The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-09

vi summer PIesenteu the potllon Vi d largo
number OF citizens of Lancaster, Pennsylvania,
praying that Congress would prevent the IN
! PRODUCTION of Slavery into Territory Cow free,
Or IN any Territory situated north of SO deg.
80 mai. he said, as the Nebraska bill was
now before the Senate, he would not move the
reference OF the memorial, but request that it
be laid on the table
Mr.. Slidell submitted a resolution, directing
the Committee On the Judiciary to inquire INFO
the expedicncy Of amending the rules of the
Senate by removing the injunction of secresy
upon the fnal action Of the Senate upon all
nominations, retaining that secresy upon all
remarks or debate by Senators on such nomi-
nations
! MIR. Badger suggested that the resolution be
AMENDED SO as to require the committee to IN
quire whether the rule required any amend
mens, and if so, what
The resolution was modified In accordance
with this suggestion, and after some debate, it
was adopted
| The. Senate then proceeded to The considera-
| ton OF the resolution declaring that the Hon.
5. 5. Phelps is entitled to hold his seat in the
Senate as Senator from Vermont
| Mr.. Williams addressed the Senate in sup
port OF the resolution, contending that the only
limitation on the Executive appointment was
that it should be made before the meeting of
the Legislature next following the happening
OF the vacancy.
| MIR. Bayard supported the views Of the mi
nority, contending that the true construction
Of the Constitution was that the Executive
| appointments could only continue till the next
meeting of the Legislature.
House Of Representatives. Feb. /, 1854.
MIR. Jones, of New York. moved reconsid-
Grafton of the vote by which Mr. Oids's bill in
relation to carrying the mails on railroads
| Applying to the Erie difficulties was REFER ed
| yesterday to the Committee Of the Whole.
Mr.. ODDS stated that news had been receiv-
ed, since yesterday, of events rendering prompt
| action necessary.
| Mr.. o. read statement from New York
| paper, to the effect that papers had been re-
ceived OF Detroit via Canada, twenty. four hours
in advance of the mails; and he said that pc
titiOns were coming from the West, to establish
permanent mail routes through that channel.
Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee, asked the gentle
man if he could not compel the prompt trans,
mission of the mails between New York and
| Washington, as we'll as through Erie, by means
| of bill imposing penalties
| MIR. Richie Of Pennsy lvania, said the bill
was very long, and could not now be read ;
that it would be found unconstitutional in some
of its particulars. 1t was but covert means
| or getting at the Erie parties
Mr.. Campbell called for the previous ques-
| ton on the motion to reconsider yesterdays
| vote of reference
| Mr.. Hamilton moved that that motion should
| lie on the table Upon this motion the yeas
and nays were ordered, on motion of Mr..
| Campbell, when the motion was decided in tho
| negative-yeas 49, nays 90.
MIR. Jones, of Tennessee moved that the rules
be suspended, and that the House should 60
into Committee of the Whole on the Deficiency
| bill.
Mr. Florence called for the ayes and noes );
| which were ordered, and the motion failed
ayes 80, noes SO.
| MIR. Florence, Mr. Groves, and other gentle
men, here made motions to adjourn, to so into
| Committee, for call Of the House, &c. &c.
On another motion to 60 into Committee of
the Whole, tellers were appointed, and the re-
suit was-yeas 80, nays 50.
The indications were plainly of desire On
the part of Pennsylvania members and others
to defer action On the bill.
| Mr.. Campbell here called for the yeas and
nays.
Senate, Thursday, Feb 3 1854.
! Mr. Hamlin, from the Committee on Print
ing, reported an order directing the printing of
$4,000 copies of the mechanical part of the re-
| port of the Commissioner of Patents.
| MIR. Hamlin also reported, from the same
Committee, the bill to establish Government
printing Office, with recommendation that it
do not pass.
The resolution heretofore submitted by Mr.
Clayton, calling for correspondence and infor-
nation touching proceedings at, and affairs of,
the Sandwich Islands, was taken up and agreed
70. -
| Mr.. Bright submitted resolution, calling
| for copies of all correspondence touching the
seizure imprisonment and release, of Martin
| Koszta by the Austrian authorities at Smyrna.
Mr. Cass thought that great injustice had
been done to Mr.. Brown, the dragoman at
Constantinople, respecting his agency in this
matter 1t was due to Mr. Brown ito whom
he paid many high compiinente) that this COR
respopdence should be made public.
The Senate ther proceeded TO TIE considera-
| ton of the Vermont contested case Of the right
of Mr.. Phelps to his seat
| MIR. Butler and Mr.. Badger addressed the
Senate, against MIR. Phelps's right.
Mr. Phelps commenced an argument in sup
port of his claims, and had not concluded when
this report was closed.
House of Representatives., Feb. 3, 1854.
The bill to impose penalties for obstructing
the transportation of the mails on railroads
now came up for further consideration, On the
motion to reconsider the vote 10y which the bill
was referred to the Committee of the Whole.
The proposition to build custom house at
Louisville being under consideration,
Mr. Lilly said there were to be sixty post
Office clerks and enc custom house Cfficer in the
building; and he proposed to amend the bill
by calling it post Office building; which was
rejected.
Mr. Breckenridge in order to debate the
bill, moved pro forma amendment. He said
that he was opposed to the principle of makiug
such appropriations but inasmuch as the work
had been prosecuted to its present stage, he
had resolved, after much hesitation to vote for
all this class of appropriations, viz those re-
quired to complete works already begun.
Mr.. Clingman was against appropriations for
custom houses Ia the interior,
Mr. Preston said he did not ask the appro-
priation as favor. The Government would
save in the way of rents, by completing the
work.
Mr.. Disney supported the appropriation.
He did not wish the West to be compelled to
depend upon the East as medium for its
commerce with Europe.
Mr.. Stanton, of kentucky, supported the
appropriation in few remarks.
The question was then taken on the motion
to amend the bill by appropriating $4,000
for the completion of this building, lin addition
to the original Sll5 0oO,) and it was decided
in the affrmative-yeas rs, nays &c.
The motion, in compliance with the recon-
mendation of the Secretary of the Treasury,
to appropriate sos, 900 to complete the Mobile
custom house, was then considered.
Mr. Phillips spoke in its support
Mr. Haven, and Mr.. Stanton, of Tennessee,
debated the motion briefly when the ouestiou !