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

ready
Ordered, That the daily hour of meeting shall be
II O'Clock.
And then, ON motion, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
lPRocExDiSos coNrIsUATioN.]
Mr.. MORSE, at haif-past one O'Clock in the
morning. said that the Senate. by majority of
ten, had just refused to lay the River and Harbor
bill on the table. largo majority would not act.
He therefore moved that the House adjourn.
The question was decided in the negative-there
were but fifteen votes in the affirmative.
Mr.. GENTRY desired to make motion; and
before he proceeded TO do SO he wished to preface
IT by few remarks, BY the general consent Of the
House. He hoped that he would be INDUCED, as he
had not trespasscd on the House during this whole
session. The character Of the House, he thought,
was very high, and was intimately connected with
the interests Of the country. The Government
commenced under the first President at twelve
O'Clock. on the fourth Of March, and there has been
present time; and there never can be an interreg.
mum except in revolutionary times. Mr.. HoLMEs.
"Theres an intcrregnum now."l
II there IL an interregnum, we in the midst of
revelation. but we have q right to stay here and
legislate until twelve O'Clock. Circumstances
threaten that the appropriation bills will fail and
it concerns the character of the House that it should
prevent the responsibility from resting on il. II is
the duty of the House to stay here till twelve O'Clock
to- morrow. l"Agrced;" "agreed."] II the bills
fail let not say we were the cause of it. There.
fore, he moved that there be call of the House,
and insisted that the sergeant arms should
rest and bring in the nbsentees.
MIR. BAYLY. i do not know how this debate
rose. lCriea Of Order" "order."]
Mr.. GENTRY. Is the Committee Of Ways and
Means awake?
Mr.. BAYLY No; ! was asleep. Laughter,
| and cries of "Hesr him ego on."l
The SPEAKER (pro tem.) The gentleman from
Tennessee has moved that there be call Of the
House.
MIR. BAYLY. desire to say word [Cries of
"Order," "order."l
The roll was called. when the doors were closed
| to hear excuses for absentecs.
Mr. DUER desired to say few words. ["Oh,
no." "go on."J
Mr.. HOLMES rose to question of order His
point of order that, the gentleman rose to
say few words, for heavens sake let us hear.
(Lnughter.1
MIR. DUER wished to cay simply this: While he
concurred with the gentleman from Tennessee to
remain here until twelve O'Clock, he did not think
good consequences would follow this action. There
was nothing for the House to do now. ['Order,"
"order.''l There would be nothing to do for three
or four hours
1t was scarcely worth while to disturb those who
have retired to rest; it might produce much ill.
[Cries Of "Order!'' "objection!"l The objection
comes too late. have said all intended to say,
and now move that all further proceedings in the
call be dispensed with
Excuses were then received for absentees.
Mr. WENTWORTH moved to excuse Mr.. Al
LEN.
Mr.. GENTRY. Is he indisposed?
Mr.. WENTWORTH. take him on grace.
Mr.. BAKER's name was called.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Arkansas, asked where he
Mr.. RICHARDSON He i. not in the United
States. W
The CLERK called the name of JOHN BELL.
Mr.. WILLIAMS. JOHN BELL is now making
speech in the Senate. ] hope he will be excused
Laughter: eyes, but it's another JOHN BELL"
Aa! hal
ther vaa 1n,,d thun I'M NJ IN If ha
doors.
Mr.. HOLMES rose to a question of order. There
were gentlemen, he said, knocking at the DOORS
and it was not right they should be kept out; and
there were gentlemen in the galleries.
The humping at the door was renewed louder
than before.
| Mr.. FITCH Rochester knockings Laughter. ]
| MIR. JOHNSON, Of Arkansas, moved that his
friend, Mr.. CAnELL, of Florida, be excused. In the
| language Of scripture, he had married a wife,"
and could not come. Laughter
Mr. PHELPS. We exempt man from military
| service for one year after marriage.
II was moved that several gentlemen be excused,
they having conscientious scruples about their now
being members of Congress-; and others on account
Mr.. WENTWORTH moved that the sergeant
| alarms be sent after the absentees.
All further proceedings in the call, however,
| were dispensed with--ayes 50, noes SO.
The doors then reopened.
Mr.. HALL moved, at q quarter past three O'Clock,
that the House take recess for five hours.
The question was decided in the negative-yeas
| 45, nays 81.
Mr.. McLANAHAN moved that the House take
recess until tomorrow, at eight O'Clock; but the
motion did not prevail.
| Various other Intellectual motions were made to
| take up certain bills.
Mr.. seldom offered resolution, directing the
Clerk to inform the Senate that the House is
ready to adjourn sine die.
Mr.. JONES understood that the Senate had pro-
cccded to the consideration Of the Civil and Diplo
| matte Appropriation bill.
| The resolution Of Mr.. SEppoN was not received.
MOUNT VERNON
Mr. DUNCAN asked, but did not obtain, leave
to offer resolution, directing the Secretary of War
to inquire and report whether the estate of Mount
| Vernon can be purchased, and at what price, and
whether it is suitable site for a military asylum
TONNAGE DUTIES
| On motion of Mr.. DUER, the House took up the
| bill authorxing the State of New York to pass a
| law that tonnage duties, not to exceed five cents
per ton may be imposed in the port Of Oswcgo for
three years, to preserve the pier and improve the
| harbor
| The yeas and nays were repeatedly called, a
quorum not having voted on seconding the demand
TOR the previous question. Nothing Of importance
| was done.
Subsequently, there having been call of the
House, absentecs were brought before the Speaker
by the sergeant at arms, and the proceedings
OF an amusing character. Several members were
released by the payment Of fines, and others eY
| cused.
| Mr. seldom, at about seven O'Clock, raised the
question, that tho House no longer hsd exist
| epce.
The SPEAKER said that the House could trans.
| act business until twelve o'clock.
The Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation bill
and the Army Appropriation bill were returned
| from the Senate with amendments, in which the
| House did not concur.