The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-08
Friday, Nay 2, 1856.
sen ATE.

A message was received from the Presi.
dent transmitting to Congress a letter from the
Postmaster General, covering copies of the cor
respondence that has recently taken place be-
tween that Department and the Panama Rail-
road Company relative to a reduced rate of
mail compensation across the Isthmus.
The Postmaster General says that expert
enos he's fully demonstrated that regular
weekly communication is now required to meet
the wants and necessities OF the rapidly increas-
ing trade and commercial intercourse with
California and other parts of the Pacific coast.
He recommends competing line via Ncara.
qua, and the passage of an act authorizing him
to contract With the company for carrying the
mail across the lsthmus Of Panama, at sum
not exceeding $4,000 per annnm, and for q
semi-monthly conveyance from New York and
New Orleans to San Francisco, via Nicaragua,
alternating at regular intervals with the pres
ent line at Panama, at a sum not exceeding
100000 per annum.
Mr. Stuart called up for consideration the
Joint resolution for charging the custom house,
post-office, and courthouse, at Cleveland, Ohio.
The amendments were withdrawn by unani
nous consent of the Senate, and the Joint res
olution applying t. Cleveland alone was finally
passed.
Mr.. Dodge then introduced joint resolution
for enlarging the custom-house, postofice, and
courthouse, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. and De-
troit, Michigan, and asked its immediate con-
sideration; which was agreed to.
Mr.. Jones, of Iowa, moved to amend the res.
olution by clause providing for like building
at Dubuque, in Iowa.
Mr.. Fish suggested an amendment to the
amendment; which was agreed to.
And the question being taken on the amend
ment as amended, it was decided in the affirm.
alive.
The resolution was then reported to the SEN
ate, read third time, and passed.
The Senate then proceeded to the considera-
ton Of the SPECIAL order, being the bill to au-
thorize the people of Kansas to form Gonsti-
tuition and State Government.
Mr.. Benjamin, of Louisiana, discussed the
subject at length and with great ability, taking
the ground that on the Slavery question all
compromises were futile except those of the
Constitution itself. He thought that the great
error in attempting a settlement. He reviewed
the opinions of Northern Senators, and, in
responding particularly to the declaration c.
Mr.. Seward, that Slavery was an outlaw by the
laws of nations, he quoted the opinion of the
Supreme Court of the United States, delivered
by Chief Justice Lsrshall, to show the fallacy
of this position. Mr.. b. descaG.ed freely upon
the objects of Northern agitators, whose ppr-
poses he declared to be, first, to attain political
power in Congress- end then carry out abolition
in its fullest extent. He concluded by defining
his political position, declaring that as there
had been in 1852 no difference on the subject
of Slavery, the engrossing question, between
the Democratic party and the old Wing party,
of which he had been devoted member, and
as the issue in the coming Presidential election
b< hath, &ba I'D he
publican parties, he would join the former in
the impending Struggle, and give it whatever
aid his humble powers coaiI efford. He con-
sidered the Know Nothing party as navins de-
stroyed or absorbed the Wing party of the North,
and that its mystic ceremonies had been used
only to give power and influences to the Adolf
ton party, whose objects were easily traced
through the transparent veil thrown oyer them.
Mr.. B. declared that in joining the Democracy
he did not change his principles but only his
party name, and he expressed the fullest conf
dence in a complete triumph over sectionalism.
hr, Cass took occasion to refer pleasantly to
the attack OF one of the Senators from Missis-
sippi Mr.. Brown upon his old friend Squat
ter Sovereignty (which he considered only
another term for the inherent right of the peo.
pie to seifgovetnment-and declared his pur-
pose, with the consent of the Senate, to give
has views briefly on that topic on Thursday next
Mr.. Seward replied to some of the positions
of Mr.. benjamin in regard to the law of pa
tons, aud the latter gentleman rejoined after
which, a discussion, verging upon personalities,
occurred between Messrs. Hale and Clay Mr.
Douglas expressed his satisfaction at one of the
Svowals of Mr.. Hale in reference to the fact
that Democrats ard Wings were now found
together on the greet issue that engages most
of the public attention.
HOUSE.
ks Seward. of Georgia, reported to the
House that the committee of conference on the
disagreeing votes of the two Houses on the
amendments of the Senate to the deficiency bill
had been unable to agree, and therefore asked
that the committee on the part of the House
be discharged from the further consideration of
the subject.
The motion was agreed TO, and the Chair
was authorized to appoint another committee.
The Speaker thereupon appointed Messrs.
Pringle of New York, McMullin of Virginia,
and Stanton of Ohio, as said committee.
Mr.. Covode, of Pennsylvania, gave notice
that at some early day he would ask leave to
introduce bill to incorporate company to
furnish the city of Washington and the Govern
ment with an abundant supply of pure water.
On motion of Mr.. Giddings, of Ohio, the
House then went into Committee of the Whole,
Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee, in the chair,) and
proceeded to consider the bills on the private
calendar.
Several bills were disposed Of and then, at
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