Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-12-30
THIRTY.FIFTH CONGRESS.

Lecompton Swlndle, arralgn Senator Douglas |
for inconsistency, and insinuate that he was !
carrying favor with the Republicans. Mr.. |,
Douglas replied in such wise that in the run |
ming debate which followed Mr.. .Bigler was bro't
to his marrow-bones more than once. Mr. |
Bigler had said that he knew the Lccompton
fraud TO be an Administration measure. from
the Message and from ssother sources of in
formation.'' When pressed to say what those
ssother sources" were, he as good as backed
out from his original position. He was for
ced to disclaim any intentions to read Mr..
Douglas out of the party, and finally he de-
clined to protract the discussion. NJ. Biglcr
will hardly care to tackle the ''Little Giant
again. Mr.. Stuart of Michigan will continue
the debate to-day. The House resolution for
the payment of arrca-ages TO Members of
Congress at the commencement, instead Of at
the end of the session, and joint resolution
providing that when the two Houses adjourn
tomorrow it be till the 18th Of January, were
passed. The House spent the day in discussing
the Treasury Note bill--the principal speakers
thereon being Mcssrs. Letcher Of Va, Banks
| of Mass, Lovejoy of Ill. andCampbeil of Ohio
! Various substitutes and notifications of the
measure were suggested, but no action was
| taken. y resolution was passed limiting de-
bate to two hours to-day, with the view, it is
to be presumed, of rushing the bill through
before the recess. Leave was asked, but not
| obtained, to introduce 4 resolution Of inquiry
into the propriety of fc1cluding Mr.. BernhiSel,
| the Delegate from Utah, from his seat.
DECEMBER 22.-The Senate referred bills to
secure to actual settlers the alternate sections
of the public lands reserved in the grants 10
the States for railroad purposes, and 10 grant
every head of family who is a citizen of the
! United States homestead of 100 acres of
| land, on condition of its occupancy and cul
tivation. On the Presidents Message, Mr..
Fitch took the floor. He did not desire to
read Mr.. Douglas out of the party, pointed
| him to the fate Of such as had taken position
outside of the pale, instancing Mr.. Van Burcn
as a frightful example. Mr.. f. was for ad
mitting Kansas with whatever Constitution she
might present. Mr.. Douglas replied, show
ing Mr.. Fitch to be heterodoX on one point at
least. He CMr. D. had not become the mere
scrvile tool of any President. If the Presi-
dcut wanted Democratic harmony, let him
stand by the Cincinnati platform. Mr.. d.
spoke with confidence in the strength of his
position. and in tone of defiance to those
who denounced his course. Mr.. Clay mixed
in, but said nothing of importance. In the
House the Treasury Note bill was discussed.
Mr.. Snow opposed the sending forth of an r-
redccmable paper currency; there being moth
ing in the Treasury to redeem the issue, it
would but add to the evils which now prevail.
He favored loan which would bring forth the
twenty millions of coin now in secret recess
ses unemployed. and waiting for safe invest
ment. Mr.. Smith of Va. considered that the
notes would not be Of the character OF bank
paper; that the bill in effect only proposed a
loan. After 4 political tilt between Messrs
Smith and Grove, Mr.. Morris of Pa. congrat-
ulated the President on his stand upon the
oldWhig National Bank platform. Mr. Clancy
Jones supported the bill. Mr. Banks moved
to amend SO as to raise $4,000, 600 on stock
redeemable in one year, which was lost, rs to
, l03. The Senate bill then passed with
out amendment, rs to Sc.
, DECEMBER 23.-In the Senate, after refer
ring various portions Of the Presidents Mes
sage, Mr.. Stuart took up the Kansas question.
He agreed with Attorney General Butler that
| the power of Congress in the admission OF
: new States was penary. Congress is to deter
mine whether the State shall be admitted at
) all, and if SO, how. Enabling acts are not in
dispensable to the admission Of new States.
These principles lie applied TO the case of Kan
, sas. Was the form of Government republi-
can, were the people satisfied, and did they
, ask admission under it? Congress had pow
] er to admit, but not to coerce. As half OF the
people of Kansas had not an opportunity to
= vote fer Delegates to the Convention, how
S should they abide by the decision in which
their voices had not been heard The Con-
yentiOn trick and a fraud, and he would
| never vote to sanction that fraud, the most
: enormous ever attempted upon the people nm
der the form of law. If this (the Lecompton)
D Constitution was forced upon the people Of
s Kansas, those who did it would light the torch
of civil discord throughout the Union. They
might cry s'peace, peace, but there would be
: no peace" Mr.. Brodcrick agreed with Messrs
Douglas and Stuart in most of their remarks
but when Walker went to Kansas he found in
surrection, and with great labor restored peace
The President and Cabinet were alone respon.
? sibe for the recent outbreak. 1t was the first
time that he had known the President to de-
S scend from his high position to coerce peace
able citizens to the will of party men. He
had rendered as much service IN the election
of Buchanan as any man on the foor and he
was sorry to disagree with his party. He was
astoniShed at the forbearance of the people OF
a Kansas toward the DELEGATES to tha Couven.