The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-03
rHIRTY-sEcoSD CONGRESS - SECOND SESSION
SENATE.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 81.

SENATE.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 81.
Mr. Walker moved to take up the Home
stead bill
Messrs. Walker, Gwin, Borland, and Rusk,
supported the motion.
Mr.. Bell said he was sorry the Senator from
Texas should be in favor of giving any bill a
precedence over the Pacific Railroad bill
An minated debate sprung up as whether
the Pacific Railroad bill was dead, and if 80,
who killed it.
rejected and the Homestead bill was not taken
up-yeas %, nays 33.
The Pacific Railroad bill was then taken up.
Mr.. Weller moved to reconsider the vote by
which MIR Shelds's amendment was adopted
on Saturday.
MIR. Geyer opposed the reconsideration.
Messrs. Butler and Mason opposed the bill,
and Messrs Gwin Underwood, and others,
supported the bill without the amendment
The debate continued till after four o'clock,
when Mr. Shields's amendment was reconsid-
cred and rejected-yeas "a, nays %.
Mr. Weller moved an amendment combining
the money appropriated to the road in the Ter
ritories and it was agreed to-yeas 81, nays
26.
Mr. Brooke moved substitute for the whole
bill, and the Senate then adjourned
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY22
Mr. Hunter moved to take up the Army APP
preparation bill, when long, uninteresting dis
cussion took place regarding the priority of
business The motion was finally lost
Mr.. Hamlin moved to take up the bill for
the relief of INDECENT insane, which was lost by
fifteen to twenty-sx
The joint resolution postponing the opera
ton of the steamboat law of last session until
the LIST OF June, was warmly debated, and pass
| ed
MIR. Chase introduced a joint resolution au.
thorizing the President to purchase Powers.
statue of America which was debated and
amended
The Pacific Railroad bill was then taken ut
again.
Mr.. Seward moved to amend by authorizing
contract for fifty years to carry the mails
over the road within the States, for $500 pei
mile. Some time was spent in debate thereon
when
Mr.. Hunter moved to lay the bill on the Ia
BILE This was lost--yeas "a, nays 3O-after q
long debate.
There was a strong disposition manifested to
| get rid of the bill, and in the mean time mem
bers had begun to indulge in eulogies on the
bill as defunct affair.
| Finally, on motion of Mr.. Badger, with the
view OF paying respect as he said, to the de-
ceased bill, the Senate adjourned
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY %.
Mr.. Hunter, from the committee appointed
to wait on the President elect and inform hin
OF his election, made report that they haG
performed the duty
On motion of Mr. Bright the Chair was au
thorlzed to appoint a committee to make ar.
rangements for the reception and Inauguration
OF the President, on the 4th of March
The Army Appropriation bill was taken up.
Several of the appropriations were increased to
the amount called for by the estimates.
Mr.. Shields moved to strike out the follow
ing words in the bill:
"Provided, That from and after the first day
of July next no much Of the act of Congress
approved August %, 1912, as places the na-
tional armores under the superintendent of an
officer OF the ordnance corps, be and the same
is hereby repealed and from that day the said
armories shall be under that system Of superin-
tendencs which existed prior to the passage of
said act of Congress"
Mr.. Hale opposed the amendments and Mr.
Shields replied
Mr.. Davis moved to amend the provision by
modifying the act Of 1842, 40 as to allow the
President to appoint military or civil super
intendent OF the armOries
Mr.. Pearce was for adhering to the present
system.
Messrs. Shields Butler Bell, and Phelps, sup
ba IN ot-.lx
Sumner, and Hale opposed 1.-THE two latter
supporting MIR. Daviss amendment
The question was taken, and Mr.. Davis's
amendment was rejected.
He then moved to add an appropriation to
fortify the harbor Of San Francisco, $500, 900 !;
for defences in Florida, $l75O00; Georgia,
$50 900; harbor of Charleston, ST. 10 900 Balti-
more harbor, (Solers' Point) $4,000 Fort
Delaware, $3.50 900; Massachusetts, $73, 900 /;
and S45, 900 for defence of Portland, Maine.
| This amendment was debated for some time,
the question being whether the Senate should
adopt system of Qualifications upon the army
bill, and was then adopted-yeas 80, nays Ia.
Mr. Gwin moved to add an appropriation Of
| $500 900 for an exploration and survey of the
most practicable route for u railroad to the
Pacific. Ruled out of order.
| izing the President to employ, if necessary, the
volunteer troops and militia raised in Florida
by the late Legislature Of that State, to enforce
which was debated till half-past 4, and then
rejected-yeas 10, nays "a.
Without disposing of the Army Appropria-
ton bill, the Senate adjourned.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY "a.
Mr.. Underwood said that when the Army
bill was disposed Of he would move to take up
Benefits land bill
The Army Appropriation bill was taken up
Mr.. Chase, having obtained the consent of
the Committee on Roads and Canals moved to
amend the bill, by adding thereto additional
sections providing for survey and exploration
of the most practicable route for a railroad TO
the Pacific, appropriating $3.50, 900 to defray
the expenses Of the survey the reports 10 be
laid before Congress at the next session, along
with such estimates and proposals as may be
received for the construction Of said road
This renewed the subject Of railroad TO the
Pacific, and it was debated for some time.
Messrs. Mason Hunter, and Butler, de-
nounced that species Of legislation which sought
TO make the appropriation bills the vehicle Of
all matters which q majority could not other
wise carry.
Mr.. Walker moved TO amend the amend
ment by providing for the construction Of q
railroad TO the Pacific, by granting alternate
sections Of land to actual settlers, and appro-
priating the others to the construction Of the
road, and granting in addition - sum Of
money.
The Chair ruled the amendment Of Mr.
Walker To be ont of order