The Placer herald., 1857-01-03
Arrival of the John L. Stephens.

This steamer arrived at San Francisco on
Tuesday night last about o'clock. She
brought large number of passengers, and
news from the East to the 5th of December
Congress assembled on Monday, 1st Dec
OF the three hundred and two members
composing both Houses, but thirty nine were
present The day was delightful one, and
the capitol was crowded with politicians and
pretty women.
The Senate dispatched the usual routine
of business with quiet dignity.
The House proceeded to qualify its newly
elected members, and when the credentials
of Mr.. Whitfield, Delegate from Kansas, was
presented, Mr. Grow, of Pennsylvania, evil
IDENTIFY in accordance with previous under
standing among the Republican members,
objected to his reception. A warm debate
ensued and much excitement Prevailed
| Finally the question of the admission of
Gen. Whitfield was declared in the negative
by vote of 81 yeas to 102 nays. Pending
a motion to reconsider this vote the House
! adjourned
Both Houses of Congress, on Tuesday, the
I'd December, plunged headlong into the
negro question.
In the Senate, at the termination of the
reading Of the Presidents Message, Mr.. Hale
attacked the positions of the Executive, with
regard to the motives and objections imputed
to the Republican party. This discussion as
sumed wide range and was conducted with
much spirit on both sides. Messrs. Wilson,
Trumbnll, Seward, Mason, Brown and Cass,
participating.
The House was engaged all the sitting on
the subject of Gen. Whifeld's admission,
and adjourned without disposng of the ques-
ton
Eloquent eulogies were delivered on the
late Senator Clayton, in both Houses, on
Wednesday, Dec. 3.
On the 4th Of December the Senate resum-
ed the discussion of the slavery question and
the questions of the Republican party, hav-
ing the Presidents Message as a text. Mes
sers. Wade and Fessender spoke on the Re
publican side and Messrs. Fitzpatrick, Rusk
and Butler, defended the Presidents posi-
ton.
In the House, the Standing Committees
were reported by the Speaker. With some
unimportant alterations they remain as at
the last session.
The Whitfield case remains as before.
BUcHANAN's INAUGURAL.-On Friday, No
vember 2Sth, 100 students of franklin and
and Marshal's College, Pa, attended by
its President and Faculty, made formal
visit to Mr.. Buchanan, at Wheatland to
congratulate him on his election to the Chief
Magistracy of the Union. The visit was
the idea of the students themselves, who
though they had warm party preudices, and
preferences of their own, laid them aside
and unanimously resolved to call upon the
President elect who was also the President
Of the Board Of Trustee of their own College
To the congratuatory dress made him on
the occasion, Mr.. Buchanan replied in a
very impressive manner, and beyond all
doubt, expressed his real opinions on the
momentous questions of the day. lie re-
reminds these young men Of the response
bilities resting upon them in the future
administration of government and above
all in preserving intact, our glorious Union
and constitution" He declared his purpose
| to be so to administer the government as to
put down ulraism in both ,sections' of the
country, and restore the Union to the peace
and harmony of its early days. This was
the first occasion on which Mr.. Buchanan
had addressed the public in any form since
his election.
KANsAs.-lmmediately before the steam
er sailed, intelligence was received in New
lark that thirty nine the Free State prs-
oners, at Lecompton, had effected their es-
cape, without committing any violence, on
the night Of Nov 22d.
ATTEMPT TO TAKE SLAVES FROM A MEM
BER OF CoNGREss.-Mr. Lake, Of Missis-
| sippi, came near having a serious difficulty.
on the 25th Of November, in Columbus,
Ohio, on his way to Washington, with bis
family and several slaves. He was detained
thirty six hours A writ was sued out, but
the Sheriff refused to execute it. Mr.. Lake
avowed his perfect willingness to appear
before the court with his servants, and for
them to say whether they desired to leave
him. They refused to leave their master.
Force was next threatened, but Mr.. Lake
assured the District Attorney that as he
had been ready to submit to the Law, SO was
he prepared with friends) to repel force
by force The respectable portion of the
citizens of Columbus, including the Sheriff
and District Attorney, were on the side of
the master, and dscountenanced any inter
ference with his slaves. A despatch was
next prepared for Newark, calling on certain
parties there to seize the negroes but the
despatch was destroyed in the telegraph
office, and not sent
Presidents Message.
The Message of President Pierce, which
we publish in full on our first page is an elab-