Year: 1860




WAsHINGToN, May l6.-The VICE PRESIDENT
laid before the Senate a communication from the
Secretary OF the Interior, transmitting in compii-
with resolution of the Senate additional
information in relation to depredations committed
by Indians upon citizens of Butte county, Cali
fornia; which referred to the Committee on
Indian Atfairs.-0n motion by Mr.. HALE a
resolution was adopted, instructing the Postmaster
General to inform the Senate when the Postu1ice
Department first had any knowledge that any de-
falcation existed on the part of the Postmaster of
the city of New York; and also to inform the Sen
ate if the Sixth Auditor of the Treasury has faith
fully performed, in reference to the Postonice in
the city of New York, the duties imposed upon
him by the act of March Sd, 1851, and especially
by the 10th section of said act.-Mr. DAVIS
introduced Il bill to regulate public contracts;
which was read and ordered to 90 on the calendar
MIR. GREEN from the Committee on Territories
to whom referred the letter of the President Of
the Kansas Constitutional Convention, communica-
ting an enrolled copy of the Constitution of Kansas
adopted at Wyandotte, July 80, 1859, and also the
House bill for the admission fKansas into the Union
reported back the same, without recommendation,
for such action the Senate should deem proper
Mr.G.remarked that he should submit several amend
ments to this bill designed for the better protection
of the rights of citizens of the United States and
for the maintenance of good faith with the Indians
located under special treaties, and he moved that
the bill be made the special order for Wednes-
day week at one o'clock, which was agreed to-
On motion of Mr.. LANE the bill for the paw
ment of the Oregon war debt was made the
special order for Monday week.-The bill for
the relief of Anson Dart was again taken up
and discussed by Messrs D0OLITTLE and LANE
until the expiration of the morning hour
The special order was resumed and Mr.. DOUG
LAS proceeded to finish his speech commenced
yesterday. He remarked that he was somewhat
troubled by disease in his throat, having almost
lost his voice in consequence of his exerons in the
open air, defending the doctrines of popular sove-
reignty. He then took up and and answered some
objections that had been made to his position and
tad fypr,, Of
denouncing the attempt at Congressional nterven-
tion act of usurpation; but the resolution of
the Senator from Mississippi asks to do the same
thing. lie wanted the question left to the Courts
where the Constitution leaves it and where the
Senate had once agreed to leave it, and thus ban
ish it from the halls of Congress forever. If the
Court has made decision, will it be any stronger
after the Senate shall have passed these resolu-
tions? If it has not, what right has the Senate
to PREJUDICE the case? If the Court has made a
decision and there is a dispute about it.
who is to be the Judge of the case? Can
the Senate determine by resolutions what the
decision is, or what it ought to be? No! The Con-
sttution has wisely separated the political from
the judicial departments of the Government. Mr.
ID. said he willing to take the Cincinnati plat
form, or the letter of acceptance Of President Bu-
chanan, or Vice President Breckinridge's speech
after his nomination. lie would take any of these
for platform, and let them construe themselves.
If the Democratic party stand where they
stood in 1856, he was with them; and if they had
changed, he had complaint to make. He
thought he had right to ask that he should be
furnished with the new light they had obtained
that he might change too, if he should see cause.
The Charleston Convention having sustained non
Intervention, he was no longer a hereto, rebel,
an outlaw He was the choice of a majority of
that Convention for President, and desires no
higher endorsement. He would scorn to be the
standard-bearer Of any party if he was
not the first choice of a majority lie
closed his remarks at half past three
Mr. led sfatin hot tba Co g.,
Illinois had not met the questions at issue between
them. lie set out by saying that he should arraign
no Senator, but he had arraigned everybody. Not
only that, but he had brought up sovereign States
to answer at his bar charge of inconsistency.
He had assumed the air of the monarch of France
who exclaimed ''L'etat, cest moi v' and undertook
to dictate to the National Convention on what
terms he would accept their nomination. He had
also assumed that Senator could not alude to the
doctrine of popular sovereignty without meaning
him-a doctrine of which he was neither the author
nor the exclusive professor. Mr.. ID. went on to re-
ply to those remarks of Mr.. Douglas in reference to
the action of Mississippi, and indicated the action
of Southern Democrats generally, in demanding a
recognition of their rights under the Constitution.
What they asked was nothing more than the Con
stitutOn intended to give them and he was willing
to let the question come fairly before the country
whether they were not entitled to it. Without
concluding his remarks, he gave way; and on mo-
tiOn by Mr.. GREEN the Senate proceeded to the
consideration of Executive business. After short





the Senate adjourned.


.. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,


On motion of Mr.. NORRIS, of Illinois, a resolu.
ton was adopted calling on the Postmaster Gen.
eral to communicate to the House at as early day
as possible all the facts and circumstances relative
to the detalcation of Mr.. Fowler, Postmaster at
New York; stating the particular time when said
detacati0n commenced its progress; when it first
became known to the Postmaster General; the ag-
gregate amount; and, if any, what legal proceed
ings prosecution has been instituted; ana to
what amount the Government has been secured Dy
bond or otherwise.- PENDLET0N presented
the resolutions of the Ohio Legislature in favor of
the Improvement of the Louisville and Portland
Canal He submitted statistical information in re-
card TO the matter.-Mr. HICKMAN made an
Intellectual effort to take up the report of the Ju-
dietary Committee on the Presidents protest.
The House proceeded to the consideration of the
bill to provide additional measures to insure the
safety of passengers in vessels propelled in whole
or in part by steam.-Seyeral hours were spent
in the consideration of amendments to the first sec
ton, some OF which were adopted.-Mr. WASH
BURNE, of Illinois, gave notice of his intention to
propose substitute for the bill, incorporating the
amendments made to-day.--[The proceedings
were exceedingly duh and uninteresting. l--0n
motion of Mr.. SHERMAN, the further considera-
ton of the subject was postponed till tomorrow
when the House resolved itself into Committee of
the Whole on the State of the Union on the Post
Office Deficiency bill; and having perfected the
same the bill was laid aside to be reported to the
House.--The Senate's amendments to the Def
cheney bill were then onsidered.--The Post
Office bill was reported to the House, but without
any definite action being taken, the House ad-
Journed. -- g..


A negro in Bridgeport, Conn, lately endeavored
to pass himself off for Spaniard, and gave lee
ture on the annexation of Cuba. During the
lecture some one boldly told him that he was only
a Boston barber, and on pulling off his wig, the