Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-09-24
NUMBER AZ.
CoNGREss-lsT SESSION.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER l9.


Ihiflf Il IKsT CONGRESS-IST SESSION.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10.
SENATE
Mr. Pratt moved that his bill respectingthe abduction OF
slaves from this District be taken up.
Mr. Hale moved that the motion be laid the abe-ost
% to IS.
Some discussion took place and the motion 10 take up the
Ill was lost.
The civil and diplomatic bill taken up and the amend.
nenls OF the committee carried.
Mr. Cass moved an item of ten thousand dollars for the
penses OF the Turkish mission
Mr. Underwood opposed it, but il was adopted-35 TO l9
Mr. Davis Of Miss, moved item for copies OF the An
mails Of the "a ad 81 Congress- and for the history the
exploring expedition. Agreed 10.
Some other amendments offered and discussed.
Mr. Davis offered amendment for extending the Capitol
under the direction oi the president of the United States
He moved 10 add hundred hausand dollars. Agreed
Several other amendments agreed 10.
The Senate, without reporting the BILL adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
me House resolved itself committee OF the whole the
state OF the Union, r Disney in the cha and proceeded
10 consider The naval appropriation bills.
MI Stanton, OF Tenn. the chairman of the naval
mttee addressed the House hour with the view show
how and where is possible reirench the naval system
lie was opposed 10 any reduction Of the appropriation
the Observatory (Which S35 00G) for the American Alma
nac (Sl2o5o) Tor the Naval School a Annapolis (2S S200)
which amounted in the aggregate S16 100. But he
was IN favor o reduction OF 81 600 Of the six and
half millions appropriated for pav officers
men, Tor provision supplies repairs and contingencies He
conf ssed himself in favor increasing the appropriation
The Observatory and the Naval Sciooior the good results
Of tstcrn. these institutions would rebound
honor OF me country in time oi peace than any other thing
t!nt could be devised in connection with the navy.
10 elect the proposed reduction of two and half mil
ionS he said he would, al the proper time, oer ameud
mer providing that hereafter the Naval forces of the United
States III commission shall he divided into sguadrons
be- known The squadron 1f the Atlantic and the squadron
o The Pacific THE former Ia have its headquarters in the
waters o the lnc States. the Atlantic and 10 cruise in
the North and South Atlantic In the Mediterranean, and the
Gulf Of MeAcothe latter have its head quarters San
Francisco aud 10 rc in the North and the South Pacific,
in the China Seas and the Indian Ocean,
Provided, that long existing treaties require IT,
force oi eighty guns shall be kept the Coast of Africa
Also further providing that alter The expiration OF the pre-
sent fiscal year, The number oil petty officers seamen ord
May seaici annen and boys employed IL amy one time
in the Navy shull not exceed five thousand lie
say that the present force POO und that the expense for
each man about 81 000 lie ior breaking up per.
manent naval stations abroad where the American vessels
lie idle tor long periods AMI substituting therefor hor; and
frequent cruises thus enable the sailors be tte
lueny al home where they would spend their money,
sead vi spending II III foreign ports.
lie was IN favor oi increasing Tie s'ain navy and thus
make equal IL lie slean mrfcantie mane. Unless, he
SAID Was Gone The navy would IN ease 81 war be unequal
IL contest with the steam mercantile marine of TO-
reign governments when properly armed. lie was in favor
establishing line o mail steamers 10 Africa, and thus
open with thai country, and break up the slave
trade in eect,al manner than II done by the
val syStelG
Nj Green then spoke hour in iuvor OF rcenchment
reform in the navy He was io checking and breaking
up the system ol mail He showed tile expend
the public treasure for such service amounted 10
the oi 81 UUO and that there was
IonGIng go, resulting from the expenditure He argued
that although the government had the right purchase for
lis use from the contractor these seamrrs there
nothing which prevented The Owners OF these steamers from
selling them 10 any toiDn governments al the very timc
too when there might be great necessity for their pur
chase BY the unud States. Nay, the very contractors
might be- English capitalists who would be indisposed in
IHncure do thing 10 the advantage OF the u
States. He vert 10 argue that ht model upon which
these mail construcd-being for fast sailers
was unfit stamers; in other words, that if they
wanted good steamers they could not expect fast sail
p6 adj
close debate the bill Tomorrow al O'clock
Mr. Bayy from the committee conference on the part
of the House upon the dsaereeng votes OF the two Houses
the bill making appropriation to supply deficiency in
the pay and mileage OF members stated that the question OF
controversy is This: The House adopted amendment im
ina the mileage of California members TO 81 000 going and
coming. The Senate amended il that these members
shall paid under the existing law fixing the mileage of
and Representatives aud also providing that their
per diem shall commence from the cay on which the cons-
tuiion of California WIS presented.
Mr. Bayly showed that the provision OF the House had
retrospective action upon the California members alone he
believed that the House was wrong, especially as hey mad
provided the civil ana diplomatic bill provision fixing lr-
especvoy the mileage of all the Senators and Representa-
ycs lie believed that the California members were entitled
Ia draw their pay-somc Si000-undcr the general law re.
guatng mileage lie therefore moved that the House recede
from its amendment.
Mr. Thompson of Mississippi for making fight upon
this am .ndmen with view 10 check what he consd cred
the over-bearng action of the Senate
After some further di,cusson the question was taken on
the motion o Mr. Bayy, anu Tie Hoase iecedea from i's
amendment -
On motion by Mr. Fea'herston the House again resolved
itself into committee OF the wl o ana resumed the conside-
ration of the Naval Appropriation Bill.
Mr. yenable occupied the floor He made speech in
favor of retrenchen in the Navy; and also Of sevcring
any connection by the government with private enterprises
such the maii-st service.
lie was rather in favor "f the government building up, if
necessary its navy, and ol Keeping II under lis own
control He utterly opposed to government regulating
or controlling private enterprise. lie was he said free
trader To the fullest Of The term lie considered 60
venmen, any great evil and he was for having as
little OF it possible Especially he opposed TO an ac
cumua,ion cenazing power which was inevitably by
involving the government with private enterprises
Mr. Phelps who took the floor, argued that the for
eign mail service system Of avoriism and specula
ton as at present administered lie went on 10 show that
the annual appropriation for the foreign mail service by the
contracts made 81, ,329 land that for which the
contractors kces in service eighteen steamers he AL
so muintnined that one OF these lines pad-ano that
they were therefore, expense upon The common treasury
of the nation for the sole benefit ot the contractors
Mr. McMulen obtained the floor. On his motion the CON-
mlttee rose and the House adjourned.