The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-02-20


WASHINGTON, Feb. 8.
| HousE.-The galleries were densely crowd
ed, including many ladies.
| The Speaker announced tho pending pro-
position to be on seconding the demand for
the previous question on the several motions
to refer the Presidents Message.
The demand was seconded by ITO against
lO5
Mr.. Washburne, Of Me-, demanded the
yeas and nays, but did not press it.
! The main question was ordered to be put
by yeas 1O7, nays lib. The result of this
vote was watched by everybody with ex-
treme anxiety.
| The next question announced was to be on
the motion of Mr.. Stephens to refer the
message to the Committee on Territories
The House disagreed by ia against lib.
| The next question was announced on
agreeing to Mr.. Harris propositions, which
was adopted.
Mr.. Clark, of N. Y, asked to be excused
from voting, on the ground that vote in the
affirmative would be inconsistent with those
he had just given, and that vote in the neg
alive would imply an unwillingness to have
az investigation made, which should be by
the Committee on Territories. The House
refused to excuse him by vote of 80 against
LOG.
Mr.. Barksdale moved to lay Mr.. Harris
amendment on the table.
Mr.. Florence said that the motion was not
CONSTANT with the understanding previously
agreed upon.
Mr.. Harris remarked that it would be re-
collected that the understanding was by uni
versal consent.
Mr.. Savage did not think the motion to
lay on the table would be inconsistent with
that agreement as it might finally determine
the question in the House.
Mr.. Harris amendment was then carried
by vote of ia against Ill.
Mr.. Harris of ILL.,, moved to reconsider
the vote and to lay that motion on the table.
Carried-yeas lis, nays Ill.
Mr.. Hughes resolution merely to refer the
Kansas message to select committee by the
adoption of Mr.. Harris substitute as given
above was agreed to lis to ITO.
1.-THE personal explanations from Messrs.
KEIrr and Grow were then made, and the
House adjourned.
SENArE.-The Kansas question came up as
the special order.
Mr.. Fessenden, of Me. made a speech in
opposition to the views of the President
He argued that the Presidents argument
was one-sided view of the case. He must
say that the President has not only been
guilty of ignoring a well-known fact, but of
stating things which he must have known, if
he had examined the documents, could not
be true. Mr.. F. also condemned the denun-
ciatory style of the Message towards ma
jority of the people of Kansas, as it spoke in
terms of unqualified admiration of all that
had taken place there in opposition to the ef-
forts OF the people to obtain Free State
Constitution. He reviewed at length the
Message, saying he was opposed to this at
tempt to force Slavery upon the people of
Kansas, and would agitate so long as sim
gle hope remained that Slavery might be
driven from the Territory which was stolen
and robbed from Freedom.
Messrs. Clay and BENJAMIN briefly attacked
Mr.. Fessenden's position, and Mr.. Davis &C.
cused him of uttering disunion sentiments.
Mr.. Fessenden did not recognize the au.
thority of Mr.. Davis to lecture him, and de-
MED that he attaked slavery in the States
where it was established, or advanced disun.
ion sentiments, and remarked that he had
u Isl.
in which it was said that the latter entered
President Pierce's Cabinet as disunion
man.
Mr.. Davis replied that that was false that
that extract from his speech was perverted,
and explained what he had said, that Mr..
FeSsenden's course would have the effect of
undermining the Constitution.
Mr.. Wilson's proposition to send for per-
sons and papers, and examine into all the
facts relative to the adoption of the Lecomp-
ton Constitution was rejected by six major
ity.
The Kansas Message was then referred to
the Committee on Territories Pending an
effort of Mr.. Douglas to get up his resolution
calling for information of the President on
Kansas affairs, the Senate adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.
HoUsE.-Glancey Jones' from the Commit
tee on Ways and Means, reported an appro-
priation bill to enable the President to carry
out the Sound Dues Treaty.
A resolution was adopted authorizing the
committee appointed to investigate the &C
counts and official conduct of the late door
keeper of the House, to extend their inqui-
ries into charges in reference to the official
conduct of the present door-keeper.
SENATE.-Various petitions and memoir
ais were presented, including one from Iowa,
praying for reimbursements for the expenses
for the Indian war at Spirit Lake, and that
the volunteers in that war receive grants of
the Republics lands.
Mr.. Douglas moved to postpone the Army
bill, in order to take up his Kansas resolu-
ton calling for returns of election, &c.
Lost, yeas %, nays 80.
MIR. Doulas, from Committee on Foreign Re-
lations, reported a resolution granting au-
thority to the President to settle difficulties
with Pasaguay. Ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Pugh advocated Mr.. Douglas motion,
postponing the AIRY Bill, but voting against
the postponement after making an explana-
ton.
Mr.. Mason said that when Mr.. Douglas
resolution was called up, if it was not previ-
ously tabled it would lead to very long de-
bate, and if adopted, its effect would be to
transfer to the halls Of Congress the excite
ment now existing in Kansas. He would,
therefore, when it comes up, move to lay it
on the table, as test question, on the ground
that 1t was not proper subject for the con-
sideration of the Senate.
MIR. Pugh stated, in explanation of his vote,
on Mr.. Douglas motion, that although he
was IN favor OF the Kansas resolution, he
should vote against the postponement of the
Army Bill for any new discoveries.
Mr.. Dixon, of Conn, commenced a reply
to the speeches of Mr. Toombs and others,
on the Kansas slavery question. In the
course OF bis remarks he referred to the Pres
ident's letter to Prof Sillman, eulogizing the
letter as the peer of the highest mind in the
scientific world, and having attained an emf
hence which, if the President himself should
ever reach, he might well be satisfied.
Mr.. Foot called the attention of the Sen
ate to the subject Immediately before it. He
was opposed to the increase of the army, and
even thought it might be reduced without
detriment to the country. As to Utah