Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-03-01


In THE SENATE, yesterday, Mr.. Gwin, from the
Committee on Finance, to which was referred the
bill from the House Of Representatives making
appropriations for the payment Of invalid and
other pensions Of the United States for the wear
ending 3Oth June, 1851, reported it back without
amendment, and asked its immediate considera.
ton, which was agreed to; and the bill was read
third time and passed.
Mr. Seward proceeded with his remarks on bis
bill for the immedi admission of Kansas under
the Wyandotte Constitution He said be would
speak somewhat of the condition of the country
and in coming forward among political astrolo-
gers, it would be an error Of judgment and not of
disposition If his Interpretation Of the feverish
breeze by which the country was disturbed should
ts0d to foment, rather than to allay the national
excitement. He should say nothing unnecessarily
Of persons because in this country the welfare
and happiness Of society depend chiefly on inst-
tutions, and very little on men. He should dwell
but briefly upon incidental topics, because they
were in their nature ephemeral, and because he
had always found that it was safe to submit the
honest people. He proceeded to discuss the oues
ton Of slavery in the abstract and in practice,
contrasting the condition Of the " capital States
OF the south and the "labor States Of the North;
alluded to the doctrine of popular sovereignty as
applied to the Territories; argued that If free
speech were allowed at the South as at the North
there would be republican party in every South
ern State, and therefore, that party was not liable
to the imputation Of being sectional; denied that
the republicans favored negro equality; lamented
the misguided conduct Of John Brown and his
followers, who had afforded another illustration
that they who take the sword a means of effect
Ing political changes or reforms are liable to
perish by the sword. On the conclusion OF his
remarks
Mr.. Douglas replied to that portion of Mr.. Sew
ards speech which alluded to the action of the
democratic party In the passage of the Kansas
Nebraska bill. He also attri buted the new phrase
of 'capital States'' and ''labor at s." which the
atnp fro l.
| desire to get Oh the side of the masses In the
| struggles between capital and labor In New Eng
land, and secure the votes of the shoemak ers for
the republican party. Mr.. ID. denounced the re-
publlcans with much bitterness responsible for
all the agitation on the question of slavery which
has convulsed this country and brought the Union
| to the verge of dissolution
MIR. Davis animadverted OH some of the remarks
Of Mr.. Seward, wherein that Senator expressed
great devotion to the Union. He regarded the
Senator from New York as one of the most indus
trious sappers and miners Of the Union, by the
doctrines which he has promulgated year after
year.
The question being stated on the motion to refer
| the bill introduced by Mr.. Seward to the Commit
tee on Territories
Mr.. Brown moved to amend the motion by in.
structing that committee to inquire whether, in
the formation of said Constitution, the act of Con-
gress approved May 1, 1855 entitled IAN act for
the admission Of Kansas into the UniOnn has
been complied with in all respects and especial.
| lv whether census was taken of the population
of Kansas before the election of delegates to the
Constitutional Convention; and, if So whether il
appears from that census that The whole number
OF Inhabitants was equal to the ratio Of represen-
| tation required for member of the House Of Rep
resentatives
Mr.. Toombs replied to MI Douglas, and Mr..
ID. rejoined.
The discussion was continued until after 6
O'Clock, when. Oh motion by Mr.. Brown the
subject was postponed until Friday, and the SEN
ate adjourned.
no
Committee of the Whole on the state Of the
Union, (Mr. Washburne, of Ill, in the chair re-
sumed the consideration of the Presidents annual
message.
MIR. Reagan, of Texas addressed the committee
on the slavery question He mentioned that
neither Congress nor the Constitution can abolish
slavery In the Territories, which are the common
property OF all the people of the Union. He was
opposed to the reopening Of the African slave
trade, and condemned the sentiment Of disunion
proclaimed by political demagogues.
MIR Edgerton. Of Ohio, next addressed the
committee reviewing the slavery question, and
declaring that Senator Seward was right in pro-
claiming that an irrepressible conflict exists be-
tween free and slave labor
MIR. Grow, of Pa discussed the land policy of
the Government, and the pr0priety OF ceasing for
ever the sales OF public lands, and dedicating
them forever as free homes for free men He re-.
ferred to past legislation the subject and hoped
the bill introduced by him in the early part Of this
session would receive the early consideration of
Congress. The present system opened the public
lands TO the widest speculation and most injurious
monopoly He denied the right of Government
to seize upon and devote to its own purposes an
unoccupied wilderness. BY means Of land grants
and donations as well rs by direct sales this Gov
ernment was responsible for abstracting from the
bands of free labor 81 253 900 600 for the right to
till the soil. Government had just as much rig bit
to survey and sell in lots the free atmosphere or
any other OF the free gifts OF God to man He de-
tended his proposition against the charges of
leveling and agrarianism, and commended that the
homestead policy, to which the republican party
were fully committed, would ultimately increase
the revenues Of Government, by increasing the
amount Of consumption of dutiable articles Of
comfort and luxury. Ii the land sales were to 20
on, he was In favor OF at least restricting the sales
to actual settlers
Mr.. Junkin, of Pa. spoke in favor of protection
for American industry and i'm condemnation of
the free trade policy of the demo r.tic rty
The committee then rose. and at ten minutes
past five O'Clock, the House adjourned