The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1857-01-03
CoNcnEssIoNAL. GetsaE
WASHINGTON. Dec. I6.

WASHINGTON, Dec. I6.
AL - SENATE.
On motion of Mr.. Dodge, resolution was
adopted calling on the Secretary of War for
copies of all letters addressed to that De-
partment by Wilson Shannon, late Governor
OF Kansas, and by Col. Sumner, relative to
Kansas affairs, which have not been hereto
fore communicated.
Mr.. Brown gave notice of his intention to
introduce bill providing for the construc-
ton Of railroad and telegraph communica-
ton between the Atlantic Coast and the
Pacific.
|. Mr.. Wilson introduced bill amendatory
of the act to organize the Territories OF Kan
sas and Nebraska.
Referred to the Committee on Terrific
On motion of Mr.. Rusk, tho joint resolu-
ton granting further time to the creditors OF
Texas to present their claims and other pur-
poses, was taken up.
Mr.. Rusk explained and advocated the
resolution which extends the time to .Janua-
ry LIST, 1858, and repeats the provision in a
formet It for the distribution pro rata OF the
residue of those who have filed their re-
leases.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Whitfield introduced a bill providing
for the assessment of damages sustained by
the loss and destruction of property, belong
ing to the citizens of Kansas, during the re-
cent disturbances in said Territory; also a
bill establishing district court at Leaven-
worth City, and other places in Kansas, and
bill establishing additional land districts in
Kansas.
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, from Committee on
Ways and Means, reported the Indian civil
and army appropriation bill.
Referred to Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, also reported bill
amending the section of the tariff act of Au-
gust, 1912, so as to prohibit importations of
indecent and obscene prints, transparencies,
statues, &C., parties offending to be proceed
ed against in d,e course of law and the often
sive articles TO be destroyed. The bill was
passed.
On motion of Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, the
further consideration of the bill reducing
duties on imports, reported last session, was
postponed until the first Tuesday in Janua-
~, 1887.
The debate on the Presidents Message
was resumed.
General Intelligence from Washington.
WASHINGTON, Dec. IA.
After the adjudgment of two minor cases,
the argument in the case Of" bred" Scott vs.
j. f. Sanford, was resumed. Mr.. Geyer
for the applicant, took the broad ground that
an African is incapable of beng made cti-
zen, and that it had been so decided by the
courts in number of cases.
ho - l,n IL, - a.
tuition every State except the slaveholding
States i'll the convention for the adoption of
Constitution left open the African slave trade
for twenty years, and to his mind it was not
the intention of the trainers of that instru-
ment to make an importation of material fo
citizenship. The law of Missouri says if
negro comes to that State with naturaliza-
ton papers from another State, he should
not be whipped, but it does not recognize as
citizen. He denied that slave was eman-
cipated by residence in free State. 1t
had been decided everywhere that the mere
temporary residence of the master in non
slaveholdlng State did not emanclpate the
slave. He thought when the case was exam
ined precedents could be adduced recognizing
the right of Congress to establish municipal
government in Territories, but denied that
there had been any judicial decision allowing
to go beyond. 1t is remarkable fact that
every attempt to legislate on slavery was
made not under the Constitution, but under
the pretence of a compact The act of 1893
and others was not an eXertion of power to
inhibit slavery, but an exercise of commercial
power. In fact, these very acts recognize
the extension of slavery by local laws, and
protect it. He gave a history of the Missou-
RI Compromise, and then entered into long
argument in favor of squatter sovereignty,
stating in it tie people were resisting the
Revolution, the omnipotent power of legisla-
ton, andcontending that nothing could be
found in the Constitution or the decisions of
the Supreme Court, comforting supreme and
unlimited power oyer the Territories on Con-
gress.
He denied that the people of the Territory
had power to set up any government they
pleased, as also was it incompetent in Con-
gress to impose on them any government.
Any legislation by Congress must have refer
ence to their administration, or on equal foot
ing with other States. Attending to the
fact OF all the States assisting to form the
Constitution being slaveholding except one.
he said they having provided for the contin-
uance of slave trade for twenty years. it
could not be that they intended to deprive
any portion of the L. S. Treasury obtained
by the arms and money of the people, or
subject them to the arbitrary use of it if
Congress has omnipttent power over the
Territories, there is nothing to prevent their
making any man therein slave He could
not suppose that such thing ever entered
the minds of the trainers of the Constitution.
Jealous as they were of Legislative power,
and successfully as they resisted it, and they
were not the men to enact on this continent
the oppressive power claimed by the Parlia-
ment of England.
WASHINGTON, Dec Is.
1t was reported in the House to-day that
Mr.. Stephens, of Ga, has sent challenge or
note preliminary thereto to Mr.. Hill, one of |
the Fillmore Electors of that State. Their
grew out of a question of veracity
the terms agreed on by them for |
conducting the public discussions during the
PreSiden entail contest