Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-02-19
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY l6, 1853.
IN SENATE.

The PRESIDENT of the Senate laid before the body a
communication from the Secretary of War; made in
pliance with resolution of the 4h January calling
the report of the board Of officers recently appointed
make survey and examination of the various plans for
canals around the falls of the Ohio river which
ferred to the Committee Roads and Canals, and
dered to be printed.
Also, from the Secretary of the Interior communica-
ting further information in relation the allegations of
fraud by Alexander Ramsey, Superintendent of Indian
Affairs in the disbursement of money appropriated for
the fuhlmen of treaties which referred to the Com
mittee Indian Affairs, and ordered be printed.
Mr. HUNTER moved to postpone all prior business to
proceed with the consideration of the deficiency bill which
motion led to brief discussion to priority of business
when the question taken Mr.. HUNTERS motion,
and decided in the affirmative by vote of 81 ayes to
II noes.
THE DEFICIENCY BILL.
The bill was then taken up and Mr.. HUNTER express
ed the hope that there might be further debate lie
had frborne to speak several occasions rather than
waste time by melting further discussion.
The amendment pending was that oferedby Mr.. WALKER
yesterday TO strike out Of the appropriation Of
for completing the work Of the seventh the follow
/ ing words:
Out of which the Superintendent Of the Census .ha be
allowed compensation at the rate of 600 per from
the time his salary Secretary of the Census Board ceased
Mr.. DOWNS opposed the amendment and protractet
discussion ensued, in which Messrs WALKER, BUTLER
RUSK, and DAVIS participated.
Mr. DOWNS replied to Mr. DAVIS and after brief re
mark from Mr. BRADBURY
Mr. RUSK moved postpone the further consideration
the present time crisis In the fate of the Pacific
railroad BILL which il neglected would lead to its defeat
Mr.. HUNTER did not wish the motion to prevail, and
asked If the Senate was prepared to allow bills which
the very machinery Of Government rested to be put aside
for bill which it evident to him could not be passed
at the present session?
Mr. RUSK intmated that any delay Of the bill would
be fatal that postpone would be decisive of its fate
and hence he should ask the yeas and and regard
the vote as a test question.
Mr.. MALLORY after remarks from Messrs.
HUNTER, ADAMS, and RUSK, objected to the vote being
considered test vote He alluded to the necessity OF
pressing with all legitimate dispatch appropriation bills
and nstanced the last session 10 show where certain
preparation bills brought in at the last moment
Of which there least forty amendments be
acted on, and in instance important bill only
saved by about two minutes.
Mr.. BUTLER argued in favor Of continuing the DISCUS
sion the contingency bill 1t appeared to him that
bills that appropriated money to be taken sith
and not discussed to their merits
Mr. DODGE, of Iowa. thought the railroad connecting
the Atlantic and Pacific the great national Of the
day. and asserted his willingness support the motion
Of Mr. RUsK, to the exclusion Of any Of oil other
TO the death Of the appropriation bills IL
sary rather than forego Of such vital national
Importance
On the motion Of Mr.. RUsK, the yeas and nays were
ordered
Several Senators rose and gave their for the
votes they were about to give.
Mr. B0RLAND expressed the opinion that the road to
the Pacific was Of too much importance to give way to
any other SO far his individual vote concerned
it should be in favor Of taking up that bill to the e1cu
sion Of any other until disposed Of
The question then taken Mr. RUsK's motion to
postpone, and decided in the negative, ms follows
YEAS-Msssrs Achison Bell, Borand, Bradbury, Chase,
Clarke Davis Dodge Of Wisconsin Dodge Of lows Douglas
Geyer Gvin Jamos Jones Of Iowa, Jones Of Tennessee
Pratt Rusk, Sebastian, Smith, Sumner, Underwood, Wade
Walker, and Weller-23.
NAYS-Mesrs. Adams, Bsyard, Bright Brodhead, Brooke
Butler Cooper Dawson Dsaussure, Downs Felch Fitrpa
trick, Hale, Hsmlin Hunter, Mallory Mason Miller Norris
Petit Phelps, Seward Soule, Spruance, and Toucey25.
Mr. HOUSTON then and sustained at some length
the amendment Of Mr. WALKER, and the amendment was
agreed to.
Various other amendments were offered and adopted
Mr.. B0RLAND moved that the bill be further amend
ed to suspend temporarily the work the addition
the Capitol during the present quarter Of the sca year
On this amendment debate ensued, in which Messrs
B0RLAND, DAWSON COOPER, and
others participated; when the amendment OF Mr. Bon
with the express understanding that the
should not be construed to imply the
architect.
Mr.. BRADBURY made another effort to- insert an
respecting the claim Of John p. Moers
ting the justice and urgency Of the claim but it
ruled out
The bill was then reported to the Senate when
Mr.. UNDERWOOD moved to adopt the amendment Of
Mr.. BoRLAFD carried in committee placing the appropria
ton to be disbursed under the Of the Com
missioner Of Public Buildings
Mr.. BORLAND replied sedtsn, and said IL the Senate
chose TO continue the system after all that had been ad
ysnced he would have no more to say.
Mr.. HUNTER would prefer that the bill should 60 to
the House. its investigation the point at issue
The question was then taken Mr.. UsDERwooDs
amendment and II was lost
And the amendments were eoneurred in and the bill
was passed.
Mr.. BRIGHT moved to suspend al prior orders to