The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-27
TWENTY NINTH CONGRESS,
FIRST SESSION,
SATURDAY Dec. 81, lsiS.
IN SENATE.


order and presented the secretary note from inc
Hon. Coz. M. DALLAS, the Vice President, request
ing Mr. SEWER TO preside over the Senate to-day,
II his (Mr. D.'s) absence.
Mr.. CRlTTENDEN said that he had no ohIec-
ton whatever to the senator In the chair, but II
occurred to him that The Vice President had no rghl
to confusion any one to preside over the body IL
was matter FOR the Semitic itself to determine IN
the absence of The presiding officer
The Secretary, the request of several senators,
read The rule upon the subject, as follows;
"The Vice President, or President Of the Senate
pro teihpors, shall have right TO name member to
perform the duties of the chair but such substitu-
ton shall not extend beyond an adjournment"
Mr. SPEIGHT observed that he cond see no
other construction of the rule than that which had
been placed on it by the Vice Presdent-that he
had the right to name member, in his absence, to
perform the duties of the chair.
Mr. CRlTrENDEN proposed, in consequence
Of the absence of the Vice President to proceed to
the election ola President pro smpore, with view to
test the question.
Mr. CALHOUN desired if there were any prece-
dents for the proceeding of the Vice President that
J the secretary would inform them
Mr. CRlTTENDEN did not know of an instance
where the Vice President exercised this power du-
ring the ten or twelve years he had been a member
of the body.
with Mr.. Southland, formerly the presiding officer
of the Senate, to appoint member to discharge the
duties Of the chair in the mode pursued on the pres
ent occasion, during that genteman's absence in Vir
ginia
The CHAIR (Mr SEyIER) rose to put the aues-
ton on the motion to proceed to an election; when
Mr.. CRlTTENDEN said he thought the case oil
Judge Southland was provided for by special resou-
ton of the Senate.
Mr. HAYWOOD, to relieve the Senate from the
difficulty, moved that The Senate nd iourn.
The question was taken, and decided In the mega
tive
Mr. MANGUM understood that there was some
difficulty with reference to the commission Of the
officer presiding He knew what had been done in
many similar instances by Mr.. Southland, before he
went to Virginia After that time, however, reso-
luton may have been passed by the Senate, and il
could be found IL there one. So little doubt
did he Mr. MASeUMl entertain in relation to this
matter, that he took occasion to state to the Vice
President that, if he designed being absent until
Monday, he could give appointment in writing
according to usage, as he understood it. Il was
perfectly easy, however, to obviate any difficulty by
! resolution or by ballot He desired to state that
the Vice President had received information from,
him; and at the time he did not suppose there would
be difficulty or embarrassment.
Mr.. T. CLAYTON said, that when Mr. South.
ard appointed substitute question was raised
whether it should be by general commission, OF
renewed day by day. That gentleman, long before
he went to Virginia, had repeatedly exercised the
power of appointing substitute and il was not OBJ
which arose was, whether there should be general
appointment during the absence of Mr.. Southland, OF
whether he should leave number of papers, dated
from day to day, that the substitute might be thus
authorized to take the chair.
Mr.. CALHOUN said that the rule of the Senate
gave the Vice President the power appoint a SUBJ
stitute. If there was any DOUBT it was because the
gentleman was not in the District He may be out
Of the city. He could not however, vote for the
motion of the senator from Kentucky.
| Mr. CRITTENDEN-as he made the nation
without much consideration withdrew it.
! Mr.. HANNEGAN presented the credentials of
the Hon. JESSE D. BRIGHr, elected a senator of the
United States, from the State of Indiana, for the
term of six years commencing 4th of March, lS45;
which having been read,
Mr.. BRIGHT took the customary OATH admins
tered by Mr.. SEWER.
! Mr.. DAVIS presented the petition of Thos Hen
shaw and others, praying that the pensions granted
to the militia who served in the revolutionary war
may be increased which was referred to the Com
mittee on Pensions.
Mr.. EVANS presented a petition of citizens Of
Maine, demonstrating against the admission of Tex
as into the Union, with constitution tolerating
slavery: which was laid on the table.
Mr.. UPHAM presented several remonstrances of
citizens Of Vermont against the admission of Texas
into the Union as slave State; which were laid on
the table,
| Mr.. U. also presented resolutions of the Iegisla.
ture of the State of Vermont, protesting against the
admission of Texas without the consent Of all the
States; which was laid on the table.
Mr.. U. also presented the petition Of the repre-
sentatives Of Geo. w. Corliss, deceased an officer
in the revolutionary army, praying to be allowed his
seven years. halfpay; which was referred to the
Committee on Revolutionary Claims.
Mr.. u. further presented the petition of Zadock
| Hunlley, soldier in the revolutionary army asking
a pension; which was referred to the Committee on
Pensions.
Mr.. U. further presented the petition of Beebee
| Wadham, legal representative of Heman Allen de-
ceased, asking the reimbursement of advances made
by said Heman Allen during the revolutionary war;
which was referred to the Committee on Revolution
AIRY Claims
| Mr.. THOMAS CLAYTON presented the petit
lion OF the legalrepresenativeso of Mountoy Bailey,
deceased, officer in the revolutionary army, ask
ing legal interest on his communication pay; which
was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary
Claims.
Mr.. DICKINSON presented the petition of GER
tain captains and sailors for the completion and
lighting of Cattaraugus harbor, on Lake Erie;
which was referred TO the Committee on Com
mercc.
Mr.. JENNESS presented the petition of Ruth
Ransom, of Dover, New Hampshire, for tho renew
legal representative of Nathaniel Magoon an officer
in the revolutionary army; which ives referred to
the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.
Mr.. DIX presented the petition Of Richard Kidd,
and Benjamin Kidd, for payment of the residue of
Judgment IN their favor, against Samuel Swarwout,
late collector of the port Of New York, for duties
illegally exacted; which was referred to the Com
mittee on Finance
Mr.. d. also presented the petition of Jonathan
Little, assignee Of Whitley Taylor, merchants in
the city of New York, praying the repayment Of GER
tain duties illegally exac,ed of them by the collec
tor of that port cargo of silk twist imported in
1888 and 1899; which was referred to the Commits
ice on Finance.
TEXAS. Et
I message was received from the House oil Rep
resentaves, announcing that the joint resolution for
the admission Of Texas into the Union had been
signed by the President of the United States, and
requesting the signature of the Vice President
thereto.
Mr.. ASHLEY presented the petition of cltizcns
of Arkansas, praying the establishment Of week.
" mal-route from Oakland Grove post office, to
Duzark Bluffs, on the White river which was re