Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-01-07
TnIKrlETu coNGREss--First sessio"
"WEDNESDAY. JAN 5. lS48.
SENATE

"WEDNESDAY, JAN 5. lS48.
SENATE
Numerous petitions were presented anu leie''
red.
The Vice President laid before the Senate the
accounts of the Treasurer of the U. States, show
! ing the expenditures OF the Post Ofhce Depart
| ment for the last fiscal year.
Mr. Hunter, on leave, introduced OIL 10 au'
thoIize the payment OF equitable commissions 10
! the agents of individuals in whose favor awards
have been made under certain rea!les which
awards have been retained in The treasury IN pay
menl OF debts due TO the U. ,.
MIR. johnson, Of Md, from the committee on
commerce, reported a bill 10 exempt vessels en-
ing emieranls TO Liberia from the provisions OF
the law regulating The carrying OF passengers In
merchant vessels.
MIR. Ashley gave notice of his intention to in
troduce bill 10 alter and amend The judicial sys-
tenn of The United States.
Mr.. Dix, from The committee on Commerce,
reported The bill 10 repeal the Pilot Law, without
amendment.
Also the bill making appropriation for the re-
moval OF distractions in The Savannah river, with
out amendment.
The bill for the relief of Thomas Rhodes was
| passed
The bill authorizing the appointment OF assist
ant pursers in the Navy, came up in lis order
and was passed over informally.
The bill 10 allow further time for the location
of military land warrants of lS1-'l5, after some
little debate was postponed until tomorrow.
The bill providing TOR raising 10000 volunteers
coming up in lis order, MIR. Cass moved that II
be laid on the table, as the Military Committee
did not wish action upon il until alter The Ten re
eiment bill should be disposed OF.
for cnrne behatp ODon DriVatp hills The Sc
nate proceeded 10 the consideration Of the special
order of the day-being The bill 10 raise ten new
regiments for The regular army.
Mr.. Cruenden moved IL amend The bill by
striking out all alter the enacing clause and in
sering in lieu thereof the provisions Of The 70.
luntcer bill increasing The number 10 81, 600.
Mr.. Criienden supported his amendment al
some length, in an argument in favor OF the en-
ployment of volunteers in preference 10 regular
troops.
MIR. Cas- made some explanation in reply TO
Mr. Clirtenden's remarks.
MIR. Jefferson Davis followed in brief but ell
oenenl speech in opposition 10 the amendment,
aud 10 favor OF The employment, OF regular troops.
ton was taken on the amendment Of Nr. Crit
lenden, and il was negalved by the following
vote:
Ys4s-Messrs. Badger, Baldwin, Bell, BeIrien
Clarke, Clayton, Corwin, Critrenden, Dayton
Greene, Hale, Maneum, Miller, Pearce, Phelps
Spruauce, Underwood, Upham and Webs,er-l9
NAYs-MessIs. Allen, Ashley, Aichison, Alh
erton, Bradbury, Bteese, Butler, Cameron, Cas-
Davis of Mississippi, Dickinson, Dix, Douglass
! Downs, Fetch, Foote, flanagan, Hunter, John.
son of Maryland, Johnson OF Louisiana, Mason
Rusk, Sewer, Surgeon Turney and Weslcolt-2G
Mr.. johnson, OF Md offered an amendment
which was adopted, providing that these len re
simens shall be raised by the President, "f il
his opinion the exigencies OF the war require sucl
a further increase OF tyrcc."
No further amendment being made, the bill
was reported TO The Senate
A motion 10 adjourn was made ard los-Yea
%, nays "a.
MIR. Johnson, of Maryland, said that there wer
Senators on that side OF the chamber who desires
TO discuss the bill, and he submitted 10 the friend
Of the bill whether they would not permit il 10 b
passed over until tomorrow.
After ordering the bill 10 be ergrossed, il wa
laid aside, and will come up Oh its third readin!
and be further discussed tomorrow:
Mr.. Venable, OF North Carolina, moved t
reconsider The vote by which the House yesIerJa
passed the resolution calling on the President 10
information in relation 10 The return OF SAINT
Anna 10 Mexico. His object in making This me
ton, he said, was 10 move an amendment TO sal
resolution.
Mr.. Morehead, Of Kentucky, announced TO tn
Speaker lha, his colleague, line Hon. John F
Gaines, was present, and ready 10 he sworn int
office-whereupon MIR. Gaines was conducted 1
the Speakers chair by Mr.. MoTehead, and tn
new member took the customary oath.
Mr.. Ashmun moved to lay the motion Of tn
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Venabe
on the table
MIR. Venable called for The yeas and nays AM
there being second to his call, they were taken
and stood as ioloWs-yeas 1907, nays 81. So h
motion to reconsider was laid on The table.
Mir. Sawyer now moved 10 reconsider the volt
by which the House Yesterday adopted resolu
lion offered by Mr.. Grinnel, respecting the re
peal OF the law against private expresses Hi
motion lies over. Mr.. Sawyer said there wa
more in The resolution than met the eye.
The Speaker laid before the House a commu
nica,ion from the President, covering reply Il
a resolution OF the last House, calling for the un
published correspondence between The Govern
ment and General Taylor, and between The Quar-
| lermasier Generals Department and Genera
| Taylor.
Also, report from The War Department,
covering list Of the present pensioners on the
Government.
Also, report from the Treasuser of the
United States.
Also, report from The Regents OF the Smith
| sOnian Institution.
| The latter being read,
! Mr.. Andrew Johnson took the floor, and com,
| menced a warm and earnest speech against The
course of The said Regents, when
The Speaker announced that the hour had ar
| rived for the House 10 go INFO committee OF the
| Whole TO consider the resolution relative TO the
transportation Of the mail between Washington
and Richmond.
The House Ihereupon resolved itself into com.
mi,ee OF The Whole, (Mr. Caleb B. Smith in
the Chair,) and ,o0k up said resolution.
MIR. Bots took The floor and addressed the
| House at length against The conduct OF The Post
Office Department, and in support OF the resolu'
tion directing him in The matter
Mr. Lincoln, OF Illinois, followed in reply
He stated that he was one CT the minority Of The
committee that reported this resolution. His pre-
possessions were in favor of The gentleman from
| Virginia, who had advocated the passage of this
resolution; but he had come 10 the conclusion
that the Railroad Company were wrong and the
Postmaster General was right in The matter.
MIR. Root, of Ohio, next took The floor, but gave
way minute for an amendment 10 be offered 10
the resolution, by Mr.. Meade Of Virginia, respect
ing The rates allowed Tor the transportation OF The
mail over railroads.
MIR. Root addressed the Committee at length in
| opposition 10 the conduct OF the Post Office De-
parlment in many respects, and also in opposition
10 the conclusion arrived at by the committee that
reported This resolution. He condemned the con-
duct OF all railroad companies lha, would abuse
the power conferred upon them. Some of his re.
marks were facelious and caused some meni-
ment.
When he had concluded, on motion, the Com
miiee rose, and the House adjourned.