The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-12-12
Congress-.

mere WIS Il large IT TOls cali
in both houses of Congress on Monday. In
the Senate so members appeared in their
seats, and in the House 222 A latter was
read in the Senate from the Vice President
.tatiug that he would not be able to reach
Washington for several days. The Senate
then elected the Hen. b. Fitzpatrick, of
Ala, President pro ten. and adjourned.
The house, Immediately on organizing,
elected the Hon. Jas. L. Orr, of S. c.,
speaker. by l23, against 81 votes for Grow,
and Is scattering. The new Speaker was
conducted TO the chair aud made short
speech, and the members were then sworn.
Jas. c. Allen, of Illinois, was elected clerk,
Glossbrenuer, of Pa, Sergeant-at-Arms,
Hackney, of Va, Door Keeper, and Clus-
key, of Ga, Post Master Florence, of Pa,
gave notice of bill to suppress all bank
notes as currency in n less denomination
than $40 in the District of Columbia, after
which the House adjourned.
On Tuesday, the first business in both
houses was the reading of the Presidents
Message. In the Senate, after the reading,
Mr.. Douglas submitted a motion for the
usual number of copies to be printed with
$4,000 extra copies for the use Of the Sc
nate. He remarked that he concurred
heartily and cordially in the views of the
President, with the exception of that por-
ton relating to Kansas and the aciion Of the
Lecompton Convention. At an early day
he would express his views and give reasons
why he believed that the people of Kansas
had not been left as the organic act de-
clared, perfectly free to form and regulate
their institutions in their own way.
Mr.. Stuart, democrat member from Michi-
gan concurred in Mr.. Douglas views con
corning the Lecompton movement. Mr..
Davis, Mr.. gler and Mr. Mason expressed
their concurrence with the views Of the
President. Mr. Hale spoke in opposition to the
LecomptOn constitution, arguing that it csta-
blished slavery in the territory whether the
people voted down the slavery clause or not
Mr.. Seward protested not to understand the
Presidents views, and thought his argu-
ment on the subject very lame and indefinite.
Mr.. Trumbull, on the same subject, denied
that the legislature of Kansas had authority
to call the convention, and quoted from a
former speech of Mr. Buchanan 10 show that
he (Mr. b. formerly held the exercise OF
such authority to be an act of usurpation.
In the House, after the reading of the
Message, a ong debate arose on the printer
ship, without arriving at any conclusion.
Dec. 9.-The Senate galleries were densely
crowded this morning in anticipation of a
speech from Judge Douglas After some
preliminary business, Mr.. Gwir gave notice
of bills providing for the construction of
Northern. Southern and Central Pacific Rail
Roads; also bill to organize the Territory
of Arizona.
Mr.. Douglas then rose, and after stating
that on a closer examination Of the Message
he found little to object to In the portion that
referred to Kansas, proceeded to argue ge-
morally against the Lecompten movement.
He was replied to by Mr.. Bigler, when a
pretty spicy debate took place between that
gentleman and Judge D., the particulars of
which we must defer, however, till our next
In the House, after long debate, it was
finally resolved to go into the election af
printer. when James j. Steadman was elect
ed, the vote standing 12l for S,eadman, and
SO for G. NJ. Weston. Adjourned. = :.
Dec. 10th, in the Senate. Dir. Douglas gave
notice Of his intention to introduce bill at
an early day to enable the people Of Kansas
to form constitution and State government
preparatory to their admission into, the
Union. -- ~ .rs-.4 -. n.
The House adjourned over to. Monday to
give the Speaker time to appoint the stand |
ing committees. e.. 81