Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-02-11
Friday, Feb. Z, 1870.
IN SEN ATE

ffiuuY, lCD. 4, lS4U.
IN SENATE.
Nj. NORFELL presented the credentials Of the
Hon. Augustus s. Porter elected by the Legislature of
Michigan Senator from that State for six years from
the 4lh Of March last.
The usual oath was then administered to Mr.. POR
TER, and he took his seat.
Mr.. WRIGHT presented the petition Of VI. NJ.
QGackenboss B. Birdsall, and Charles i. Livingston,
praying the passage of an act to authorize The Secreta
~ Of the Treasury 10 compromise and compound The
claims OF the Government against them Surctics Of
Samuel Swartwout, late collector Of the port of New
York; which referred to the Committee on the Ju-
dietary
Mr.. BUCHANAN presented the memorial Of a mum
her Of the citizens of the State of Penasy vana, pray
ing increase OF duties foreign silks; winch was
; referred TO the Committee on Finance.
! Mr. TAPPAN in pursuance of notice. asked and
obtained leave to bring in bill to regulate the issuing
and circulating Of bnnk paper in the District Of Colum
! bia.
The resolution submitted some days since by Nj.
Preston, in relation TO the Cumberland road taken
up and after long debate, in which it supported
by Messrs, PRESTON, WEBSTER, SMITH of Ind; !,
and MERRlCk, and opposed BY slessrs. BENTON,
of Alabama, and after being modified on the question
OF lis adoption the votc was-ayes 4, noes 80 So it
was nc: adopted.
The Senate then djourncd until Monday next
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
| Mr.. J. ". JONES, Chairman Of the Committee Of
Ways and Means, asked the House would resolve
itself into Com Of the Whole to consider the bill max
ing appropriations for Revolutionary and other pen
soners. The pensions payable haltyearly, 4th
of March and September, and unless the House would
lake immediate action this bill, it would be
impossible for the Secretary of the Treasury to place
the funds in the hands Ct disbnrsng agents at the
sections Of the country where payment is made to
the pensioners The House would see the troubles
and difficulties in which these old pensioners would be
paced if the necessary funds not in the hands of
the agents to pay hcm after they had made long jour
neys with the expectation OF receiving payment at the
time specified b. law. He hoped there would be no
objection.
| After some objection, Mr.. JONES modified his mo.
tion that the House o'clock proceed to the con.
sdera.on of the bill in committee
! Mr. DAWSON inquired of the chairman OF the
Committee Of Ways and Means whether the funds to
meet these pensioners were not appropriated year
in advance, and whether there was not sufficient
Of the old Apr priacns in the hands Of dsburs.
ing agents. 20 meet the payments necessary to be made
| in March
| Mr. JONES' in TO the question Of the gentle.
Irom Georgia. said he believed that was the usual
practice Of the Department to forward these funds in
advance, but how far 70 time, he ,as not advised
From looking, however, at The amount Of unexpended
balances, shown by the report Of the Secretary of the
Treasury, he inferred that not possible that funds
TO provide for all the accrung pensions could be the
points where they are to be paid; for, eve.y dollar OF
these unexpended balances were the-e, there would
s.ii no; be noTe than half what necessary There
were unexpended balances at some of the points but
to meet the payments al all of tnsn in time, j, was
necessary that this appropriation should be speedily
passed
The yeas and nays having been ordered on the ques.
| ton of suspension, were-yea, ll9, nays 40.
! Mr. JONES thr.. moved that the House go into the
Committee Of the Whole at o'clock, for the purpose
of taking up the bill making appropriations for the pay
ment Of the Revolutionary ant o'hsr sensce-- e :s
United States.
! MIR. SMITH Of Maine said, in reply TO Mr.. GAR
LAND Of Louisiana. The gentleman said that those