The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-06
rHIRTY-FIRsT CONGRESS-.
SECOND SESSION.
IN NATE
March ga, 1851.

AAARSH ~ - AooA'
The Senate yesterday, from eleven in the morn
ing till twelve clock, p. M, we're occupied in a
contest upon the river and harbor bill; and upon
amendments, motions to postpone, and to lay on
the table. .N
A question then was raised that the session ex-
pirsd, Mr.. CAss declaring that he could take no
fhrthAr part in the proceedings of Congress ex-
tended beyond its constitutional limitation. After
debate by Messrs. MASON, HYPERION DAVIS,
BRioHr, EwrNc, JOHN DAVIS, UNDERwooD, and
others, and after several Intellectual motions
to adjourn. the question, on motion OF Mr..
YuLxE, was decided as follows, to wit: that the
term Of the 3lst Congress does not expire till 10
clock, meridian, March 4, 1851
The contest on the river and harbor bill was
then resumed, and prosecuted with increased ami
nation by Messrs. UNpERwoop, FoorE, BELL,
ArcHisoN, and others, and interlarded with mo-
tons TO postpone and lay on the table, was con-
tinued till four o'clock in the morning, when, ct
the earnest request of Mr.. HUNTER, in behalf of
the appropriation bills,
On motion Of Mr.. BELL, the river and harbor
bill was postponed till o'oIock, a. M, and made
the special order for that hour.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
Of the annual appropriations; and by halfpast
eleven, they had considered and finally acted upon
j the following bills, to witt
4 The civil and diplomatic appropriation bill.
The army BILL
The navy BILL
And other bills Of less importance, altogether
an example Of industry, unparalleled in the his
tory of the Senate Of the United States, especially
when we consider that before actual business COM
mencAd, there had been al exhausting session Of
|lnsarly eighteen hours in proftess wrangng up
lon the river and hsrbor bill.
f At eleven o'clock, q. M,
Y On motion Of Mr.. BELL, the Senate took up
|Rhe House resolution, with the amendments of
Ekhe Senate, providing that bounty land warrants
EIshall be assgnable, and il passed M amend :
I'D, after short speeches in opposition, by Mr..
vi ErTEasox DAVIS, and Mr.. WALKzR. AS
n But being too late to be again reached by the
|aaouse, the bill fell through.
On motion of Mr.. FOOTE, quarter past eleven,
}hs Senate took up House resolution for the relief
Hof Messrs. Richie & Co., contractors for the
|t,rinting Of the 31st Congress.
n Mr.. PEARCE, with pile Of documents before
Ehim, intimated that he had some reasons to pre-
''ent to the Senatsagainst this claim.
Mr.. FOOTE appealed for the resolution.
F. Mr. SMITH had some remarks with Mr.. FoorE,
In reference to fActous opposition on the harbor
[.,ill.
n Mr.. FOOTE appealed to the senator from Ma
L yland, to let the resolution be acted upon
h Mr.. PEARCE declined to give way, and
Mr.. FOOTE thersupon abandoned the resolu-
[sion.
n The light house-bill was then taken up and
4 Aftsr which the committee reported that the
Y resident was ready for the adjournment
y On motibn Of Mr.. BERRIEN, a resolution Of
Franks was passed unanimously in behalf Of Mr..
King, President pro tenn. Of the Senate.
81 Mr.. KING replied in brief and affecting adj
ress, and declared the Senate adjourned, sine die.
%xnmediately after, an executive session Of he
snate was organized, and several senator's whose
FERNS begin with this day, were qualified, to wit
. 3essrs. BRioHr, JnvYEasoN DAVIS, CAss, HAM
M, MASON, DoDcE of Wisconsin, and Rusx.
!, fer which committee was ordered to wait upon
/ ne President, to inform him that the Senate were
.ady to receive any messages he might have to
4 communicate. Adjourned till tomorrow.
CALLED SESSION-ExECUTlvE
WEpxxspAr, March S, 1851
On the assembling of the Senate this morning,
fesars. BAvARp, Of Delaware, and BkoApRxAD,
+ Pennsylvania, senator's elect, were qualified.
The CHAIR ordered the galleries to be cleared
n view OF Executive business.
MIR. BADGER offered a resolution providing
kr the purchase Of twelve additional copies to
ach senator Of the Congressional Globe.
The CHAIR raised the question OF order.
This was called session for Executive business.
E A lhuS Aahntn ss.~,,eA vvhirh ranN1teI in over-