The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1860-01-05
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xxxvIth CoNGREss-rst SESSION.
WASHINGTON January 4.

Pfopriduous lcr Urdnu maven Hnu Olner mar
bors in Michigan. ............
MI. Toombs presented q petition Of The
citizens Of Ascension Parish, Louisiana, on the
subject of the Honmas land grant, He moved
its reference to the COMMITTEES on Public
Lands. As Chairman of the Committee OIL
Private Lands, he felt embarrassed by the
charges made against him in connection witt
that grant.
Mr.. johnson, of Arkansas, opposed it.
reference to the Committee on Pablo Lands.
1t did not belong there, and he was opposed
to taking business from one Committee and
giving it to another.
A desultory debate followed, in which Mr..
Benjamin stated that he had no objection to it,
reference to the Committee on Private Land
Claims. The charges were too absurd to give
him a moments concern, but as his motives
had been impugned he thought it had better 60
to the Judiciary Committee.
Finally, on motion of Mr.. Toombs, it was
referred to select committee Of five.
Mr.. Hemphill presented the credentials OF
Lewis T. Wigfall as Senator from Texas, and
he was duly sworn.
Mr.. Davis, from the Committee on Military
Affairs, moved for the printing of 10000 CO
pies of the report of Major Mofdecai and Del
afeld, on the fortifcation in the Crimea, for
the use OF the Department, and also 1000
copies for general distribution. Agreed to.
On motion of Mr.. Mason, resolution was
| adopted that the Senate hereafter meet at one
| o'clock, until the House ia organized. Vari
Gus reports, resolutions and bills, Of no gene.
raj interest, were appropriately disposed Of.
Mr.. Mason said the word servile, which he
had applied to States where slavery did no,
exist, was yesterday criticised by the Senator
| from Wisconsin. He used the expression de,
liberatsly, and thought it drew the true dis
tinction between the States where slavery diG
exist, and those where there are no slaves.
In common parlance the States were called
free and slave, and those among whom no
lived had never taken ofense at the denomina
ton. He did not know how exception could
be taken. He might have referred to the
Democratic party in the free States, to whom
perhaps the term might some times be prop
erly applied.
Mr.. Harlan, of Iowa, discussed the Presi
dents Message, the slavery question, and the
power Of Congress, at great length, and hav
ing a coiloquy with Mr.. Pugh. Mr.. H. con
tended that the Republican policy was, in
fact, to give the Territories to the white men
Of the United States; that the white race could
live anywhere, aud that the negro did not
flourish in the United States. He denounced
the holding Of slaves for gain; he did not hate
a holder Of slaves, whose sincere object it was
to benefit them and improve their condition.
| Mr.. Foster, Of Connecticut, contendsd that
the slavery question was first agitated by tn
Senator from Virginia and by the President
in his Message.
He thought, although there we're wrongs
and outrages done in Mexico toward Ameri
can citizens. Yet this was an undue time -
redress them, while citizens--women too-n
slave States were persecuted for opinion sake,
and similar treatment shown toward ali
northerners without distinction. Remedy the
wrongs inflicted by MOrmons on citizens 10
Utah. Protect the Indians, whom the Secre
tary Of the Interior so manfully had an
nounced to be oppressed. As Republican
President will be elected in year, he pre-
ferred to wait year. The war making power
| should not be conferred on the President.
HOUSE.-Mr. Washburne, Of ILL.,, called
attention to q letter he had received from 4.
contractor in Rockville, ILL.,, in which tho
writer states that the state of things existing,
tors, can not be imagined. Mr.. Washburne
wished to say to the contractors that he did
not consider himself responsible for their dis
tress. He washed his hands of all respons.
bility. No speeches had been mado by his
side of the house. They desired an organiza-
| ton.
Mr.. Barksdale asked whether the gentlemen n
would now agree to the proposition for tenn,
porary organization, in order that the bill
could be passed.
Mr.. Washburne replied that when Mr.. Hous-
ton offered the resolution, he (Washburnel
proposed to fill the blank with the name Of
John Sherman, but the Democrats objected.
Mr.. Houston showed the insecurity of Mr..
WaShburne and bis friends. He treated his
(Washburne's) proposition with The scorn and
contempt it deserved The gentleman in-
tended to defeat the object of his (Houston's)
resolution, and for him to read the letter was
adding insult to injury.
Mr.. Washburne-The gentleman proposed
to elect temporary Speaker, and left blank
IN the resolution for the insertion of name.
Why did he not accept that of Mr.. Sherman
| Mr.. Houston--Why would not the gentle
man accept that of Mr.. Bocock or Mr.. Mallory.
He had said that if the House would agree to
this resolution he would propose to FIJI the
blank with some individual whose name had
not been connected with the contest and against
whom there could have been no serious Objec-
tons. he wanted to act in good faith.
| Mr. stevens asked Mr.. Houston whether at
the same time he wanted to include O Clerk.
Mr.. Houston replied that it was necessary
the present Clerk should act until his succea-
sor is appointed. The gentlemen do not
mean to pay the contractors; they want to
keep up the outside pressure.
| Mr.. Stevens-The gentleman must know
that, BY the Constitution, no bill can be pre-
sented-no resolution offered till Speaker or
Clerk are elected.
| Mr.. Houston-The gentleman can not es-
cape in that way; it was mere subterfuge.
The Clerk can remain until his successor ia
appointed.
Mr.. Reagan, of Texas, spoke of the Repub-
lican party whose principles were revolution
ary in character, and calculated to promote
sectional hostility and subvert the Constitu
tion. They hold that the Constitution ia a
league with hell and covenant with death.
Mr.. Curtis, of Iowa, insisted that the peo-
pie of the North do not make war on slavery
where it exists.
A debate ensusd involving the subject o.
the Personal Liberty Bill of Massachusetts.
Mr.. Hill was willing to inaugurate a party
TO embrace every conservative element to civ,
peace and happiness to our distracted land
He wanted the Republicans to haul down theil
black flag.
Mr. Cox, commended that IL was a positive
disadvantage to DO white man in Massachu.
setts. He referred to the Alien and Suffrsg.
Law. r.l
Mr.. Cox said the union of the Constitution
was the watchword of the Democratic party
One union loving sentiment from Cusbing q,