Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-12-17
Congressional News.
WASHINGTON, Dec.

The House was occupied entirely, ex-
cept the time devoted to the reading of the
message, to debate on the printership,
without arriving at any conclusion.
SENATE.-The message of the President
of the United States was received and read.
Mr.. Douglas submitted a motion for the
printing of the usual number of copies of
the message and documents, and $4,000
copies thereof for the use of the Senate
He remarked that he concurred heartily
and cordially in the views of the President
with the exception of that portion relating
to Kansas, and the action of the Lecomp-
ton Convention. At an early day he
would express his views, and give his rea-
sons why he believed that the people of
Kansas had not been left as the organic
act declared, perfectly free to form and
regulate their institutions in their own
way.
Mr.. Gwyn offered substitute that all
the printing be executed by a printer to
the Senate as at the last session.
Mr.. Stuart concurred in Mr.. Douglas
views respecting the Lecompton movement.
At future day he would speak on the
subject, and insist, to the extent of his
ability, that the people of Kansas should
be treated like all Others, and have the
fullest opportunity to regulate, and have
such institutions as they wished to live
under.
Mr.. Davis concurred in the views of the
President on the Kansas question, and
would await the promised remarks of Mr..
Douglas before be expressed his own views.
Mr.. Bigler gave notice that he should de-
fend the position assumed by the President
to the best of his ability, and that he.
would respond TO Mr.. Douglas. Mr.
Douglas accepted Mr. Gwin's substitute
Mr.. Hale spoke in opposition to the Con-
stitution formed by the Lecompton Con-
vention; arguing that it perpetuates sla-
very in Kansas, no matter whether the
people accepted or rejected slavery. Mr..
Seward should be glad to hear the sup
porters of the President explain his posi-
ton, for it seemed to him that the Message
was very lame and impotent in its argu-
ment on Kansas, and that something more
would be required to satisfy the public
mind than is contained in the document
itself.
He trusted that the debate on this point
would not be delayed long, for before We
were aware of it, there might be a civil war
in Kansas. After reviewing other parts of
the message, he said he hoped it would be
understood that on Utah affairs Congress
was substantially unanimous that the world
might be assured that the government of
the q. s. would not suffer its fame to be
tarnished its power insulted, and the lives
of its citizens destroyed by an enemy, en-
trenched though it be, in the Rocky Noun
tains, and under the forms of the U, 8. Mr.:
Mason was free to declare that all inform
alton for the last six months relative to
Kansas affairs, had come fiom quesiiona-
bic sources. If he understood the Presi-
dents position, and he thought he did, the
Presidents position was impregnable.
Mr.. Trumbull denied that the Legisla-
.ure of Kansas had authority to initiate the
convention. 1t was according to speech
once delivered in the Senate by Mr.. Buch-
anan himself, an act of usurpation. Con-
gress bad repeatedly refused authority to
the people of Kansas to form State Con-
stitution. Much has been said about pop
ular sovereignty, but this now merely
amounts, according to the exposition of the
party, to giving the free white people of
Kansas the right to determine the condi-
tion of few negroes, while they are per-
cluded from regulating their own institu-
tions in their own way.
Mr.. Brown said there seemed to be great
anxiety to enter into discussion, and espe-
cially TO find fault. They had heard the
message imperfectly read by the clerk, and
therefore could not properly understand it.
He asked Senators to pause and sleep on
the document before indulging in debate,
which would 90 forth to the country over
the telegraph wires, penetrating even to
Kansas, and giving tone to the public
opinion in the promises, not yet perfectly |
He asked the senators to re-
fleet before taking their positions, and ut
tering sentiments under circumstances to
which he had referred on bis motion. The
Senate then adjourned.