The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume], January 27, 1860, Image 6

About The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
Pmwr#j)Motrat*
SAINT PAUL.
Saint Paul, Friday January 87. 1860.
The Legislature.
We direct attention to the Legislative
reports, of proceedings in the House of Rep
resentatives, during the last two days of
the past week. They indicate most faithfully,
the puerile and insignificant daily action of
that body, since it met in Decembar. Not
one single measure, which did not originate
in partizan malevolence and bigotry, has
met with respectful consideration. The
boasted retrenchment and reform policy of
the Republicans, was abandoned as soon as
the Legislature came together ; and fifty
days of the session have passed, and $30,000
of public money has been squandered, to do
—what ? Can any one tell ? What measure
has been proposed to relieve our tax ridden
people, save an obnoxious, partizan, and un
constitutional apportionment bill, which was
hurried through under the pressure of a
caucus? The public credit is suffering—
repudiation already attaches to our State
obligations—and a universal cry for relief
comes up from every part of the State.
But it meets with no response, from the
Legislature. The abrogation of contracts—
thus setting an example of lawlessness; the
unseating of Democratic members because
they are Democrats ; the discussion of slave
ry in Kansas and South Carolina ; the
Maine liquor law, and kindred topics, have
thus far occupied the time of the retrench
ment and reform Legislature. God save
the people of Minnesota from the curse of
another such Legislative body as the one
now in session!
Notwithstanding, it may be the desire of
the Black Republicans, to hide their faith
lessness of pledges made to the people of
the State, we intend to daguerreotype
truthfully, in defiance of all threats of the
expulsion of our Reporters, the proceedings
of both Houses. Look at the proceedings
ol yesterday. The best part of the legisla
tive day was consumed in considering a
proposition to expel a Reporter, for mildly
and temperately exposing the delays
thrown in the way of legislation, by a
blatant ass such as Trow of Fillmore, or a
silly fanatic like Abbott of Le Sueur.
An “Unconstitutional” Majority.
One distinction the Republican majority
in our Legislature seem determined to ac
quire—that of cherishing a mortal hatred,
or an absolute indifference, to the Constitu
tion of the State—and they promise to suc
ceed in the object of their ambition. They
demonstrate almost daily, under an assumed
respect, a practical disregard of the pa
ramount law, under whose sanctions they
enjoy their legislative existence. In their
shameless violation of public contracts,
guaranteed by the Constitution, without
even sheltering their actions behind the
decent formalities of law ; and in their vio
lent, brute-l ; ke disfranchisement of constit
uencies, without the shadow of right, or
the color of excuse, they have already shown
the most daring disregard of their oaths as
members, and of their honor as men. At
taining their seats through the medium of a
monstrous system of political lying, they
s eem determined to illustrate their occupan
cy of them by an equally monstrous system
of legislative perjury.
Their last assault upon the Constitution
was made—so far as the action of a single
body could perpetrate it—by the House on
Friday last, in the passage of the Secombe
Apportionment Bill. This measure is indirect
conflict, not merely with the spirit, but with
the letter of the Constitution of the State.
That instrument prescribes that legislative
apportionments shall be based upon the in
habitants of the State, the number of which
shall be ascertained by a formal, exact cen-
sus, to be taken under the authority of the
State or federal government. The Secombe
apportionment is based upon the voters of
the State, confining the estimate of these
to the number embraced in the official can
vass of the last election. By this process,
not only is the Constitution specifically vio
lated, but entire counties in the State are
totally disfranchised. For, the official can
vass excludes at least a dozen inhabited
counties, in which elections were held, and
votes were cast, but from which, through
neglect or informality, no votes whatever
were received and canvassed.
We do not speak of the manifest unfair
ness to the - Democracy, or of the equally
manifest injustice to the whole people of
many sections, which are exhibited on the
lace of the Bill, because we have been forced
to look for the perpetration of any outrage
which may be deemed necessary for the
purpose of securing a partizan advantage.
But we yet hope, for the honor of the State,
and for the sanctity of the law, and the
respect which should flow out towards it
fro m all men who enjoy its protection and
are amenable to its authority, that this last
attempt to override the Constitution,may be
defeated in the more conservative body be
fore which the measures now comes for
consideration.
Another Specimen of Republican
Reform.
The principal business of the Republican
majority during this session has been to
dev iso ways and means for the violation of
the constitution and laws for the benefit of
their party, and for the depletion of the
state treasury for the benefit of their pock
ets. As a sample of their proposed legislation
we print below a bill introduced by Mr.
Evans into the Senate, on the 17th inst.
It will be seen that it possesses the one merit
of perfect frankness. Its infamy is stamped
on its face. It don’t propose to rob the
treasury by stealth, but to do it openly, and
above-board, and strictly “ according to
law.” Evans is, undoubtedly, a genuine,
reliable Black-Republican. He realizes to
the full the humorously graphic, self-descrip
tion which Lowell puts in the mouth of a
venal politician:
“ I don’t beleive in principle,
But O ! 1 du in interest."
Mr. Evans’s bill, placing members of the
Legislature in a position twenty-jive per cent,
a year better off than all other creditors of
the state, is as follows :
A Bill for an Act to regulate the compensation
of members and officers of the Senate and
House of Representatives. Introduced by
Mr. Evans, January 17, 1860.
Be it enact: d by the Legislature of the State of
Minnesota:
Section 1. The compensation of the mem
bers and officers of the Senate and House ot
Representatives shall be as follows, viz : The
Speaker, Chief Clerk and Assistant Clerk, the
Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Sen
ate, shall be allowed each lor their services
during each session of the Legislature ($3)
three dollars per day. All other officers and
members of the House and Senate shall be al
lowed ($1,50) one dollar and fifty cents per
day, except the Messengers of both Houses,
who shall be allowed one dollar per day each.
Sec. 2. There rhall be allowed to each of
the members of the Legislature the sum of one
dollar and fifty cents for every twenty miles
traveled by him in coming to and going from
the place of the meeting of the Legislature—
distance to be computed by the nearest usual
ly travelled route.
Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the chief
clerk of the House and the Secretary of the
Senate to grant certificates to the members
and officers of their respective Houses at any
time when called for, and in such sums as may
be required for the amount due to each mem
ber or officer thereof for his mileage or per
diem, and said certificates to be signed by the
Speaker of the House and attested by the
chief clerk for all members and officers of the
House and those of the Senate by the Presi
dent and attested by the Secretary of the
Senate.
Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the State
Auditor to audit all certificates granted to
members or officers of the House and Senate,
and to keep a correct list and number of war
rants issued by him on the State Treasurer, and
if not paid on presentation to the State Treas
ure) , said warrants shall d aw interest at the
rate of TWENTY-FIVE PER VENT.
PER ANNUM for the term of SIX YEARS,
unless notice be given by the State Treasurer
that he is prepared to take up said warrants.
Such notice must be given in a newspaper
published at the seat of government for at
least six weeks; after such notice the interest
ceases immediately. If such notice shall not
be given for the term of six years, at that time
the interest shall be reduced to seven per cent,
per annum, until such warrants shall be taken
up or cancelled. All the above certificates or
warrants shall be received in payment of State
taxes, but never at a depreciated value, by
any collector; neither shall any member of
the Senate, or of the House of Representatives
trade, buy, barter or traffic in certificates or
Treasurer’3 warrants at less amount than thei* -
par valuation, while a sitting member in either
branch of the Legislature.
Sec. 5. This Act shall take effect from and
after its passage.
Political Flunkt-ylsm
Common landoffices, small postoffices, and
smaller jobs of government advertising, are
paid for at a dear price, by the miserable
political flunkeys over the State, who try to
create the impression that the Democratic
State Convention, in acquiescing in the
Dred Scott decision, thereby endorsed the
Southern Fire-Eating, Anti-Democratic in
terpretation embodied in the President’s last
message. This flunkeyism becomes the more
apparent when it is recollected, that, on
every occasion since the Territorial question
arose, when the Democracy of the State has
given a formal and detailed expression of its
views, the doctrine of the President has
been specifically repudiated—such latest
detailed expression occurring no further
ofi than August last. Any decent man
would go without Federal office or patronage,
when so great self-debasement was required
to get or retain either the one or the other.
Sad Affair.— On Christmas day Mr-
W. P. Dublin, residing near Easton, Md.,
had a loaded revolver lying on a bed, in the
room where himself and his little child, wife
and another lady were, and in a playful
manner he pointed it at the ladies, when it
by some means went off, the ball taking
effect in the cheek of his wife, and penetra
ting the head just below the brain, and
stopping in the back of the neck. When
Mr. D. saw the damage he had done, he be
came almost frantic with distress. The
wound was at first supposed to be mortal,
but the Eastern Gazette says it is now hoped
that Mrs. D. will recover.
A verdict for SIO,OOO was rendered in a
Philadelphia Court last week, in the case of
O’Donnell vs. The Beading Railroad Com
pany. Plaintiff took a seat in the car, and
tendered the conductor a $3 bill in payment
of his fare, which was pronounced counter
feit. He borrowed the amount of his fare
from a friend and paid it, but was, notwith
standing, ejected from the cars, and com
pelled to walk home some distance in a snow
storm, keeping him from his business.
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT.
Shall the Issue he, Popular Sover
eignty vs. Congressional Interven
tion, or, A Judicial Slave Code
v»» A Congressional Free Code.
That is a question to be decided at the
Charleston Convention. The Democracy of
the country always prescribes the issues upon
which National campaigns are fought, and
it will not, in the coming contest, be relieved
from its accustomed responsibility. The
Charleston Convention must determine
whether the Democracy shall remain true
to its principles, and continue its cham
pionship of Popular Sovereignty, which
carried the party triumphantly through
the canvass of 1856, or, whether it shall
abandon the doctrines which gave it a new
vitality, at the demand of a faithless Presi
dent and a horde of traitorous disunionists
at the South, and become the advocate of
a Judicial Slave Code, equally infamous in
its conception, and irreversible in its effects.
That is the question to be decided at
Charleston. We do not doubt the manner
of its decision. We have faith in the wis
dom and integrity of the party. We there
fore believe that the old doctrines will be
re-affirmed, and that Buchanan, and his
Southern secession allies will be promptly
and effectively repudiated and silenced by
the Democracy of the Nation. This being
done, a Democratic victory is achieved in
advance. Failing this, the whole North
is given over to Black Republican fanati
cism, and the country to disruption and
ruin.
Our State Defences
We have before us a copy of the report
of Gen. Jones, Adjutant General of Minne
sota. The report gives a history of the
military organization of the State. A list
of the officers, and an enumeration of the
enrolled and unuiformed militia in each
county.
The following table shows the number of
able bodied white male citizens, residents of
Minnesota, between the ages of eighteen and
forty-five years, liable to te enrolled for
military duty :
Counties. N umber. iCounties. Number.
Benton 100 Sherburne 92
Houston 847 Stearns 407
Winona 1300 Meeker 142
Fillmore 1000 Morrison 194
Olmsted 1200 Washington 967
Dodge 600 Chisago 265
Mower 420 Pine 62
Freeborn 400 St. Louis 281
Faribault 100 Isanti 63
Waseca 334 Pierce 305
Steele 386 Cass 47
Blue Earth 579 Pembina 400
Wabashaw 803 Crow Wing 61
Goodhue 1037'Tod 54
Rice 995 .Buchanan 73
Le Sueur 561 Carlton 96
Nicollet 508! Lake 350
Brown 275; Itasca 239
Sibley 682 Cottonwood 68
Scott 867 Murray 32
Carver 494 Nobles 8
Renville 66 Rock 22
McLeod 140 Jackson 30
Dakota 1271 Martin 41
Hennepin 2074 Pipe Stone 14
Ramsey 2009 >
Anoka 210 Total 23,972
Wright. 300
The Militia force of the State is divided
into six divisions, twelve brigades, and twen
ty-eight regimental districts.
The uniformed and organized volunteer
militia of the State does not present a very
formidable appearance on paper. It consists
of four companies of infantry, three of artil
lery, one of cavalry, and five of rifles, num
bering in all 712 men, rank and file.
Gen. Jones deserves great credit for his
labors in organizing an efficient military
system in the State. We question whether
a successor, so familiar with the duties of
the office, can be found in the State.
Reciprocity.
There are some indications that the North
west will not receive the boon of Free Trade
with British America, except by a struggle.
The cities of New York and Boston re
gard the facilities now extended by the
Crand Trunk railway of Canada, with no
little jealousy. The New York Courier
and Enquirer, makes the reduced scale of
freights by that line the text for hostility to
the Reciprocity Treaty. To the same pur
port is a recent article in the Boston Mes
sender, from which we quote:
There is matter for very serious reflection in
this statement of the plan upon which this great
route [the Grand Trunk] is now opened. It is
a subject which has come up for consideration
before, but never in so urgent a manner as at
this moment, when the line is folly prepared
to enter upon its work. If the scheme is a good
one, the danger to our commerce is such as we
cannot be too speedy in providing against; it
will never do to leave the matter until we ac
tually see the great current of trade from the
northwest leaving its present channels and set
ting towards the Grand Trunk,—we say noth
ing now of any cbaace which the road may
have for attracting a part of the carrying trade
from the Mississippi, although cotton has al
ready passed over it. The carrying trade in
the provisions and breadstuff's of the northwest
is a matter of sufficient importance to be close
ly watched at the outset, for if we wait for time
to develope the extent of the danger, we may
find that other business besides the carrying
trade has slipped away, while we have been
simply on the watch.
To New York this is a subject of even greater
importance than to Boston, and it has attracted
not a little attention among the writers for the
press in that city. The danger which is dow
apprehended has unquestionably changed to a
great extent the current of feelißg with respect
to the reciprocity treaty. That treaty, which
we may be sure was not prepared without a
prudent forecast, on the part of England at
least, as to ito bearing upon this very subject,
provides for the admißßion of grain, flour and
breadstuffs into each country free from duty,
and the New York merchants are today wak
ing up to the fact that this friendly arrange
ment, which they hailed as the approach of a
new era, instead of bringing them the rich har
vests of Upper Canada, is promising to draw off
into the Canadian channel the vast product of
, the Northwest. r
The people of Maine, especially of the
city of Portland, take another view of this
subject. In regard to the Atlantic and St.
Lawrence Railway, which is an extension of
the Canadian Grand Trunk to the city and
harbor of Portland, Gov. Mobbill holds the
following language in his late message:
The importance of this enterprise is already
seen in the rapid growth of onr chief commer
cial city, the facilities opened to oar interior
towns for direct trade westward, and the
amount of transportation that already finds its
way from the remote interior, without trans
shipment to the Atlantic. Its prospective im
portance is incalculable, an approximate esti
mate of which can only be made in connection
with the prospective and probable develop
ment of the resources, settlement and growth
of the vast regions of Canada West; of the
great lakes and the valley of the Upper Missis
sippi, the great producing region of the nation
and whose capacities are sufficient for the hab
itation and sustenance of one hundred million
people, whose outward market must be sought
at the Atlantic seaboard, and who, following
the natural channels of the St. Lawrence river,
would thence over this line of railway find their
shortest practicable route to their ultimate
destination.
The competing railway lines of New
York and Pennsylvania must conform their
tables of freights to the necessity of the
case. The northwest cannot consent to any re
trograde from the provisions of the Recipro
city Treaty. On the contrary the Governor
and Legislature of Minnesota ask for its
enlargement and extension. The Toronto
Globe, in a recent article thus represents the
unanimity of the Northwestern States :
The Chicago Press and Tribune pronounces
strongly in favor of reciprocal free trade be
tween the States and the Provinces. In this
regard the spirited Chicago journal does but
reflect the prevalent western feeling on the
subject. Whatever objections eastern manu
facturers take to the Reciprocity Treaty—
whatever objects southern politicians have in
disturbing the commercial arrangements now
existing between the two countries—the west,
we may be sure, will not only steadily support
the present relations, but will heartily encour
age their reciprocal extension. The tone of the
Detroit and Milwaukee as well as the Chicago
papers, irrespective of party, leaves little
ground for apprehension upon this head. At
St. Paul, where the question is invested with
peculiar interest by proximity to the Red River
country, soon to be opened for settlement, we
notice that expositions have been made by Mr.
J. W. Taylor and others with as much earnest
ness and success as the strongest friends of the
movement could desire.
We reproduce a single paragraph from
the article of our Chicago contemporary :
In relation to reciprocal free trade with
Canada, there are some for abolishing so much
of it as we already enjoy, while others are re
solved upon extending it indefinitely, making
trade between the two countries as free as it
now is between the different States of the
Union, abolishing custom houses and custom
house officers now required on both sides of
the line, and rendering the commercial union,
in every respect, complete. In this latter
class are embraced all Western men who have
given the subject any serious consideration.
Such unequivocally is the tendency of
public opinion in this locality, and it will
doubtless be expressed more promptly and
effectively, on account of the monopoly
views proclaimed by some of the New York
press.
We notice with pleasure that the New
York Evening Post, true to its traditional
policy of free trade, urges the extension of
the Reciprocity Treaty over the Districts of
British America northwest of Minnesota.
All Sorts of Items.
The New York Post denies 4 the Herald’s
statement that A. T. Stewart & Co., the
great dealers in dry goods, bad dismissed
sixty of their clerks employed in the Southern
trade, in consequence of the falling off in
that trade occasioned by “ recent incendiary
proceedings at the North.” Says the Post:
“ Instead of discharging sixty clerks em
ployed in their Southern trade, Messrs. A.
T. Stewart & Co., have added forty to the
number thus employed.
“We notice that Bell’s Life in London and
the Sporting Life, under their calendar of
“ Fights to Come,” both enter Heenan
under the title of the Benecia Boy. That
soubriquet is, therefore, fixed, and the 16th
of April will decide whether it will stand
forever on the roll of fame among the names
of the fistic champions of England. Be
necia is the name of a town in California
where Heenan worked, and received its
title in honor of a beautiful girl, the daugh
ter of General Vallejo, who lies buried
upon its topmost hill. What a contrast to
her gentle spirit will be the fierce scene
enacted near London, between Heenan and
Tom Sayers, on the 16th of April!”
THE GRAIN OF MUSE.
I dropped a single grain of musk
A moment in my room ;
When years rolled by the chamber still
Retained the same perfume;
So every deed approved of God,
Where e’er its lot be cast,
Leaves some good influence behind
That shall forever last.
A statement purporting to emanate
from Leavenworth, in regard to prominent
candidates for the Kansas Senatorship, is
sporionß. As that question is dependent
upon the admission of the State, present
speculations are premature, those appearing
already being wholly partizan, seriously
underrating Mr. Parrott and entirely
ignoring Mr Stanton.
The lowa Republican Convention met at
Des Moines, on the 18tb, and elected 33
delegates to the National Convention, who
though not favoring Seward’s nomination,
will go with a majority for a sound Repub
lican President. Much enthusiasm prevail
ed. The meeting was crowded.
The New York Herald announces the
failure of Marshall, Skffert & Bro.
Liabilities believed not to be very exten
sive.
IHVIih Congress—First Session.
Washington, Jan. 16—9 P .M.—Vari
ous private conferences have taken place
since Friday among gentlemen representing
different parties, with a view of agreeing
upon a basis for the election of a Speaker,
but as heretofore without a result.
Several members await opportunity to
offer propositions of a practical character
for this purpose. Among them is Mr.
Sickles, whose resolution provides that the
House now proceed to an election of Speak
er viva voce, and if upon the first call of the
roll no one shall have a majority, a quorum
being present, then from those having the
highest number, the candidates not exceed
ing three, the House will proceed to a second
ballot, and if neither has a majority, then
from the two highest the House will make
a choice of Speaker, and also if upon the
third vote the said two persons shall receive
an equal number of votes, the House will
continue to vote for one or the other of the
same two persons, until one of them shall
receive a majority; and that pending the
election and until a choice be made, there
shall be no debate.
Senate. —Various petitions were pre
sented.
Mr. Douglas offered a resolution that the
Judiciary be instructed to report a bill for
the protection of all the States and Territo
ries against invasion by inhabitants of any
other States or Territories; also, for sup
pression and punishment of conspirations
and combinations in any State or Territory
with intent to assail or molest Government
inhabitants, property or institutions of any
other State.
Mr. Sumner presented a in favor
of cheap letter postage. He also offered a
resolution instructing the Committee on
Post Offices and Post Roads to inquire
whether present rates of ocean postage are
not exorbitant, and as to the expediency of
reducing them.
Mr. Howell offered a resolution authoriz
ing the present direction of Portland Canal
Company to construct a Canal between
Prescott, terminus of said Canal, and cer
tain points on the Ohio river. Referred.
Mr. Hall presented a petition in favor of
a Homestead bill.
Mr. Green presented a memorial of Cham
ber of Commerce of St. Louis, praying for
an establishment of a branch mint at St.
Louis.
Mr. Yules offered a resolution instructing
the Committee on Post offices to enquire
into the practicability of providing a system
for the transmission of money and valuables,
as well as to furnish greater security, and
further to enquire how far Post office money
orders can be grafted with safety on our
Post office system. Adopted.
Mr. Sebastian introduced a bill for the
relief of the American Board of Commis
sioners for Foreign Missions.
Mr. Bigler introduced a bill for the sup
pression ot invasions of one State or Terri
tory by or from another, or the fitting out
of military expeditions or enterprises against
another, and for the punishment of such
offences. Referred to a select committee.
Mr. Clingman discussed Mr. Pugh’s
resolution.
After an executive session the Senate
adjourned.
Washington, Jan. 17—3 P. M. —House.
—There being a slim attendance, there was
a call of the House.
Mr. Pennington withdrew his resolution
proposing the adoption of the plurality
vote. lie did so, he said, to avoid con
fusion.
Mr. Hutchins, successor to Mr. Giddings,
concurred with his political friend, that
discussion anterior to organization, was out
of place. It has been conducted in exceed
ingly bad taste, to use no harsher term.
Mr. Hutchins, after some debate, moved
the plurality and also the previous question.
Further debate ensued on points of order,
after which Mr. Sickles gave notice of the
resolution alluded to in the Washington
despatch of last night.
Mr. Clark, of New York, and Mr. Rea
gan, pronounced it impracticable though
the latter approved its spirit.
Several motions were made for a vote
without a result, objections being made on
both sides.
Mr. that tfiey had now
come to a deddJ lofckfsf .pojqt tjrey.tniglit’
just as well have'rea’dhfcdTlfour ilgo.
Thg ;So?itherp> 4 say they will not'
dhttafit’ 1.9 a rjiajpfityJ 1 ’ * *\ ; ’,*/ /*■, ,
ME Barks<3aie‘-’You rmsia’kfc j\osi- ’.
tion.
Mr. Hickman would repeat what he had
said, and so distinctly that none could mis
apprehend it. The declaration had been
made by more than one Southern gentleman
that they are determined to resist the will
of the majority by all parliamentary, as
well as other means.
Mr. Winslow explained that they would
resist a vote on the plurality rule until a
vote be taken on the resolution of Mr. Clark,
of Missouri.
Mr. Hickman understood that this would
be resisted by dilatory motions, and said the
Northern Democrats had joined the South
ern Democrats in the determination not to
allow the plurality rule to be voted on under
any circumstances. The point is therefore
reached where the minority is resolved to
disregard the will of the majority, and pre
vent them from manifesting their wish. The
Southern party, with some Democrats, will
never let the House organize.
Mr. Barr said the Northern Democracy
will speak for themselves. The gentleman
might have power to speak for those who
ran from the Democracy for a mess of pot
tage.
Mr. Hickman—They will get strange
gruel on this side of the House. Northern
men are controlled by Southern men to
prevent the adoption of any rule.
Mr. Barr repeated that no Southern gen*
tlemen had controlled any Northern. He
should not place him in a false position.
Mr. Hickman said he could prove that
Northern men are thu9 controlled, and
should never favor another ballot for Speaker
until he was satisfied that a change bad
taken place in the minds of gentlemen on
all sides, or until the plurality rule or some
other analogous one should be adopted.
Mr. McCtamandadd that Mr. Hjckman’s
I
~r~ —-
insolence was unbearable ; by wbat author
ity did the gentleman from Pennsylvania
speak as he did ? He was not one of the
Democrats, although he pretended to be ;
this pretension was unbounded. He was
not a Democrat, but a recreant, a traitor to
the Democratic party. [Applause on the
Democratic side.] We disown and repudi
ate him. The gentleman lrom Pennsylva
nia imputed what was false, when he said
that Northern men were controlled by
Southern men. This charge could only
emanate from a man who if controlled
is the slave and instrument of others. Mr.
Hickman has boxed all the points of the
political compass ; he first denounced Gen.
Jackson.
Mr. Hickman asked Mr. McClernand to
give way a moment.
Mr. McClernand, sternly—not a word.
A voice—Go to the Republican side,
where you belong.
Mr. McClernand further spoke of Mr.
Hickman’s alleged political inconsistencies,
and said the latter was a follower of Seward,
and a subtle tool in the hand of the Republi
can party. He had betrayed all parties and
principle, and now undertook to exercise a
censorship over the Democrats. He stated
his objections to Mr. Sherman, but said Mr.
Sherman was infinitely preferable to Mr. H.
[Applause.] i
The Clerk requested gentlemen to keep
order and not encourage applause in the
galeries.
Mr. Pryor began to reply to Mr. Hick
man by remarking that what the latter had
stated was what he knew to be false. (Sen
sation)
Mr. Miller called his colleague to order,
stating that his colleague could be severe
without being unparliamentary.
Mr. Pryor said that he knew only the
plain Anglo Saxon tongue, and that Mr.
H.’s statement was false.
Mr. Millson—l repeat the point.
Mr. Keitt—l shall discuss that.
Mr. Pryor characterized Mr. Hickman's
statements as false, for which he was called
to order.
Mr. Hickman replied that such language
was no reply to his argument.
Adjourned.
Senate. —A communication was received
from the Secretary of war.
The Senate yesterday had an Executive
session on Mr. Faulkner’s nomination.
When called up, Mr. Wilson produced the
extract from Faulkner’s speech, in which
he recommended resistance to the inaugu
ration of a Republican President. Mr.
Wilson urged that the nomination should
lie over until enquiry could be made into
those sentiments, saying that he could never
vote for any man that entertained them.
Mr. Mason said they reflected the opinion
of Virginia, and also, he believed, of the
whole South.
Mr. Wigfall made his debut, in a fierce
speech, promising that Texas would unite
with the South in extreme measures. He
justified Mr. Faulkner’s declaration in every
sense.
Messrs. Clay and Toombs followed in the
same temper.
Finally the division stood 30 for confir
mation and 21 against. Three Republicans
were absent unpaired.
Mr. Sumner introduced a bill, supplimen
tary to the act of 1850, relative to the liabil
ities of ship owners. Referred.
Mr. Cameron introduced a memorial of
the Alexandria & Washington Railroad
Company for leave to bring their road
across the Long Bridge and connect with
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.
Mr. Slidell, from the select committee,
reported back the bill to prohibit the cir
culation in the District of Columbia of bills
under twenty dollars, with a recommenda
tion that it pass.
Mr. Brown corrected a statement of his
remarks on the 3d of January, which repre
sented him as saying that the 4,000,000 of
Southern slaves occupied a position socially,
morally and physically better than any
other laborer on the face of the globe. What
he said was that t heir positions were superi
or to that of the same race in any quarter
of the globe. The hour having arrived for
the election of a printer to the Senate, Mr.
Brown gave his reason for not voting for
the nominee, Mr. Bowman.
Mr. Bigler followed in defence cf Mr’
. Bowman ; the debate was further continued
by Messrs. Brown, Hale, Davis, Clay, John
son of Arkansas, King and Fessenden. A
mstJOn v*as ,m£de to adjourn and lost. The
.Senate then proceeded to ballot for Printer,
with tWfollowing result : Whole number
of votes 48, of which Bowman received 27.
Adjourned.
The Toronto Leader, discusses this ques
tion from the Minnesota (as well as Cana
pian) point of view as follows :
“ It is now universally acknowledged that
the best route for a Pacific railroad lies
through British territory. Even the father
of the Pacific railroad project, Mr. Whitney
has long since been driven to this confession.
The construction of a railroad is not a thing
which is likely to be seriously set about all
at once. Several years must elapse before
we can expect to see such a project com
menced under auspices affording a fair guar
antee of success. In the United States, do
less than three of what are called Pacific
railroads have already had more or less
done upon them. Two ot them have for
some time had sections opened for traffic;
but it does not follow that either ot them
will ever be continued to the Pacific.
While there is no doubt that the great val
ley of the Saskatchewan offers the best route
for the construction of a railroad, we believe
it is equally true that that valley can be
most easily approached, by a railroad from
the.territory of the United States. The line
of Pacific railroad which offers the greatest
facility of construction would be one running
partially through British and partly through
American territory. The State of Minne
sota is now constructing a railroad, by the
aid of public lands granted by Congress, to
the Red River. The continuation of this
line, io a north westerly direction, presents
the most favorable means of solving the
problem of a Pacific Railroad.
Pacific Railroad.