The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-11
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
TUESDAY, September 10, 1856

MIR. BOhEE, OF New York, asked consent 10
move instructions to the Committee on Post-Ofi-
ces and Post-R Roads, to inquire into the expe-
diency of so amending the contract for carrying
the mails between this country and Great Britain,
as to require each steamer employed in the ser
vice to stop at the port Of Galway, in ireland,
going to and returning from Liverpool. Objection
was made.
Mr.. BROWN, of Mississippi, called for the
regular order Of business.
The SPEAKER stated that the first business in
order was the consideration Of the bill reported
from the Committee Of the Whole on yesterday,
to supply deficiencies in the pay and mileage Of
members and delegates of Congress for the pre-
sent session. He said that the vote was errone-
ously declared yesterday by mistake made at
the Clerks desk. Consequently the proceedings
on this bill from that time fell. lie now announ-
ced the passage Of the bill by-ayes 10, nays 7G
A motion was made TO reconsider the vote and
to lay it on the table, but it was subsequently
Withdrawn.
Mr.. COBB, of Alabama asked that Senate bill
granting the right of way to the Memphis and
Charleston railroad, through the public lands et
Alabama and Mississippi, might be taken from
the table and referred to the Committee on Public
Lads.
Consent being given. the bill was taken up,
read twice by its title and referred.
The appropriation bill for the West Point
Academy, reported yesterday from the Commit
tee Of the Whole, was next taken up:
Mr.. BAYLY, of Va, moved the previous
question, and it was ordered.
The question was on concurring in the Sena,e's
Notwithstanding the salaries Of all the pro-
fessors, except those of drawing and French, to
50 ,0OO Agreed to, and the bill passed
Mr.. BAYLY, by consent, reported bill from
the Committee Of Ways and Means, appropriating
three millions Of the indemnity to be paid to
Mexico, in furtherance of the provisions of the
18th article of the treaty with that country, which
was referred to the Committee OF the Whole.
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Pennsylvania, moved
tina, the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged
from the further consideration of the petition OF
members Of the Pittsburg bar, to Investigate the
official conduct Of Hon. Thomas Irwin, Judge
of the United States District Court, for the Wes-
tern district OF Pennsylvania. Agreed to-
THE EWING INVESTIGATION.
The SPEAKER having stated that the next
business in order was the report from the select
committee in reference to the late Secretary of the
Interior,
Mr.. VINTON, Of Ohio, resumed his speech in
defence of the late Secretary of the Interior, and
in opposition to the report Of the committee. He
denied that it was legitimate business for this
House to be engaged in the investigation of the
official acts Of the Executive officers, and asserted
his belief that the accounts and claims COM
planned OF had been properly allowed.
Mr.. BROWN, of Mississippi, followed IN de-
fence of the course Of the committee, censurlng
the acts Of Secretary Ewing, and charging Mr.
VINroN with having divulged the proc edlngs Of
the select committee, to u few members interested
in sustaining the acts Of the Secretary, before
the report of the committee had been made TO the
House.
Before concluding his remarks the morning
hour expired, and the House procect!edto the Iu-
siness on the Speakers table.
Senate bill providing for the payment of invalid
pensions in certain cases, was read twice and re-
ierred to the appropriate committee.
Senate bill granting to the State Of Alabama,
through the public lands, for the Chattanooga
and Nashville railroad, taken up and read
twice, when
Mr.. EWING, Of Tennessee, made few ex
plani,ory remarks, and asked that the bill be put
on it's passage.
upon the question Of referring II TO the Committee
on the Public Lands being put.
Considerable debate here sprung up.
MIR. VENABLE, of North Carolina, opposing
the principle of such appropriations of the public
lands, and Messrs. BowLN, of Missouri, HUI
BARD, of Alabama, and BIssELL, of Illinois, speak
ing in favor Of it,.
Mr. BlSSELL demanded the previous question.
1t was ordered.
Mr. JONES, Of Tennessee, moved to lay the
bill on the table. Lost,-ayes "a, nays 80.
The question then recurring on Mr.. VINToN's
motion TO refer the bill to the Committee on Pub
lie Lands, it was decided in the affirmative-ayes
sc, nays 70.
Senate bill for the relief Of Lewis Warrington, and
Others was taken up, read twice and referred to
the Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. GOTT, of New York, from the select
committee appointed to investigate charge I'M
plicating member of the House, (Mr. JOSHUA
r. GIDDINGs,) in abstracting from the Post Office
Department certain papers in reference to APP
nP pnstyn cfar af nhprli
ported that there was no proof before the commit
lee that Mr. GlppINGs distracted the papers, or
that he was in any way concerned In the means
by which that abstraction was accomplished, they
therefore requested that the committee be dis
charged from further proceedings in the case.
Agreed to.
Mr.. BOYD, Of Kentucky, presented The Gre
dentials Of -- GILBERT and - WRIGHT,
as members Of Congress from the new State Of
California. The credentials, &c, were read.
Ii appeared that the convention which assem-
bled in California to adopt a constitution for
State Government, also adopted provisions for the
election OF members Of Congress by the people
on the same day on which they voted to ratify and
accept the constitution, aud the election of these
persons was made pursuant thereto.
Mr. VENABLE, Of North Carolina, raised
the question Of constitutional right the part OF
Messrs. GILBERT and WRIGHT to seats here,
they not having been elected pursuant to the pro-
VlSOnS OF the 4LO SectlOn Oh TIE VI INC
Constitution, which he quoted, as follows
1.-The time, places, and manner Of holding cleo
tons for senators and representatives, shall he
prescribed in each State by the Legislature there
of, &c.
lie went on to argue that as there was no State.
no Government, no Legislature and no law, there
was not, nor could there have been, any time.
place or manner prescribed for holding the cleo
ton as the Constitution requires.
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Pa, made it n point Of
order, that the SPEAKER was the Judge of the
dentias presented, so far as to swear in these
claimants to seats in the House.
The SPEAKER, after reading from the Consti-
tuition the section which prescribed that each
House would be the judge ofthe election and quail
ifcaton Of its own members, overrued the point
of order.
Mr.. THOMPSON appealed from the decision
Of the Chair.
Mr., MORSE, Of La, expressed his surprise
that q gentleman who was honored with the
of the Judiciary Committee Of
the House, should have uttered the opinion he
had. 1t seemed to him part and parcel of the
to vote California into the Union in
defiance Of all law, rule precedent. He utterly
repudated the idea that we could not 60 behind