The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-02-24

MIR. Underwood introduced bill inr the
rel IF of Mrs Kirby, Of Kentucky. He said
her husband was q revolutionary soldier, and
died last December, at over ninety years Of
age. During life he received pension Of
tbIrty-two dollars year be asked now the
consent Of the Senate TO give the old lady six
ty-fve dollars year for the balance OF her
life They were married during the Revolu-
ton, and had thirteen children, one hundred
and thirty-fye grandchildren, over two hun
bred great grandchildren, and twenty-seyen
greatgreat- grandchildren thus far in her
life time she had seen four hundred and fifty
eight descendants.
Mr.. Borland said sixty-fve dollars a year
was not enough, and moved 1T be made one
hundred. The amendment was agreed TO- and
the bill unanimously passed.
MIR. Douglas reported back House bills TO
establish Governments for the Territories Of
Nebraska and Washington.
MIR. Sumner submitted q resolution calling
for a statement of the amount Of hostages col
lected in the United States on the account of
the British Provinces, since the postal treaty.
Agreed to.
The Tehuantepec resolutions were postponed
till Wednesday next.
The Pacific Railroad bill was taken up
Mr. Bell resumed and concluded the remarks
commenced by him in support Of the bill on
the 5th instant
Mr.. Smith followed in defence and urgent
advocacy of the bill.
Mr.. Chase supported Mr.. Brodheads pro-
posed substitute, and then the subject was post
poned.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration
of Executive business. and at a late hour ad.
Journed.
FRIDAY, February Is.
Mr. Davis presented the credentials of his
successor, the Hon. Edward Everett, Senator
elect from Massachusetts for SIX years from the
fourth of March next
On motion of Mr.. Gwin, the Senate post
poned all prior orders, and proceeded to con
slider the bill providing for railroad to tn,
Pacific. The question pending was ON the
amendment of Mr. Brodhead, to strike out al
of the bill, and insert a provision appropriatinl
$3.50, 900 for a survey and exploration to ascer
tain the practcablity of constructing a road o.
this kind
Messrs Dodge, of Iowa, and Geyer, supported
the BILL and Mr.. Cooper opposed it.
| The question was then taken on the subst
tute, and it was rejected-yeas 22, nays 34-a'
| follows:
YEAs-Messrs Adams Bsyard, Bright Brod
| head Butler, Charlton, Chase, Cooper Dawson
De Saussure, Dodge of Wisconsin, Fitzpatrick
Foot, Hunter, Mason, Morton, Norris, Pearce
Petit, Phelps, Toucey Walker-22
NAYs-Messrs Atchison, Badger, Bell, Bor-
land, Bradbury, Brooke, Cass, Clark, Davis,
Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, Downs, Felch, Fish,
Geyer Gwin, Hamlin, Houston, Jones of Iowa,
Jones of Tennessee, Mangum, Miller, Pratt,
| Rusk, Sebastian Seward, Shields, Smith Soule,
! Spruauce, Sumper, Underwood, Wade We'll
| ler-34.
Mr. Mason opposed the bill, in earnest terms,
| as unconstitutional
MIR. Pratt replied at considerable length
Mr.. Mason moved to commit the bill to the
Committee on Roads and Canals, which motion
was lost-yeas Is, nays 50.
Mr. Pratt moved to amend the bill by pro-
yiding that the cost of the road shall not ex-
coed the amount appropriated by this bill, and
that the corporation shall not have banking
powers and privileges. Agreed to.
MIR. Weller moved to strike out the 9th sec
ton of the BILL which Incorporates the contract
ors into company.
Messrs Cass, Weller and Bayard supported
it; Messrs Pratt and Underwood opposed it.
Mr.. Toucey commenced a speech, but be-
|
motions the Senate adjourned.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10.
On motion of Mr.. Pratt the bill granting
the right of way to the Georgetown and Ca
tootin railroad, through the District of Colsm
bia, was taken up and passed.
The Pacific Railroad bill was taken up the
question pending being Mr. Weller's motion t,
strike out the 18th section, by combining the
corporation to the Territories, and denying
them corporate powers within the States
Mr.. Toucey resumed his remarks against tn,
thirteenth section, which, if retained, woul,
prevent him from voting for the bill
Mr.. Underwood followed in support of tn
bill
Messrs Hunter, Butler, Phelps and Petit
opposed the bill
Mr.. Weller's motion was then agreed to-
yeas 80, nays Ia.
'Other amendments we're made, to make thu
bill conform to this alteration.
| Mr. Bayard moved to strike out the appro
priaton Of 500, 900 900 to aid in the construc
ton of the road which was rejected-yeas 16
nays 80.
Mr. Bayard moved to amend the bill by pro.
viding that if the President should think the
arrangement of the matter should be made by
Congress- he might at the next session refer il
to Congress. LOst---yeas 10, nays 80
Mr.. Hamlin moved to amend the bill by pro-
viding that the duties imposed on the President
by the bill shall be performed by three com
missioners, to be appointed by the President
Lost.
Mr.. De Saussure moved TO amend the bill by
providing that the eastern terminus of the road
shall not be north of Memphis, Tennessee
This amendment was debated at length, and
rejected
| Mr.. Shields moved an amendment providing
that none of the money appropriated by the
bill should be used in constructing the road
within a State, and that within a State it
should be executed by and under State author
ity which was debated and adopted-yeas %,
nays %.
Messrs Rusk, Gwin, and others, said the bill
was dead and in much confusion, ut near @
o'clock, the Senate adjourned.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 81.
Mr.. Walker moved the postponement of all
prior orders, in order to take up the Home
stead bill
An exciting discussion ensued upon the
question whether the Pacific Railroad bill
is dead, and, if 30, by whom was it killed, and
how.
Mr.. Gwin thought it was useless to discuss
the Pacific Railroad bill longer that it was
done-that the force against it was too great
He was in favor Of taking up the Homestead
| bill.
The motion to take up the Homestead bill
was lost and the Pacific Railroad bill was
taken up.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.
MONDAY, FEsRUARY14
On motion of Mr.. Houston, the House re-
solved 10 meet during the remainder Of the SEES
sion ut IL o'clock. An intmation was ex-
pressed that the resolution for evening meet
ings should be rescinded, which was not sus-
tanned.