Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-02-15
CONGRESS.
,..,ov7rD FOR THE ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE,
s.,.+a Tuesday, February Is.

Senate, Tuesday, February Is.
At. seward presented the joint resolutions
= .hs Washin gton City Councils, asking
Oh u,;ss;on of Congress to issue stock for
Centre Market-house; referred to Dis
trict Committee.
u' The Vice President laid before the Senate
IA Wvandotte Constitution of the Territory
IS Kansas. asking admission into the Union
as State. ~ Gov,
0,;ttee on Territories.
nv Brown moved to refer, with lnstruc-
SONS that the Committee inquire whether
.bs laws of Congress, in regard to the ad-
mission of this Territory, have been COM
Mr Doolittle moved to amend, by instruct
ia the Committee to report bill admitting
ne ne Territory as State, under the Wyan-
dotte Constitution.
These proposed instructions gave rise to
an animated discussion.
Mr. Seward advocated the adoption OF the
Mr. Mason, of Va, hoped that if the
Senate intended to disregard the law in re-
lation to requiring evidence of certain
nonulation as u condition requisite to the
admission of a State, it would repeal the law.
Mr. Brown, Of Miss, thought that 1T IS
dse;dedly requisite as a preliminary to ac-
Ion an the admission of Kansas, that the
senate should know how far the laws regu-
1o,;no applications for admission had been
complied with.
Mr. Pueh said he would not vote for the
amendment of Mr. Doolittle because he was
opposed TO instructing any Committee 80 as
n, anticipate its action. Nor would he vote
6,r the amendment of Mr. Brown, because
Kansas had complied with the spirit of the
act recurring a census, and there was no
1oubt that she possessed the requisite popu-
Istion. 1t would be q singular state OF
affairs If, after Congress had refused Kan
.as the means to take a census. 1t should
make that census condition precedent to
the admission of the State.
Mr.. Bayard was speaking in reply, when
the hour arrived for the consideration OF the
special order the bill prohibiting the cir
eulation, in the District OF Columbia. OF
Bank notes of less denomination than $50;
pendine the consideration of which.
Mr. Sumner. of Mass, introduced reso-
luton, instructing the Committee on Patents
70 report ON the expediency Of making no
difference between the patent fees charged
70 American and those to foreign pattentees.
Mr. Seward, OF y. Y, introduced res0-
luton, instructing the Committee on Finance
TO report the expediency of pensioning ON
GERS employed in collecting the public Reeve
nue., after twenty years service.
A large number of memorials, resolutions,
&C., of no general interest, and praying the
passage of Homestead and Pension laws
&C., were presented and disposed OF.
Mr.. Harlan. of Mich, presented peti-
ton Of citizens Of Michigan, for the repeal
of the Fugitive Slave Law.
Mr.. Bright, Of Ind. presented a memorial
from the Mayor of Washington, and others,
asking an appropriation III aid OF the wash
iagton National Monument which was re-
terred to the Committee on Public Buildings.
Mr.. Gwin. of CAL, introduced q resolu-
ton, referring so much OF the President
Message rs related to the Pacific Railroad,
to 8 special committee Of nine members
laid over.
The resolution of Mr.. Slidell was then
laid aside informally, and
Mr.. Browns resolution, relative to the
protection of slave property in the Terrific
ries. was taken up.
Mr.. Hale of n. H., addressed the Senate
in reply to the late speech Of Mr.. Toombs,
of Ca, defending the position OF the Black
Republican party.
Mr.. Toombs replied. and asked Mr.. Hale
if he was i'll favor OF returning fugltiyes
from slavery.
Mr. Hale responded, he was III favor OF
CARRYING out the law fairly.
Mr. Toombs responded, that all knew what
was meant by Fairly" 1t meant to defeat
the law. lie addressed the Senate at some
length. in defence of the positions taken IN
his late speech.
After some further debate, the Senate
went into Executive session. and after short
time spent therein, adjourned.
House of Representatives.
Mr.. Grow asked that the House might
enlarge the powers of the Committee on
Printing granting them the same privi-
lege as had been conferred on similar COM
mittee at the commencement OF the last ses-
sion; and. further. that the select commit
tee on Printing have leave TO report at any
time.
No objection was made.
After call of the House,
Mr.. Houston moved to adjourn. and on
that motion called for the yeas and nays,
which were ordered, and resulted in the
motion being disagreed to-
Mr.. Anderson, of Mo-, moved TO 60 into
Committee Of the Whole on the state of the
Union, for the purpose Of considering the
Post Office Deficiency bill, and on this mo-
ton demanded the ayes and nays, which
were ordered, and resulted-yeas 50, nays
81. So the motion was not agreed TO-.
Hr. Hill, Of Ca, moved to adjourn, which
motion was lost
The House then proceeded, in Committee
OF the Whole, Mr. Grow in the Chair, to
consider the Postal Deficiency bill.
The amendment abolishing the franking
privilege being under consideration, after
much debate.
Mr.. Dawes. of Mass, offered an amend
ment, providing for the free transmission OF
exchange" newspapers allowing bills and
receipts TO be enclosed therein; and allow
ing weekly newspapers 10 circulate without
postage, in the counties where published.
Mr.. Reagan. of Texas, declared that he
would not except newspapers from the ope-
ration OF the general rule.
Mr.. Kellogg, of H.. was willing to aboi-
ish franks upon written documents, but