Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-02-23

CONGRESSIONAL.

OFFICE, CORNER WATER AND MoNRoE STREETS.
CONGRESSIONAL.
WAsnGSoroN, Feb. 81, 1857.
SRNATE-Mr. Wilson gave notice of his in
tentinn to introduce bill granting to the cities
of Washington and Georgetown 100000 acres
of land, for the support of public Schools.
The senate then proceeded to Decentralization
of the House bill, authorizing the people of
Minnesota to form constitution and State Gov
eminent preparatory to admission into the
Union.
Mr.. Riggs moved an amendment that none
but citizens of the United States be entitled to
vote with reference to the formation of the con-
stitution and State government. He did not
know but whit the Offering Of such a PROPOSE
ton might subject him to suspicion of being
tanned with Know Notliingism, but whether
this was one of the principles of the American
party or not, he was decidedly in favor of con-
finiug the privilege Of voting to citizens of the
United States, native or naturalized in the for
NATION of all organic laws.
Mr. Brodhead alluded to the action of the
Senate on the Nebraska bill. They adopted an
amendment similar to this, which the House
struck out, when the bill came back to the Sell
ate. He again moved to insert that provision
in the bill, being the only Northern member
who would sanction that amendment from the
beginning to the end, the others who voted for
it at first having yielded their convictions i'll or
over to allow the bill to pass; hence he was in
favor of the present proposition because he be-
leved the right of suffrage was co.extensiye
with the right of citizenship. lie did not feel
at liberty in defining the rights of voters to go
farther than the constitution of his own State
has gone, aud that has confined the right of
suffrage to the citizens of the United States.
Mr. Brown expressed his hearty concurrence
in the views expressed by the Senator from
Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Douglas replied to Mr.. Bigss' remarks,
Al.
and showing in several instances that persons
had been constituted citizens of some of the
States who were not citizens Of the United
States.
Mr.. Seward considered the question involved
as settled long ago and forever If Congress
can permit all thepeoplc of California and Texas
to come into the Union as organized states 1t
can cay class of persons within the United
States, who are not citizens, shall exercise the
right of suffrage on this which is similar oc-
casion. He was in favor of admitting aliens to
vote precisely for the reason that these new
States are to be settled chiefly by aliens and for
eigners, or i'll u large degree by them, and be
icved this class of emigrants who came to this
country are, as general fact, as intelligent and
capable of exercising the functions of selfgov-
ernment as our own educated citizens.
Mr.. Bell, of Tenn, favored the amendments,
and advocated such modification of the exist
ing naturalization laws as would provide add.
have been practiccd under them.
Mr.. Douglas appealed to the Senate not to
enter into long discussion, else they might lose
important territorial bills.
Messrs. Mason, Biggs and Crttenden adyoca-
ted it.
Messrs. Toucey and Wilson opposed it
Mr.. Clay entered a protest against Stewards
doctrine that the right of suffrage WIS co-ordi-
nate with the obligation to submit to and sup
port any defined government that would al.
low infants, women, and even the colorcd
persons to have right to vote. This should teach
the Importance of having some limit attached to
the right of forming organic laws. He was the
first in the Senate to denounce know-Nothing-
ism, but would vote for this amendment. He
confessed that he erred invoting for the Ncbras-
ka bill, after Clayton'S amendment was stricken
out Butler, he too voted for Clayton's amend
ment, but yielded from the necessity of the case,
to save the bill. r., &
Briggs amendment was adopted; q against
"a. The bill passed.
The bill also passed establishing judicial dis
trict in the Gadsden purchase, creating the of
fee of Surveyor General, granting donations to
actual settlers &c.
The bill authorizing the people of Oregon es-
tablishing State government, was takenup.
Mr. Green offered an amendment extending
similar authority to the people of Kansas, pen
ding which the Senate adjourned
HoUsE-The House took up and passed the
HOSt-Ofllce appropriation OH.
The House then proceeded to the consldera-
tion of the resolution, that Judge Watsons,
Texas, be impeached of high crimes and misde-
meanorS.
Mr. Caskie advocated postponement of the
subject until the first Monday in December,
showing that it was utterly impossible to obtain
u proper action upon it during the present Con-
gress.
Mr.. Wakeman mentioned the fact that Judge
Peck was presented in the last week of the ses-
sion of Congress in 1908. The House declared
he was liable to impeachment; the subject went
over till the ensuing session, when MIR. Peck was
impeached and dismissed from office. lie hoped
the resolution pending would be postponed till
Saturday next.
Mr.. Barbour concurred in this suggestion.
Humphrey Marshall did not know how the
House could repair the injustice done to Judge
Watsons, better than by orderiHg the impeach
ment, and they might as well do it now. If he
were Judge Watsons, he would demand it.
Mr.. Ready said although he had no right to
speak by authority, he had understood that
Judge Watsons desires the Investigation, and
thinks he will be perfectly able to refute the
charges.
Mr.. Sandidge thought it most monstrous
proposition to seriously consider the subject be-
fore even the evidence is printed.
The subject was then postponed till Saturday
House took up the resolution reported from
the committee on elections declaring Mr.. Whit
field not entitled to his seat as delegate from
Kansas.
On motion of Mr. Caruthers the resolution
was laid on the table-yeas 90, nays SO.
House then went into committee of the
whole on the state of the Union.
Mr.. Washburn, of Illinois, vainly strove to
take up the river and harbor bills.
Mr.. Grow made an ineffecturl effort TO take
up the homestead bill.
The committee finally proceeded to the con-
s!deration of the bill TO supply the defciencesin
Mr, Etheridge made aspeech. defending him
self from the charge of being Black Republi-
can, because he had introduced resolution de-
mandatory of the re-openins of the African
slave trade