Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-01-04
rulsTimrsI coxcnEss--Flrst Session.
THURSDAY, DEC. 80, 1877.
SENATE
Numerous petitions were presented. a

Numerous pelIlUnS were iTescHltu AIlchS
them was one from the American Peace Soce-
IS, presented b. Mr.. Webster, praying the lermi.
,-s.riirr-. = - 81 NeHirn "i'hau, 'ar fur
tIrI efIusiun Of blood.
On nulion OF Mr. Badger the Committee on
Commerce was instructed In inquire into the eN-
pedicncy OF constructing additional floating and
| stationary lights below and between Whining
Ion. n. c., and The Ocean.
On molten OF Mr. Clayton, the same commit.
ice was instructed TO inquire into the expedien.
cy OF making appropriations Tor the improve
ments Of the haibors IN Delaware bay and ii.
ye,; and also Tor Inc erection ola lighthouse on
the bnrnt pief; and also INTO the expectancy Of
recurring coasing vessels TO employ apprentices
in navigating them.
Mr.. Breese announced the resignation of Mir.
Cass. as one OF the Board OF Regents o' the
Smithsonian Institution, and hc Vice P!esl.
dent icing authorised 10 Oil the vacancy, MIR.
Davis ot Mississippi, was appointed.
MIR. Cass moved TO take up the bill TO raise ten
regiments of regulars
Mr.. Calhoun suggested as the Senate was thin,
aud The subject an important one, that would be
better to let il pass over Tor The present.
Mr.. Cass had no objection to the poslponement
Of The bill until Monday, provided ii was made
the special order CT that day.
Mir. Calhoun considered the time 100 short, ard
wished, also, hat he debate upon lis resolutions
shcnd r'ecede final action on the fill.
MIR. Berricn, hir. Hale, and others advocated
The same course.
Mir. Allen supported The views of MIR. Cas-,
and hoped The bill would be acted or wilhou! &C.
lay. The debate could come up As well on the
bill as on the resolutions OF the Senator from
South Carolina.
Mr. Calhoun charged that this course of pro-
ceedins arose rot from any pressing emergency
for the passage othe BILL but from desire to CD
tain legislative advantage over him. and hang
the debate upon the bill which properly should
belong 10 his resolutions.
The question was put upon taking up the bill,
and il was agreed 10. Yeas -, nays l9-lhe Vice
PlesiteE; giving the casting vote in The afiirma-
i've. No further proceedings were had upon the
bill, but il comes up again as unfni>tei business
on Monday. The Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The Speaker announced that the reception Of
petitions would be The first hing in Order.
Mir. Jones, OF Tennessee, remarked that he
thought his resolution, offered last Monday for
ihc increase Of temporary clerks in the Pension
Office, would be The first in order.
The Speaker replied that the gentleman from
Tennessee was in error, and cited rule in proof
OF the fact
FIR. Tuck, OF New Hampshire, presented one
from a lew citizens OF Philadel phia, praying tor
an alteration OF The Constitution and Laws, and
lrf the appropriation OF the proceeds 81 The sales
Of the public lan!s Jf the extinction OF slavery in
The T. States. He moved that it be referred TO
the committee on Territories.
Mir. Gayle, OF Alabama, moved 10 lay /. Tn
tic table. On this motion the yeas and nays
were ordered, and stood as follows-yeas sc, nays
10 So The petition was laid on the table. a
motion 10 reconsider this vote was made and en-
tered on The journal.
Mr.. Tuck offered another similar petition,
which, on motion of MIR. Gayle was also laid
upon The table, without division.
Mr. Schenck offered resolution for the House,
when il shall adjourn TO adjourn over 10 Mon
day mex; which was adopted.
The mail South was the subject OF Joint Re-
solution presented 10 the House this morning from
the Committee on Pos! Offices and Roacs. II
proposed Simply that the old contractors should be
permitted TO receive The highest price allowed by
law tor The single daily line service. aid that up.
on their acceptance Of such terms, the present
mail line shall be discontinued.
The resolution was taken up for consideration
and warm debate sprang up in regard 10 The
true merits Of The matter, in which Messrs Cog.
ein Jones, of Tenn, Bolls, Charles Brown, and
Johnson, OF Arkansas, participated. The last
named gentleman, al the conclusion Of his re.
MARKS moved 10 lay the whole subject (as he said
nobody understood III on the table
Mr. Houston OF Ala, and Mir Jones of Ten.
nessee expressed. some opposition 10 the Icsolu.
lion, and advocated lis reference 10 The Committee
OF The Whole on The Stale CT The Union.
Mr. Bots OF Va. launched warmly into The
case, and said that the Post Master General had
mol only mistaken his duty, but had grossly VIC.
la.cd il Those who susta ned him took the
same erroneous view of The case. Every be.
dy from New Orleans 10 Maine was demanding
OF this House some action.
Mr.. Brown, oi Pa. defended the Postmaster
Genera! and his course
Mr.. Goggin, o! Va, chairman Of the commit.
tee, made somewhat elaborate argument sci.
ling forth The grievances Of the people upon tbe
subject OF mail transportation, and OF certain
aols growing out Of The contracts with the late
mail carriers between Washington ard Richmond
Immediate action was urged upon The bill, and
he House adjourned with struggle upon the
questions Of poslponement and immediate action