The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-22
fulRTk-f CONGRESS-.
SECOND SESSION.

SECOND SESSION.
1Aarsddy, January Is, 1857.
SENATE.
eward, from the Committee on Com
reported a bill for the protection of
PTS from damage or destruction by fire.
mate resumed the consideration of the
Ill, providing for the settlement of the
II officers of the Revolutionary army.
oster earnestly supported the measure.
foombs inquired of Mr.. Fish, whether
Ter was not interested in the bill, and
i disqualified from voting upon it?
- Fish replied that he was sent here by the
eof New York and had right under the
htution TO vote, as her representative, on
bill before Congress. He would state TO
Senator from Georgia, however, that mas
ch as he raised the question, he UOuId be
fed to receive something under this bill if
ould pass, but that In no case should
of the money which he would receive go
his own pocket. He would .divest himself
interest in the matter, andgive whatever
might come to him 10 the representatives
he New York line who served in the Revo
nary war, and for whom no provision has
made.
r. Cass said, that when first the bill was in
leed he favored it, but the investigation
b it had undergone had satisfied him that
as improper. He should therefore vote
est the whole of it, unless justice be rem
dto soldiers as well as officers.
HOUSE.
House passed the Senate bill, with
Hns asnts, relative to foreign coins. 1t pro-
------<'tsisSs quarter, eighth and sixteenth-doar
pieces, shall be received by the Federal officers
st twenty, ten, and five cents, but not again
40 gT,t -, 10, z,.Eo
copper and II nickel, and the coinage of half
cent pieces to cease.
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, rising to question
Of privilege, said he understood a remark made
by him on Tuesday was considered by Mr..
Rust IS insulting. It was not his intention
to insult or cast any imputation en- that gentle
man, and he now disavowed any such design
Mr.. Rust remarked at that time he under
stood Mr.. Campbell differently, but was now
gratified with the disavowal Of the gentleman.
Mr.. ChaJma introduced a bill for-the con-
structiOn of a wagon road from the South
Pass in the Rocky Mountains in Nebraska
Territory, via Great Salt Lake Valley, to Honey
Lake Valley, on the eastern portion of the
State OF California.
Mr.. Sneed, from the Mileage Committee. re-
ported bill increasing the penalty for the
voluntary absence of members Of either House
making deduction of S25 a day from their
compensation, whether Sunday shall intervene
or both branches be adjourned over day or
more; exception to be made in case Of sickness
OF members or their families.
The House went into Committee on the
tariff bill.
Mr.. keitt said he was opposed to all free lists
In measures of this kind, because they would
render necessary, to the extent of the exemp-
ton, additional duties on articles which are
taxed. Branching from this subject, he alluded
20 the slave trade. Notwithstanding all the
efforts for It's suppression, it had gone on from
iorty-iiye thousand TO a hundred and fifty thou.
sand souls per annum {: while the mortality
among them has increased from five to fifty
per centum. African cruisers are not fitted
ont in the South, bat in Boston, New York, and
other Northern cities. The trainers of the
Constitution forboded the formation of geo.
graphical parties, and prophesied their dis
solving influences on the Union. 1t would not
be bound by treacherous combinations, nor
quoted by sentimental invocations. Some men
had announced a political millennium in the
event of the election Of Mr.. Buchanan; but
who was to come into the Senate from the
State OF the President elect where he had re-
ceived thirty thousand majority? Was he
Cameron one of the national conservative
men? Look at his record. The Senatorial
election was the first alarm-gun, or the first flag
WHICH HulteTeu AT the masthead aS 4 signal OF
distress. He keitt) need not be told that
some few tricH men were bought. IL true
man was not elected, 1t was either because Of
dereictlon of duty on the part of national
men, or because they were in minority in the
Legislature. lie did not speak Of these things
with pleasure, nor mean to compromise the
future for the tranquility of the present. or
help to consolidate any party which amalga-
mates strength without establishing principle.
The irresistible tendency CT events was to sec
y tional organizations. lie did not agree with
ms friends as 10 the immateriality Of the doe
4 tnne OF sqUatter sovereignty. He regarded it
i as most mischievous, dangerous, and democrat
izing doctrine. 1t rested on the fact that the
sovereign States of this Union, exercising the
power CT Government as agents, are to be put
down by sqUatters. When men say that Sla-
very depends on police, they assert that those
! who go to the Territories may confiscate prop
er,y recognised by other parts of the Union.
This only paves the way for the other doctrine,
that property, over and above the Constitution,
may be stricken down.
Slavery agitation, so far from being crushed
out by the late election, has been increased.
N Slavery existed prior to law; it was as cid as
3 the institution of marriage, or the indiyiduali-
8 fy OF property. It did not rise from compacts
2 or violence, but grew Up like any other rudi-
81 mentGry institution. He argued that it was
TIE very foundation of the glory and refinement
OF Athens and Rome. Although the Ethiopian
has, for i've thousand years, been in contact
with superior civilization, he is savage still.
& lie repeated, that there was a tendency in af-
a tars tor the formation Of geographical parties,
which would lead to q dissolution Of the Union
and IN this connection showed the power and
resources OF the South, contending that she is
able to save her soil from invasion and con-
pt, and her flag from dishoaor. The South
and viii expand; she will carry her in
ntions into the surrounding States, where
Governments are falling, aud the populace
hing into mongrelism. The State Rights
ia al he South, numbering nine-tenths Of
e citizens, will rally around the standard Of
kogress. Whatever else perish, those institu
ions will be saved
~ Mr.. Bliss said that Mr.. Kett mad succeeded
- in showing that from the earliest period OF the
world Ii had been subject TO rapine and blood
shed, aud accounted for the fact. Re had been
successful IN showing that those brilliant little
republics TO which he alluded soon fell and
faded from existence, because their institutions
were fourded On force and Injustice, rather
than on Jaw. and also, that, as the world had
progressed in civilization, al portions, except
his beloved South, are turning their attention
20 the amelioration of labor.
Dir. Stanton remarked that it seemed TO him
that the Committee ought to determine whether
1t would do business or not he therefore raised
the point. The remarks of Mr.. Bliss were not
pertinent to the question now pending. He
preferred making this point for his personal
friend.
The Chairman (Mr. Washburn of Maine)
was under the impression that it had been re-
Gently ruled that a general discussion was out