Washington sentinel., 1854-01-27
C0maressional.
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
senate-Thursday, january a6. 1854.
FIRST SESSION

FIRST SESSION.
Senate-Thursday, January 90, 1854.
Mr.. SEBASTIAN Gn consequence Of the un-
ayoidable absence of Mr.. ApAMs) presented the
credentials of the Hon. A. G.. BRowN, senator
elect from the State of Mississippi for six years
from the 4th of March last. Mr.. b. appeared,
and was sworn,
The Chair laid before the Senate report from
the Secretary of the Interior transmitting state
ment OF debts incurred and now due on account
OF the Mexican boundary commission, and asking
an appropriations OF $50, 900 for their satisfaction.
OCEAN POSTAGE.
Mr. SEWARD presented the memorial adopted
at a large meeting Of the citizens OF New York,
and of nearly all OF the members Of the Legislature,
and from citizens of various parts of the State,
asking reduction of ocean postage.
Also, petitions praying grant OF land ior the
construction of ship canal around the falls OF
Niagara.
COLONIAL HISTORY. tt
Mr.. EVERETT presented the memorial of the
Massachusetts Historical Association praying thai
Congress would defray certain expenses incurred
In procuring from England copies of documents
and correspondence touching the colonial history
OF the American colonies.
RIVERS AND HARBoRS.
Mr.. BELL said he desired to know whether il
was the intention of the Committee ON Commerce
OF the Senate TO report at this session any bill
making appropriations for the improvement OF
rivers and harbors, or whether the practice OF
waiting for such bill from the House was to be
followed. 4Nf
Mr.. HAMLIN said the uniform practice had
been 10 wait for such@s bill TO come from the
House he had never known an instance wherein
that practice had been departed from, nor was he
aware that the COMMITTEES had any intention OF do
ing at this session.
haxu in fau nfc ac-
tion by the committee but if it should decide only
TO report bills for particular works, he earnestly
hoped they would report one for the removal OF
distractions from the mouth Of Cape Fear river
Mr.. SEWARD was in favor of having general
bill reported by the senate committee.
INVALID PENSIONS.
Mr. HUNTER, from the Committee on Finance,
to which had been referred the bill from the House
making appropriations for the payment Of invalid
pensions for the year ending June 80, 1855, re-
ported the same with an amendment, which was
concurred in, and then the bill was passed.
SUFFERERS BY THE SAN FRANCISCO.
Mr.. SHIELDS, from the Committee on Military
Affairs, TO which had been referred the bill from
the House for the reliefof the United States troops
who were sufferers by the recent disaster 10 the
steamship San Francisco, reported the same back
with amendments.
The first amendment included in the relief
granted Lieutenant F. X. Murray, and any other
officer and seaman who was on board the steamer
under orders.
The second was proviso that the amount of
pay and allowances, (six months pay and ratons,)
advanced TO the officers and troops previous 10
their embarkation, shall not be charged against
them, and that their receipts therefor shall be can
celled. @
The third provided that the widows and minor
children Of the officers and troops shall be allowed
the same pensions il such officers and troops
had been killed in battle.
These amendments We're all agreed to.
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, submitted an amend
ment, which provided that the Second Auditor Of
the Treasury be directed to ascertain the amount
OF the losses sustained by the officers and troops
on board the steamer at the time of her disaster
and that the amount SO ascertained be paid out of
the treasury.
Mr.. JONES supported his amendment as max
ing nothing but just and most equitable allow
ance, which the magnanimity of Congress would
make at some time or another. No time was
more appropriate than the present, when the
treasury was said to need depletion. to perform
this act. He referred to the peculiar hardship of
the losses sustained by these persons and in
stanced the case of young man, a sergeant, who
had accumulated eight hundred dollars of hard
earnings, all of which were swept from him by
this disaster.
Mr.. JOHNSON said that, while he admitted the
hardship Of the losses sustained by these parties,
he was unwilling TO legislate in this loose manner
what these losses were, Of what were the articles
or valuables lost, nor the amount which would
be required TO pay them.
Mr. SHIELDS referred to the reports published
in the papers of the particulars attending this dis
aster. II was there represented that the officers
were the first 10 take the boats, and leave the
troops on the wreck. If this were so, il was
a question for military inquiry. Fit were true
that the officer in command of this regiment aban-
doncd the troops that wreck in the hour of
danger, he was as guilty of abandoning his COM
mand as if he had left them the field of battle.
In such case the privates and inferior officers of
each company should go first their captain being
the last to enter the boats. The whole regiment
should have been put aboard the boats before the
colonel left the wreck. II would appear by the
published accounts that the colonel in command,
and the whole staff, including the quarternasters
and surgeons of the regiment, all left first, leaving
the troops in such condition that they did not
know where the provisions or medical stores We're
to be found.
He knew some Of the officers attached to that
regiment; he had had the honor to command some
Of them when he was at Tampco, and he knew
them to be brave men. He also knew that some
Of them had been injured by wounds received
while on the wreck, but he desired TO express no
opinion until there had been an inquiry as TO this
matter. He was, he said, now told by senator
near him, that these officers went on board the
kIlby, intending TO return, but that, as was well
known, that vessel had been separated during the
night from the wreck. However, he thought it
would be premature TO pay man for the loss of
his plate, Jewels &C., until it was known whether
he had abandoned his command in the hour Of
danger.
Mr.. JONES, at the suggestion Of several sena
tors, Withdrew his amendment.
Mr. BUTLER was understood TO say that in
conversation with Lieutenant Murray, il was
stated that Colonel Gates was over seventy years
Of age, and was not able when younger men could
not return to the steamer .<
The bill was then passed
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE RAILROAD.
Mr. DAWSON introduced bill to incorporate
the Washington City Railroad company; which
was referred 10 the Committee on the District Of
Columbia.
SENATOR FROM VERMONT.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the
resolution reported by the Judiciary Committee.
declaring the Hon. MIR. Phelps is entitled to
tain his seat senator from Vermont.
Mr. PETIT addressed the Senate for some
time in support Of the resolution.
Mr. BAYARD obtained the floor, but, before
proceeding some conversation took place as to
the proprety Of postponing the subject.
(. After which, on motion by Mr.. BUTLER, the
resolution was laid on the table for the present.
The Senate then proceeded TO the consideration
A. ,l,~,I.