The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-09
From Washington.
;cial Dispatch to the N. Y. Times.

Special Dispatch to the N. Y. Times.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-Yesterday was
an interesting day with political parties
here. One party was arranging for the
printing plumber, and the other was con-
structing platform for the Charleston Con-
vention. The Senatorial caucus met at IL
o'clock, every Democratic Senator being
present. Mr.. Green, the chairman of the
Sub Committee, reported back MIR. Davis
resolutions, with the fourth resolution divi.
ded, and the latter clause an independent
resolution, so altered as to read thus
RESOLVED, That whenever experience shall
have shown that the Executive and Judicial
branches of the Government have not sufficient
power to insure adequate protection to slave
property in the Territories, and when the Ter.
ritOrial Legislature shall have failed, or refused
to pass such laws as are necessary for that pur
pose, it will then become the duty of Congress
to interpOse and pass such laws as will afford
the necessary protection.
The other resolutions were unanimously
approved, though several Senators thought
it about as wise to adopt them, as it would
be to adopt resolution declaring that the
world was made in six days. They were a
series of generalities which no one could
object to, and yet which seemed unnecessary
for the grave consideration of the United
States Senate. The only point of differ
ence was in the resolution given above. This
was opposed by several Senators.
Gov. Brown urged that the contingency
which the resolutions seemed to anticipate,
had already happened. Kansas had notonly
failed to pass laws to protect slave property,
but had repealed those that had been en-
acted. He thought it insincere on the part
of Senators to propose doing thing on the
happening of particular event, when they
we'll knew that every event had occurred.
He was opposed to all such efforts at dodg-
ing the point and hoodwinking the people.
He therefore offered as substitute the fol-
lowing:
RESOLVED, That experience having shown
that the Constitution and the Common Law,
unaided by statutory enactments, do not afford
adequate and sufficient protection to slave pro-
perry; and some of the Territories having
failed, and others having refused to pass such
enactments, it has become the duty of Congress
to interpOse, and pass such laws as will afford
to slave property in the Territories that prOtec
ton which is given to other kinds of property.
The substitute received five votes, and
Gov. Brown gave hotice that whenever the
resolutions were moved in the Senate, which
it is understood they will be to morrow, by
Senator Davis, he should again move his
resolution as a substitute. When the vote
was taken on the report of the sub-commit-
tee, several Senators refused to vote, but
they were declared as adopted unanimously.
They do pot, however, change in the slight
est the previous position Of the question
before either the Senate or the country, and
the people will ignore all Congressional
efforts to forestal the action at Charleston.
From the Correspondence of the Cincinnati Enquirer.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-Nearly all the
Democratic Senators were present at the
caucus Saturday. Among the few absentees
was Bigler, who had important business
North, and left Washington in the morning
train. The committee reported, through
Green, Davis resolutions, with verbal mod
i6cations. They assert confidence in the
Judiciary to protect the rights Of slavehold-
ers in the Territories, but assert the right
and duty of Congress to intervene shout t
legislation be necessary. In other words, i,
the people Of the Territories want slavery
Congress is not to interfere with them. IF
they do not want it, Congress is to put it on
them. This is the marrow of the Bright,
Fitch, Gwin, Green, Bigler and Chestnut
resolutions.
Mr.. Clingman opened the debate in
manly and able protest against any action
by the Senate caucus on this question. He
was for leaving it where it had been left in
1850, in 1854 and by the Cincinnati plat
form of 1856.