The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-03-19
Congressional Proceedings.

Il
1
TUESDAY, March SIN the Senate. Mr..
Houston presented the joint resolutions OF
the Legislature Of Texas, relative to South
ern States Rights Convention, in case the
Lecompton Constitution shall be rejected
The bill Tor the relief Of Com. Jones was
passed. The bill for the admission OF kansas
was then taken up, and discussed until the
adjournment, Mr.. Hsmlin OF Maine. making
Q speech. principally in answer TO the aigu.
ments and assertions Of Mr. Hammond OF
South Carolina. In the House, the consid-
Grafton of Mr., Quitman's ball for the increase
of the army by volunteers, was resumed, and
Mr.. Faulkner Of Virginia. made . speech in
onno.;tion "a IL. At the conclusion Of his
remark. the House went into Committee Of
the Whole on the Diplomatic Appropriation
hill. and proceeded Tn the discussion Of the
Kansas question. Mr.. Keitt Of South Caro-
lima made q Enthusiastically violent speech.
In which he announced his belief, contrary ~
the views of some Of his friends, that the
people OF Kansas cannot change their consti-
tuition prior to 1864. As Mr.. Keitt Is consid-
cred sort of mouth-piece Of those who en-
terrain the extreme Southern views Of the
matter, this declaration IL significant.
"WEDNESDAY. March l0.-1n the Senate q
resolution was passed to pay the heirs Of SEN
stors lately deceased compensation for the
special session Of Congress, and to the days
OF their respective deaths. The resolution
for printing 10000 Of last years Patent Re-
port was discussed. and passed after an
amendment limiting the volume to 500 pages.
Mr.. Hamlin, of Maine. then concluded his
speech. commenced on Tuesday. In the
House, Mr.. Stephens. from the Select Com
mittee on Kansas, asked leave to present the
majority report OF the Committee. Objection
was made by Mr.. Shuman, Of Ohio, where.
upon Mr.. Stephens announced that he should
take the responsibility Of printing II, as II
would come up in the regular order OF BUSH
ness in q month. Mr.. Quitman's Volunteer
bill was taken up and discussed, and MIR.
Curtis, of Iowa, made a speech urging the
necessity of prompt action, and Of sending q
large force to Utah. At the conclusion OF
Mr.. Curtis remarks the House went into
Committee of the Whole on the Diplomatic
Appropriation bill, and discussed the Kansas
question.
THURSDAY, March lin the Senate, Mr..
Cameron presented q memorial from citizens
of Pennsylvania, in favor of a line Of mail
steamers between Philadelphia and Rio
Janeiro. q measure suggested by the impor-
lance Of our commercial intercourse with
Brazil. Mr.. G. also offered resolution call
Ing on the President for the Instructions sent
10 the U. S. Marshal in Utah. Mr.. Polk.
of Missouri. spoke on tho Kansas question,
endeavoring TO explain away the alledged
election frauds, and contradicting the state.
ments of Walker. Stanton, &c. lie denied
that majority OF the voters had been dis
franchised and that Missourians had invaded
the polls. Mr.. Benjamin, Of Louisiana, then
addressed the Senate. He expressed an IN
tention to defend the Judges OF the Supreme
Court against the attacks made upon them,
but would first show that Slavery at the
South was the creature Of the Common Law,
and was not established by statute. Slavery,
he contended, was the Common Law OF the
thirteen original States, and therefore Is
necessarily recognized by the Constitution.
Mr.. u. then pronounced an earnest and en-
phatic vindication of the Judges OF the SUI
preme Court, dwelling at length upon the
bred Scott case, and repelling the charges oil
Senator Pessenden and Seward. He uttered
glowing eulogy on Chief Justice fancy, and
Indignantly complained that such a man
should have been compared to Jeifries.
| FRIDAY, March l2.-In the Senate, MI
Chandler, Of Michigan, spoke against the
Lecompton bill at length.
In the House. the Consular and Diplomatic
bill passed. Mr.. Clingman reported bill,
which passed, to pay for repairs OF the Nor
wegian bark which rescued passengers OF the
/ Cs,.tral America. A bill was passed authon.
ring certain officers and men OF the United
States Sir John Franklin Expedition, to ac-
/ cent medals from the British Government
The pending question on the appeal oil MIR.
Harris then came up. Mr.. Harris spoke on
the appeal. He argued that the Speaker was
| in error when he assumed that tbs minority
of the Committee desired to make report.
/ They merely proposed to produce facts 70
sustain their action, and prove that the ma
iority had disobeyed the order OF the House.
Mr. Stephens replied to Mr.. Harris. lie SAID
no precedent for the course proposed oy MI.
III. could. be found in the records OF the ing
lish Parliament or any other legislative BODY.
/ The question whether remissness was one Vi
| privilege, was the one TO be decided. ne
| aid il was not. This movement he Mr. 81
considered the most important ever made IN
| Congress, being revolutionary in Its charse-
ter, Mr.. Grow caused the resolutions under
which the Investigating Committee was APP
pointed, TO be read. with view oil showing
what duties devolved upon the Committee TO
perform. Mr.. Stephens rose to point oil or
DER, and some animated passages occurred De-
tween the two gentlemen, in the course oil
which Mr.. Grow referred to the Speakers I'M
parliamentary conduct in constituting the
| Committee with majority on II OF members
opposed 70 the object. Mr.. winslow of n.
e. called Mr.. Grow to order. The Speaker
declined 70 interfere, and Mr.. Grow proceed.
ed. Mr.. Stephens protested his ability to
show that the Committee had examined ev-
ery material fact in the Kansas case. Mr.
English inquired how the House was 10
know whether or not the Committee had
fulfilled its duty, rs Mr.. Harris and MT.
Stephens contradicted each other on this
point, and recommended that each branch
of the Committee should put in its papers.
| Aftsr considerable debate, in which several
members participated. Mr.. Jones Of Iennes,
see. moved that the pending appeal be laid
ON the table. Lost 100 TO Ill. Mr.. Harris
inouired OF Mr.. Stephens whether objection
would be made hereafter to minority re.
port. Mr.. Stephens replied that there would
not. Mr.. Harris then said he would with
draw his appeal, and let the majority take
the chances for their report. The House
then adjourned. A.
SATURDAY, March l3.-ln the Senate, Mr.
Wade. OF Ohio. spoke on the kansas question:
. in reply to Mr.. Hammond. alter which The
Senate adjourned to Monday. The House
Was not in session.