Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-31
CONGRESS-.
THrRrY-TnIaD CoseRrss--YIRsr SESSION.
Senate, Friday, March 81, 1854.


Senate, Friday, March 81, 1854.
Mr.. Hunter moved to suspend all other bust
ness, to resume the consideration of the Def
cheney bill; and after some remarks, the mo-
\ ton was agreed to by unanimous consent.
MIR. Thompson, Of Kentucky, TO add to the bill
for appropriations for the completion Of GUS
tom-houses at the following places:
st. Louis, 800 600; Mobile. $4,000; Gin
cinnati, 1000; Louisville, $4,000; Bangor,
$4,000; Bath, $50 900; Wilmington, $4,000;
Providence, $4,000.
To which Mr.. Hamlin moved to add-for
the purchase Of new site for custom-house
at San Francisco, $25O,OO0; and for rebuild
ing the CUSTOM house at Portland, 100000.
Messrs. Adams and Fitzpatrick opposed the
amendment and Mr.. Bayard supported it.
The amendment proposed by Mr.. Hamlin
was agreed TO-
Mr.. Dodge, of Iowa, moved to amend the
mendment-aPproRsist ons for the completion
Of marine hospitals at the following places
Cleveland, Ohio, $4,000; st. Lonis, $4,000
Chicago, $4,000; Louisville, $l2 600; San
Vile, SO 900; and Burlington, $4,000.
Messrs. Hunter and Rusk opposed the
amendment and Messrs. Hamlin and Dodge
supported it.
~ The debate was continued by several Sena-
tors, and Mr.. Dodge's amendment was agreed
to--yeas "a, nays II.
And then Mr.. Thompson's amendment as
amended was agreed to--yeas %, nays l6.
The bill was then temporarily laid aside, and
the bill for the relief Of Hodges and Lansdale,
compromising them for tobacco destroyed by
the British in 1914, was taken up and passed
yeas "a, nays II.
The Deficiency bill was again resumed, and
several small amendments were voted upon.
Mr.. Bell proposed an amendment to allow
R. H. Weightman for pay and mileage, "a q
Senator elect from New Mexico under the at
tempted State organization of 1850. This was
debated at length, and was pending when this
report was closed.
House Of Representatives, March 81, 1854.
Mr.. Dunbar, by consent, presented the reso-
lutions of the Legislature Of Louisiana, asking
q grant of land for the establishment Of an
asylum for the blind and dumb in that State
which was referred to the Committee on Pub
lie Lands, and ordered to be printed
This being Private Bill day number of
bills were called up in order. One relating to
the carriage Of the mail in stages between
Montgomery and Mobile elected protraoted
debate, participated in by Messrs. Phillips,
Houston, Gray Of Kentucky, and Jones of
Louisiana.
Mr. Preston arose, and said that he would
ask the indulgence Of the House to permit him
to make an explanation Of a personal charac
ter. A debate had occurred on Monday last
which was marked by strong person alities, and
which was made the subject of much discus
sion outside Of the House. Mr.. Cutting had
referred the subject to Col Monroe and Gen
Shields; and Mr.. Breckenridge had submitted
il to the consideration of Mr. Hawkins, of Ken
lucky and Mr.. Preston himself
Mr. Preston said he was authorized by these
gentlemen to state that the matter had been
settled in manner satisfactory to all friends,
and honorable to the parties themselves.
Another duty, he said, still devolved upon
him. The gentlemen principally engaged in
this transaction had both requested him to
state that they regretted having violated the
rules Of this House, and of propriety, sni to
apologize for having done 30.
Mr. Preston said, in conclusion, that it was
with much qualification he was enabled to
make this statement in relation to gentlemen
who were destined to be so eminently useful
to their country, and who deservedly possessed
in 80 high degree the admiration OF their
friends
On motion of Mr.. Bocock, the House resolved
itself into Committee of the Whole on the bill
for the increase Of the navy by the construc-
ton of six steamers at an expense of some
three million dollars. A discussion under the
five minutes rule followed, and many amend
ments were proposed and considered
Mr.. Peckham read from newspaper q state
ment to the effect that Lord Clarendon had, in
council, expressed the opinion that Russian
products, in whatsoever vessels they might be
found, end by whomsoever owned, would be
liable to seizure upon the high seas; and he
therefore moved to amend the bill by ordering
the construction Of nine steamers, aledging
that il might become the duty Of our Govern
ment to resist the claim Of Great Britain to the
right of search.
The motion was not agreed to.
Mr.. Gerrit Smith proposed an amendment
STIMULATING that no ardent spirit should be ever
taken aboard any Of the proposed vessels, to be
used as q beverage.
The Chairman (Mr. Haven) ruled the mo-
ton out Of order.
Mr.. Smith appealed from the decision, but
the Committee sustained it.
Congress only proposes to repeat in the case
of oIo nd hal Inx,o I'm fbo