Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-29

When the names OF MI YULEE and Mr.. STURGEON wers
called they made no response.
The sEcRrrAnr having concluded the calling Of the roll
the result announced as follows, I'LL
YEAS-Mesr. Atchison, Borand. Chase Clemens, Foote
NAYs-Messrs Badger, Baldwin, Bell, Bradbury. Bright
Clarke, Cooper Davis OF Mass Dawson, Dodge of Wseon.
sim Dodge. Of lows, Douglas, Downs Ewing Fech, Greene
Pearce, Pratt Rantou Ruk, Sebastian, Seward Shields
Smith, spruanee, Underwood Upham, Wales, and Whit
eomb-S6
So the motion to adjourn sine die was rejected
The consideration OF the river and habor bill then
Mr. DAWSON. would not detsin the body by a course
which well undersood here but for the purpose Of
ding what absolutely necessary TO carry the Govern
ment trust every member of the body will in the
motion that make to lay the table for the present
the river and harbor bill for the purpose Of taking up The APP
preparation bills t55a w
Mr.. EWING. call for the yeas and nays it
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr.. MASON. rise to question Of privilege. ! de-
mand that the Senate shall determine whether Sc
nate is now in session, whether the former Senate has
expired demand, formerly done by my friend from
Mississippi, that shall be into new Congress Of
the United States is competent for the Senate decide
that question: and shah acquesce in their decision.
Mr. DAVIS Of Massachusetts,. have very ready an
swer the gentlemen. This not the body settle
qualifications II is another body made up Of third
new members that is to settle that question.
The PRESIDENT The Chair cannot undertake to admin
lister the oath any Senator coming into Congress-
This Congress must terminate before commences,
and the Senate have refused by terminate this The
Senate Of the United States have various occasions
nued sit after IL o'clock Of the night Of the Sd March, and
several times until the next morning at eight o'clock
and Senators continued to vote upon all questions they
ariseup the time Of adjournment Although the individual
opinion the Chair would be that the session expired IL
o'clock night the practice has been different and it ut
ery impossible for the Chair in any member Of the
Senate in Congress- until this Congress adourns
Mr.. MASON. The Senate can alone decide that aues-
In that has
Mr.. DOUGLAS Will the Senator withdraw the mo-
ton s{t ., .as
ri Mr.. MASON. Certainly.
pa Mr.. DOUGLAS. As the Senator withdraws the notion
wish TO introduce resolution to the question
Resotued That inasmuch the cd session of the Sst
Congress does not expire under the constitution, until IL
Senator elect from the State Of Virginia. not entitled to
take the oath Of office at this time. f4 NJ s.ua 3
J. Mr.. HAMLIN move to amend the resolution by add
ing at the end Of it, "to wit the 9Th Of March,
o'clock A. M will state to the Senate in single word
what this amendment means The journal of to-day will all
bear date the Sd of March Now, let do justice to his
tory Let the resolution show upon its face when Of
ered ny the Senator from Illinois, to wit, at o'clock a.
Of the 18th Of March. Let the journal state that fact
that amendment be incorporated into the resolution, it will
show the true state Of the ash for the reading Of the
resolution, as it will read if amended
The resolution as proposed to be amended read
follows: NJ
Resolved That nasmuch as the second session Of the sls
Congress does expire under the constitution until IL
o'clock the 4h March Instant the Hon. JAS MAsos Sc
the oath OF office at this time, to wit, the 9Th March, at
one O'Clock A. M. a. jIt #5sE ta%
Mr.. DOUGLAS. In order to avoid discussion, / accept
the amendment of the Senator from Maine
Mr. BADGER. IL the object Of this proposition is
certain whether the session Of the Senate has closed
no otherwise be ascertaned than by getting the opinion Of
the Senate upon it. IL that opinion is worth thing,
has already been given because if the session had terminate
ed, the only thing the Senate could do to adjourn
to neth we tn
termne whether this session will terminate at l2 o'clock to-
morrow at what intermediate hours 1t is sufficient that
the Senate has decided that the session did not terminate at
IL o'clock tonight That has been decided end 1t
me gain nothing by this resolution and Therefore
to lay it on the table. VI
Mr.. SEWARD called for the yeas and nays, and they
were ordered, and, being taken resulted follows:
D,s: B.df
Raa,oai. Ru.t, seward Shields: spruanss, Underwood,
:, NAYs.Messrs. Borland, Chase, Clemens, Douglas,
Downs, Fooe, Hamn, Houston, King, Norris, and Sebas
tan--11. 3 sS .t 1na .t.# Et#ts '+#stt#
So the motion was agreed to.
Mr. YULEE. rise TO question Of privilege. think
is desirable this matter should be settled de6nitvey,
may be done BY vote upon very smpe resolutions which
send to the chair 1t be evident the Senate that
many gentlemen, myself among the number have e some
1ecacy to rgat to participate in the proceedings
send up resolution which have prepared, andI think if
vote is taken upon it, it will decide the matter, and de-
tide 1t permanently precedent for future action.
The resolution read as follows: "a
Resotped That in the opinion Of the Senate the present
Congress does not expire by constitutional limitation until
meridian of the 4th March. .s, n4r s4t
Mr. DAVIS of Mississippi This is constitutional
question it is conventional You fix day begin
hour at another The political day, it has been
ixed is conventional and therefore have right call
upon the body to put their construction. upon it,
The PRESIDENT. The Chair considers this is mat
appesinng to the discharge Of the dates Of Senator's
md therefore it is question Of privilege s
The resolution offered by Mr.. YULEE adopted
The PRESIDENTa The proposition now Is to lay the
liver and harbor bill on the table. 'tg..aasaa
The question being taken by yeas aad nays resulted as
olows. S6 E.E1egE E.e ! .ti,Esis il.l3
YEAS-Messvs Bradbury Clemens, Daxs Of Mississippi
Dawson, Downs Gwin Hale, Hamln, Houston, Hunter,
l .tts tt<tI,slgEs Ely It,trgst saafy
NAYs-Messrs Atchsoo, Badger, Baldwin, Bell Borland,
Bright Chase Clarke, Cooper, Davis, of Massachusetts,,
Dickinson, Dsdge Of Iowa. Ewing, Greene Jones' Miner
Pratt Rantoo Sebastian Seward Shisds smith, spruance
Wpham, Wales, Walker and Whitoomb-2S.
So the motion. was not agreed to. If.tNts
Mr.. MASON, when his called, rose and said
The Senate having decided that this Congress does not en-
,ire until Ia o'clock this day, shall vote.
4 Mr. SOULE Ipropose to amead the bill by eadng at
he end Of II the following 4..Ea s@f ElH'sia
find best enacted That the Secretary of the Trea
be required to hare prepared al the Treasury and pub
shed within ninety days after the adjournment each session
Congress- the papers which print the public laws OF the
United States tabular statements containing ths following
osinormatoa the amount Of money appropriated
ing the said of Congress each State Territory
he citizens thereoE to wit. F.'E# E S3E s#..s
First For forteaticns, arsena hospitals naval milf
AIRY. and magazines s}y 5a Ha1 e..s gtTl#ryy
Second clearing out harbors and rivers building light
houses, piers, breakwaers, dyedging machines m
Third The of compensation allowed to mail steam
specifying the ports where they registered and from