The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-12

FRIDAY, July 8.
Mr.. ATCHISON, at the request of Mr.. KING,
and with the unanimous consent Of the Senate
again took the chair and called the Senate to
order.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
Mr.. BORLAND asked the indulgence of the
Senate TO make personal explanation, and pro-
ceeded to rectify certain errors which had been
pointed out to him, occurring in one of his late
speeches upon the deficiency bill.
PosTroNEMENT OF PRIVATE BILLS AND PROTECTION
or LIVES UPON STEAMBOATS,.
Mr.. DAVIS moved that the order setting apart
this day for the consideration Of private bills be
postponed for the purpose of taking up the bill to
provide for the better security OF the lives of pas
sengers on board of vessels propelled in whole or
in part by steam. The bill was now printed with
the amendments made to it in Committee OF the
Whole, and he thought it very important that it
should be promptly acted upon.
Mr.. PRATT expressed the hope that the
Senate would not postpone the consideration of
private bills. He was opposed to any hasty leg
islation upon TIE bill TO which the Senator from
Massachusetts referred. AS the subject was inn
portant, it was the more desirable that they should
act with elaboration. Practical men throughout
the country were interested in the measure, and
he should be glad TO give them an opportunity to
examine the provisions which the Senator from
Massachusetts had proposed, and give the Senate
the benefit of their views upon them before they
acted.
Mr. BRIGHT considered the bill to be OF
vastly greater importance than any private bills,
and he hoped the Senator from Marya land would
withdraw his opposition.
Mr.. PRATT said he should be willing to with
draw his opposition if he would hear a sensible
reason for dong so.
Mr.. HAMLIN said he did not know whether
he cou d give any reasons which the Senator from
Maryland would consider " sensible but he
would state several reasons, which were sufficient
ly sensible " to govern his own vote. The first
reason was, that during the past week they had
devoted as much time to private bills by taking
them up out of their regular order as they would
have done if they had spent whole day upon
three Another reason WAS, this bill was a very
particular bill-a very important one.
MIR. PRATT did not consider the reason I" sen
sible," however, and refused to withdraw his OBJ
jections.
Mr.. BROADHEAD inquired whether this was
the day for the consideration of private bills with
out debate.
Several Senators, " No."
take up the bill named by the Senator from Mas
sachusetts
Mr.. RUSK said there had not been, and would
not be a more important bill before the Senate
during this session. The sacrifice of human life
on steam vessels for few years past had been
fearful, and demanded their most serious atten-
ton. The bill had now been perfected by the
distinguished Senator from Massachusetts, aided
as he understood, by experienced, scientific, and
practical men, and he hoped it would be taken up
and acted upon at once.
Mr.. ADAMS thought it would be better to go
on with private bills day, and then meet to-
morrow and consider this bill.
MIR. MALLORY was opposed to taking up the
bill. because he thought the object could be better
attained by provisions different from those pro-
posed by the Senator from Massachusetts.
After some further debate
The motion to postpone was agreed to, and the
bill was taken up.
The Senate proceeded to vote upon the amend
ments which were made in Committee of the
Whole, seriatim, and went nearly through with
them. agreeing to the greater part of them, but
modifying several and inserting number of new
provisions.
AT four o'clock finding themselves without a
quorum, the Senate adjourned until Monday.