The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-14
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
MospAy, May 10, 1880
S Il N A It L .
THE nxrIoIENoY RIll.


resontatives announcing hat the House had agreed
TO certain amendments of the Senate TO the Den
cheney BILL and that one amendment oil the senate
had been amended. The bill was then referred to
the Committee on Finance.
RxFoanATioN OF rRs JUDICIARY OF THE pIsrRIcr
COLUMBIA.
Mr.. WALKER said that he had been requested
10 present petition signed by persons whom he
understood to be most respectable citizens OF
Georgetown, in this District, praying reformation
of the judiciary of the District of Columbia. lie
said that few days ago he had taken occasion to
speak of the Judiciary Of this District and lis w
ranny. It would appear that the people were now
taking the thing intheir own hands and were NOV
ing TO have reform. He understood that the crown,
ing act of the oppression practsed by the court OF
this District was the striking from the list OF at.or
news high minded and honorable gentleman, Mr.
Henry May. He was glad TO witness tnaa lhe Gu
ances he understood there were several other peti
tons to be presented this morning OF the same
purport He had stated the other day, that he
would during this session introduce bill 10 re-
model the judiciary system of this District, and he
now gave notice that he would hereafter introduce
such a bill He asked the petition be referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary, and the petition
was 80 referred.
Mr. FOOTE presented similar petition.
Mr.. CORWIN presented similar petitions.
Mr.. PRATT said that he had been entrusted with
two petitions, numerousiy signed by cltzens OF
Washington, to the samc effect as those presented
by other Senator'S.
MIR. WALKER said that in his remarks concern
ing the court of this District he did not desire TO
be understood as rejecting upon Chief Justice
Cranch; he knew that that venerable man stood
high in the estimation OF the citizens OF this Dis
trict and the various petitions all prayed that Con-
gress would make some provision for him.
Private petitions were presented by Messrs
RusK, CHASE, and BoRLAsp
THK CENSUS DILL
Mr.. DAVIS, from the select committee OF the
Senate on the Census, reported back the Census
BILL with recommendation that the Senate agree
TO certain amendments made by the House, and
that others be not agreed TO. The bill was then
made the special order of the day for to morrow at
half-past IL O'Clock.
EXTRA COMPENSATION TO WILLIAM COLLINS
AND p. G. wAsHrNeToS, ESQ.
Mr. UNDERWOOD, from the Committee on
Claims to whom had been referred resolution di-
recting the payment out of the contingent fund 10
DIR. William Collins, late First Auditor, and Peter
G. Washington, late Sixth Auditor of the Treasu-
ry, seven hundred and fifty dollars EACH for ser
vices rendered in the examination and statements
Of certain claims referred to them for that purpose
by resolution Of the Senate of 9th August lS4s,
reported resolution making an allowance TO each
for their services the sum of SAB 33l
MIR. HUNTER moved to strike out the
ported by the committee, and insert one thousand
dollars
Mr.. HALE opposed the amendment and the
olution itself-he considered il wrong practice TO
pay for public services out of the contingent fund.
Mr.. BADGER said that he was in favor OF the
original sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars.
He thought the duty performed by the
der of the Senate and for the benefit of the Senate
the contingent fund of the Senate the proper
fund out of which to pay them He denied the
doctrine that the Senate had no right TO pay for du-
ties performed by their order, without the consent
of the House. He could not agree with this doc
trine.
MIR. WHITCOMB advocated the smallest sum,
and
Mr. DODGE, of Iowa, advocated the largest sum.
And the question being taken Mr.. HUNTERS
amendment, II was lost-nne voting in the affirm
alive.
MIR. HALE moved to lay the subject on the table,
and the motion was lost.
The question then required on the motion of the
committee to strike out $50, and insert S4l3 3d.;
and it was adopted
The subject was then postponed till to- morrow
UNITED STATES COIN.
MIR. DICKINSON, pursuant to notice, introduced
ball authorizing the coinage OF cent piece COM
posed Of silver and copper, the coinage Of three
cent piece and to the recoinage Of the small
Spanish and other foreign coins.
Mr.. BORLAND gave notice of bill for the
lief of Micajah Mccoy and Alvin Mcdonald, Of
Arkansas.
THE SPECIAL ORDER
Dir. CLAY moved, and the Senate proceeded to
the consideration of the special order, being the
bill providing for the admission of California az
State into the Union; territorial governments for
Utah and New Mexico, and making proposals to
Texas in consideration Of the settlement Of the
Mr. c. said, that he proposed TO make few
remarks in further explanation, and 10 make some
additional exposition Of the proceedings ofthe COM
mittee which took place at the various consulta
lions the great and absor bng questions submit
ted to them. When the report was presented
few days ago, several members Of the committee
took occasion 20 express their views on several
points upon which they dissented from the report
They might have gone further and said that, on
single point did the report express the opinions
Of the whole committee. He, on point, was
himself in minority. Bot he was not discour-
aged by the opposition and the difficulty in the
committee, and the manifestations made in the
Senate on the day when the report was presented.
He had an abiding hope in the measure, and in its
eventual adoption by the Senate.
Gentlemen who were on the committee, and
others, who may have objections TO various points
in it, can with great propriety-and there was no
thing 10 preclude them from doing-moye such
amendments as will make it conform to their par
tcular views; and II the Senate adopt them, their
opposition be avoidcd but he hoped that no
one, whether such amendments we're adopted or
rejected, 30 irreyocably committed against the
bill not to be able TO give il his support when
final vote was TO be taken upon it. He hoped that
the bill may meet with an affirmative vote on it,
final passage by every gentleman who was on the
committee.
lie was not discouraged by any thing which has
taken place in opposition abe bill, and he would
stand by il till the last moment, and looked for
ward TO its receiving the afrma tive vote OF large
majority OF the Senate.
.
and that in the fate Of the bills reported by the
mittee were involved tho peace and harmony, or
the distraction Of the country.
He INDUCED most confidently in the hope that
this measure will eventually obtain the approval OF
n majority in both branches Of Congress He said
that he rose more particularly 10 explain, more
fully than had been done i'm the report the action
Of the committee upon the subjects reported upon
by them.
The fret point the obligation on the part o
the Government Of the United States, under the
resolutions Of annexation Of Texas, 70 admit new
States, not exceeding four in number 10 be formed
out Of Texas, with the assent Of Texas. On this
point, in the committee, there difference u
opinion; but two Senators, while asserting 10 the
obligation, reserved TO themselves the right Of de
Gliding hereafter, and at the time when the adnis
sion Of such State shall come before Congress, whe
ther, under the circumstances existing at thai
time, they would vote for the admission Of tha
State. All the members Of the committee, however
recognized the same construction TO be placed on
the resolutions Of anne ration Of Texas.
The next question before the committee was IN,
admission Of California, and that was a subject on
which there was the most difficulty. Against tn,
admission Of California there were various obicc
tions urged in the COMMITTEES. The first was, tina