Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-02-07
CONGRESS.
[RxPoRrED FOR THE ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE
p Senate, Monday, February 6,

of the Patent Office Also the report of the
Superintendent of Public Printing for the
past year.
Mr.. Wigfall introduced Pacific Railroad
bill.
! A message was received from the House
announcing that it had organized, and was
ready to proceed to business. Also, one an
nouncing that a committee had been appoint
ed, consisting of MesSrs. Grow, Etheridge,
and Miles, to wait on the President of the
United States, with committee Of the Sem
ate, and inform him that Congress had as
sembled, and was ready to transact business.
A large amount Of private business was
transacted.
Mr.. Mallory moved to make the bill for
the increase of the pay OF the navy, the spe-
cial order for Monday next; which was
agreed to.
Mr. Slidell introduced resolution direct
ing the establishment of tri-weekly mail
| between III Paso and New Orleans. Re-
ferred.
| Mr.. Slidell also moved to make the bill
relating to the issuance of bank notes in the
| District of Columbia, the special order for
Tuesday, the 18th; which was agreed to-.
| Mr.. Chandler moved to reconsider the vote
4
| on the st. Clair Flats bill was ordered to be
printed which was agreed to. Mr.. Z. ad-
| dressed the Senate at length on the veto
message, taking the ground that the Presi-
dent had cast uni st imputations upon him.
| After he had concluded the resolutions OF
Mr.. Brown, relative to slave property in the
| Territories, were taken up, and
| At the conclusion of Mr.. Chambers speech,
Mr.. Crittenden, of Ky, presented memo
rial of sundry citizens praying the passage
of bill granting pensions TO soldiers OF the
war of 1912.
The hour having arrived for the considera-
ton of Mr.. Browns resolutions, for the pro
lection of slave property III the Territories,
Mr.. Salisbury, of Del, avowed his oppo-
| sition to a discussion Of the question OF sla-
very in the Territories. 1t was an abstrac-
| ton, and, therefore, not suitable to debate
in the Senate lie was not, however, dis
| posed to shirk his legitimate duty IN the
| matter, and believing as he did, that the
| Territories were the common property OF all
the States, he should, by his vote, vindicate
his opposition to the modern doctrine OF
popular sovereignty.
On motion of Mr.. Brown, the further CON
sideration Of the resolutions was postponed
until tomorrow.
| The question then recurring upon the mo-
| ton Of Mr. Chandler,
| Mr.. Davis, of Miss, defended the veto OF
| the President of the United States, on the
ground that this improvement was not in the
nature of a military defence. He argued
that tonnage duties. light duties, &c., were
sufficient for such purposes OF domestic
| trade.
Mr.. Hamlin, of Me- inquired if Mr.. Davis
| had changed his opinions relative to the
power of States to levy tonnage duties on
domestic commerce.
Mr.. Davis said he had not changed these
opinions.
Mr.. Clay, of Ala, hoped to be able to
convince Mr. Davis that his opinions were
erroneous.
Mr.. Davis declared that he was open to
conviction. for he felt the difficulties OF his
position.
Mr. Crittenden called the attention of the
Senate to the fact that the President had IN
this case again oyer-ridden the will OF the
people. This measure had passed three
4 Congresses, and each time met the Executive
| veto. Was there to be no end to this lie
had hoped that the President would have
allowed the peoples will to have prevailed
over his opinions of Constitutional construc-
ton.
Mr.. Toombs, of Ca, said that the Consti-
tuition of the United States was neither crea-
| ted nor was it to be interpreted by the popu-
lar will it had better guards than the Sena-
tor from Kentucky chose to give 1t. Ihis
action was a departure from the action OF
the contemporaries of the founding Of the
Constitution. 1t was not for the President
to Weld to majorities in favor of one local
| interest taxing other interests, to cheaper
the transportation of its produce to market,
He was glad that the President had stood
firm to protect the public Treasury from the
plumber Of local interests.
Mr.. Crittenden thought that the argument
of the President was singular one:-He
was willing to allow the duties to be levied
for this specific purpose, and yet not allow
an appropriation from the Federal Treasury
TO do il. This was only another way Of do
ing the same thing. The President seemed
willing to allow that to be done indirectly,
which he was not willing to allow to be
done directly.
A message was received from the House
OF Representatives, announcing that 1t had
passed the Post-Office Deficiency BILL and IT
was referred to the Committee on Postum
ces and Post Roads
Mr.. Wigfall of Texas, thought that the
whole difficulty in this matter as in others.
grew out of the ideas of Nationality
Which possesses the minds of some Senators.
If the Senator from Massachusetts, and his
constituents understood the form Of govern
mept under which they lived this agitation
would cease. They did not attempt to inter
| fere with the slave trade at Constantinople or
in Cuba, because they knew they had nothing
to do with it, but because they thought that
slavery in the South was sin which burden
ed their consciences. They wished to re-
move it. For himself he denied this was
a Nation, there was no such thing as the
| Nation of the United States. Our National
names were Maine, Missouri, Texas, Oregon
and all the Others. The Constitution was
adopted by the ENJOYS Extraordinary and
Minister Plenipotentiary from Nations who
agreed to exercise certain OF their sovereign
powers coujointly, by means OF common
Agent. lie thought that this method oil
State import and export duties, was the very
| means which the Constitution intended Tor
the protection of local interests, IN winch but
| few States had an interest. BY this means
Massachusetts might have protective tar:f
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