The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-13
EXTRA SESSION OF TIE SENATE.

the names of the traitors.
EXTRA SESSION OF TIE SENATE.
An extra session of the Senate, called by the
President, met on the 5th.
The Chairman, having taken his seat, ordered the
galleries to be cleared, and declined entertaining
a resolution which Mr.. Badger desired to submit,
until the doors were closed Mr.. Badger appeal
ed from his decision, and long debate sprung up
on the question whether the Senate ought to sit
in secret session on any other than strictly Exec
utive business. Subsequently, MIR. Badger with
drew his resolution, and the appeal, 80 that the
! journal might be read He then renewed the reso-
luton and the Chair for the purpose of testing the
sense of the Senate, decided that it could be re-
ceived in open session. Mr.. Bright took an APP
peal-the yeas and nays were ordered-and the
decision of the Chair was sustained-4l to g.
the three names in the negative being Bright,
Walker, and Whitcomb.
The result is such as the People must approve
The less secrecy there is in the proceedings Of the
legislative branches Of the Government the bet
ter. There may be circumstances requiring the
consideration Of treaties and nominations to be
conducted in secret session, but we know Of moth
ing else which should be kept from the public
eye Indeed, we ere not sure that there should
be any concealment in relation to proceedings
upon nominations. Where the objections to a
nomination do not involve private character,
bat are merely political, why should not the ac-
| & tha ba hat ;to ,har
might be held to proper accountability
After this matter had been disposed Of various
resolutions were submitted by Senator's and laid
over under the rule The Senate then went into
Executive session.
Thursday was devoted to Executive business.
Friday, it having been decided that the Senate
might do at an extra session. whatever it could do
at any time without conjunction with the House,
several resolutions were taken up and passed.
| A resolution authorizing the purchase Of cor
tain number Of copies Of the Patent Office report
was laid upon the table. Three thousand extra
copies of the report of the Board of Regents of
the Smithsonian Institute were ordered to be
printed The Terms of Mr. Davis of Mississippi
and Mr.. Mason Of Virginia, as members of the
Board of Regents, having expired, the President
of the Senate, under authority given to him by
that body, reappointed them.
Saturday. Mr.. Yulee sent in communication
ntimating his intention to contest the seat to
which Mr.. Mallory WAS announced to be elected
by the Legislature of Florida.
On motion of Mr.. Hale resolution was adopt
cd calling upon the Secretary Of the Treasury
for information in regard TO the trade and CON-
merce of the British North American Colonies
A resolution submitted by Mr. Badger that each
member of the Senate be supplied with twelve
additional copies of the Congressional Globe was
yeas &c, nays a. A resolution offered by MIR.
Clay, for extra compensation to the employees of
the Senate out of its contingent fund, was adopt
ed-yeas 30, nays II. On motion of Mr. Foote,
the President was called upon to communicate
to the Senate copies Of any correspondence be-
tween the Secretary Of State and the American
Minister at Constantinople, in relation to Kos
suth.
Several appointments have been confirmed, and
the following treaties ratified Treaty with
Switzerland Tehuantepec Treaty with Mexico,
and Treaty with Nicaragua.
Appointments confirmed:
John s. Pendleton of Virginia, to be Charge
dAffaires Of the United States to the Argentine
Republic.
Ogden Hoffman, junior, Of San Francisco, to be
| Judge Of the District Court Of the United States
for the northern district Of California
Horace Mower of Michigan, to be an Associate
Justice Of the Supreme Court of the Territory Of
| New Mexico.
John g. Watts Of Indiana, to be an Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court Of the Territory of
| New Mexico.
Louis I.indner, to be Consul Of the United
States at Sonneberg, in the Duchy Of SAKE Mel
ninser Hildburghhausen, in Germany.
III. Jones Brooke Of Pennsy lvania, to be Consul
| Of the United States at Ballast, in Ireland.
Henry A. Homes of MASSACHUSETTS, to be As.
sistsnt Drsgoman and Secretary 10 the Legation
Of the United States in Turkey.
The National Ldelligneer says 1t has reason to
believe that the prevalent rumOr of the removal
of Mr. Ewbank, Commissioner Of Patents, is
groundless. II may be so but we presume the
axe is suspended over his head
Monday, Mr. Cass rose to personal explana-
ton lie read the editorial article of the Repub-
lc, Of this morning, in which was letter written
by Geperal c. to MIR. Kellogg, upon the subject
of the Improvement of certain harbors In Michi-
gan, and some editorial comments upon the course
Of General Cass with regard to the River and
IIarbor bill lie denied that that letter to MIR
X Kellogg was pledge to vote for the River and
iiarbor bill and II it was, IL Is not pledge to
vote for the bill that came before the Senate
That bill was one which contained items for
which be could not vote He believed that ma
tional bill could have been passed.
lie denied most positively the statement that
at Cleveland he had sheltered himself behind the
noise and confusion He defended his scru-
pies upon legislating in time Of peace ON Sunday
and also his opinion that the Congress terminated
at IL o'clock at night on the Sd Of March Ia
conclusion he declared that the editor Of The Re.
pnblc, by his article, had shown himself deficient
In either the moral or mental qualifications Of an
editor
Mr. Rhett followed, in reply to a letter pub
lished 10 yesterdays Union, and written by MIR
Houston and in which the State laws and Con-
stitution Of South Carolina were freely comment
ed upon Mr.. r. selected six statements made
by General Houston in his letter, and pronounced
them false.
Mr. Houston briefly replied, contending that II
any error occurred, 1t was wholly nnintsntional.
Mr.. Butler continued the matter, pointing out
that on former occasion he had shown TO Gene
raj IT, the error In similar statement.
MIR. Houston briefly replied
Mr. Hale also wish 10 say q few words OF
personal explanation, a. this seems TO be the
! morning for II. ] have not the precise papers