The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-20

adopted, that when the Senate ad iourn it adj
journ until Wednesday that Senators may, to-
morrow morning, attend the funeral of Mrs.
Adams, the relict of ex-President ]. O. Adams
Mr. Underwood introduced bill fixing the
compensation Of members Of Congress at two
thousand dollars per annum, and reducing the
allowance Of mileage.
After the transaction Of other business, the
Senate proceeded TO the consideration of the
Deficiency bill.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
TUESDAY, MAY IL.
The House went into Committee of the
Whole and proceeded with the Homestead
bill
Mr.. Brown, of Mississippi, submitted bill
to perpetuate presumption to actual settlers on
the public lands; which he proposed as a sub
stitute for the original bill
The Chairman ruled this amendment out of
order; but his decision was not sustained by
the Committee.
Mr.. Brown explained the object of his bill
which was to secure the settler to the posses
sion of the lands on which he had settled, when
under the pressure of misfortune: and if at
any time he should be able and disposed to pay
for it. that then he should obtain title.
MIR Harris, of Tennessee, submitted an
amendment similar to that proposed by Mr.
Cobb, graduating the price of the public lands
which the Chairman said no should decide TO
| be out OF order, were it not for the recent de-
cision of the Committee
The amendment was subsequently, negatiyed,
and Mr. Cobb renewed that which he had pre
viously proposed; which he explained very
fully and expressed himself az being deter
mined to support the Ho;aestead bill The
amendment was also negatived
MIR. Johnson, of Arkansas, opposed the bill
introduced by Mr. Brown, as having the effect
of exempting the lands of settlers from taxa
ton, they remaining the property of the United
States while held under the presumption right
The Committee then rose, and the House al.
journed.
WEDNESDAY, MAY IL.
The first business this morning was the con-
sideration of the resolution reported by the
Committee on Printing, recaptulating its
power to remedy delay and to provide for the
execution of the printing, where the contractor
fails to perform it,
Mr.. Fitch, of Indiana took the floor, and
recapltulated the action of the committee, by
which the printing of Congress had been given
by Democratic committee of a Democratic
House to paper belonging to an opposite
party.
He contended that they had not only ex-
ceeded their power, but had abused that which
they possessed, by giving the printing to indi
viduals at higher rate than had been offered
by others, thus destroying the recourse which
the House ought to have upon the contractor
and so far from obcying the instructions of the
House, the committee report their determine
ton to act in cOntravention of its order or Il
resign, which latter alternative ought to BIZ
adopted He concluded by submitting -four
resolutions the first of which recapitulated tn,
powers of the committee, the second stated
that they had exceeded those powers, which thu
third described as improper, and the fourth EN-
braced the only remaining alternative by &C
cepting the resignation of the committee, ant
that another be appointed.
Mr. Polk, of Tennessee, moved that the rule
be suspended, and that the House go into Com
mittee on the special order, but Withdrew ii a
the request of Mr.. Stanton, of Kentucky
Mr.. Stanton replied to the speech of Mr.. Fitch
and stated the willingness OF the committee t,
act in conformity with the instructions of tn,
House. provided that they did not contrayen,
any existing law. He then went on to recapt
ulate the failure of the contractor to comply
with the terms of his contract, and alluded t
his declaration of his inability to do 30 withou
sustaining severe loss and insisted that the
course which had been pursued by the Com
mittee did not exceed its powers, and that tn,
difference between the rate at which it is pro
posed by Donelson g. Armstrong and Towers
estimate was not more than five per cent, anC
concluded by expressing his conviction that til,
instructions of the House could not bind tn,
. joint committee.
E The House went into Committee on the spe
cial order, and again took up the HOMESTEAD
bill
: The sense of the Committee was then take
on Mr. Browns amendment, which was to sui
, sttute the presumption bill for the origins
bill, which was carried-yeas 81, nays Sc.
=, After further unsuccessful efforts to amend
, the Committee rose, and the Chairman reporte
the bill as amended
Mr.. Johnson, of Tennessee, moved to amend
the report by substituting the original bill fol
that reported from the Committee and called
the previous question, which was carried.
The maiu question was about being put,
when Mr. McMullen moved that the House
adjourn; and tellers having been appointed,
the motion was negatived-yeas 81, nays 81.
The yeas and nays were then taken on the
motion to amend, and it was agreed to-yeas
!
motion was carried to reconsider the vote,
and to lay the motion upon the table
Various attempts were here made to defeat
this notion but without success.
The question then being on the substitute as
amended-in other words upon the original
Homestead BILL the yeas and nays were order
ed and the bill was finally carried, after u
sharp struggle-yeas l07 nays 56.
The amendment of A. G. Brown, for per-
petual presumption, as substitute for the
Homestead bill, was finally voted down, and the
Homestead passed by twenty majority.
THURSDAY MAY 49,
| The House met ut eight o'clock, and ad
journed until Monday, to allow the Hall to
| be put in summer trim.
MONDAY, May H.
The House having set apart this week for
the consideration of bills relating to the Terri
tories, large number of reports having refer
ence to them were made from several of the
standing committees, and referred 10 the Com
mittee of the Whole on the state of the Union.
On motion, it was resolved that when the
| House adjourn it adj ourn 10 meet on Wednes-
day, in order that the members may have an
opportunity to attend the funeral Of Mrs
| Adams. widow Of ex. President ]. O. Adams,
which is to take place on Tuesday, at eleven
o'clock.
The House then went into Committee Of the
Whole on the state Of the Union on the Terri
torial bills; but not one word was said in de-
bate about them.
Mr.. Preston King Addressed the Committee
in relation TO the Compromise measures, and
against making them an issue in the Presiden-
tial election
| Mr. Culom defended his course in the last
Wing caucus, having refused 10 bolt.