The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-02-05
Wednesday, January %, 1857.
SENATE

The President Of the Senate laid before the
body communication from the Secretary o.
War, transmitting copies of the official army
register for 1857; which was read, and laid on
the table.
Also, from the same, announcing that room
No III, in the basement story of the north wing
of the Capitol Extension, is finished, and ready
for occupation; which was read, and laid On the
table.
| Mr.. Jones, OF Iowa, presented Joint resolu
ton from the Legislature of Iowa, as follows
/ Whereas, under the Constitution of the Uni.
ted States, Freedom is national, and Slavery
sectional; and believing that the peace and
welfare and honor of the country imperiouslY
require that Our national domain shall be pre-
served free for the homes of freemen; and be.
lieving it to have been the policy of our fathers,
dictated by reason and exalted patriotism, to
inhbit the extension of Slavery, and make
Freedom the law of national progress there
| fore
| Res0tUed, dc, That we are unqualiiedly op-
posed to the further extension of Slavery with
in the jurisdiction or by the sanction of the
General Government, and insist that Congress
shall exert all constitutional power to preserve
our national territory free.
| Resol0ed, That our Senators in Congress be in
structed, and our Representatives requested, to
exert their influence and vote for the admission
OF Kansas into the Union as free State, and
to oppose its admission with q Constitution es-
tablishing Or tolerating Slavery.
Mr.. Douglas, from the Committee on Terri
tories, to which was referred House bill to estab-
lish separate judicial district south Of the ella,
and to create the office of Surveyor General
therein to provide for the adjudication of GER
tain land claims; to grant donations to actual
settlers; to survey certain lands to provide for
the representation Of the inhabitants of the
Gadsden purchase" in the Territorial Legis-
lature of New Mexico, and for other purposes,
reported it back, with an amendment, striking
out all after the enacting clause, &c.
MIR. Douglas asked the immediate considera-
ton of the amendment. As tomorrow was the
day set apart for Territorial business in the
other branch, it was necessary that it should
be promptly acted On.
Mr.. Fessenden would prefer that it be per-
mtted to lie over, as he desired to examine the
amendment.
Mr.. Douglas assented, and gave notice that
he would call it up tomorrow.
| On motion by Mr.. Wilson,
fesotced, That the Committee on Foreign
Relations be instructed to inquire into the ex-
pediency of sending commission to the islands
of the East India Archipelago, with power to
investigate the claims to sovereignty which
the Government of the Netherlands asserts to
possess over the most of these islands, and to
form treaties with such independent States and
tribes as may be found therein of sufficient
power and Importance to render such treaties
necessary.
Mr.. Hale moved that the Senate adjourn
which motion having precedence, was put by
the Chair, and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
After an appropriate prayer by the Rev. Mr..
Hill, Chaplain to the Senate, the Journal of
yesterday was read.
And then, on motion of Mr.. Stephens, of
Georgia, the House adjourned.
The CRY OF CHIsAGo.-Chicago spent for
municipal Improvements, last year, s55o,534.
This was laid out in city buildings, water and
gas improvements, and other city works. Pri
vate enterprise is estimated to have laid out
81, 300 in private dwellings, stores, railroad
buildings, churches, &c. Total value of the
improvements, S5,207,134 - an increase OF