Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-07-22
CONGRESS-.
.rHrRrY-THIRD CoHeREss-TIRsr sEssIos

CONGRESS.
rarRrY-rHrRD coHGREss--ylRsr sEssIos
| In the Senate, yesterday
The bill introduced by Mr.. Geyer, provides
that the next meeting Of Congress shall be on
the first Monday Of November next
The title of the Land bill passed was amend
ed SO IS to read, An act to provide home
stead for actual settlers. to graduate the price
Of the public lands, and for other purposeso
The bill to provide for the payment Of such
creditors Of the late Republic IF Texas as are
comprehended in the act of Congress Of Sep
tember 8, 1850, being under consideration, Mr..
| Chase moved to reduce the amount to be APP
portioned among the holders Of bonds to the
sum of Sc, 500 600.
This was decided in the negative by the fol-
lowing vote:
YEAs-Messrs Adams, Atchison, Butler,
Chase, Dodge Of Iowa. Douglas, Fessenden,
Gillette, Hunter, Johnson, Jones Of Tennessee,
Mason, Shields, Sumner, Thomson Of New Jer-
sey Wade, Walker, and Weller--18.
| NAYs-Mesrs. Allen, Badger, Bayard, Bell,
Benjamin, Bright Brodhead, Clay, Cooper,
Jones of Iowa. Mallory, Psarce Petit, Pratt,
Rockwell, Rusk, Sebastian, Stuart, snd Tou-
cy-25.
/ The question was then taken on ordering the
bill to be engrossed, and it was decided in the
aft, NATIVE as follows:
| YEAs--Messrs Allen, Badger, Bayard, Bell,
Benjamin, Bright, Brodhead, Cooper, Dawson,
Dixon, Evans, Fish, Foot, Houston, James John
son. Jones Of Iowa, Mallory, Pearce, Petit,
Pratt, Rockwell, Rusk, Sebastian, Stuart,
Thompson of Kentucky, and Toucey-27
| NAYS -Messrs Adams, Atchison, Butler,
Chase, Dodge Of Iowa, Douglas, Fessenden,
Geyer, Gillette, Hunter, Jones If Tennessee,
Mason, Shields, Slidell, Sumner, Thomson of
New Jersey, Toombs, Wade, Walker, and We'll
ler-20.
The bill was then read third time, and
passed.
The resolution for printing ten thousand
copies of the Nebraska bill in an authentic
| form was am ended 30 as to make it twenty
thousand in pamphlet form, and in that shape
passed
Mr. Chase subsc quently moved to reconsider
the vote, with view that he might have it go
amended as TO allow certain amendments and
| the votes thereon, embodied in the same pamph-
let. The vote stood-yess 16, nays %
So the Senate refused 10 reconsider the vote.
Senate, Saturday, July 2s, 1854.
| Mr. Foot moved 10 reconsider the vote by
which was passed the bill making provision
for the settlement Of the claims Of the credit
ors Of the late Republic Of Texas. He did 80,
he said, with the view Of moving again Mr..
| Chase's amendment to reduce the amount to
SIX and half millions. Lost-yeas Is, nays
%.
Mr. Sumner presented several memorials
praying the repeal Of the Fugitive Slave Law.
Laid on the table.
Tho following House bills were considered
and passed:
Abll granting pension to the widow Of the
late Major General jacob Brown.
A bill for tho relef Of Capt George symptom,
of Galveston.
A bill for the relief Of Robert Grignop.
| A bill for the relief Of Charles Lee Jones'
The Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation bill
was taken up, and the numerous amendments
proposed by the Committee on Finance were
considered.
House Of Representatives July 20, 1854.
Mr. Edgerton, from the Committe Of Claims
reported large number Of Senate bills, which
were referred TO the Committee Of tho Whole,
and ordepcd to be printed
Mr.. May, by consent made q report from
the Committee on the Judiciary, adverse 10 tho
requests Of certain memorislists in the State Of
Now York, who asked that the prayer Of the
people Of Washington might be granted, and
| their city charter 80 amended as to enable it's
authorities to prohibit the sale OF intoxicating
drinks within It's limits. Mr.. May stated that
| the committee made this report under the de-
cidcd conviction that the city of Washington
already possessed ample powers to exercise
the discretion asked to be conferred upon IL.
Mr.. Gerrit Smith moved that the report be
recommitted, and that the committee be in
structed to bring in a bill, clothing the city
corporation with power TO prohibit tho sale Of
Intoxicating drinks within its limits.
Mr.. Smith addressed the Committee at
length stating that he. was grati6ed in being
enabled to address this House on a cause very
near bis heart, and very near the hearts CT
millions Of the people Of this country.
He had presented the petitions on which this
report is based, and had persistent!y urged
attention 10 them up to this favored momept.
He knew the members Of the Judiciary
Committee were not opposed to the objects Of
the petitions. They interpreted as he did, the
present charter Of the corporation.
He ever favored limited sphere for the ex-
ercise Of the powers OF Government. The pro-
lection Of persons and property is oil the duty
incumbent upon Government.
The restriction or abolition Of the sale of in
toxicating drinks was q duty Of this character
Mr.. Smith depicted in strong ADD glowing
colors the evils proceeding from the sale and
use Of intoxicating drinks. Human degrade
lion and suffering, immortality, irreIigion,
everything evil, proceeded from the vice of
drinking such beverages All we're injured in
person and property BY the evil We have it in
our power TO abate.
Temperate drinkers claim great credit for
their practice They are very selEcomplacent
gentlemen; but they mistake their position.
! They are the only obstacle to reform. The
| drunkard does not attract others into bis path
The moderate drinker only is seductive. By
tho example and influence Of such gentleman
| " drinkers every youth in this city is forever
! in peril Brilliant wit fascinating song, the