Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-01-13
THRTY-sIXTH CONGRESS.
FIRST EssIoN
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 1860

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 1860.
SENATE.-NIessrs. Seward and Douglas APP
peared in their seats The attendance was
slim.
Mr.. Gwin of Cal. introduced a bill to
organize the territory of Nevada. Referred.
Mr.. Brown of Ky. gave notice of bill
to establish a Government Printing Office.
Mr.. Davis of Miss. introduced bills to IA
ciitate the enlistment Of soldiers in the ar
my to fix the pay and regulate the allow
ance of officers in the army; to promote the
efficiency Of the army by retiring disabled
and infrm officers all OF which were reie red
to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Wilson of Mass. presented the petit
ton of Committee of the people of Boston
against the removal of the Post Office
Mr. Lane of Oregon offered a resolution
calling on the President for the Correspond
ence of Gen Winfield Scott and Gen. Har-
ney, in regard to the Island Of San Juan.
Adopted
Mr.. Slidell of La, introduced blil to
prohibit the issue and circulation of bank
notes in the District of Columbia OF less
denomination than fifty dollars
Referred to a select committee of FIVE.
Mr.. Iverson of Ga, offered a resolution
instructing the Secretary of the Treasury to
inform the Senate what portion of the sum
appropriated under the Treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo for the payment Of claims Of Amer
lean citizens remains unappropriated. Adopt
ed.
Mr. Mallory of Fla, presented memorial
from the citizens Of Charleston for the estab-
lishment Of steamship line from Charleston
to Havana. Referred.
Mr. F ster Of Conn, being excused from
the special committee on the Houmas land
grant. on motion Of Mr. Toombs the commit
tee was reduced to four.
Mr. Wilson introduced a resolution call
ing on the Secretary of the Treasury to COM
muuicate a statement Of the exports and I'M
ports and tonnage Of the British North Amer
lean colonies, distinguishing Canada from the
others. Adopted
Mr. Dixon. Of Conn, addressed the Sen
ate in opposition to the Presidents recon-
mendations in regard to the Amis'ad claim,
going into lengthy history of the case. He
contended that there was no legal claim upon
this Government. Slaves had never been re-
cognized as property nationally, but only
locally He quoted the letter Of President
Monroe in support Of this position, and read
from Spanish and other laws to show that
slaves could not be considered as property.
He also quoted the opinion Of Justice Story.
~ I-~.s,.. raoved to take up Mr.. Pugh's
resolution. offered last week. Ga,I.~I-
Mr.. Iyerson said the Senator from Ohio
charged him with having advocated in lS4S,
while n member Of the lower House, the
doctrine of popular sovereignty. lie
admitted it but he had repented and
recanted his error. He now regarded it as
the datv of Congress to protect by enactment
Slavery in the Territories, and denied the
right Of Congress to prohibit Slavery therein.
lie then explained his action on the Oregon
bill in 1858. and went into a history of the
legislation Of Congress since 1913, on this
subject. In the course Of his remarks, Mr..
Iverson denounced Douglas and the Northern
Democracy generally, as occupying aipOsition
as Objectionable as that of the Wllmot Pro
viso Republicans He wished the Charleston
Convention to adopt an unmistakeable plat
form asserting and carrying out TO the fullest
extent. the bred Scott decision. He did not
want one like the Cincinnati Platform. which
could be interpreted differently to suit the
views of different sections of the country.
Unless that Convention did so, he would not
support their nominee except from necessity,
and then only if he approved the views OF the
nominee.
lie could support Mr. Breckenridge or Mr..
Stephens of Georgia even with defective
platform, but under no circumstances could
he vote for Mr. Douglas. His rejection by
the Charleston Convention and the Southern
people was foregone conclusion. His doc
trines were as disastrous as those of the re-
publcans and he had. therefore, forfeited all
claims to the support Of the South lie had
deserted the party at a critical juncture and
done more than any other man to defeat the
party policy on the Lecompton issue. If he
wished to get back into the party he must
atone by years of service for his error before
he could regain their confidence.
He thought the Northern democracy gene
rally were unsound, having in their State
conventions, California not excepted, sustain
ed the dctrine Of popular sovereignty. The
old wlis p.rty, which twenty years ago was
as sound as the present democracy, has been
swept away, and nothing was left of them
except Edward Everett, Robert c. Winthrop
and a few others, whose declarations were
mere sound and fury, signifying nothing,
and who could not control single vote.
With a single exception the Senators on
the other side had denied by their votes the
right Of property in slaves.
Mr. Doolittle Of Wis. said he supposed he
was the exception referred TO. He desired
to say that, in his opinion, property in man
rested only upon the laws Of tue sovereign
States, and not by virtue Of the Consttu-
ton.
Mr. Iverson said he was sorry 10 find not
one honorable man on that side who would
recognize property in slaves He concluded
by referring to Mr.. Seward irerpressi5lo
conflict doctrine, and regarded the selection
of democrat to the Presidency as necessary
to a preservation Of the Union. II black
republican We're elected he would advocate
dissolution of the Union. Such choice
would be conclusive evidence of the settled
hostility Of the northern mind. What would
be the value of the Union kept together by
the bavonet We hear such vaporings on
this floor. but they generally come from men
who would be the last TO undertake the lob.
Let these bragadocio hotspurs come to the
South and enforce their views. and hey
would not be shown the chance extended to
the friends of John Brown, but would be
hung up like dogs.
JOHN BULL AND BROTHER JoNAIHAN.-