The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-13
SKETCH OF A DEBATE IN THE SENATE

On Mr. Chas's Motion 10 Amsad the Girl and Di-
plomatic Bill By inserting certain Provisions for
the improvement Of Rirers and Harbors.
MIR. Chase | wish to call the attention of the
Senate to very important amendment which !
am about to submit think it quite Obvious
Mr.. Rusk. claim the floor. was on 10, and
addressed the Chair before the Senator from
Ohio.
The President The Chair did not hear the
Senator from Texas
Mr.. Chase, tcontinuingl IL must be quite OBJ
vious to every one that the River and fIarbor
Bill, which has been laid on the table and made
the order for eight o'clock, cannot pass this body
therefore submit motion to amend this bill
now under discussion, and will explain briefly the
proposed amendment.
1t is the bill originally reported in the House
of Representatives the Committee ON Com
merce, providing for the improvement Of Rivers
and Hsrbors, modified by striking out every item
not estimated for and sanctioned by the proper
department. Assisted by my friend, the chair
man of the Committee on Commerce (Mr. Ham.
lin,) have gone over the whole, item by item,
retaining every appropriation for which an esti-
mate has been made, and striking out all for
which estimates have not been made
Mr. Hunter. Is that motion in order. We
have just voted to lay that bill down, and hope
it will not be pressed upon US ! fear we shall
lose the Appropriation bill.
Mr. Chase. | think the Appropriation bills are
in no danger. We have till twelve o'clock to con-
slider them. The subject of the improvement Of
Rivers and fIarbors is as important as any which
can come before Congress. Ii is not at all unusual
to make appropriations of this sort in bills of this
character. | submit the amendment to come in
after the clauses making appropriations for light
houses
The President The Senator from Ohio pro-
poses to amend the bill by inserting several sec
tions consisting of nine pages.
Mr. Gwin. Is that motion in order
The question was taken, and the decision an
nounced against the adoption of the amendment.
Mr.. Chase. The amendment has not been read
Mr. Walker was on the floor before the de-
cision was announced and called for the yeas
and nays.
Mr. Rusk The decision was announced before
the yeas and nays were called.
MIR Hunter. | call order The decision has
been announced.
The President The yeas and nays were not
called for until after the Chair had announced
the decision.
Mr. Walker. | called for the yeas and nays be.
fore the Chair put the motion.
The President The Chair did not hear the
Senator. Did the Senator from Wisconsin call
for the yeas and nays before the question was
put.
Mr.. Walker. Yes, sir; was on the floor, and
made the call.
The President. II the Senator says he was
on the floor, and asked for the yeas and nays the
Chair is bound to put the question again.
Mr. Bright. hope we will proceed to consider
the amendments TO the Civil and Diplomatic bill,
that they may be engrossed.
Mr. Chase. must say word. As soon as
had submitted my amendment, the Senator from
North Carolina called my attention TO particu-
lar item In the bill and while my attention was
momentarily thus directed, the Senator from
Wisconsin called for the yeas and nays, and be-
fore had time to turn round, the question was
propounded and the result announced, without
even reading the amendment.
The President. The Senator from Ohio did not
ask to have the amendment read. The Chair
stated there were various sections In the amend
ment, consisting Of nine pages. The Chair did
not hear the Senator from Wisconsin call for the
yeas and nays
Mr.. Chase l hope the Chair will allow us TO
have the vote. | had addressed the Chair, and
my having my attention turned for the moment
by the Senator from North Carolina, WAS the
cause Of my not asking to have the amendment
read before the vote was taken.
The President The Chair has no disposition
to prevent the question from being taken by yeas
and nays; and ms the Senator from Wisconsin
says he had asked for them before the question
was put, the Chair will feel bound to call for
them
Mr., Rusk. ] hope the decision Of the Chair
will stand as II was announced. II we squabble
over this question, we shall never pass the bill
on earth.
The President The Chair has decided
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr. Atehison. IL 10 true that the Senator from
OHIO was not party TO the understanding
"iil not say the contract-by which the River
and Iiarbor bill was laid aside temporarily but
Il seems TO me that he is violating the spirit of
that understanding. This River and Hsrbor bin
Was to be laid aside till eight o'clock.
Mr.. Chase. This 10 not the same bin nj all
Mr.. Atchison Ii amounts TO the same thing
hope the Sscstoss from Kentucky and Tennes.
see, who are parties to that understanding, will
vote against this amendment
Mr. Foote. Mr.. Prsideat--
Several Senators Let us have the vote.
Mr.. Foots. shall be heard. have been call