The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-05-16
PROCEEDINGS Oh THE THIRTY.SIXTH CONGRESS

WASHINGTON, May l5.-Mr. HUNTER, from the
Committee on Finance, to whom referred the
bill from the House of Representatives, making
appropriations for the support Of the armV for the
year ending the 30th of June, 1861, reported it,
with amendments.-The VICE PRESIDENT
laid before the Senate letter from the Secretary
of the Territory of Nebraska, communicating a
copy of the laws and resolutions passed at the sixth
session of the Legislative Assembly of that Terrific
ry; which was read and referred to the Commit
tee on Territories.-Mr. LATHAM presented
petition of merchants and business of the city
OF New ork, praying the establishment of a daily
. overland mail to California.-Mr. MALLORY
introduced a bill, granting to the corporation of
the city of Tampa, State of Florida certain lands
adjoining said city, and bill to change the time
for holding the courts in the Northern district
of Florida; which were severally read and
reierred.-Mr. PUG moved that the Sen
ate proceed to the consideration of the
bill amendatOry of the act entitled an act to
establish territorial government for Utah. appro-
we'd September 8, 1850, and urged the necessity of
prompt action the measure-Mr. GREEN
hoped it would be postponed for a few days. as he
wished to have Monday next set apart for the con-
Sideration of territorial business.-Mr. PUGH
then moved that the bill be made the special order
for Monday next at one O'Clock, which was agreed
to-On motion by Mr.. GWIN, the overland
mail bill was made the special order for one o'clock
to-morrow.-On motion by Mr. D00LITTLE,
the bill for the relief of Anson Dart was taken up
and Mr.. LANE occupied the remainder of the morn
ing hour i'll speaking in opposition to the claim
Mr.. DOUGLAS took the floor. remarking that he
had no desire to elevate his own position by at
tempting to pull down anybody else, and he had no
assault to make upon any Senator. As the Sena-
tor from Mississippi Mr.. Davis) in his remarks
had made pointed illusions to himself, he should be
compelled to aude to that Senator's position in
replying to him, by way of Illustration; but he
should do so kindly and courteously He would
not indulge to-day in the discussion of anv abstract
theory of government, much less in the discussion
OF legal issues which have lately been attempted to
be forced upon the Democratic party. On former
day he had amused himself with a discussion with
the Attorney General, for that gentleman seemed
to have nothing to do to occupy his time and he
(Mr ID. had leisure to reply to him. Mr. D.
quoted some extracts from the speech of Mr.. Davis
and proceeded to reply to them. The facts stated in
those extracts said he conclusvely show that this
doctrine Of squatter sovereignty or popular sove-
reignty or nonintervention the Senator has used
it, did not originate with me in its application to the
territories of the United States. 1t was distinctly
proclaimed by Gen. Cass in what is knewn as the
Nicholson letter, when the issue distinctly
presented to the country in the contest in lS4S.-
Gen Cass became the nominee of the Democratic
party, with full knowledge of his opinions upon
this question, and he was supported by the party
thatissue. The same doctrine of non-nterventon was
Incorporated into the compromise measures of 1850
in opposition to the views and efforts of the Senator
from Mississippi, and in harmony with the views
and efforts Of myself. 1t was affirmed by the
Democratic party in the Baltimore Convention of
1857, when Gen. Pierce elected President of
the United States upon the same doctrine of non
Intervention 1t was again affirmed by Congress in
the Kansas n ebraska bill of 1854, and had its first
trial and yielded its first fruits upon the plains of
Kansas in 1855 and 1856. These facts con-
clusively dsprove and refute the charges so often
made within the Senate chamber during
the last year, that he had changed his opinions
with regard to the question since lS5G.-
Mr.. d. then went into an elaborate historical de
tail of the action of the Democratic party and its
distinguished members in reference to this ques-
ton, to prove that originally the doctrine was
strenuously contended for that Congress had no
constitutional power to legisate upon the subject
of slavery in the territories and furthermore that
the South did not ask any such intervention He
quoted the Florida and Georgia resolutions of 1S47
and referred to Mr.. 1ancey's report in lS4S which
was rejected by States Sc to ZIG. Thus it was the
Democratic party who had changed, and not he
He proceeded to discuss the history of the compro-
mise measures and of the passage of the Kansas
bill, and after having spoken for three hours with
ont concluding his remarks, gave way to a motion
for adjournment; whereupon the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The House met at III o'clock.-Mr. B0TELER
from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported
bill to remove the United States arsenal from ST.
Louis, and establish the same and the armorv at
Jefferson Barracks.-Mr. SHERMAN offered a
resolution that the Japanese Embassy be invited to
visit the House ofRepresentatives and that a COM
mittee OF five members be appointed to convey them
this invitation, and make suitable arrangements
-Mr. HOUSTON said the gallery was the proper
place for them.-Mr. SHERMAN replied that the
Speaker would, no noubt, appoint a sensible com
mittee, who would invite the Japanese to seats in
the gallery to witness the proceedings Mr..
SMITH, of Virginia said they could go there anv-
how.-Mr. HOUSTON'S motion to table the res
olution voted down bv large majority, and
the resolution of Mr.. Sherman was passed.-The
House then resumed the consideration of the Mich
igan contested election case.-Mr. Gartrell
argued against, and Mr.. Stratton in favor of Mr.,
Howard, the contestant. Mr.. Gilmer concluded
the argument against Mr.. Cooper-The House
passed the first resolution-yeas 81, navs II, de-
claring that George B. Cooper is not entitled to
seat as representative from the first Congressional
district of Michigan. And also passed the second
resoution-yeas %, nays II, that William A.
Howard (Republican) is entitled to the seat-On
motion of Mr.. DAWES, Mr. Howard was then
sworn in and took his seat-The House, in Com
mittee of the Whole the State of the Union,
proceeded to the cons s,deration of the Post Office
Deficiency Bill 1t appropriates ST., 500, ,OOO-S7,-
694 900 for the inland service including the resto-
ration of the inland service it was on the fourth
OF March, 1859; about 81 500, 900 for the com
pensation OF postmasters and their clerks There
are other items Of expenditure SO ,126 324 are
appropriated to supply deficiencies. The first sec
tion was amply discussed, involving the question
to the right of the Postmaster General to cur
tail the servee.-The committee finally rose
without coming to conclusion on the subject,
and the House adjourned