The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-04

umes TO supply the deficiency.
Approved, February q, 1851.
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
MosDAy, MARCH 8, 1851.
SENATE.
Mr.. BRIGHT moved, and the reading Of the
journal was dispensed with
suspEssIoN OF THE RULES.
Mr.. BRIGHT moved to take up the resolution
offered on Saturday night by MIR. MANGUM, sus-
pending the twenty sixth rule, which forbids that
any bill shall be read more than once on any enc
day.
Mr. SMITH raised point of order--the resolution
was not offered, but simply laid on the table
The CHAIR decided that the resolution was one
suspending the rules, and it was laid ON the table
required.
Mr. CLAY said he was in favor OF the object to
be accomplished by the resolution, but there was
necessity for action on it now; he moved to lay
Mr.. BRIGHT's motion on the table.
On this motion the yeas and Maya were ordered,
and it decided in the affirmative-yeas IS.
nays l9--as follows:
YEAS.-Messrs. Badger, Baldwin, Bell, Borland,
Of Wisconsin, Ewing. Feeh. Greene, Hale, namlin,
Jones, Miller, Pearce, Pratt Rantoul, Seward,
Shields, Smith, SPruance, Turney. Underwood,
UpLam, Wales, and Walkers ~
NAYS.-Messrs Berrien, Bradbury, Bright,
Butler, Dawson, Dickinson, Dodge Of Iowa, Downs,
Foote, Gwin, Hunter. King, Mason, Morton, Nor
rs, Rhett, Rusk, Sebastian, and Soule-l9.
THE RIVER AND HAnBoR BILL.
MIR. CLAY moved that the Senate take up the
River and Harbor bill. He said that it must be
obvious to all that there decided majority Of
the Senate in favor of the bill; and he appealed to
the sense and dignity of the minority to say whe-
Their they would defeat the bill by resort to the
measures which were in their power. He thought
such course as contrary to the spirit and genius
of our Constitution He thought that the minority
should No IN suc nlea defeat the
clearly expressed will of the majority. II, how
ever, such was their intention, and they would de-
clare it, he would move to lay the bill ON the
table.
Mr. HUNTER hoped the motion would not pre-
vail 1t was well known that this bill could not be
passed without full and protracted debate. The
appropriation bills still were to be acted upon, and
should be taken up and disposed Of There was
not such great improprety in the opponents of this
bill resisting its passage as was supposed by the
Senator from Kentucky. The bill was forced up
them, and they called upon to vote for it
without time for consideration, and without the
privilege of amendment. II had been forced upon
them even at the great hazard Of defeating the ap
preparation bills The Finance Committee had done
its duty; every thing that possible to expedite
the public measures they had done; and, if these
measures were defeated, and an extra session was
required, the responsibility would be the friends
OF the Administration.
Mr.. tOOTE had repeatedly reminded the SEN
ate OF the great danger of pressing this bill; not
only were the appropriation bills to be acted upon
but there were three important treaties with for
egn governments, which, unless ratified ut this
session, would become nullties. He justified at
length the opponents of the bill in resisting its pas
sage by every means. He was opposed to hasty
legislation; ats tendency was corrupt and corrupt
ing.
MIR. PEARCE urged that action should be had on
this BILL and the appropriation BILLS would be reached
in time TO legislate upon them. II, however, this
bill was not to be disposed Of and the appropriation
bills should be postponed till too late TO consider
them, he would go with the friends of the River
and Harbor bill TO effect its passage.
Messrs RUSK and GWIN continued the debate.
Mr.. TURNEY thought that if the friends Of the
bill intended to ntimidate its enemies, by keeping
IT IN front Of the appropriation bills they would be
Mr.. BRADBURY stated that the friends of the
bill had fully debated it, and, if were taken up,
he would express his views upon it.
The question then put, and the bill was
taken up-ye as 30, nays 25-as follows:
YEAS Mcssrs. Atchson, Badger, Baldwin
Bell, Borland, Bright, Cass, Chase, Clay, Cooper,
Davis Of Massachusetts,, Dickinson, Dodge of
Wisconsin, Dodge of Iowa, Ewing, Fetch, Greene,
Jones, Nangum, Miller, Pratt, Seward, Shields,
Smith, Spruance, Underwood, Upham, Wales,
Walker, and Whitcomb--30.
NAYS.--Messrs. Berrien, Bradbury, Butler,
Clarke, Clemens, Davis Of Mississippi, Dawson,
Downs, Footc, Gwin, Hale, Hamlin, Houston, Hun:
ter, King, Mason, Morton, Norris, Pcarce, Rhett,
Rusk, Souie. Sturgeon, Turney, and Yulec-25.
The question pending the amendment
the appropriation for the Illinois and Tennessee
rivers from $4,000 each TO 100000; and the
amendment was reiectcd-ycns 10, nays IS.
Mr. MORTON moved TO amend the bill by in
serting an appropriation Of $1,000 for the improve
mcnt OF the Pensacola river.
Alter debate, the motion was rcjectcd--ycas 9,
nays 40.
The Post Othcc Appropriation bill was then re-
turned from the House with several amendments.
MIR. HAMLlN moved amendment appropri
ating S5o,ooo for some work in Wisconsin, and
$4,000 for a work in Maine. He supported these
amendments; they were based upon estimates fur
nished by the departments, and recon-
mended.
The question was taken. and the amendments
were rejected-yeas II, nays 40.
MIR. BERRIEN said that il was now evident that
appropriation in the bill, no matter how impro-
per, would be stricken out, nor nothing however
proper, proposed to be inserted would be allowed.
However, justice to his constituents required that
he should submit amendment, appropriating
$4,000 for the Improvement Of the Savannah
river.
After debate, the amendment was rejected
yeas IL, nays AZ
Mr.. HUNTER asked the general consent TO al
low the Poet Once Appropriation bill TO be taken
Dp, u1e senate amendments insisted upon, and a
committee OF conference be had
The Chalk said II required unanimous copscnt
MIR. NORRIS objected
MIR. RUSK submitted an amendment re,pl,,i,,
the expenditure of the appropriations irs Texas'
And, after debate, the amendment was rejected
yeas is, nays "a.
Mr.. BRADBURY moved 10 amend the bill bv
adding thereto provision, that these appropria.
tons shall only be carried into effect when there
snail be sorplus IN the treasury after paying all
other appropriations.
He addressed the Senate at length on the subject
Of the public debt and the Of provision for it's
payment. Also upon the justice Of forcing the bill
upon the minority without any amendment at this
late hour.