The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-02-11
THIRTY-FlFTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION.
Tuesday, February 2, 1858.
SENATE.

Mr.. Mason, from the Committee on Fora;,,
Relations, reported bill to indemnify the mas,
ter and owners of the Spanish brig Amistad and
cargo, involving payment for alleged slaves
Mr.. Seward, in behalf of Mr.. Foot and him
self, submitted minority report, stating that
the claim, in their opinion, was not supported
by facts or law.
The Senate then resumed the consideration
of the army bill.
MIR. Seward would vote for an Increased forca
if he knew that the troops now in KANSAS wouli
be Withdrawn, but he was unwilling TO do a.
without an announcement to that effect. He
could not consent to have the army en-.
ployed to enforce Constitution which large
majority OF the people of Kansas reject. Con.
gress must pass bills paying the army, and he
never would vote dollar for the army IN bs
used tor that purpose in Kansas-no matter Il
the wheels OF Government came to dead stand
as was the case two years ago. He would favo,
the increase for the purpose of putting down thu
rebellion in Utah, but with an amendment "a
curing the additional forces only to be en-
ployed 30 long as necessary for the purposa
and then disbanded
Mr.. Hale had listened with extreme pain. dis.
appointment and modification, to the speech
OF the Senator, equal to that with which ten
years ago he had heard Daniel Webster mt him.
self at the feet of the slave power. to be used and
spurned by them. Unless the Republican nartv
take firm and decided ground against increase
OF the military power of the Government. thew
will go down, and ought to 90 down. and he
would be the first to rally the people to repu.
date party with great professions and bigb
principles, but wanting in courage to carry out
its measures.
MIR. Seward replied, by stating that his course
was influenced by regard to the interest of the
whole country. He knew nothing-cared moth.
ing for party. He thought the mistake of Mr..
Hale and others was in thinking the battle was
not yet over, when it was 1t was struggle
for numerical ascendency between the free and
slave States. There were now sixteen free and
fifteen slave and whatever Administration or
anybody else might do, there would be, before
another year, nineteen to fifteen.
A message was received from the President,
transmitting the Lecompton Constitution, which
was read.
Mr.. Bigler moved the printing of the message.
and its reference to the Committee on Territo
ries.
Mr.. Trumbull was unwilling to let the matte,
pass from the consideration of the Senate with
out remark. He looked upon it as a perverted
and Incorrect history, from the beginning to the
end, of the difficulties in Kansas. Even from
he imperfect hearing of it as read the CLERK
he could see that it was inconsistent with l.
self. The President recommended that Nan
sas be admitted under the Lecompton Consti
tuition on the very ground of its violation of
the will of the people, and of the Legislature
which convenes under that Constitution which
may provide for it's change. And yet the gu
thor OF that declaration tells youIthat the cleo
ton to determine whether the people would
have the Constitution or not is nullity. He
takes the ground that the people have no au.
thority to prevent it from going into force,
and yet have the power, after it goes into
force, to change 1t. Upon what principle can
such doctrine be maintained? There was no
usurpation in Kansas, further than that com
mltted by the President and the army in that
Territory. The army had been employed there
without the authority of law, and he quoted
from the record to prove the latter assertion.
Mr.. Toombs said, that but for the character
Of the assault which Mr.. Trumbull thought
proper to make on the message, he would have
been content to let it 20 to the country. and win.
dicate itself; but such had been the nature Of
that assault, that he felt it to be duty to take
ms opportunity to express his hearty co.ope
ration In that policy which the President had
indicated, and at the same time to express his
qualification at the signal ability and power with
which the principle lying at the bottom of that
policy has been presented to the American peo
pie by their Chief Magistrate, who recommends
he admission of Kansas under the Constitution
ust transmitted. Adjourned.