The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-15
Monday, December II, 1859.
SENATE


SENATE.
The Senate met at noon.
On motion of Mr.. Davis a resolution was
adopted appointing a committee to wait on the
President and inform him that the Senate was
ready to receive communications, in order that
he may have an opportunity to send nomina-
tons and other Executive business previous to
the organization of the House.
On motion of Mr.. Brown, il was resolved to
proceed to the election of a chaplain on Thurs
day next.
Mr.. lverson said he had been misunderstood
by the Constitution newspaper, in a remark
made the other day about the Democratic par
ty, when he said that he believed the Demo
cratic party, if not corrupt at least was cor
ruptible. He did not mean to accuse them of
completely or sympathy with John Brown, but
simply to say that, on the question Of territorial
rights of the Southern people, great portion
of the Northern Democracy are unsound.
Mr., Bgler said the Senator from Georgia
could hardly realize how the expression, rot
tenness of the Democratic party" fell on his
ears. AT the North, Democrats were called
doughfaces, because they stand up for the
rights of the South. He don't claim that the
Constitution establishes Slavery or prohibits it
anywhere, but the Constitution most expressly
declares that the States are perfectly equal, and
provides that new States shall come into the
Union on terms of perfect equality with the old.
IL is not denied that the territories are the
property of the States in common, and that
Congress is simply their trustee.
Mr.. Bigler said he thought he had spent an
hour in defence of the rights of the South, where
Mr.. Iverson had spent one minute. He could
not sit still under such imputatons rs the SEN
ator had hurled on the Democratic party, with
out telling him he had done injustice. The
Northern Democracy had stood like a hnlwark
between the South and Abolitionism Break
Us down at your peril.
Mr.. Pugh was glad Mr.. Iverson had made
this explanation. He would give notice, that
on some convenient occasion he should have
something to say on the subject. We have
heard just exactly enough of this to require
something more. If the Democracy of the
Southern States hold the sentiments of Mr..
lyerson, we want to know it before the meeting
of the Charleston Convention, and we intend to
know, or at least do, as far questions and
answers can bring it from the representatives
of the Democratic party Of the Southern States,
whether they sympathize with such sentiments
Mr.. Iverson. / am readylto answer at any
time, and will do so to your hearts content.
Mr.. johnson, of Tennessee, proceeded to dis
cuss Mr.. Masons resolution, replying to Mr..
Trumbullis defence of the Republican platform
He denied that Congress possessed any sover-
eign power over the territories. Its powers
were merely those given by the States and by
the Constitution.
Mr.. johnson asked him, if Arizona was colo.
nized, and filed up altogether with free colored
people, would he be willing to admit it as a
State upon an equal footing with the other
States of the Confederacy?
Mr. Trumbull answered that he would not
L.. L.. L.
member of the Confederacy, by the admission
of which he supposed he was endangering the
peace of this Union itself.
In his judgment, there was distinction made
between the white and black races-made by
Omnipotence. He did not believe these two
races could live happily and pleasantly to-
gether, each enjoying equal rights, without one
domineering over the other. Therefore he ad-
vocated the policy of separating these races by
adopting system to rid the country of the
black race as it becomes free. He would say
he should not be prepared, under the existing
state Of things, to admit as sovereign State Of
this Union community of negroes, nor Indians
either.
Mr.. johnson thanked him for tina. admission.
He would rather, he said, see this country in
volved in hostilities With every civilized coun.
try on earth, than engaged in civil or servile
in strong terms as a horse thief and murderer
in Kansas He was surprised, he said, to hear
Mr.. Doolittle apologize for him the other day.
Mr.. Doolittle said he made 10 apology or
justification of Browns act. The people Of the
North have no sympathy for his crime, but
many have sympathy with the individual him.
SELF He now read some extracts from the his
tory of Kansas, by Governor Geary's private
secretary, corf0borating his previous statements;
and he declared that bad and wicked as the
foray was in Virginia, It sinks into insignif.
canoe when compared with the fGray led into
Kansas by David n. Atchison One was of
Brown and his twenty men against great
State; but what is that when compared with
the invasion of Kansas with almost five thou.
sand men, when, at the time of the invasion,
there were not three thhoasapd y9,ers in the
whole Territory ~ A"'''
Mr.. Davis reported that the committee ap-
pointed to wait on the President had dis
charged that duty, and that be informed them
he would send in an Executive communication
to morrow.
On motion Of Mr.EMallory, the Senate ad.
journed
The House reassembled at noon.
Mr.. Kilgore said, in consulting with his
friends, that he found they were almost unani.
mously of the opinion to proceed to ballet for
Speaker, in order to hg;Es about an organiza-
ton, i'f
Mr.. Maynard offered resolution that the
Oldest member of this House, BY consecutive
service therein, be appointed chairman till the
House shall elect Speaker.
Mr.. Kilgore objected, ON the ground that the
resolution was not in order.
Several other gentlemen also objected.
Mr.. Stewart, Of Maryland, said he never
would consent 10 vote for the adoption Of the
plurality rule. The Union meesfngs at tie
North amounted V nothing. They are 4 Dc.