The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-24
THRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS-,
FIRST SESSION.
,,2ednesday, December, Is, 1857.
SENATE.

On ssotion of Mr.. Gwin, q resolution wss
adopted, calling on the President for all the cor
respont3ence between the Departments and the
presenkGoverDor of Kansas, together with all
orders nd instructions which have been issued
to the aid officer
Mr.. Allen submitted resolution, that the
standing committees be arranged as follows
The same as published in the Era of last
week.
The stst was then agreed to-yeas 80, nays Is.
Mr.. Green then made a speech in reply to
MIR. Dthglas on Kansas affairs.
Mr.. Douglas said that the Senator from Mis-
souri, semed to have misappreheuded his mr.
Dougk,s's position, and he would briefly cor
rect hi q in one or two points. First, he did
not card it as fatal objection that there
was nc enabling act in advance. Secondly, he
did MOI take the position that was it fatal OBJ
lection that the Constitution was not submitted
to the people before it was sent to Congress for
acceptxtce.
The position he did assume was that the
regular mode of proceeding is by an enabling
act, but if Territorial Legislature proceeds
to CALI p Convention without the consent of
Congress, that is irregular, but not 80 irregular
that it necessarily follows that all its proceed
ings are vitiated. The Lecompton Convention
was not On unlawful body, and might send a petit.
ton TO Congress. But it was not q Convention
authorized to establish Government per itself.
No Constitution could be considered republi.
can, WITCH did not embcdy the will of the peo-
pie VIII, are to be governed by it, and was not
formed by their action.
He s.sreed with the President, that the best
mode HAs to refer it to the people, but that he
could not admit that q Constitution forced on
a peoA.e against their will was a republican
Constitution. If this was done, he feared that
al increase of the army and navy would be
necessary, and he besought Senators to pause
before they committed themselves to such
fatal error.
MroGreen responded, denying that the peo-
pie OF Kansas would be compelled to retain
their Constitution till 1864, and he argued that
q Convention could be called at any time to
make change.
The further consideration of the subject was
postponed till Monday, and the Senate ad-
journed.
The House met in the new hall, pursuant to
RESOLUTION.
A Communication was received from the
clergy qen of Washington, rendering their SER
vices open the daily sessions of Congress
with Layer.
And much confusion, the members pro-
ceede to select their seats by lottery.
Mr.. Stewart presented the memorial of Mr..
Brooks, of Baltimore, and Mr.. Bowie presented
the n emorial of Mr.. Whyte, of the same city,
conte ing the election of Henry Winter Davis
and j Morrison Harris. They were referred
to the Committee on Elections.
Th Committee on Printing having read a
report recommending the printing of an extra
numb r of the Presidents message and the &C.
comp pying documents
Mr. Cox, of Ohio, made speech against the
Lecot pton movement, and said that the at
tempt 70 force the Constitution on an unwilling
peopl was juggle and fraud. He con-
tende that the entire Constitution should be
subm ted to the people. He characterized the
deleg jes to that Convention as so many Gait
lines, Etsmpting to subjugate the rights of the
Mr. Hughes, of Indiana, deprecated discus.
sion as early on the subject of Kansas. He
did seem to think that the gentleman's posi-
ton as well chosen as to popular sovereignty.
Tw atty thousand extra copies of the Presi
dent message and accompanying documents
were srdered to be printed.
q Thursday, December II, 1857.
SENATE.
Mr. Hunter, from the Committee on Finance,
repor, I'd bill for the issuing of Treasury
notes
Mr.. Hunters bill authorizes the President to
cause 70 be issued twenty millions of Treasury
notes none of less denomination than fifty
dollar s-the notes to be paid and redeemed at
the Treasury after the expiration of one year
from be date of such notes I; from which dates
until hey shall be respectively redeemed they
shall ear such rates OF interest az shall be ex-
pressed in such notes; which rates of interest
upon yhe first issue (which shall not exceed six
millisps of dollars) shall be fixed by the Sec
retarp,of the Treasury, with the appreciation of
the F resident, but in no case 10 exceed six per
centptn per annum. The residue shall be raised
in W.T. ole or part after public advertisement of
not l,ss than thirty days, as the Secretary of
the treasury may direct, by exchanging them
at tht.;r par value, for specie, to bidders who
shall ,.gree 10 make the exchange at the lowest
interbst, not exceeding six per centum per an
NUNS
Objection being made to the consideration of
the bs today, it was postponed until tomorrow.
Th5 Senate then proceeded to the election of
priSter; but before doing 80, adopted q reso-
luton that the person selected shall accept the
contract on the condition that Congress re-
serves the right to repeal or modify all existing
laws relative to the public printing and no
| loss CT damage to such person, by reason of
| such modification or repeal, shall be allowed
as Constituting any claim for indemnity against
| Congress.
The vote was taken, when Col. W. A. Harris
of the Washington Union, received % votes !;
| G. M. Weston, ID; scattering, g.
| Cos, n arris was therefore declared elected
and after an executive session, the Senate ad
| journed. The committee to examine into the
| condition Of the District banks consists of
Messrs, Slidell, Polk, Broderick, Thomson of
NJ, >nd Hale. ,o,,sn
Mr. Leidy announced the death of Hon. VIM.
Montgomery, of Pennsylvania, and pronounced
| an eulogy on the deceased. Mr. Florence also
| paid a tribute to his memory.
After the passage of the usual resolutions of
respec:, the House adjourned.
Friday, December 18, 1857.
SENATE
Mr.. Douglas introduced bill to authorize
the people of Kansas to form Constitution
and State Government, preparatory to their
Admission into the Union On an equal footing
with the original States.
The Senate then resumed the consideration
of the Treasury note bill.
message was here received from the House.
ANNOUNCING the death of Mr.. Montgomery, of
Pennaylvania. Mr.. Bigler delivered an eulogy,
and submitted q resolution that the members
wear Grape for thirty days
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Clingman offered q resolution directing
the Committee on Accounts to examine the
stationery provided for the use of the members,
and report its real value, and make such rec
ommendatiou az they may deem proper in the
premises. Mr. Clingman said, if the prices now
paid for stationery are the same as heretofore,
there must be great mistake somewhere. He
had found it so inferior as to be obliged to buy