The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-03-01
THIRTY-sEcoND CONGRESS.
MosDAy, February %, 1858.
,EcoND SESSION.
SENATE

SENATE.
Mr.. HUNTER moved that the Senate proceed to
the consideration of the Civil and Diplomauc Ap-
preparation bill
Mr.. UNDERWOOD opposed the motion. He
said that if the Senate intendea 20 ne oru
railroad nurnoses or the new States any thing for
railroads, the Bennett Land bill should De taken
up. That bill he would be Wiling, az soon as
amended, to pass without debate
Messrs SHIELDS and WALKER said that bill
xyonld never pass without debate. a4s& 4
M UNDERWOOD said he would ask Tor the
yeas and nays on the motion. He would regard
the vote on taking up this bill test vote on the
Bennett bill 1.-THE Appropriation bill were taken
up, he would not make any further motion with
regard to the other.
Mr.. DOUGLAS said that as there was struggle
going on between the Bennett bill and the Appro-
priation bill, he would suggest as compromise
that they both be laid aside and the Territorial
Mr. HUNTER said that he could not withdraw
his motion for any bill
Mr. BRIGHT said that he would like to move to
take up the Homestead bill; and as soon as this
bill was disposed of he would move to take IT up.
Mr. BORLAND said that he had reported, some
days ago. House Joint resolution providing Tor
printing the census returns If it was intended to
print those returns, something had better be done
at the subject.
Mr.. HUNTER said the Senator from Texas
(Mr. HoUsroN) had generously yielded the moor
to the Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation bill
He hoped no Senator would prove less magnani-
NOUS.
Mr.. BADGER suggested, as compromise, that
the Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation bill be now
taken up and passed. As coon as it was disposed
of, to take up. and put into one BILL the Home
stead, Benefits bill, Mise Dx's bill, and the Ter
rtorial bills, and pass it without word of debate
The question was then taken, and
Mr.. HUNTER's motion was agreed to-yeas 80,
NAYS 7-as follows:
L. Dcl
Borland, Bradbury, Bright, Brodhead, Brooke,
Charlton, Chase, Cooper, Dawson, Dodge of Wis
consin, Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, Downs, Fetch,
Fitzpatrick, Geyer, Hamn. Houston, Hunter,
Petit, Phelps, Pratt, Rusk, Sebastian, Shields,
Sumner, Toucey, Walker and Weller-39.
NAYS.-Messrs. Fish, Foot, Jones of Tennessee,
Seward, Spruance, Underwood, and Wade-7.
CENSUS CLERK.
Mr.. WALKER, by consent, said that the me-
mortal of Mr. Kennedy, asking an investigation
OF certain charges made against him in debate,
had been referred to the Select Committee on the
Census. He was instructed by that committee to
report it back to the Senate. The subject was
now before the body, and it could act as it should
deem proper If the Senate should order an in
vestigation to what be (Mr. W had said, he
would be prepared to substantiate every thing he
had said, and more too, by documents and sworn
testimony.
The Senate then proceeded to consider the
AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
The first amendment wac the following, offered
By the Committee on Finance:
SEC. =. And be IL further enacted, That the Sec
rotary of the Treasury be authorized to refund to
the legal claimants for duties that have been paid
on goods, wares, and merchandise that were con-
stunned by fire in the district and port of New York
in July, eighteen hundred and forty five, three
hundred thousand dollars, and in the district and
port of San Francisco, in the years eighteen hun
dred and fifty and eighteen hundred and fifty one,
one hundred thousand dollars, subject to the re-
oy,Ih fhoo fnf tf,I
eighteen hundred and thirty eight, passed for the
relief of the sufferers by the fire of December,
eighteen hundred and thirty five, in New York;
and the amount of goods destroyed, and duties to
be refunded, shall be ascertained at said ports
spectively, and be adjusted and repaid thereat, in
3 manner similar to that which is provided for in
the act above referred to, in relation to losses at
New York.
Which was agreed to.
The following amendments agreed to:
To authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to
remit the duties upon any machinery imported
into the United States for spinning or weaving
fax, to refund duties heretofore paid within five
years past such machinery: Provided, That it
shall be proved to his satisfaction that such machi-
merry at the time Of manufacture in the United
States, and has been used for man ufacturing pur-
poses. sz
To authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to
cancel any outstanding debenture bonds given pre-
viousy to the first day of July. 1850, upon the i'm
portation of foreign GOALS PROVIDED, Said Goals
upon the outward voyage. Hf
That the Secretary OF the Treasury be authorized
to purchase at the current market price any of the
outstanding stocks Of the United States as be may
think most advisable, from any surplus in the trea
sury: Provided That the balance in the treasury
shall not at any time be reduced below six mil
lions.
For custom house at Richmond, seventy-five
thousand dollars; for custom house at Norfolk,
twenty thousand; for same at Bangor, fifteen
thousand; for same at Bath, twelve thousand; for
at Belfast, twenty thousand.
Mr.. HUNTER, from the Committee on Finance,
moved additional amendment, providing for
Classification Of the clerks in the several Depart
ments, excepting the State Department. 1t pro-
yides for dividing them into four classes; the first
TO receive 5000, the second S 200, the third
8 800, and the fourth S l 800 per annum. Chief
clerks of bureaus to receive Is 900, and chief
clerks OF Departments $4,000 per annum. Only
one disbursing clerk is to be allowed in each OF
the Departments, except the Treasury and Int
rlor, which have three each. No clerk is to be
hereafter appointed except he be, on an examina-
ton by the head of his bureau and two other clerks
found competent and qualified. He said that this
classification of the clerks was founded upon the
reports on the subject laid before Congress. By it
Congress would get rid of the constant applica-
Ions TO have clerks put equal footing with
others. Unuer 1t there would grow up what was
SO essentially necessary, good and efficient civil
corps.
MIR SHIELDS asked if the amendment made
any change in the tenure of Office
Mr.. HUNTER said it made no change in the
tenure. NORM the appointing power.
Mr.. PRATT asked if it did not legislate those in
office out on the FIRST Of July.
Mr.. HUNTER said it did not; it recognised
them as in office, but distributed them among the
several classes
Mr. PETIT was opposed to that part of the
amendment which gave to the head of bureau the
power OF deciding on the competency of clerk
Inc result would be that there would be no man
found competent except those whom that head de-
sired to have put in. The heads of bureaus once
pat in, the other cerkships would be filed with
their nephews, uncles cousins, brothers &C.
Mr. JONES, of Tennessee, said he would vote
Tor tnis proposition if it included the heads of De-
partments He was not for voting increase of paw
10 snoaIterns and allow the chiefs to starve
MI PETIT moved to strike out the provision
70 Wnlcn ne had objected. Lost-yeas Is, nays "a.
Inc question taken on Mr. HuHrER,s
sion. w AN 9 oA''-
Mr.. HUNTER, by direction of the Committee
on FINANCE, submitted an amendment anoronr;a
ting S24o ,ooo for the purchase of sites and, ~.
erection OF dwelling houses for the Vice pres;dent
and the several members of the Cabinet
Mr.. BORLAND was opposed to the amendment
With as much propriety it might, he thought. be
provided that houses be built for Senators and
members of Congress. He was for leaving mem
bers OF the Cabinet to live in their own styIe. with
display or plainly, as their means or taste might
call for. 1t would be unjust to force man to live
a house. and consequently copnnel h;r, - H..