The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-24

port, enlarging their powers to inquire into the
matter of binding, engraving, paper, pubiica'
ton Of reports in the Congressional Globe, DC
Mr.. Banks introduced bill authorizing the
people of Kanses to form Constitution and
State Government, preparatory to admission
into the Union with all the rights of the orig
insl States; which was referred to the Com
mittee on Territories.
After the transaction of other business, the
House adjourned.
Saturday, December l9, 1857.
SENATE
Mr.. Critieuden submitted resolutions setting
forth, that In consideration of the financial con-
diton Of the country, and the embarrassments
of the Treasury, the rates of duty established
by the tariff of March last ought to he materi-
ally increased; and also in favor of the substi-
tuition of a system of home valuation on imported
goods. The resolution lies over.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
Treasury note bill.
Mr.. Wilson argued in favor of revision of
the tariff of 1916, so as to restore the duties sn
iron and cotton and woolen goods. Under the
embarrassed circumstances Of the Treasury, he
would vote for an issue to the extent of ten
millions of Treasury notes, but no more.
Mr.. Hunter replied, that the amount would
not be enough, and it would become necessary
to pass another bill next month, providing for
more. 1t were better to do it now, all at once.
Mr.. Wilson should not be surprised, if, BE-
fore the close of the session, more than twenty
millions of dollars shall be asked for.
The debate was further continued for and
against the bill until late hour.
The Treasury note bill was passed, with two
mendments-namely, limiting the operation
of the law till January l, 1859, and providing
that the lowest denomination of notes shall be
one hundred dollars. The following is the vote:
Yeas-Messrs. Allen, Bayard, Benjamin, Biggs,
Bigler, Brown, Clay, Crittenden, Douglas, Ev-
ans, Fitch, Fitzpatrick, Foot, Green, Hale,
Hunter, Iverson, Johnson of Arkansas, Jones,
Kennedy, Mallory, Mason, Pearee, Polk, Reid,
Sebastian, Seward, Stuart, Thomson Of N. j.,
Wilson, and Wright-3.
Noys-Messrs. Bell, Broderick, Chandler,
Clark, Collamer, Davis, Dixon, Doolitile, Dur
kee, Fessenden, Hamhn, Harlan, johnson of
Tennessee, King, Pugh, Simmons, Trumbull,
and Wade-l3.
After remaining in session until half past six
o'clock, the Senate adjourned.
House
The House resumed the consideration of Mr..
Benefits resolution providiLg for the appoint
ment of special committee to take into con-
sideraton all papers on the subject of a rail
road to the Pacific.
Mr.. Barksdale made an unsuccessful motion
to table the resolution. The vote being yeas
"a, nays 80.
The Treasury note bill was taken up, and
discussed by Messrs. Jones, Banks, Davis, &c.
At P. NJ, the House adjourned to Monday.
Monday, December 81, 1857.
SENATE
NJ R;,1or Of Darns,I,on;o x-oooaJaJ 70
address the Senate in defence of the Kansas
policy as indicated in the Presidents message.
he was of the opinion that Mr.. Douglas had
ma g a move in the wrong direction, and, in
reply to that gentleman, he said that prece-
dents proved the opposite of what Mr.. Douglas
had said, namely: That where a bill, looking
to the admission of a new State was silent on
the subject of submitting the Constitution to
vote of the people, it carried this course by i'm
plication.
MIR. Bigler remarked that he could not fore
tell what his course would be. IF the persons
charged with the election in Kansas should
abuse their power, he would not recognise the
result; but if it was fairly conducted, and the
opinion of the public should be clearly ascer-
tanned On the Slavery clause, he should vote
to admit Kansas into the Union with either a
Free or Slavery Constitution; because he
quiet the question, and because, If the people
are dissatisfied with their institutions, they
could apply the remedy better in the capacity
of State than as Territory.
A collo1uial debate ensued, in which Mr..
Bigler was left in defenceless position.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House resumed the consideration of the
Treasury note bill.
Mr.. Abbott was altogether opposed to il, be-
cause 1t was not necessary at the present time,
and he was not in favor of converting the Gen
eral Government into great National Bank for
the purpose of circulating paper money to the
extent of S20,O0O,O00. He would protect the
national honor and credit, but in way the
least injurious to the people. Such an issue as
proposed would prolong and aggravate the COM
mercial ernbarrassments and as a measure Of
relief, he suggested the curtailment of all I'M
necessary expenses, and the abolition of sine
cures. The Treasury would thus be relieved to
the extent of more than 10000 900.
Mr.. Letcher, in replying to Mr.. Abbott, said
that the latter would find the Democrats will.
ing to reduce the expenses of the Government
where it could be done without prejudice to the
public interest, and proceeded to show the press
ing necessity which exists for the issue of
Treasury notes.
Mr.. Lovejoy opposed the BILL, conceiving it
to be deceptive in its character He could see
no necessity for such measure. The effect
would be to convert the Treasury into great
National Bank, and to food the country with
shinpldsters.
Mr.. Campbell was willing to vote for relief,
but he wanted the bill conditionally guarded !;
and with view of meeting the proposed notes.
when they shall become due, he indicated an
amendment, with view of imposing additional
duties on certain manufactured goods, inclu-
ding those Of cotton, silk, worsted, iron, &c.
Mr.. Banks and others spoke.
The Committee here rose, when resolution
was passed, limiting the debate tomorrow to
two hours.
The Kansas enabling bill =" introduced by
Mr.. Douglas in the Senate provides for board
OF five persons, appointed by the President and
confirmed by the Senate, to make an enumera
ton OF the inhabitants of Kansas, and q fair
spportionment of the members of the Conven-
ton to form the new Constitution. The elec
ton to be held on day to be designated by
the board, to be not less than ninety nor more
than one hundred and twenty days after the
passage of the act. The board is to be in
trusted with the appointment of judges, and
the selection of places of voting; the elective
franchise to be confined to every free white
male citizen of the United States over twenty
one years of age, who may be bona 1fde in
habitant of the Territory on the 2lst of Deem
Der, aud who shall have resided three months
prior to said election in the county in which he
offers to vote. The Convention to assemble in
not less than thirty nor more than sixty days
after the election of delegates. The Constitu-
ton to be submitted to the legal voters for their
free acceptance or rejection, and unless adopted
by majority of all the legal votes cast, shall
be null and void. The bill also secures the
personal and political rights IF the neonle in.