The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-12-17
washington. Dec. Q.

HousE-After the usual preliminary proceedings, the
House resumed the consideration of the two PROPOSE
tions pending in relation to the election of printer
| The proposition submitted by Mr.. Hunter that
the House proceed to the election ofa Printer with
provso that the House retains the right modify the
existing law the subject of the public printing and
for committee to examine the whole subject
and report such change or Improvement as they may
| deem advisable.
The other proposition by Mr. smith, of Va as a sub
stitute, provides for similar committee of examna-
ton, and that the election be postponed until the
mittee make report.
| Mr.. Banks moved to lay Mr. Houstons resolution on
| the table-lost, ayes 81, nays 106
| The vote was then taken on Mr. Smiths substitute,
| which rejected-yeas 81, nays lis, The question
being upon Mr. Houston's original resolution t pre-
to the election of Printer when Mr. Bocock nominated
james B. Steedman. and Mr.. Washburn, of Me-, nomi
mated G. W. Weston The vote was then taken and
stood, James B. Steedman 12l G. w. Weston So scat
| terng The former was declared elected
SESArE.-The galleries were densely crowded again
this morning in expectation of speech from Senator
| Douglas.
Mr. Pugh gave notice his intention to introduce
bin for the Improvement OF the navigation of the Ohio
| river
| Mr.. Mason offered resolution, which was debated
and passed, inviting the cergymen OF the District to
officiate gratuitously chaplans of the Senate.
Mr.. Gwin gave notice of his intention to introduce
bills providing for construction Of Northern Southern
and Central Pacific Roads Also, bill to organize the
Mr.. Douglas said, he yesterday under the impres
sion that the President had approved the action Of the
Lecompton Convention, and under that impression he
felt be his duty to state that while he concurred in
the general views OF the message yet so far as it did
prove endorse the action of that Convention, he
trey dissented from and would give his for
| such dis sent.
He proceed'd to show that Congress couldn't proper
y admit Kansas into the Union under the Lecompton
Consttuton-not only the slavery question all 9th
must be submitted to the people of Kansas they
are guaranteed to establish all their domestic insttu
tsns for themselves. On this principle the whole
titution must be submitted to ascertain whether
| II meets with their appreciation. Mr.. ID. contended
that the people Of Kansas ought to have opporuni
to vote against the constitution II they to do
So He compared the freedom allowed by the Lecomp-
ton convention to the freedom at the election in Paris
when Loais Napoleon elected President The rea-
assigned why the people of Kansas not allow
ed to vote the acceptance of the constitution
pared was that they had the chance they would
| 1t down by an overwhelming majority, He believed
they weuld and that II clear violation OF the or.
ganc act thus to force the obnoxious constitution
the majority.
Upon more careful and critical examination of the
Message, he reoiced to find the President had not
entirely approved the action of that convention He
also rejoiced to find that the President had not
recommended that Congress should pass laws recev.
ing Kansas into the Union State under the Con-
stution framed at Lecompton. 1t is true that the
OF the Message indicates Willingness the part of the
President to sign any bill Congress might pass recev-
ing Kansas State into the Union under that Con-
stitution but IL very significant fact that the
President had refrained any endorsement of the
! Convention, and from any recommendation ts the
Congress should pursue in regard to the adms-
sion of Kansas. Indeed the President had expressed
deep modification and disappointment that the whole
constitution not submitted to the people Of Kan.
| sas for their acceptance or rejection.
Il
! plause in the galleries
Mr.. Bigler replied to Mr.. Douglas, saying the con-
vention call according to law, and had been
cognized by the President and the Governor of the
Territory 1t their right TO submit the Constitu
ton to the people send It to Cangress without SUBJ
mission il it right in itself, republican In form,
and the people had fairly decided the slavery question:
1t would not be new to keep them out of the Union
simply because the whole Constitution had not been
submitted to them. To do so would be inconsistent
with the doctrine of non-intervention. There wss
nothing In the past history of the country justify
such course 1t would be the duly of Congress look
at the question IL before hem and do the best
they could, looking at the happiness of the entire
country. He had long been under the impression il
would be the best for the Union and Kansas that the
State should be admitted at the first favorable oppor-
tunity in order to localize the strife He would have
preferred that the whole Constitution had been sub
mtted to the people, but outside Of the Terri
tory have right in interfering with the slavery
tion there. He believed the people of Kansas now
have opportunity to decide whether have free
slave State he could not, however, determine his
entire until they shall make such decision He
said the position of Mr. Douglas to-day rather de-
rogatory that which he occupied when he voted for
Mr.. Toomb's bll which proposed to make State con
stution and put 1t into operation without submitting
il to vote of the people, and this only for short
time ago, he could not understand how Mr. Douglas
had readily become sensitive regarding the rights
of that people after having attempted such infringe
ment upon them.
DouglassI am certain Bigler did not speak for the
President--I know that, for the President has Just
spoken for himself in his messgge, in which he con
demns the Convention for not submitting the Constit
tion to the people, and refused to me to
eceive it. The President Is bold frank man. and IL
he intended to give us administration he
would say 1t is not respectful to that we
will do what he will not recommend do of course
know the Senator from Pennsylvania did not speak
By authority.