The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-17
THE NATIONAL ERA WASHINGTON, D. G, FEBRUARY H. 1859

| how 1t stood in party sense. He came to the
simple, plain letter of the Constitution, and
found there clause authorizing Congress to
admit States with certain limitations, very well
understood. Congress had the power to admit
| Oregon, and it was merely question of pro-
regard to any extraneous question whatever,
was prepared to vote for her admission.
Mr.. Granger, of New York, condemned the
proposition to admit Oregon with less popu-
lation than was required for Kansas, as unfair.
But he regarded the provisions in relation to
| alien suffrage as much more formidable OBJ
| lection, and believed the friends of the bill
would have great difficulty in securing its pas
sage with these provisions.
Mr.. Maynard, of Tennessee, also opposed the
bill in its present shape, on account of the in
suficiency of the population, and the provision
in the Constitution in relation to alien suffrage.
If the amendment he proposed to offer should
be adopted, then he should be willing to sup
port the bill.
On motion of Mr. Stephens, of Georgia, it
was agreed that the vote on this bill be taken
on Saturday next at twelve o'clock, without de.
bate.
Mr.. Marshall, of Kentucky, and others, gave
notice that they should propose amendments at
the proper time and they were ordered to be
printed.
Presidents Message. - On motion Of Mr..
Stephens, of Georgia. the House then went into
Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union, Mr.. John Cochrane, of New York, in
the chair,) and resumed the consideration of
the Presidents annual message.
Mr.. Lovejoy of Illinois, commenced to ad-
dress the Committee upon the subject Of Sla-
very, deneuncing it in strong terms, and con-
demning the course of the Democratic party in
relatan thereto; when
Mr.. Burnett of Kentucky, appealed to him
to permit the House to take recess until seven
o'clock
Mr.Aovejoy declined.
Mr.. Burnett then raised point Of order that
there was no quorum present, and that being
the state of the case no further proceedings
were in order
The Chairman decided that Mr.. Burnett
could not make his point of order, the gentle
man from Illinois being on the floor
Mr.. Burnett appealed.
And the question being taken, no quorum
voted-yeas 81, nays 10.
The roll was accordingly called pending
which,
The Committee took recess until seven
o'clock.
NIGHT SEssIoN.-The Committee promptly
reassembed at the appointed hour.
| Mr.. Keim, of Pennsylvania, explained his
position as the Representative of old Berks.
The great and radical change had been caused
by the principle of protection to labor, and the
distress produced by the late revulsion to the
iron trade Unless the tariff be raised, the vote
of Berks could not be obtained for any par
ty who opposed protection, and the Presiden-
tial election might hinge upon that vote.
MIR. Taylor, of Louisiana, addressed the Com
mittee in favor of the acquisition of Cuba. The
acquisition would be Of immense advantage to
the Union, as it would increase the trade with
that country. Although his own State might
suffer for short time as, by the acquisition,
the barriers which now protect sugar would be
removed, yet in the end Louisiana would be the
gamer. He argued that it was the part of pru-
dence for Spain to sell, and if the United States
failed to act now, it would be a declaration to
the world that we do not wish to acquire the
country.
Mr.. Wood, Of Maine, was certain that Cuba
could not be acquired that Spain would not
sell, however anxious we might be to acquire
the island He rose, however, for the purpose
of opposing the Senate bill for the repeal of the
bounty on fish.
Mr.. jackson, of Georgia, argued against the
spirit of INSTRUMENTATION to law and order which
prevailed among the people, and he was sorry
of the Union. He desired to trace that spirit
to what he conceived to be its origin, the exist
ence in the conscience of every man of u law
higher than the Constitution and the law of the
land, and the effect of that doctrine as exhibited
at the North and in the West, in opposition to
the fugitive slave law, in the opposition to the
organic law of Kansas, and in the Utah rebel
lion. He expected then to allude to the fact
that in sixty years, almost from the foundation
of the Government, the South was entirely free
from this spirit, and then to express his deep
regret that in portions of the South Of late this
same spirit of INSTRUMENTATION to law and order
had been exhibited and expected to allude
specially to violations of the neutrality laws and
the African-slave-trade law, which have occur
red there.
Mr.. Farnsworth, of Illinois, replied to the re-
mark of Mr., jackson, defending the Republican
party from the charge of sectionalism. He
should not oppose the admission of Oregon on
account of the provisions establishing alien suf-
frage but he did oppose it on the ground that
it prohibited the residence of free negroes within
the limits of the State, and made it obligatory
upon the Legislative Assembly to provide for
their removal, and the punis hment of all per-
sons who should harbor them therein.
Mr.. Lane, of Oregon, said it was their inten-
ton to exclude negroes They had none there,
and did not wish to have them. They had said
in their Constitution that they would not have
Slavery, and so they said they would not permit
the residence of negroes.
Mr.. Farnsworth complained, because this de-
barred the negro the right of protection in the
courts.
Mr.. Taylor, of New York, addressed the
Committee upon the subject of the public print
ing showing the rapid increase in its cost, &c.
In the course of his remarks he presented a
number of statistical tables, certified to by the
Register of the Treasury, the Clerk ofthe House,
and the Secretary of the Senate.
And then the Committee rose, and the House
adjourned