Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-12-17
CONGR ESS.

CONGRESS
On Mond,y- in the Senate, Mr. Mason Of
Va. gave notice that he should call up on
Tuesday. the case Of the Spanish schooner
Amistad; Mr.. Seward and other republicans
objected to this claim being singled out for
| precedence. but the Senate voted, "a to 10,
| permission to Mr.. Mason to call up the bill
as proposed.
| In the House, bills were proposed to per-
nit creditors of the United States to sue in
the district federal courts, to construct CEN
trail railroad to the Pacific. and to increase
the duties on coal, iron, sugar, lead and
other articles. Objection being made to the
last named measure, tho House voted 102 to
81 (not the necessary two. .thirds) on the
question of susponding the rules to allow of
its introduction
TUESDAY, Dec. !.
SENATE.-Nr. Gwin moved to take up the
Pacific railroad bill, but Mr. Pearce Of Md, :,
objecting that the motion was not in order,
Mr.. Gwin notified the Senate that he would
call it up at an early day.
Mr. Wilson of Mass. gave notice of his in
tention to introduce bill to appropriate one
million acres of the public lands for the sup
port of the free public schools of the District
of Columbia
Adjourned to Thursday
HoUsE.-Numerou bills. heretofore passed
the Senate, were severally referred, including
appropriations for internal improvements
Gen. Keim of Pennsylvania, elected in
place of Clancy Jones, was sworn in and
took his seat.
The resolution in relation to the abroga-
tion of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty, which
was reported from the Committee on Foreign
Affairs at the last session, was taken up and
referred to the Committee of the Whole
Mr.. Otero, of New Mckee, introduced a
bill to grant lands to New Mexico, Kansas
and Missouri for Railroads therein.
Mr.. Bernhisel. of Utah, offered resolu-
ton which was adopted, instructing the COM
mittee on military affairs to inquire into the
expedency of frefunding to Utah the expenses
incurred by that Territory in suppressing
Indian hostilities in 1858 also instructing
the same committee to inquire into the expe-
diency of constructing a military road from
Fort Bridgers' pass to Salt Lake City.
Adjourned till Thursday.
The adjournment to Thursday was to give
the Speaker time to arrange the Standing
Committees The Committees of the first
session are continued to the second, with
such alterations as may be necessary to fill
vacancies.
The democratic senators in caucu. on Thurs
day arranged the standing committees Almost
important change is the substitution of Mr..
Green of Mo-, for Mr.. Douglas, as chairman
of the committee on territories.
The other committees are the same as last
years, save that Mr.. Hale takes Mr.. Cola
mer's place upon post-oihces and post roads
The democrats uniformly take the first four
OF each committee, and give the republicans
two at the tail OF the attack on Mr.. Doug
las the correspondent of the Tribune writes
as follows:
WAsHISGroS, Thursday, Dec 0. 1858.
Inc action OF the senatorial Caucus, in removing
Mr. Douglas from the Craftsmanship Of the Com
mttee on the Territories, has created the greatest
excitement. 1t is regarded as demonstrating the
intention of the Democratic leaders to adhere to
the extreme Pro-Slavery policy adopted at the last
session-to reduce the Anti-Lecompton men to the
position of a faction, and to drive them from the
party.
leading Southern Senator said to-day that they
had temporized long enough, and that they had
concluded to drive Douglas out of the party. The
South will tolerate no halfway position
The Anti-Lecompton Democrats express deep
indignation at the treatment which Douglas has
received. Mr.. Broderick not invited to the
Caucus, and is considered having been formally
rcad out of the party.
Mr. seward on hearing the result of the caucus
remarked that it was the best illustration that
could possibly be given Of the truth of his state
meht that there was au iIIvPressihia conflict he
tween Freedom and Slavery. 1t was greater out
rage, politically speaking, than the attempt to
force Kansas into the Union as a Slave State be-
it indicated a settled determination to toler-
ate no diversity of opinion upon any measure
which the South demanded.
The Anti-Lecompton Democrats declare that
they will not submit. Douglas said recently that
he meant toe ontinue the fight with the Admins
tration to the end.
The movement of his friend Morris of Illinois
in the House to-day in favor of Free-trade and
Popular Sovereignty, is understood to be an Anti
Administration demonstration.
Jefferson Davis and Slidel led the attack OH
Douglas in the caucus. There were only seven
votes for Douglas. They were thrown by Messrs
Shields, Stewart, Clingman, Brown, Toombs
Green and Bigler. These Senators protest
ed against the exclusion of Douglas as suicidal to
the party. The debate lasted from l0b in the
morning to a late hour this afternoon, with an
hours recess from ! . to o'clock for session of
the Senate. Great bitterness manifested and
Mr.. Toombs left the caucus in disgust, while the
dissension was at its hight.
In the House, on Thursday, the Speaker
announced the standing committees, which
are the same as last year, with some dozen
changes in consequence of deaths, resigna-
tions or sickness among the members. Henry
NJ. Phillips of Penn, takes the place of j.
Clancy Jones on the committee of Ways and
Means, Mr.. Morrill, of Vt of Mr.. Banks. and
Maclay of New York is added Wright of
Tenn. and Cayanaugh of MINI, go on to the
committee ON Elections, in place of Harris
of Ill. and Phillips of Pa, Keim of Pa. sue
ceeds Morrill, of Vt. on Agriculture. Gooch
of Mass. takes Mr.. Damrell's place on Roads
and Canals, and Mr.. Walbridge of Mich
who is dropped from Public Lands, is put on
the same committee
Mr.. Morris Of Ill, gave notice Of his in
tention to introduce a bill providing for the
election of governors and judges by the
people in the organized territories also
bill to admit sugar and salt free of duty, and
a bill to amend the naturalization laws.
The report of the Judiciary committee in
the case of Judge Watrous of Texas was tax
en- up and debated
The CONCERT Friday evening was an excel
lent one and deserved fuller house. Mrs. Bell
has a sweet contralto voice and knows how