The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-12-29


report new plan for their appointment and
organization Adopted.
Mr. Slidell introduced bill granting land
TO Florida, for railroads therein.
MIR Gwn gave notice Of the renewal Of
bills, granting land for railroads in California.
Mr. Hamlin introduced bill h establish a
line Of Telegraph from the Mississippi river to
the Pacific
A Joint resolution, authorizing the President
10 confer the title Of Lieutenant General by
brevet was taken up
/ A debate ensued, which lasted till two O'Clock
in which MeSsrs Adams, Walker. Petit, and
Douglas opposed the resolution, and Messrs.
Cas7 Mason, Badger, Shields, and Seward, ad-
vocated it. IL was finally ordered to be en-
crossed, by yeas 30 nays 10, as follows
lEAs-Messrs Allen, Atchison, Badger Bay
ard, Benz amin, Brodhead, Cas-, Clayton, ID Iw-
son Dixon, Dodge of Wisconsin Dodge OF Iowa
Evans Fish, Foot Gwin, James, Jones of Ten
nessee, Mason, Pearce, Pratt, Sebastian, Sew
ard. Shields, Stuart Thompson of Kentucky.
Thompson of New Jersey, Wade, Weller, and
Wright
NAYs-Messrs. Adams Bright, Chase, Clay
Douglas, Fitzpatrick, Hamlin, Norris Slidell
Sumner, Walker and Williams
MIR Brigh, introduced bill, increasing the
hundred per annum
Mr.. Summers resolution was agreed TO, d.
recting inquiry as to authorizing orders or
drafts on foreign post Offices to be used in place
of ordinary drafts or rcmittances.
After short Executive session, the Senate
adjourned.
HoUsE-Several bills were introduced, Civ
ing lands for railroad purposes. in tho South
and West and referred to the Committee on
Public Lands
Mr. Disney introduced the French Spolia.
ton bill. Referred to the Committee on For
eign Affairs.
Mr.. Wentworth, of Illinois. offered a rcsolu-
tion instructing the Committee on the Rules
to inquire into the expediency of providing for
the equalization Of the privileges of claim
agents in Congress, 80 ~ to admit all persons
within the bar of the Iiouse who may be claim
agents, or else to exclude from the privilege
persons engaged in lobbying for claims the
object being to give no claim agent advantage
over another within the bar of the House
This was intended 60 hit ex.members of
Congress.
Mr.. Bayly said the subject was before the
Committee. Being opposed to this piece of
humbug, he moved to lay the resolution on
the table. This was negatiyei, and the reso.
luton passed.
Mr. Miller of Missouri, introduced bill
organizing the Territory of Nebraska. Re-
ferred TO the Committee on Territories
The House went into Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union on the Presi.
dents Message.
Mr. Wright next quoted Mr. Smiths remark
that the administration presents the ptiful
spectacle of having wilfully corrupted Christi
anlty, and the people present the pitiful spec
tacle of remaining patient under it'-and
proceeded to defend the Administration and
compromise measures How could the gentle
man from New York stand up and advocate
the higher law az superior to the Constitution,
which contains the following clause:
"No person held to service or labor in one
State, under the laws thereof, escaping into
another, shall in consequence of any law or
regulation therein, be discharged from such
service or labor, but shall be delivered up on
claim of the party to whom such service OF
labor may be due"
How can the gentleman put his hand on the
Holy Evangely and swear to support the Con-
stitution aud yet Assert the higher law as su.
perior to the Constitution
Gcrrit Smith arose.
Mr.. Wright asked does the gentleman want
to make speech"
Mr. Smith. If the gentleman wants an an.
swer he shall have it.
Mr.. Wright | won't deny the gentleman
E having called him out
Mr.. Smith said he was not disposed to take
9 any position which should stigmatize with by.
, pocrlsy the trainers Of our Constitution. A
. few days before the close of the session of the
, Convention which formed the Constitution, the
committee on style reported that the word
''servtude' he stricken out, because it was
! identified with the condition Of slaves and that
, Service" be substituted, because it was idcnt
fed with the condition of irecmcn The mo
q ton prevailed unanimously.
Mr. Wright remarked that it was not hi
y recollection of the history
MIR. Smith referred the gentleman to tho
Madison Papers.
4 Mr. Bayly of Virginia, eaid he would not
| now reply to Mr. Giddings's remark on the
, Amistad question, preferring to wait until the
. bill should be introduced, and report made on
the subject He then proceeded to speak on
+ the Assistant Treasurer question. The wordr
opposing the AdminlstI alton and the Presi
denr,' had been ringing in his ears until il
. occurred TO him that something else engages
{ the attention of some members Of Congress.
: In Rome Caesar had party, Antony had a
party, but the commonwealth none; but he
would not pursue this idea He said, when
D came to Washington, and before registering
my name ut the hotel gentleman appear,
Q and asked me 'who was going TO vote for fjI
. speaker On my asking to be excused from
giving an answer, he said, 81 hope you are not
, going to put yourself in opposition TO the Nd
ministration, who are for Orr" They devil
they are, replied.
! After | had registered my name, some one
else asked what thought If distingui, he'd
gentleman from Ohio. | said thought well
of HIM The reply vas, "do you not know he
1 is supported by the Hards, and If you vote for
. him you will be regarded as an opponent OF
the Administration 81 Laughter. Everything
: that was said was as 10 the policy or wishes oil
the Administration don't know how it was
but was particularly sought, and was asked
if | WAS not aware the Administration had the
election of Col. Forney particularly at heart
, and they who did not support him would be
making war on the Administration" ! asked
, if it WAS possible that the election Of Speaker
Clerk, everything, was to be made u test OF
friendship to the Administration
am not one Of those who speak without
authority, and tell the gentleman from ILL.,
nois, IMr Wentworth that the President does
not regard the conduct Of all gentlemen who
choose to vote a. their sense of proprety
prompts, for the Clerk Speaker, or Librarian
as an Administration matter, and doubt the
authority of the gentleman to speak for the
Administration as he d d the other day. ! am
told he has no commission. He is "a usurper
and assumes authority not conferred on him
But do not care whether he has authority OF
not
Mr.. Phillips obtained the floor, when the
Committee rose.
An Intellectual effort was made to adjourn
over till Monday Adjourned.
Friday December 20, 1853
| SrNATr Mr. Innoa of Tenpesaec oava no