The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-17


acted on at the present session. and he supposed it
important that the bills the calendar should be acted
on, than that reports should be made by committees
which there was no chance OF taking up at all The
session was now drawing TO close and considering the
vast amount OF business the docket he hoped the res
ouilon would be adopted. Heretofore the Senate had
adopted similar resolution TO this several weeks before
the close Of The session.
A SENATOR Not in the short session.
Mr.; JOHNSON of Louisiana AT any rate. he hoped
that the amendment would not be adopted but that the
Senate would proceed to pass the original resolution.
Mr. BERRlEN The remark made BY the senator
first time reported The committees might very we'll dis
pense with the business necessary to prepare such for the
action of the Senate but it not true in regard to the
bills which came from the House OF Representatives
which might be examined and acted at the present
session. There great many OF this class, and
earlier meeting OF the Senate would have the effect of
denying to those committees the time necessary to exam
inc them. They would have 70 take them na and pass
upon yhe m hurry The Senate did toward The close
OF the last session meet at earlier hour but that
at season of the year when the days are long.
Mr. DOUGLAS hoped that the amendment would not
prevail He thought he could that the most import
ant business before the Senate at this session was likely
to be postponed and remain Enacted upon merely for the
want of time He thought now the time to adopt
the resolution, unless they wanted TO hold their sessions
until midnight they had done at the last session. I'M
less they adopted this amendment they would either
have to hold night sessions go away leaving much of
the business OF the country unfinished He hoped, there
lore that they would begin to meet IN time, to see II they
could not do something, especially for the territories
provided for.
Mr. DOWNS thought tina, the effect of the amendment
would be to destroy the resolution entirely, limiting il to
only the last week in the session As to the committees
he could not think that they would be deprived of the
necessary time to dsvoe 70 the consideration of bills
placed in their charge He thought the objection of the
committees might be obvated by their meeting an hour
earlier. The ground that he had taken before was I'M
answeFable; that there already before the Senate
more important business than could possibly be acted
upon at the present session lie therefore hoped that the
amendment would not be adopted.
Mr. NILES said he should vote against the amend
m and IN fayo of he he mot
think il very important or that much good would result
from adopting it. He would do all that he could to in
duce action upon the part OF the Senate in relation
to the public business before them They were now
near the close OF the session ony about two weeks
naming and they had not yet maured and passed
single public bill, excepting one two appropriation
bills They had not taken single that had decided
the of the Senate upon any great measure be-
fore Congress and the country, They had done nothing
action the part of Congress. They were now before
them to be disposed of in one or two weeks receive
action at all There were some territorial bills which
he anxious should come up for the consideration Of
Congress- and he anxious oglve his vote upon these
bills He thought that the Senate should return to that
system of business which they have usually observed
and that they should act the great bills and dispose Of
them, and employ their time usefully when here He
did not know that it would do great deal of good
last adopted about half dozen bills but none of them
had been brought to any final decision That was the
course which had been adopted; The Senate formerly
made one subject the special order until it disposed
of in some way; bu, during the present session, they had
had one special order one day. apd another the next and
so on, and ia that way their time had been wasted He
hopei that during the weeks which remained thew
would endeavor to act and spend their time in the de-
spatch OF business.
| The question being then taken upon the amendment
| il was agreed to on adivislon-ayes %, noes 90
motion was here made that the resolution be laid upon
the table; which disagreed to on division-ayes
The VICE PRESIDENT stated the question npon the
adoption of the resolution as amended.
| Mr. DOWNS. Is the question upon the adoption OF
the resolution upon concurrlng IN the amendments
| The VICE PRESIDENT. Upon the resolution as
amended
Mr. FOOTE moved to amend the resolution by striking
out the word w week." and insert the words Monday
next" to provide that the Senate shall meet at II
o'clock a. II, after Monday next.
| Mr. BADGER moved TO amend the amendment by
adding TO the word Monday" the word week., to
provide for the meeting OF the Senate at the hour pro-
posed, after Monday week.
| Mr. DICKINSON thought that the future would take
of itself, and, in order that the Senate might not
lose the present day. moved to lay the whole subject upon
the table; upon which motion the yeas and nays were
demanded and ordered and being TAKEN the yeas were
26, nays 81, as follows:
! YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Atchison, Badger Baldwin, Der
rien. Boand, Bright, Butler, Calhoun, Cameron Corwn,
Dayton, Dickinson, Hale, Ianlin. inne,, johnson OF
Turney, Upnam, and Walkers,
NAYS Aherton, Bell Bradbury, Breese, Clarke
Davis OF Massachusetts Days of Mississippi Dig Dodge OF
Iowa, Douglas, Downs, Felch, Fitzgerald, Fitzpatrick,
ooe Greene Houston Johnson of Louisiana Jones. King
and Westcot-27.
So the resolution was not laid on the table.
The VICE PRESIDENT stated the question to be
upon the amendment submitted by the senator IRON Mis-
sissppi, Mr.. FooTE.
MI BADGER reminded the Chair of the amendment
| to the amendment proposed by him.
| The VICE PRESIDENT expressed the opinion that
the amendment was not in order.
| Mr.. BADGER explained his amendment; when
! The VICE PRESIDENT reviewed his former decision,
and ruled the amendment in order
Mr.. HALE and Mr.. WALKER raised questions OF or
der relative to the amendment to the amendments which
were overruIed by the Chair.
| Mr.. DAY TON trusted that the amendment would be
adopted, and with questions OF order Tor such
questions not at all desirable They were trouble
and took great deal OF the time OF the Senate
certain what the wishes OF majority OF the Senate
1t perfectly well known that twohlrds OF all the
business they had to do was business out OF the cham
ber and not business in the chamber If they were to
meet hour earlier, the probability was that they would
adjourn an hour earlier and nothing would be gained
Mr. DOUGLAS inquired the precise effect OF the amend
ment OF The senator IRON North Carolina
| The VICE PRESIDENT stated what would be the
effect of the amendment
| Mr. DOUGLAS raised question OF order upon the
amendment; pending which,
Mr. HALE moved to lay the resolution on the table
| Mr.. DOWNS rose to a question OF order, ana IN
CURED whether the motion 10 lay on the table could
be entertained, having already been made and negaved
The VICE PRESIDEN said the motion was IN order
other business having interviewed since the former mo
tion to lay upon the table.
! Mr.. DOWNS asked the yeas and nays upon the mo
ton; which refused.
The question being then taken on DIVISION, the ayes
were %, noes 81.
So the resolution laid upon the table
| GENERAL APPROPRIATION
On motion by Mr. ATHERTON, the Senate then re-
of the bill mikIng appropriations