Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-04-05
THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
WEDNESDAy 1
SENATE.

The Chair laid before the Senate the cores
pondence between the Attorney General and
the judges i'll Utah. relative to judicial pro.
ceeding in that territory. Laid on the table
Mr. THOMPSON presented resolutions OF the
New Jersey legislature i'll favor OF increase of
duty on imported goods, and in favor OF the
House homestead bill.
Mr. KING introduced a bill for the relief of
the representatives OF Robert Morris, late post
master in New York, passed.
Mr.. GREEN moved that the resolutions offer
ed by him yesterday, concerning the comp
troller Of the treasury for decision defeating
the expressed will OF Congress, and for retus
ing to obey It's order, thereby mourning the
disapprobaton of Congress which renders it
improper that he longer remain in office, be
referred to a committee
Mr.. SALISBURY said that the comptroller
has discharged his duty in accordance with
the opinion OF the encouragement, and was he
to be arraigned by the Senate for faithfully
discharging that duty
MIR. GREEN urged the passage of the resou.
ton.
HOUSE.
Mr.. WAsHBURN of Illinois gave notice of
bill to erect custom house and post office at
Waukegan.
Mr.. STANTON, from the military committee,
reported back the West Point appropriation
ty OF the committee, that the House now CON
cur i'll the Senate amendment, providing call
ing into service a regiment of Texan volun-
teers. The House, by 7 majority, refused to
make the subject the special order of Tuesday.
The consideration OF the anti-polygamy bill
was resumed.
MIR. kEITr characterized polygamy as a
grave and high offence, but denied that con-
gress has power in the premises. 1t was not a
crime against the United States. Congress
cannot legislate wisely and properly for the
territories. He said, if the federal govern
ment had any power whatever in the matter,
as asserted by gentlemen, it had the power to
make the territorial governments pass laws for
the protection Of property; and if the terrific
rial government failed to do this, then the fed
eral government could alter the legislature in
that territory, and put another there which
would pass such laws.
Mr. GooCH offered an amendment, not diff
tering IN general principles, but in details,
from the bill under consideration, designed to
limit its operation to Utah This government
has the power and it was its duty, not only to
declare polygamy crime but provide punish
ment therefor.
Mr.. BARKsDALE asked the question whether
under the same power to prohibit polygamy
| he would not draw the power to exclude slave
| ry. SO far as he was concerned, he saw vast
difference between prohibiting crime and ex-
Guiding property from territories What was
| the gentemans opinion?
Mr.. GooCH replied that he and those with
whom he associated were not responsible for
the introduction OF slavery in this discussion
| Mr. BARKsDALE-Then you decline answer
ing the question
Mr.. GoocH replied that he believed that un-
der the constitution Congress has power to
| prohibit slavery in the territories. When this
| question comes before the House. he would
tell the gentleman whence he derived power
| He reviewed the schemes of his colleague Mr.
Thayer, and another gentleman, Mr. McCler.
nand, saying it was utterly futile to commit
the MormOns to the infant settlements ofPike's
| Peak and Nevada.
Mr. THAYER replied that one of the dele
| gates from those territories says that they are
| entirely willing to take the responsibility and
further, the Mormons in great numbers, are
travelling towards Pixies Peak and Carson Val
ley.
Mr. GoocH had no doubt that they were
willing to do all they could TO get a territorial
organization. He was, however, told this
morning by one Of those delegates, that they
wished to have nothing TO do with the Nor
mons.
Mr.. BRANCH called the gentleman's atten.
ton TO that part of the republican platform
which declares Congress has sovereign power
over the territories, and in exercising that
power' can prohibit those "twin relics of bar
barsm, polygamy and slavery" in the terri
tories.
Mr.. GooCH replied that they now had one of
the relics Of barbarsm here, and it was their
duty to suppress it. He believed Congress
had full power over all rightful subjects OF leg
islation in the territories, subject only 10 the
constitution.
MIR, BRANcH-Do you believe Congress pos
sesses sovereign power in territories
Mr.. GoocH replied that he believed Con-
gress has full power with the limitation named
lie did not understand that republicans be.
lieved Congress can pass any act in conflict
with the constitution.