Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-04-10
TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS.
MONDAY, April 6. 1876.
SENATE.

Oct WdsiuI Wnile hundreds were turned away
unable 10 find an entrance. The galleries were
monopoiized by halt-past nine, and the door-ways,
by The ladies, soon after len. All this early COM
ing and patient waiting was to hear the speech
of MIR. Webster in defence of the Ashbur.on
Treaty.
The bill in reference 10 Naval Bureaus coming
up on its final passage, Mr.. J. Nj. Clayton wished
to know the object OF The bill, and particularly if
IL was designed 10 lead 10 a removal of the chiefs
OF any OF The bureaus.
Mr.. Fairfield understood that il was not. The
object of the bill was merely 10 simplify the bu-
siness OF the Department.
Mfr. Clayton was not satisfied, and wished to
have the bill postponed or defeated. lie feared
that The object was 10 place civilian at the head
of Bureaus, and he objected 10 this
Without action upon the bill, the Senate pre-
ceded 10 the special order.
Mr.. Webster said that nothing had been further
from his intention, than TO lake par, in this dis
cussion, as The defender CT the Washington treaty,
but the treaty having been assaied in both
houses OF Congress pending The present discus
sion, Notwithstanding his reluctance TO review the
past, he felt called upon to vndca'e The treaty
from all that had been said against it, What be
had done, had teen done under direction Of the
President, OF the United States-bul he wished,
with all respect 10 The late Executive to assume
entirely the responsibility tina, belonged TO him.
as The Secretary OF State, and as one of The nego-
tiators under the Washington treaty.
MIR. Webster entered upon the labor before him
by careful analysis Of all the questions in con-
troversy between the United States and Grea,
Britain, al the time Gen. Harrison succeeded 10
the Office Of President. The Northeastern boun-
dairy formed the prominent topic, and the fact
was dwell upon al length, lha, it had long been
the subject Of controversy-tbrougb The whole Of
the VIGOROUS administration Of Gen. Jackson
and his successor. For 80 years, from he time
of Washington down 10 The time il happened to
be his lot TO take part in the foreign relations of
the country, this question was not settled. Gen.
Jackson's and MIR. Van Burens messages were
all quoted TO prove the difficulty and the delay OF
the question. The question was left in great
deal worse condition than it was found, ard such
budget of diplomatic enane elements had rarely,
il ever, been seen before. During the whole Of
Mr. Van Buren's administration, il consisted OF
projects and counter projects, Of statements and
counter statements, OF propositions and counter
propositions, all OF which amounted 20 nothing
Such mesh OF entaIglemen,s would have de-
lighted such diplomatias as Talley!and, Nessel-
rode and Melternch. One could mol have wished
Of a summers day to have looked upon more
marked piece Of iplomaiic embarrassmenls
MIR. Webster then took IN and analysed the Eng
ISL duu hiUcllldH tDlS SuHjGCt,
and made most impressive picture ofthe Difficult
lies encountered from the laws delay.-Nolhns
mac, been done u2to l84l but 10 make propositions
for explorations TO be followed BY arbrations
and them il desirable, again by other arbtrations
Nothing was done, or likely 10 be done, and in
this state OF fact, new administration was made
both in the United States and in Ensland,-and
here MIR. Webster stated with minu;eness The &C.
currences OF marked interest in themselves, which
~ IL a. IF
Lord AshburioD TO negotiate on the part OF En-
gland. The balance OF the speech which occu-
pied the attention OF The Senate fer considerably
more than three hours, related exclusively TO the
North Eastern Boundary.
MIR. Webster, without concluding gave way
10 mo,iun 10 adjourn, and will take mp The other
points Of the Treaty tomorrow.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
The rules were suspended, for the purpose Of
calling upon Committees for reports and resolu-
tions.
The Committee on Elections asked TO be dis
charged from the further consideration OF peii-
ton from New Hampshire, against The right Of
the members from that State 10 their seats in The
House. 10 consequence OF their not having been
elected, according TO the provisions of the Appor-
tonmeni Law, and that The petition be laid upon
the table.
MIR. Culver Of New York moved that the petit
lion be recommed 10 the Committee on Elec-
tions, with instructions TO report whether said
members had been elected in conformity with the
law OF Congress.
Mr. Culver enforced his motion in a brief
speech, in which he defended The Apportionment
Bill, and alluded 10 the recent successful effort of
New Hampshire TO free herself from the ihral-
dom of Loco Focoism.
A motion was then made 10 lay the whole sub
jec, upon the table, upon which the yeas and nays
were ordered. Ayes 81, noes So. So The whole
subject was laid upon the table.
A number OF private and local bills were re-
ported and referred 10 the commune OF tie whole.
The Committee on the Judiciary reported a
bill TO create the Office Of Assistant Secretary OF
State, and for other purposes.
The Committee on the Library reported joint
resolution TO authorize the Committee TO contract
with competent American arts; for painting
Tor the vacant panel in The Rotunda. The SUBJ
ject 10 be the discovery of America, or some in
cident connected with the Revolution or late war,
at the discretion Of the artiste The price not 10
exceed that authorized in The resolution under
which contract was made with lnman.
The House shortly after went into Committee
of the Whole, Mr.. McCielland Of Michigan in
the Chair, and the Cumberland Road bill was Ia
ken up.
Mr.. Robert Smith OF H., who was entitled TO
the door, addressed the House in favor OF the BILL
and upon the ground of its constitutional:y and
lis its expediency.
Mr.. McGaughey OF Ia, followed on the same
side and in the course OF his remarks said that The
River and Harbour bill could not pass The Senate,
until the Cumberland road bill should have been
passed by the House. This he was authorized
10 saw by The Senators from bis Stale. II might
be called log rolling, but ii species of log
rolling thai he was decidedly in favor Of
MIR. Thos. Smith o, la. made brief speech in
favor of the bill, and the committee then proceed
cd 10 vote upon The amendments offered. One
appropriating 100000 acres Of land 10 each
State in the Union, except those which have al
ready receivedit was adopted. All other amend
ments were rejected.
The question then being upon the adoption OF
the substitute proposed for the whole bill, tellers
were ordered. who reported 81 in The affirmative,
and IS in the negative, and it was adopted.
The substitute appropriates land instead OF
money, as follows:
To the State of Ohio l540 900 acres Indiana
92l 900; Illinois 1883, $50; Missouri 1881 S32.
The committee rose and reported the bill TO the
House.
MIR. Dromgooe moved 10 lay The bill upon the
table. Lost. Yeas "a, nays "a.
A motion 10 adjourn was made and lost. One
or two points of order were raised and decided,
and without final action the House adjourned.
TUESDAY, April Z.
IN SENATE.
The orders of the day were called for al an
early hour, on motion Of Mr.. Ashley, and the
morning business was unimportant.
MIR. Webster took up some omitted points in
that part OF the Washington Treaty which rela-
ted TO the North Eastern Boundary. He held 10
his hand the opinions of Palmerston, Douglass
and Napier, all condemnine the Treaty for the