Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-12-22
DOINGs OF CONGRESS.

SENArE.-The following business was trans
acted in the Senate, yesterday, after we left:
On motion by Mr.. Hamlin, the bill, and all
papers and memorials on the files relating to
the claims of American citizens for spolia-
tons by the French prior to 1901, were re-
ferred to select committee. s.
MIR. Foot introduced bill granting land to
the several States and Territories of tho
United States for the benefit of INDECENT in
sane persons referred to Committee on Public
Lands
Mr.. Shields introduced a bill for the relief of
purchasers and locatOrs of swamp and over
flowed lands.
Mr. Shields introduced a joint resolution
authorizing the President of the United States
to confer the title of lieutenant general by
breyet for eminent services, and moved its
reference. Postponed. .H'..I.
Mr.. Benjamin reported a bill extending the
present limits of the port of New Orleans.
Mr.. Pratt reported bill to incorporate the
Pioneer Manufacturing Company of George
town, in the District of Columbia; and msved
that it be now considered. Postponed.
Mr.. Brodhead submitted a resolution direct
ing the printing, for the use of the Senate. of
20, 900 copies of the abstract of the census,
published for the House. Referred to the
Committee on Printing.
Mr. Seward submitted the following rcsolu-
ton, which was agreed to:
Resoired, That the Committee on the Judi
ciary inquire whether, consistently with the
Constitution. provision can be made for re
ferring causes instituted according to the
course of common law, to referees, and whether
such provisions, If they could be Constitution
ally made, would be expedient.
Adjourned.
In THE HOUSE, yesterday, after we went to
NJ
favor of referring the resolution of Mr.. Phil
lips instructing the Committee on Commerce to
enquire into the eypedency of the completion
of such constitutional river and harbor i'm
provements as have already been appropriated
for, to the Committee on Roads and Canals.
The question was then put on agreeing to the
demand for the previous question. 1t was
seconded by the Iteuse-ayes IS, noes "A.
Mr.. Wentworth, of H., demanded the ayes
and noes on agreeing to the resolution
which were ordered.
A motion was made to lay it on the table,
which last motion was not agreed to-yeaS
55, nays Il2.
The said 'esolutiOn was then agreed to.
! Mr.. Durham then moved to recon slider that
vote; and, after further discussion upon the
question OF the proper committee for the con-
slider alton o. the resolution, in which Mcssrs
Durham, Phillips, Campbell, of Ohio, and
Fuller took part, the motion to reconsider was
laid on the table.
| The House next went into the Committee of
the Whole on the State of the Union. (Mr Orr
in the Char.) and. taking up the President $
Message, Mr.. Dean delivered a speech in
reply to that of Mr. Gerrit Smith, in which
he held that that gentleman had entirely mis-
represented the position of the Democratic
party on the Slavery question, and had acted
unwisely in attempting to give party caste
to the conduct of Commander Ingraham.
Mr.. Giddinss replied at length to the re.
marks of Mr.. Dean, defending the positions
held by Mr.. q. Smith.
Mr.. Walsh next addressed the Committee in
a spt ech deprecatory of the National Admin
istratiOn in its tone. He promised that in
due time the Hard Democracy would yindicatt
their right to be considered the great Demo
cratic party Of the country.
The Committee then rose, and the House adj
journed.