyman TrumbuIl WAS con-
frmed in his scat for six years from the attn
of March last The Constitution of Illinois
provides that no Judge Of the Supreme Court
shall be eligible to any other Office during the
term for which he was elected, nor for the
two succeeding years. Judge Trumbull was
elected to the Senate in contrdvention OF this
provision, and the Governor consequently re-
fused to give the usual certificate. The
Senate decided that lie was entitled to his
seat by 80 yeas to nays. That body took
the ground that the Constitution Of the Uni
ted States imposes all the restrictions that
can operate in the election of Senators.
A debate on Kansas affairs. between Messrs.
Hale, Touccy and Wilson, occupied the rest
Of the day.
In the House, Mr.. Hickman, from Commit
tee on Elections made report, presenting
the reasons for renewing their demands for
authority to send for persons and papers in
the Kansas contested election case. 1t rep
resents that the Legislature which passed the
olaction law. under the provisions of which
-
"en' ni'H''' was ''''''' was Il" upon
the people of the Territory by foreign in
vading force, who seized upon the govern
want and have oxorcised il evor since and
-,
'iaC tne PeoP'e 'ierc arc !" Su 'J"s"'eu
state. The following questions are then dis
cussed at length:
First-Ibe necessity OF having an investi-
cation of the facts in dispute.
Second-Ihe effect OF the act OF Gov. Reed
er in issuing certificates of election to ror-
| ton of the Legislature.
| Thrd-N hetler the evidence establishing
the facts can be had satisfactorily by deposit
ton.
Upon the trSt question, 1t Is urged That the
state of affairs in Kansas has excited the
feelings of the whole people Of the | Mon; that
it is the theme Of presidential message and
proclamation, and that sovereign States in
different portions Of the Union have consider
ed the propriety of an interference by men
and arms That the question to be settled is,
IL
Territory and governs it by Il strong hand;
that this question involves the existence OF
self government, and cannot be settled by
rrorinr among assertions and dcnials, but
only upon facts proven.
Upon the second oint it contends that the
reoplc Of the Territory cannot he prcudiced
bv what Gov Recder did in his capacity II.
Governors that the people are now contesting
the seat through him, and that if it was no,
so. still Congress could and should inyesti
gate it f a reasonable doubt exists az to the
right of Governor " hitieli to Il seat.
pom the third point it is argued, that a
Commission to take dispositions would bt
fruitless-that the President regards the pre-
sence of the army there as necessary to pre-
serve peace, and the execution of the Com
mission would bring the belligcrent partie
face to face and incite hostilltics that i
would be equivalent to an effort to obtair
testimony on battle field, and that the Com
mssioners would be powerless to Iresery
peace
In the course Of the argument the Commit
tee allude to the fact, that ordinarily. wher
depositions in cases of contested elections ar
taken, the people ENJOY some degree OF peac
and quiet, while in Kansas 1t is alleged tina
the settlers are not only reduced to a state o
vassalage to foreign power. but that person
!
rage are said to be of daily record in its his
tory
The report is volumlnous. argumcntativ
and able, and is concurred IN by Messrs
Washburne of Maine, Watson, Spinner, iilck
man, Coliax, and Bingham.
Mr.. Stephens, IRON the Committee on Elec
tons, presented minority report which set
| forth that an inquiry INTO the Validity ct tn
, territorial law under whlch Mr. hlteheid wa
elected, making the House not only the Judge
of the qualifications, and returns OF Its ow
2 members. but also OF the members OF the ter
ritorial Legislature, would be assuming
position not properly pertaining to the HOUSE
y and establish precedent OF dangerous ter
dency. Finally, II the House conclude tina
the examination shall be made, the end woul
y be better attained by sending commissioner
; to Kansas to take such testimony.
# The report is signed by Messrs. Oliver
Y Missouri, Stephens Of Georgia, and Smith
# Alabama,
Accompanying the report Isl paper fro
= Mr.. Whitfield, who submits that Mr.. Reed'
f mas no right TO De heard as he was not cal
+ oand;dota NJ anv election anthorisod !
c law.
C On the 9th bill was introduced in Il
T. senate ior the construction ol u raIiroau al
d "f,' o'',e ; W ,Ln W;..;sn;r; ~
:. south OF lat. 81 : 1t was referred to the Cor
10 mittee on the Pacific Railroad. The usu
+. iortihcation OH was passed nut the OH pr
ID w. Ne aoa ai',,o d;.o.;i G',.
ls mttee on Foreign Relations to consider Il
h expediency of some act of legislation to effe
H. livery aorogate our treaty WIN denmark, al
~ itIuui"eO ''lN pay Ih'h' " NV ''ou'H ''H'