The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-05

/ MIR. MASON declined voting; he did not conside.
he had any right to vote; his term had expired.
The vote on Mr. HAAS motion announced
yeas 8, nays Sc.
Mr.. DAWSON then resumed his remaks, and
concluded them by moving the bill be laid on the
table.
MIR. MASON said that il was indispensably ne
cessary that the Senate should decide this question:
as to who were and who were not Senators. Re-
garding the session terminated. he could not
vote until he sworn in again.
MIR. DAWSON replied, contendng that there
was no question Of privilege; 1t was a mere matter
OF conscience on the part OF some members
| MIR. DOUGLAS offered resolution declaring
that inasmuch this session Of the Senate does not
expire until the 4th of March at noon, therefore
| the Hon. JAMES nj. MASON cannot be sworn in at
| this time.
| This resolution was debated, and then the reso
| luton was laid on the table-yeas ~, nays IL.
| Mr. YULEE offered resolution declaring that
the session did not terminate until twelve O'Clock,
M, on the 4th Of March. And it was adopted with
out count
The question then required on the motion to lay
the River and Harbor bill on the table, and 1t was
lost--yeas IL, nays %.
| Mr.'SOULE offered series Of amendments to
the bill; upon which Messrs. BELL and FOOTE
continued the debate until after three o'clock,
when
Mr.. HUNTER moved the bill be laid aside to
| take up the appropriation bills.
| Mr.. UNDERWOOD objected The debate was
then continued till four O'clock. when Mr.. BELL
moved the bill be postponed till eight O'clock which
was agreed to-yeas29, nays 10.
THE CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC BILL
| On motion, the Senate then resumed the consd-
Grafton Of the Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation
bill.
Numerous amendments were proposed, debated,
and voted upon.
An appropriation of $4,000, TO defray the ex-
penses Of the Board to ascertain and settle private
land claims in California, was adopted; and one
aPPropriating $4,000 for marine hospital in San
Francisco rejected
Mr.. CHASE moved to amend tho bill by adding
thereto the River and Harbor BILL originally in
| troduced in the House.
Mr.. FoOTE moved an amendment, appropriat-
ing for four additional clerks in the State Depart
ment; which, after debate, was rejected.
At O'Clock the bill was reported to tho Senate;
one or two exceptions, were concurred in, and we're
ordered to be engrossed.
THE ARMY BILL.
Mr.. HUNTER reported back the Army bill, with
several amendments; which were adopted.
MIR. DAVIS, Of Mississippi, moved an amend :
ment, making an appropriation for the purchase
and importation of Arabian drolnedaries, for army
transportation purposes; and, after long debate,
the amendment was rejectcd-ycas 10, nays "a.
THE CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION BILL
was then read third time and passed.
| THE ARMY BILL
was then resumed; and, after further amendments
| and debate, II was passed.
THE NAVAL BILL
was then taken up, and referred to the Finance
Committee.
/ message was received from the House stating
that the Senate amendments to the Civil and Dipl0-
4 matte bill had been disagreed to- and on motion by
| MIR. HUNTER the Senate insisted on its amend
ed; like messagc was received from the House with
regard to tho Army bill, and like pursued.
| ASSIGNMENT OF LAND WARRANTS.
Mr.. BELL moved the Senate take up the joint
| resolution making land warrants assignable
| Lost-yeas IL, nays l9.
MIR. PEARCE, from the Committee on Finance,
| reported back
| THE NAVY BILL
| with number of amendments.
A debate ensued on an amendment in relation to
an alleged contract entered into by the Secretary
of the Navy with certain parties for the consruc-
ton of dry dock in California; and the result was
that the provision made by the House was retained,
with slight modification.
| Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi, made report from
the committee on conference upon the amendments
| to the Army bill, which was concurred in.
The debate on the amendments proposed to the
Naval Appropriation bill was resumed The appro-
priation for a naval depot in Now Orleans was
struck out
The appropriation for a dock, and other naval
| works at New York, was increased $4,000.
MIR. PEARCE moved an amendment, increasing
| the compensation allowed TO the Collins line OF
| steamers from Liverpool to New York.
| This amendment was ruled to be out of order.
| The report of the committee on conference upon
the Civil and Diplomatic bill was concurred in
Several amendments to the Naval bill were de-
batcd and rejected.
The bill was then reported to the Senate, and the
amendments concurredin
Mr.. PEARCE renewed his amendment for an in
crease Of compensation to the Collins line Of mail
steamers and, after debate, tho Senate decided the
amendment to be out of order. The bill was then
passed.
i ASSIGNMENT OF LAND WARRANTS.
MIR. BELL moved to postpone all other business
and take up the joint resolution making military
bounty land warrants assignabe.
Mr.. RUSK urged action on the Post Route BILL
Mr.. WALKER insisted on taking up the River
and Harbor bill.
By general consent the Post Route bill was taken
The question was then taken on Mr.. Bills mo-
ton, and it was agreed to.
The bill was read a third time, and on the CUES
ton Of its passage, Messrs. WALKER, and DAVIS
: ISON and BUTLER supportedit.
! MIR. HUNTER asked the unanimous consent OF
the Senate to suspend the 10Th and 18th joint rules
to enable the Civil and Diplomatic, and the Army
and Navy bills, to be sent to the President.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD moved to amend this mo-
ton by inserting in it the joint resolution under
Mr.. WALKER said be would object if this reso.
ton wero included in the motion.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD then withdrew his amend
ment. and Mr.. HUNTEn's motion was agreed to.
Mr.. HAMLIN, at half past eleven O'Clock, moved
to lay the joint resolution on the table. Lost
/ And it was then passcd-yeas 81. nays 10.
RELIEF THOMAS RITcHIE.
MIR. FOOTE moved to suspend the prior orders
and take up the joint resolution for the relief Of
Thomas Richie.
MIR. CLAY seconded the motion.
MIR. HAMLIN urged action on the Lighthouse
| bill; this resolution could not pass.
Mr.. FOOTE called the Senator to order. Such
language was not proper.
| Mr.. HAMLIN contended that 1t was proper.
Mr. PEARCE gave notice that he had before him
the materials Of speech, much longer than he
could deliver in the few remaining minutes of the
session.
Mr.. SEWARD called for the yeas and nays;
which were ordered.
And the joint resolution, by yeas IS, nays %,
was taken up.
Mr.. HALE called for tho reading OF the rcsolu-
ton, and it was read at length. o
But twenty minutes now remained of the
sion.
Mr.. FOOTE briefly explained the resolution.
Mr.. PEARCE commenced an investigation Of
the whole subject; when he was interrupted by
MIR. FOOTE, who said that as it was evident tho