The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-09-26
HOUSE OF REPREsENrAruyEs.

! House insisted on its original provision paying
to the Senators and Representatives from Cali
fornia the same mileage rs is allowed TO the Dele
gate from Oregon and Committee of Confer
ence was ordered.
The bill from the Senate granting alternate
sections to Missouri, for the purpose Of construct
ing railroad from st. Louis to the western lin
| its Of the State, was taken up, and referred to
| the Committee on Public Lands
The Slave Trade bill from the Senate was
taken up and passed. In separate article we
notice the proceedings.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER IS, 1850.
| Mr. Harris of Illinois called up the question Of
the admission Of MIR Babbitt. as a delegate from
Utah Territory. After some debate, il was laid
upon the table.
On motion Of Mr.. Bayly, the rules were sus-
pended, and the House resolved itself into a Com
mittee Of the Whole on the state of the Union
Mr.. McLane in the chair, and proceeded 20 the
consideration Of the bill appropriatng 81, 100000
| for the payment Of the third instament 10 Mex
leo due under the twelfth article of the treaty OF
Guadalupe Hidalgo
Mr.. Disney moved an amendment, that the
money be paid by and under the direction Of the
Secretary Of the Treasury
The amendment of Mr.. Disney was amended
by the adoption of that Of Mr. Joues requiring
the money to be paid under the direction Of the
President Of the United States, and then disa-
greed to.
The Committee rose, when
MIR Carter moved that the bill be laid upon the
table :; but the motion did not prevail
And the bill was then passed-yeas lbs, nays36.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1850.
The House resolved itself into Committee Of
the Whole on the state of the Union Mr. Disney
in the chair and proceeded TO the consideration
Of the bill making appropriations for the expen-
ses Of the navy for the year ending June 30, ls5l
Mr. Stanton of Tennessee said that the entire
SUN to he appropriated by this bill amounts with
in fraction TO nine and half millions of dollars
In time Of profound peace the expenses of the
navy have grown to this enormous figure.
! When our navy was established, the ships en-
pIoyed in it were equal in all respects to the best
vessels engaged in the commerce of the country
Since that period the commerce of the country
| has made immense strides and advancement in all
its instruments and agencies, but the navy has not
kept pace with it.
His object was TO show how and where il was
possible 10 reform the system, and make a reduc-
ton IN the appropriations in this bill without in
terfering in any degree, with the value Of the
service itself ...-...
( There should be no reducsiOh he said in the
appropriation for the National Observatory, and
spoke of the important operations of that estab-
lishment. He would not reduce the appropria-
ton tor the publication of the American Nauti-
cal Almanac, nor for the Naval School at Anna
polls. The whole amount for these objects amount
ed to but little over $4,000.
One item, among the largest in the bll, was
s1,250000, for dry docks, appropriated under n
contract, which cannot be dsregarded; and
therefore, this amount cannot be diminished. The
next is an appropriation Of S7S5,00 and frOc
ton, for navy yards; this cannot be reduced dur
, ing the present year. but can and ought to be
during the ensuing The next is SS74,0O0 for
mail steamers, under a contract which cannot be
disregarded making, together, s2,926,00O, leav-
ing S6,5l0,000 and a fraction, on which he
thought reduction of one-third could be proper
ly and successfully made
AMER the expiration Of the present fiscal year
the number of petty officers, seamen, landsmen,
and boys, he proposed shall not exceed five thou
sand From this, the chief reduction is to flow
II is estimated, by an eminent officer Of the navy
that the cost of the naval establishment is one
thousand dollars per man. Therefore, the reduc-
ton of the personnel from seven thousand Eve
hundred to five, would be saving of two and halt
millions Establish retired list for the worn
out officers, in accordance with a bill which he
had reported reduce the number of midshpmen
} tnow four hundred and sixty four at least one
half that there may not be more than one for every
Congressional district, and at least one-third of
the pay of officers and men can be saved.
Mr. Stanton sent TO the Clerk an amendment,
which he intended TO offer, in rubstaneA. to di-
l vide the navy into two squadrons; one to be as.
signed to the Pacific, the other to the Atlantic
: Twenty or twenty -four efficient vessels kept in
s commission under this arrangement, would dc
more good and perform more service than the
whole Of the six squadrons as Mt present existing
! composed of thirty eight vessels.
1t was the part Of wisdom to slough off the old
efIete parts of the SYSTEM and substitute better
l mode of defence. A single efficient ship moored
within sight Of this Capitol ready to 90 to sea in
a moment, would be of more service than the home
squadron, far il is composed Of sailing ves-
sells lie wished to reduce the number Of sailing
} vessels one-thrd, and substitute steamships He
gave notice, in conclusion, that he intended to
offer as an amendment the bill to establish line
of steamers 30 Africa and the southern parts of
Europe.
The Committee having risen, the House re-
solved to close debate tomorrow at one o'clock.
Mr. Bayly, from the Committee Of Conference,
reported that il and the committee on the part Of
the Senate were unable to come to any agreement;
and he therefore moved that the House recede.
The House, in the Mileage and Deficiency Pay
bill proposed that the California members should
receive the same amount of mileage as the dele
gate from Oregon, (S2 1907 which clause the
Senate amended--that the mileage OF the Cali
fornia members and the delegate from Oregon
shall be computed according to the most usually
Travelled route within the United States and that
the former shall receive per diem from the time
the constitution of California was submitted to
the two Houses Of Congress respectively.
After remarks by Messrs. Thompson, Of Mis-
sissippi and Bayly, the House receded; and In
| effect agreed TO the Senate's amendment.
The consideration Of the Naval Appropriation
bill was resumed in Committee Of the Whole.
Mr.. Ewing of Pennsylvania said he would
give his support to the project Of an African line
of steamers, whatever II may cost. lie was more
alarmed by the competency of the free negroes for
mischief than by slaves, who never have been
dangerous Trace the instructions in the South,
and it would be found that they are attributable
to free blacks. Tennessee has encouraged this
very plan Of conveying free negroes to Liberia
! and il the amendment proposed by his colleague
should prevail that State, Ohio, and others, will
pay the money necessary for the transportation
Of that class Of persons. Virginia appropriates
forty thousand dollars annually; the Southern
States generally will contribute to get rid Of
these dregs Of society. Many gentlemen In the
South wish TO emaDcipate their negroes, IL they |
can be removed out of the United States In con-
clusion, he pointed ont the advantages Of the con-
templated line, and said that he was anxious 10
cvize Africa AS far as he could, while, mt the
same time, our country would receive CORES
pondng benefit
The general debate having terminated, the
Committee began to vote upon amendments, but
soon rose, when the House adjourned.
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER a. 1850.
The Naval Appropriation bill was again con-
sidered in Committee of the Whole on the state
OF the Union.
Mr. Jones moved an amendment providing for
the abolition Of Jogging In the navy. As usual,
the enemies Of reform began to file amendments
with view OF defeating the humane motion of
| ~ p.tt A..