New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-02-21
Trinity ssxth conuress--r'irst session.

Fharty-stxth GomgreSs--EtrSf session
wAsHIsaTos, Feb. Ii Senate The Chair pre-
scented Constitution adopted by the Constiti-
tional Convention, assembled Of Wyandotte, Tor
the admission DIT Kansas as State into the Union.
Mt. Seward moved to refer il to the Committee
on Territories.
Mr.. Brown moved to amend the motion, by in
structing that committee to inquire whether, "a the
formation OF said Constitution the act OF Congress
approved May A 1855, entitled ~ act Tor the I'd
mission Of Kansas into the Union.s has been com
piled with in all respects especially whether CEN
sns was taken of the population OF Kansas before
the election Of delegates 70 said Constitutional
Convention, and If so, whether it appears from
that census that there was number Of inhabitants
equal to the ratio of representation required for
member Of the Honse Of Representatives.
Mn. Seward asked for the yeas and nays on these
instructions.
Nj. DooHttlc moved to amend the instructions by
instructing Tie Committee on Territories toreport
bill for the immediate admission of Kansas into
the Union under the Constitution formed at Wyan-
dotte on an equal footing with the other States.
Mr.. Mason remarked that there was an existing
law which declared, that under the circumstances
known to exist, the people of Kansas shall not be
admitted State unless they shall have the popu-
lation prescribed in that law and whether they
have it or not the law declares shall be determined
by q census. Now the motion is, that the commit
tee shall inquire whether that law has been COM
piled with as a preliminary. The amendment of
Mr.. Dooittle proposes 70 override that law # TIE
steps to have it repealed, bnt while it stands on
the statute book let it be observed.
Mr.. Brown thought the object Of his motion was
apparent that be was surprised to lind the least
objection to it from any quarter. There were
rnlors that this proceeding Of forming the Consti-
tuition had not been conducted in compliance with
the act Of Congress, and he wanted 70 ascertain
the truth Of these rumors. IT they had gone on in
total disregard of law, he should feel constrained
To reject their whole work. He wanted the IN
+ formation to govern his own conduct.
Mr.. Pugh said if he was satisfied that Kansas had
the requisite population, the mere question OF a
census was ilnmaterial. He should look at the
spirit Of the law, and not stick in the bark. Be
Sides Congress was foreclosed from that objection,
because 1t had refused to make an appropriation
70 defray the expenses Of taking this census.
The discussion was arrested by the arrival OF the
hour for taking up The special order:
After short executive session me senate az
iourned.
House of Representatives. On motion Of Mr.. |
Grow, the powers Of the Special Committee on |
Printing authorized to be appointed yesterday,
we're enlarged, So that they may inquire into the
prices paid for the binding Of Congressional work
and the laws regulating the same and make SINH
also. the publication and binding of the Congress
sional Globe and report all facts on the subject.
AIso, whether in their opinion any changes n
the existing laws governing the pubic pruning IN
connection with the Executive bureaus. are neces-
sary to be made, with power to report at any time
The Speaker announced that the election of a
printer was the first business in order
On motion of Mr.. Phelps, there was o call OF the
House.
The House was abont to vote for a printer, when
Mr. Hill moved that the House adjourn and in
response to question Of Mr. Sherman, said his OBJ
ecf was to procure full attendance of his friends
MFR. Morris, Of Illinois, said the Democrats were
willing to proceed to vote for Printer tomorrow,
nut not before.
ar. Sherman said the question Of printing was
lot worth adjourning over for an hour.
MI. Hill thought otherwise. His motion was
legatiyed. Yeas, q; nays, l39.
Mr.. Barksdale remarked that the Democratic
ide were not yet ready to vote for printer. He
aid that last Thursday, when the other side We're
lot ready, there was no particular objection to
of the subject till yesterday, when
wo unsuccessful votes were taken.
MFR. Sherman had no objection. provided there
yes q general understanding the House shall pro-
Iced to an election tomorrow.
Mr.. Sherman, from the Committee of Ways and l
aeans, reported bill for the support of the Mill
AIRY Academy; bill for the payment of invalid I
and other pensions, and bill for the payment Of
diplomatic and consular expenses. These bills |
were referred TO the Committee Of the Whole on |
The State of the Union.
The House then took up, in Committee, the Post
Office Appropriation bill.
The Eenate's amendment, requiring the Post
Office blanks to be given out by contract, was
agreed to.
The next and last amendment of the Senate was
next considered, viz the entire abolition Of the
ranking privilege.
MIR. Pryor advocated the abolition of the frank
ing privilege. BY 1t speeches were circulated
which were not read, and seeds distributed which
never come up.
Mr.. Moore, Of Kentucky, opposed this so-called
reform. Let retrenchments begin at the right
plaee-reform the political speenlations here en-
tered into.
Mr.. winslow thought it would be unwise to abol.
ish that privilege.
Other gentlemen gave their views as to the pro-
priety of the proposed reform.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Dawes was re-
jected after discussion, namely, that newspaper
exchanges be exempted from postage.
MI. Montgomery opposed the abolition Of the
franking privilege, and humorously proposed that
the Senate be exempted from the enjoyment Of it.
The debate was further continued, but presented
no especial points of public interest.
The Committee then rose, and its action was re-
ported to the House.
E The amendments of the Senate were concurred
I'M excepting that to abolish the franking privilege,
which was rejected by yeas 60, nays III.
The amendment directing the Post-0fiee blanks
to be printed by contract was conenrred in--yeas
l50, nays Il.
y The House then adjourned.