The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-02-24
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
THIRTY-FlFTH CONGRESS--SECOND SESSION.
WASHINGTON, February %, 1859.

claim the floor for the purpose of making per-
sonal explanation, and gave this notice in advance
Mr.. DOUGLAS offered amendment to the act
authorizing the Territories of Arizona and Daco-
tab, which was laid on the table.
Mr.. DAVIS, from the Committee on Military Af-
fairs, reported bill authorizing the payment of
certain moneys due to the State of Massachusetts,,
which she expended in the war of 1912. Also a re-
port on the Lime Point military reservation, stat
ing that the committee find frauds in the premi-
ses as charged, and asked to be discharged, which
agreed to.
Mr.. BRoDERIcK submitted minority report
Mr.. BAYARD, from the Committee on the Judi
ciary, reported adversely to the bill consolidating
the two JUDICIAL districts in Texas.
Mr.. HgNqER offered resolution that after to-day
the Senatemeettat IL A. NJ Laid over.
Mr.. DAVIS offered resolution calling on the
President of the United States for copy of Judge
Brewers decision in the Great Falls land case
Agreed to-
Mr.. KING gave notice that at a future day he
should INTRODUCE bill to establish branch mint in
the city of New York
Mr.. SLIDELL:-I give notice that on Friday, at
II o'clock, shall call up the bill for the acquisition
of Cuba.
The hour of o'clock having arrived, the Execu-
tive, Legislative, and Judicial Appropriation bill
was taken up.
The question was upon the motion of Mr. HALE
to add the following to the bill an additional
section
SEC. =. And be 1t further enacted That the first
section of the act entitled An act for the admis-
sion of the State Of Kansas into the Union" ap-
proved MAY 4, 1858, be- and the same is hereby
amended by striking out the following words viz
''W henever it is ascertaned by a census duly and
legally taken that the population of the said Ter
ritory equals or exceeds the ratio ofrepresentation
required for members of the House of Representa-
tives in the Congress of the United States which
words are hereby repealed.
Mr.. STUART, of Michigan, said he had always
been opposed to the restriction which it was pro-
posed to repeal and would vote accordingly but he
regretted that tho pycitpp euhaof bod
brought before the Senate
Mr.. SEWARD said he was surprised at the gentle
mans remarks. Congress had said that unless
Kansas would accept the Lecompton Constitution,
population of 93,420. He thought that every man
opposed to the odous and unjust restriction would
embrace the first opportunity to repeal it.
Mr.. Brown expressed the opinion that every
State coming into the Union should have the pop
uation required for representative in Congress
He was however, willing to admit Kansas either as
free or slave State, with the fractional part of the
representative ratio which entitled South Carolina
to member OF Congress, but census was necessa-
ry to ascertain her population This was question
which would have an important bearing upon the
next Presidential election.
The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Chandler)
had anticipated the success of his party in that
test; he with equal confidence expected Il triumph
OF his party. But in this matter he neither wished
to cheat or be cheated He wanted a full under
standing, and he desired triumph of principle
The spos of office to the people were as sounding
brass or tinkling cymbal. The South wanted her
rights in the Union and she wanted the bred Scott
decision faithfully carried out. By that decision it
was affirmed by the Supreme Court, that the cti-
zens OF all sections of the country had the right
to carry their property into the territories, but
the right was valueless unless it carried with it
the obligation to make laws to sustain that
right. If laws to protect slavery did not exist in
the territories, the right to take slave property
there was nullity. The constitutional right
must he sustained hv DOSitiva r.
was the duty of the Territorial Legislatures
to frame laws accordingly and if they failed to do
so, it was the duty Of Congress, whose creatures
they were, to deprive them of their powers and
Carry out the provisions of the Constitution. Slave
property was entitled to protection, and being of
peculiar character, peculiar laws should be enacted
in its behalf. American ships on the high seas
were entitled under the Constitution to protection,
but how could it be afforded without legislative en-
actments? He regarded the Territorial Legisla-
lures as the mere creatures of Congress- and their
powers should be annuled if they did not discharge
their duty in providing protection for all species of
property; He denied most emphatcally their right
to exclude slavery.
MIR. DOUGLAS, Of ILL.,, energeticallv defended his
doctrine of popular sovereignty and congressional
nonnterventon, and reiterated the doctrines con-
corning the force of the Dred Scott decision and
slavery in the territories, enunciated during his re-
cent campag gn in Illinois. He held to its fullest ex
tent the power of the people of the territory to de-
eide the question of slavery for themselves. He
pUsSesSeu TlgllC OF SelI-pOVernment
as fully as the people ola State and should not be
subjected to congressional interference. This was
the doctrine of the Cincinnati platfOrm-it was the
doctrine of Mr.. Buchanan's letter of acceptance
and under any other interpretations he could not
have carried single Northern State. The Cincin-
natl platform conceded the right of the people of
territory to exclude admit slavery as thev choose
and under no other construction would Northern
State have voted for Buchanan. and he wished
Southern Senators to understand that fact Mr..
Brown wanted to force slavery upon a people,
whether they desired it not. He wanted the
people to decide the matter for themselves.
He believed that under the Dred Scott decision
Southern man had an abstract right to take his
slave into any Territory OF the United States, but
he could not hold it there unless the legislature
passed laws for his protection, and they had the
right to refuse to do so if they chose In reply to
question propounded by Mr.. Bigler, he replied
that he did not recognize black men as citizens
this was a government of white men.
Applause being manifested in the galleries, which
were densey crowded, the Chair gave orders
that they should be cleared if the disturbance was
repeated
Mr. DOUGLAS concluded by saying that there was
no use for excitement anger upon this subject
If Southern men could not stand upon the same
platform with him it was better quietly to separate.
The Senator from Mississippi had said that he wish
ed neither to cheat or be cheated. He had hoped
he had met him in a kind and friendly spirit, and
that his position had been clearly and unequvocaly
defined.
Il w,
denying that he rightly interpreted the obligations
of the Democratic party.
Mr.. PUGH said that Mr.. Brown had asked if
Northern Democrats would vote for Congressional
Intervention to protect slave property against local
legislation He would answer-never 1t is mon
strous. 1t is against the pghted faith of both the
South and North.
Mr.. PUGH discussed the question at length, and
said he stood on the platform of his party, with
the Interpretation which he explained.
Mr.. GREEN said he this subject of
tention had been brought forward to try to bring
discord into the Democratic party-the only party
able to override the Republican party. He hoped
and believed that there was no difference between
the North and South. A government is formed to
protect persons and property, and when it ceases
to do either, it ceases to perform great func-
ton. Mr.. Hale's amendment had brought up the
question-What is property? He maintained that
under the Constitution and by the decision of the
Supreme Court, slaves are property; and he argued
the subject in many respects, concluding by calling
oD the Democratic party to stand united.
The debate was continued up to late hour with
but little prospect of an adjournment till after mid
night. Messrs. Hunter, Gwin, Broderick and
Stuart defined their positions, the latter going
the whole history of non-intervention legislation.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House met at IL A. NJ. No quorem present
Mr.. HUGHES, of Indiana, moved call of tie
House.
The tellers being ordered, the yeas were II, nays
100.
Mr. HUGHES asked leave to introduce resolution
to revive the tariff act of 1916.
Objection being made, he moved to suspend the
rules.
Mr.. PHELPS said a motion to suspend the rules
was made by him yesterday, which pending
when the House adjourned.
Mr.. HUGHES said he would correct the statement
of the gentleman from Missouri. His recollection
that the motion to suspend the rules yesterday
withdrawn.
The CHAIR decided that the question must be TAX
upon the motion of Mr.. PHELPS, and it was
carried, and the House resolved itself into Com
mittee of the Whole on the state of the Union and
took up the Post-office bill. sH
Mr.. MONTGOMERY, of Pa, offered an amendment
providing for modification of the tariff, which
the Chairman ruled out of order. Ut revves the
tariff act OF 1916 with notifications imposing spe-
citic duties on coal and iron.
Mr.. MONTGOMERY appealed from the decision OF
the Chair, and said the House had recognized the
rule that revision of the tariff rates could be Of
fered as an amendment to an appropriation BILL
He read from the Congressional Globe, of 1855, to
show that similar amendment to the Civil and Di-
pomatic bill had been offered and sustained by the
House.
Mr.. LETcHER, of Virginia, desired to controyert
the position of iir. Montgomery; but the Chair
ruled debate to be out of order. After good dea
of confusion and excitement. the question was
taken on the appeal, and the decision of the Chair
was sustained by yeas 100, NAYS not counted.
The question upon the additional section
offered by Mr.. AVERY, confirming and ratifying the
contract made by the Postmaster General with
Butterfeld Co., for carrying the mail from the
Mississippi river to the Pacific, and compelling But
terfed Co. to carry the mail according to said
contract.
Mr. BLAIR, of Missouri said the contract was in
violation of law, which authorizes the contractors
to select the route. In this the Postmaster
General had assigned a route 800 miles longer than