The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-02-24

WASHINGTON, Feb. ID.


Kansas Constitution, of the Wyandott com.
mittee
Mr.. Seward moved its reference to the
Committee on Territories.
Mr.. Brown offered resolution that the
committee inquire whether the provisions of
the English bill are complied with.
Mr.. Seward asked for the ayes and nays.
MIR. Pugh said be would vote against all
instructions. He wanted it to 60 to the com.
mittee in an untramelled form.
Mr.. Seward said it was too early to bring
up this question. The Senator could obtain
the information he desired by making Sc
parate motion. He would always vote for
resolutions asking information, but he want
ed this presented separately.
Mr.. Mason said a statute existed that
Kansas should not be admitted to State
until certain population has been ascer.
tanned by census. Kansas could not come
in as State until she possessed the requisite
population. The resolution only looked to
obtaining information as to whether the
law has been complied with. If the law re.
quiring certain population to exist prior
to the admission be wrong, let that be re-
pealed but while it was at law it should
be respected.
Mr.. Brown said the Constitution of Kan
sas was framed in criminal violation of the
laws of Congress. Now was the proper
time to make the inquiry. He wanted in
formation, and if it should prove that the
act of Congress had been set at nought, he
would feel constrained to vote against the ad-
mission of Kansas.
MIR. Pugh was entirely opposed to the
system OF instructing committees, and taking
from them all discretion. II the act of
Congress had been violated, he would vote
against the admission of Kansas, but if it
were correctly ascertained that she had the
requisite population, he would not sickle
about forms.
1t was necessary that the fact should be
ascertained by the federal census. Congress
had voted no means to take the census and
the State had to take the census herself
Mr. Bayard said the resolution was not in
the form OF an instruction, but merely looked
to the making of certain inquiry.
MIR. Doolittle moved to amend the resolu-
ton by instructing the committee to report
bill tor the immediate admission of Kansas,
under the Wyandotte Constitution.
Mr. Pugh still said he would vote against
all instructions, but he could vote for Mr..
Browns resolution, merely of inquiry
MIR. Haven introduced bill for the con-
struction of Railroad from the Mississippi
River to the eastern boundary of Cali
fornia.
Mr.. Browns resolutions were called up.
Mr.. Hall spoke at length on the slavery
question, and in defence OF New Hampshire.
Mr.. Toombs replied.
Adjourned.
HoUsE.-On motion Of Mr.. Grow, the
powers of the special committee on printing,
authorized to be appointed yesterday were
to be enlarged, so that they may inquire
into the price paid for binding by Congress,
and the laws regulating the same, and to
make similar inquiries into the prices paid
for engraving and paper, and also the publ
cation and binding of the Congressional
Globe, and to report the facts on the subject;
also, whether in their opinion, any changes
in the existing laws governing the public
printing in connection with the executive
business are necessary to be made, with
power to report at any time.
The Speaker announced the pending bu-
.siness to be the election of printer.
Mr.. Anderson, Of Missouri, moved that
the House resolve itself into committee of
the whole on the state of the Union, and
take up the post office appropriation bill.
Estimating the damages at six per cent. on
the sum due the contractors, the amount is
one thousand dollars day, and these con-
tractors are being ruined
Mr.. Barksdale proposed that by general
consent the subject be passed over till to-
morrow at one o'clock.
Mr.. Sherman would not object if such
was the general understanding. This was
acquiesced in.
Mr.. Sherman reported bill for pay.
ment of invalid and other pensions, bill
for support of the military academy, and
bill for the payment Of consular and diplo.
matte expenses. They were referred to the
committee of the whole.
The post Office appropriation bill was
taken up. The Senate amendment abolish
ing the Thanking privilege was rejected. The
committee rose and reported the bill to the
House.
The Senate amendment, directing the
postoffice department to have blanks printed
by contract was agreed to by $50 against
81.
The other amendments OF the Senate were
concurred in.
Mr.. Spinner's amendment, abolishing the
post Office department was rejected. Ad.
journed.
WASHINGTON, Feb. Is.
HOUsE.-There was call of the House
preliminary to vote for printer. Mr.. Will
son moved to postpone the vote until to-
morrow, which was disagreed to, and the
House then proceeded to vote. Whole num-
Der of votes, 181 necessary to choice, 81;
Defrees 90; Glossbrenner 80. Messrs.
Etheridge and Gilmer voted for Gales &
Seaton.
The House voted again with like result,
except that Mr.. Etheridge alone voted for
Gales & Seaton.
Mr.. Stanton remarked be had paired off
with Mr.. Scott. He now terminated that
arrangement, and would vote for Defrees,
having assurances that the prices of the