The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1860-01-06
CONGRESSIONAL.

WAsHISGroN, Dec. 27.-In the
House to-day nothing was done except
to take enc more ballot for Speaker,
with the following result: Twenty
second ballot-The total pumbor Of
votes was 20s, of which Sherman had
l0l, Scott, II Houston, Is; Gilmer
IA; Bocock, Il; Maclay, u; scat
tering, 80.
The House then adjourned.
WAsnrNGroN, Dec. 27.-The Sen
ate met to-day at the usual hour
After the usual preliminary proceed
ings, the Presidents Message was re-
ceived and read. The Senate wa
crowded with spectators, many of the
members Of tho House being present.
The follow is synopsis of the Mes
sage:
The President, after expressing graf
itnde to the Almighty for the blessings
with which the country had been ia
vored throughout the year, refers to the
recent bloody occurrence at Harper's
Ferry. The President saws that these
events lad and cruel as they are in
themselves derive their chef impor
lance from the apprehension that they
are but symptoms of an incurable dis
ease in the public mind which may
break oat still more dangerously and
cause outrages far more serious, which
will finally terminate in an open dec
laration Of war by the North to abolish
slavery 10 the South.
The President said that while be
himself entertained no such apprehen.
sion, these occurrences ought to afford
a solemn warning to Us all to beware Of
approaching danger.
LET me, says the President, "in.
plore nay countrymen, both North and
South, to cultivate the ancient feeling ot
mutual forbearance and good viii to
wards each other, and strive to lev
rather than excite the demon spirit OF
sectional hatred and strife which is now
alive throughout the land.
This advice proceeds from the heart
of an old public functionary, whose ser.
vices commenced during the last gen.
Grafton, among the wise and conserya-
tive statesmen of that day. But | 10.
dulge in no gloomy forebodings, and
am Of opinion that thorough invsti-
cation Of The affair will be the means Of
allaying the excitement and prevent.
ing all further outbreaks of like ma,
ture."
The President cordially congratu-
lates Congress on the final settlement
BY the Supreme Court Of the question
of slavery in the Territories, where the
right has been established that every
citizen may take his property, Of any
description, includicg slaves, into a
Territory belonging equally TO the
whole confederacy, and have it protec
ted there under the Federal Constitu.
ton.
Neither Congress nor the Territori.
al Legislature, nor any human power
has any power to annul or impair this
vested right. Thus has the status of a
Territory, during the intermediate pc.
Rod from its settlement till it becomes
a State, been irrevokably fixed by the
anal decision of the Supreme Court.
The President then describe the
hyde of admission of Territory as a
State in tie Union. He says it NAV
be admitted with or without slavery as
the Constitution of the State or Terri.
tory may prescribe. This principle has
been recognized by an almost unani
nous vote Of both Houses Of Congress
during the last session.
In relation to the slave trade, the
President says that be has used and
shall continue to use all lawful means
at bis command to suppress it Our
History, he continues, proves that the
fathers Of his Republic, in advance o.
all - fta~ .,o4,,S,,,. 9-...sJ a n