The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-12-11
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD.
ZZIVfH CONGRESS --Tf SESSION.
lV.sr,,xn.ox Drc 2 lah.

WASHINGTON, DEC. !, 1891.
SryArr.-Filty members are present in the
senate, which was called to order by the
Secretary, who read u letter from the Vice
President, stating he would not DO able to
each Washington ut the commencement OF
ne session.
The oaths were administered by Mr.. Bright,
he oldest member.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick, Of Ala, was chosen
President pro tenn.
Alter other routine business, the Senate
vent into executive session, and confirmed
he appointment OF Geo. w. Bowman Us Su.
Of Public Buildings.
The Senate then adjourned without tran
acting any other business.
HoUsE.-220 members werc present.
The House proceeded to the choic, OF
Speaker.
James L. Orr, Of South Carolina, Demo-
rat, had l2S, q. A. Grow, Of Pa, Rcpub'
ican had IS I; scattering Is.
Mcssrs. Giddings and Banks conducted the
new Speaker to his seat.
On assuming the Chair, Mr.. Orr returned
thanks for the honor conferred upon him,
and said the delicate and responsible duties
Of tho Chair would be comparatively light,
II he should be 30 fortunate as to secure the
cordial cooperation Of members in dispatch.
ing business, and upholdlng the dignity Of
the House. lie promised to administer the
rules which may be adopted with frmness
and impartiality. The great business con-
tided to them, admonished them to cultivate
patriotism as expansive rs the confederation
itself. He cherished the hope that business
would DO transacted to promote the interest
and happiness Of tho entire people-that the
would be maintained in It's in
tegrity, and that their legislation would
quicken the greatness and glory of our CON-
mon country. Applause.
The members were then sworn IN, adyanc.
ing by delegations for that purpose.
On motion of Mr.. Clingman, the rules Of
the last House were adopted till otherwise
ordered, with proviso as to the 23d rule.
that whenever any committee shall have oc.
cupied the morning hour two days, 1t shall
not DO in order for such committees to
report further until other committees shall
have been called in turn. MIR. Clingman
alluded to the fact that tho Committee on
Public Lands had, for several sessions, mo.
nopolized the morning hour, compelling the
other committees to rely on the courtesy oil
the House to make their reports.
Mr.. Allen, of ILL.,, was then elected Clerk
receiving the same number of votes rs Mr.
Orr for Speaker.
Mr.. GlAsbrenner was elected S:rgcant.at
Arms, and Mr.. Heating door.keeper.
Mr.. Cluskey was elected Postmaster by
resolution.
Mr.. Florence gave notice Of his intention
to INTRODUCE bill for the entire suppression
of all bink notes ola less denomination thar
800 Us u circulating medium in the Dis
trict of Columbia.
Tho House then adjourned.
WASHINGTON, DEC. 8, 1857.
SEyArE.-The President s Message was re
ceived and read.
Mr.. Douglas submitted motion for print
ing the usual number of copies Of the ines
sago and documents, and 10 900 copies there
Of for the use Of the Senate. Iic reinarke,
that he concurred heartily and cordially IL
the views of the President therein expressed
with the exception of that portion RELATIVE
to Kansas, and the action OF the LecomptoI
Convention. At an carly day he would OK
press his views, and give tho reasons why b
believed that the people Of Kansas had no
been left US the organic act declared, perfect
ly free to form and regulate their institution
in their own way.
Mr.. Gwin offered substitute that oil th
printing be executed by the printer to tn
Senate ut the last session.
Mr.. Stuart, Of Michigan, concurred il
Mr.. Douglas views respecting the Lrcomp-
ton movement. At future day no woult
speak on tho subject, and insist, to the ex
tent of his ability. that the people Of Kan
sas shall be treated like all Others, and hav
the right. to regulate such institutions q
they wish to live under.
Mr.. Davis, of Miss, concurrcd in tn
views of the President on the Kansas ques
ton, and would await the promised remark
of Mr.. Douglas, before he expressed his owl
views.
Mr.. Bigler, OF Penn, gave notice that h
should defend tho position assumed by tn
President to the best of his ability, and tina
he would respond to Mr.. Douglas.
Mr.. Douglas accepted Mr.. OWNS substi
tute.
Mr.. Hall spoke in opposition to the Con
stitution formed by the Lecompton Conyen
ton, arguing that 1t would perpctuate slave
~ in Kansas. No matter whether tho poo
pie accepted or rejected tho slavery clause.
Mr.. Seward would be glad to hear tn
supporters OF the President explain hls po
sition, for it seemed to him that the inessag'
was very lame and impotent in Its argument
on Kansas, and that something moro would
be required to satisfy public mind than i
contained in the document itself. lie trustee
the debate on this point would not last long
for, before we are aware Of 1t, there nigh
DO civil war in Kansas. After reviewing
other parts Of the message, he said he hopet
that it would be understood that on Utal
affairs Congress was substantially unani
nous. that tho world might be assured tha
the Government of the United States would
not suffer its fame to DO furnished, its power
insultcd, and the lives Of It's citizens de
stroycd, by an enemy entrenched, though il
be in the Rocky Mountains, and under the
forms Of the Constitution Of the United
States.
Mr.. Mason, OF Va, was FREQ to declar,
that all information for thu last six months
relative to Kansas affairs, had come from
questionable sources, If no understood the
Presidents position, and he thought he did,
IL was impregnable.
Mr.. Trum6all ,tDf ILL.,, denied that the Leg
islature Of Kansas had authority to initiate
the Convention. Il was, according to a
speech once delivered in tho Senate, by Mr..
Buchanan himself, an act Of usurpation.-
Congress had repeatedly refused to nuthorixe
the people of Kansas to form State Consti.
tuition. Much had been said about popular
sovereignty: but this now merely amount,
according to the great expositor Of the par
ty, to giving the free white people of Kan.
sas the right to determine the condition of q
few negroes, while they are precluded from
their own institutions in their
own way.
Mr.. Brown said there seemed to DO great
anxiety 10 enter into discussion and especial.
ly to find fault. They had heard the mes.
Il ~