The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-20
in CONGRESS or the D. STATES.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1857.
SENATE.
ExECUTIYK COMMUNICATION.

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION.
The PRESIDENT pro tem laid before the Senate com
munication from the chief clerk OF the Court of Claims in
reply TO resolution Of the Senate asking for the return of
the papers in The OF Rebeccs Burdsa That officer
that no such papers have ever been referred to the
LAWS OF KANSAS.
The bill from the House of Representatives for the relief
Of the people of Kansas read twice for the purpose of
reference
The PRESIDENT pro tenn stated that the bill would be
referred the Committee Territories II objection
was made.
Mr. GREEN moved that it be referred to the Committee
the Judiciary He stated that IL proposed TO repeal all
the laws of Kansas aud thus raised question of law rath
than question appertaining merely to territorial or
ganiZation.
Mr. ADAMS in order to avoid discussion, moved that
the bin be laid on the table, which not agreed to-
yeas II, nays 24-as follows
YEAS Messrs. Adams, Benjamin, Cas-, Clay, Evans,
Jones of Tennessee Mallory, Mason Reid Rusk, and Toa
cey--lT
NAYs-Messrs. Bell of New Hampshire, Bell Of Tennes
see, Bger Brodhead Brown, Dodge, Durkee, Fessenden
Foot, Foster, Green, Gwin, Hale Harlan Houston James
Noarse Pugh Sebastian, Seward slide Stuart Weller
and Wilson-A
Dir. GREEN said that he voted against laying the bill
the table because he thought ought go before the
Committee the Judiciary for their examination An
undue excitement had been raised in reference the laws
of Kansas and the friends of law aud order ready
to undergo the scrutiny of that able intelligent
mitee IL has been said that laws have been
and would be very strange that were not the
legislative assembly in any part OF this widespread
Union which had not passed more less laws of OBJ
ec,ionabe character But be had personal information
that oil those obnoxious laws had already been repealed
by the local authorities of Kansas And he would say
further that 1t appeared little strange to him that those
who denied the right of Congress to egsat for Kansas
should undertake repeal he laws that had been passed
by the territorial government Great complaint had been
made in regard to the test OATH it called by which,
in order exercise the elective franchise must
to support the act and the ugivesave
law; but this very provision is incorporated word for
word in the Kansas-Nbraska bill ITSELF and every in
Congress who voted for that BILL and the President of the
United States who approved and signed IT, committed
in favor of the propety Of that provision Was it not
little extraordinary that after Congress had passed law
and the President had approved IT. aud the public sent
Of the country had aimed It, there should be
effort made to repeal provision contained in
that law He would admit that the territorial legs
aure of Kansas might have gone to extremes in
of their laws but experience would enable them to right
all these things and it would be far better to leave the
in the hands Of the people themselves than by this
sweeping leave them entirely destitute OF the
protection and security of any law whatever He OPP
posed to laying the bill the table, because that would
smother it, aud would look ks attempt to dodge the
ISSUE ii they afraid TO meet it, On the contrary,
4 they courted inquiry and investigation
WELLER remarked that he voted against laying the
bill the table because he wished have it referred to
the Committee the Judiciary who could put it in such
shape to make it desirable that it should pass; but
since il was evident that it would be likely to lead to
extended debate for the purpose OF getting rid OF it and
proceeding the consideration of the important questions
which pending before the body he would renew
\ the motion that the bill lie on the table.
The question being aken the molten was agreed to-
yeas 30, nays 20-as follows:
/ YEAS-Messrs. Adams Benjamin, Bigler, Brown, But
ler Cass, Clay, Crittenden, Dodge Evans, Fitch, Fz
Iowa Jones OF Tennessee Mallory Mason Pearce, Reid
Rusk Sebastian slidsl Thompson Of Kentucky, Toombs
NAis-Messr Bell Of New Hampshire Bell of Tennes-
see, Broahsad collamsr Durkes Fsssspden Fish Foot
ward, Stuart, Trumbul Wade, and Wson-2O.
i SUBMARINE TELEagapH.
The Senate then proceeded the consideration of the
bill TO expedite telegrpic communication for the of
the government in its foreign intercourse which had been
returned from the House OF Representatives with amend
ments. The amendments were read. The first one makes
the provso aha The United States and the citizens there
of shall enjoy the of said submarine telegraph comu
nication for period of fifty years the terms and
conditions which shalt be stipulated in favor of the gov
Of Great Britain and the subjects thereof read
as follows;
That the United States The citizens thereof shall
ioy the use OF said cub marine telegraph commun~- -
ali time the terms and conditions ,aii S e
uaed IN favor % the Of 0reat britain and tie
tae cizehs the uhitsa States the OF said snbma
communication, and the lines Of telegraph which may
coast of Newfoundland ard upon United States in any
contract TO be entered such person. persons or
ISOLATION with that government"
The other amendment made by the House was to ada to
the bill The following:
"fSesded further That il shall bein the power Of Con-
gress after year, said upon giving
one years notice 10 the parties to such contract"
4 Mr.. HUNTER moved ~ refer the bill and the amend
ments of the House OF Representatives thereto the Com
4 mittce on the Post Office and Post Roads.
Il MIR. THOMPSON of Kentucky, advocated the motion
refer the bill in humorous speech. He opposed
the bin toto and hoped it would go the committee
room where IL would sleep the sleep that knows waking
He commended that this expenditure of public money
without sufficient facts or data to authorize it, for he
thought we knew about the elevations and de-
pressons Of the bottom of the than do about the
mountains and valleys Of the moon. Who could tell
whether this little wire might not be broken by whale
bit off by shark2 He illustrated his views with sew
eral anecdotes which excited much laughter.
Mr. RUSk replied to the arguments of the senator from
Kentucky. Ii was not thing to hear proposition
OF this character assaulted by rdicule for ago
when proposed to establish telegraph line between
Washington and Baltimore amendment was offered pro-
viding telegraph line the moon He proceeded TO
demonstrate the feasibility of the scheme and the advan
| tages that would be derived from it
Mr. HUNTER spoke at some length against the bill
Mr. BUTLER expressed himself indebted TO the
from Virginia and Kentucky for having taken stand en-
deavorng arrest the madness of the hour He believed
this scheme was but putting bands into the lions
mouth.
Mr.. BELL of Tennessee advocated bin, as being
measure that great advantage to the
country, and thought it would benefit the cotton
planters aud the agricultural interest of the South as well
as the merchants of the great cities the sea-board
Mr.. STUART followed in support of the bill.
Mr. SEWARD also spoke briefly the subject but the
hour OF two o'clock having arrived, being the hour
signed for the consideration of executive business the fur
Their consideration of the bill postponed until NOR
row.
Before the doors closed by unanimous consent the
following business done:
Mr. WILSON submitted the following resolutions which
was considered by unanimous consent and agreed to-