The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-09

that event the Wing party went down, never
to rise again, and the Republican party was
organized. He spoke of the efforts of Dem.
ocrats to make Kansas slave State, and to
force 1t into the Union as such, and de-
nounced that partys efforts to mask itself
behind the battery of the Supreme Court.
The same party was itself responsible for
the act to subvert the free Republic of
Nicaragua, and open it to slavery and the
African slave trade. Mr.. Seward said the
Republican party embodies the popular pro-
test and reaction against policy which has
been fastened upon nation by surprise, and
which its reason and conscience concurrinp
with the reason and conscience of mankind
condemn. He spoke of the coming Presi
Dental campaign, and the Republicans hold.
ng to the Territories by Constitutional means
from becoming homes for slavery and poly.
gamy. He said the policy of the Republi-
can party was to stand by the freedom of
| speech and of the press. The speedy i'm.
provement of the public domain by home
stead laws, and it will encourage mining,
manufactures and International commerce.
He was no assailant of States. All the
States were parcels of his own country.
He said it was we'll and wisely arranged,
that the States were sovereign on the subject
| of slavery within their own borders. He
said John Brown and his associates acted on
earnest, though fatally erroneous convictions.
He pronounced the act an act of sedition
and treason, and criminal in just the extent
that it effected the public peace and was
destructive of human life. He did not
think anything serious would grow out of
the repeated threats to dissolve the Union.
WASHINGTON, March L.
| SENATE.-The Senate met at noon. but
the attendance was slim.
Mr.. johnson moved to take up the bill to
extend the benefits of the land acts to Ore.
gon and Minnesota.
The motion was carried, and the bill read
a third time and passed.
Mr.. Davis offered modified resolutions in
place of those heretofore offered by him,
which were ordered to be printed.
On motion of Mr.. Gwin, the military
academy bill was taken up.
MIR. Wigfall offered an amendment appro.
priating 100000 in support of the volun.
teers to protect the frontiers of Texas, in
pursuance of the act of 1858.
Mr.. DoOlittle said he wished the matter
referred to the committee on military affairs,
so they could report it.
Mr.. Mason said that unless the govern
nent act speedily Texas would act for herself
and bring on a state of war between this
country and Mexico. He urged the adop-
tion of the amendment.
The subject was further discussed by
Messrs. Fessenden, Davis, Clay, Linden and
Wigfall.
Mr.. Mason said, the tenor of advices re-
ceived from Texas was that the people
would seize the southern province of Mexico,
unless Congress acted. and then we should
either make war on Texas to release Mexico,
or on Mexico to protect Texas.
The motion to refer was lost
Mr. Wilson advocated the amendment
and MIR. Hale opposed it. Both condemned
the administration for having neglected the
state of Texas.
Finally, on motion of Mr. Salisbury, it
was referred to the committee on military
affairs
The Senate refused to adjourn until
Monday.
The bill authorizing the sale of farms to
the states, and requiring the superintendent
OF armories to be appointed from the ordi.
nance corps, was taken up.
Mr.. Hale opposed the taking of the ap-
pointment of superintendent from civilians,
and read extracts from a report made in the
House some years ago in support of his
position.
Mr.. Davis replied, controverting the fact
stated in the report referred to by the Sena-
tor from New Hampshire.
Mr.. Simons moved to strike out the
section entirely, saying that arms could be
better made in private establishments.
A long debate ensued, in the course of
which Mr. Mason said Virginia had found
it necessary. owing to relations the States
now bore to each other, to appropriate
$4,000 for the purchase of arms and will
continue it from year to year, until she was
prepared for any emergency. She had sent
to Europe for estimates, and she would be
very cautious how she bought arms made in
the northern section of the confederacy. He
denied that arms made in private factories
were equal to those made under the SUPER
vision of the officers of the army, whose
word as men OF honor, was better than any
bond.
MI. fugn opposed the bill. 1t would
bring the government in competition with
private individuals. If officers of the army
are so much superior to
Here the line failed.
HoUsE.-Mr. Phelps, from the Commit.
tee on Ways and Means, reported back with
amendments the bill to establish an ASSAY
Office at st. Louis
On motion of Mr.. Washburne of Me-, a
resolution was adopted, instructing the
Committee en- Public Lands to inquire into
the expediency of abolishipg a portion of
the land offices for reducing the expenses
connected with that branch of business.
MIR. Washburne, of ILL.,, from the Com.
mittee on Commerce, reported bill
amendatory of the act providing for the
safety of passengers on boats propelled in
whole or part by steam. A brief running
debate ensued in which the propriety Of
placing the bill in position to be reached
with view to its passage when its further
consideration was postponed for three
weeks.