The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-08-10
CONGRESS-.
rHrRTY-THIRp CoNsREss--TIRsT SESSION
Senaft. T,.esdaa. Augt.st I. 1854.

Senate, Tuesday, August I, 1854.
The resolution, yesterday reported by Mr.
Foot to pay for certaip services as draughts-
man TO the COMMITTEES on Public Lands, was
! considered and agreed to.
| Mir. Norris reported bill to incorporate the
Friends Aid Society, in the District OF Column
| bia.
On motion by Mr.. Bright che Senate pro-
ceeded to tie consideration of the bill autnor-
ling the President to take charge OF the Lon
isvil!e and Portland Canal until the next meet.
! ing Of Congress: and the same was considered
and passed
Mr. Houston then addressed the Senate till
after ~ O'Clock in defence Of his political con-
| duct in the Republic of Texas, and In repelllng
personal assaults upon him, contained in
| book entitled the History of Texas, Mexico,
and the United States by Gen. Thomas Jeiter-
son Green.
Mr.. Mason submitted the following resolu-
ton, which was adopted:
| Rssolved, That the President be requested to
inform the Senate tif in his opinion it be not
incompatible with the public interestsl whether
/ anything has arisen since the date of his mess
age to the House Of Representatives of the
| 18th March last concerning our relations with
| the Government of Spain, which, Ia his opin-
ion, may dispense with the suggestions therein
l
| ional measures,n by Congress, to meet any ex-
| igency that may arise in the recess of Con-
| gress, affecting those relations.
| The Senate resumed the consideration of
the River and Hsrbor bill.
The question pending was on the amend
ment of Mr.. Toombs to strike out all relating
| to the Portland aud Louisville Canal; and the
same was rejected-yess Is, nays 80.
| MIR. Dodge of lows, moved to increase the
appropriation for the Des Moines Rapids, from
$l8 900 to $4,000; agreed tO-yeas 2s, nays
49,
Mr. Mallory moved to sdd an appropriation
of $4,000, for canal across the isthmus of
Florida Lost-yeas l9, nays %.
The bill, as amended, was then reported TO
the Senate, and the amendments made In
Committee of the Whole were concurred in
Mr.. Rusk moved to amend, by adding
S44, 600 for the BRACES river. Debated and
adopted.
Other amendments were offered.
The bill was then passed--yeas 81, nays IL
The Senate proceeded to the consideration
of Executive business
House Of Representatives, August /, 1884.
The House was called to order at 10 O'Clock
MIR. Perkins, Of Louisiana, reported bill to
remodel the Diplomatic and Consular Systems
of the United States. Read twice, and referred
to the Committee of the Whole on the state of
the Union, and ordered to be printed
Mr. Sellers submitted resolution, to print
10000 extra copies of the Report Of the spe-.
cial committee on the guano trade. Referred
to the Committee on Printing.
The Speaker presented to the House the
annual report of the Smithsonian Institution
Laid on the table and ordered to be printed
On motion of Mr. English the Committee
on Printing was instructed to inquire into the
expediency of printing 10000 copies of the
said report.
90 motion of MIR. Hunt Senate bill to es-
tablish port of delivery at Lakeport, on Lake
Pontchartrain, and for other purposes was
taken up, read third time, and passed.
Mr.. Wentworth, of Massachusetts,, from the
Committee on Commerce, reported back the
following Senate bills; which were seyerally
read third time and passed:
An act creating collection district in Texas
and New Mexico;
An act constituting Tuscumbia, in the State
of Alabama, q port of delivery, with an amend
ment
An act constituting Madison, Indiana, port
Of delivery.
The Speaker stated the question to be on the
motion yesterday made by MIR. Cobb, to sus-
pend the rules, to enable him to report, from
the Committee on Public Lands, bill grant
ing lands 70 Alabama, for railroad purposes
Mr. Cobb consented to the postponement of
the subject until tomorrow.
The House, at forty minutes past ten O'Clock,
went into Committee of the Whole on the state
of the Union, Mr.. Orr in the chair,) and re-
sumed the consideration of the Senate's amend
ments to the Civil and Diplomatic bill
The Senate amendments especially those in
regard to custom houses and marine hospitals
have been generally concurred in, notwith-
standing the adverse recommendation of the
Committee of Ways and Means.
Senate, Wednesday, august 2. 1854.
Mr.. Brown moved to take up the bill for the
relief Of Abigail Stafford. Lost.
Mr.. Slidell submitted resolution, that all
unfinished business of this session be continued
over until the next session. Adopted.
Mr. Seward reported a bill, changing the
name of the American built brig Glamorgan,
to the Wizard; and the came was considered,
and passed.
Mr.. Butler, from the Judiciary Committee.
to which was referred the question of Mr.. VIII.
liamss right to retain his seat, as q Senator
from New Hampshire, reported that he was
not entitled to his seat. The report was laid
on the table, and ordered to be printed
Mr.. Fish presented the memorial of Ameri
can citizens, whose property has been destroy
ed by the recent bombardment of San Juan.
praying indemnity for the losses sustained by
them. Referred
MIR. Fish, from the select committee ON the
subject of the great mortality on board emf
grant vessels reported q. bill for the better pres
ervation OF the lives of passengers on enierant
ships arriving in the United States.
Mr.. Dodge, of Iowa, reported bill granting
the right OF way to the Benicia and Marysyille
Railroad Company, through certain public
grounds In California; and the same was con.
sidered, and passed.
The Fertilization bill was taken up.
Mr.. Hunter opposed any amendment of the
bill, as the House would not pass it again.
MIR. Weller moved an amendment which
received only eight votes.
The bill was then passed--yeas 35, nays 9.
Mr.. Hunter moved that the Senate proceed
to the consideration of the Post Office Appro-
priation bill.
Messrs. Mason and Seward opposed the mo-
ton, they desiring an Executive session.
Mr.. Hunters motion was agreed to--yeas
l9, nays IT.
MIR. Rusk moved an amendment emitting
throughout the whole year the mail between
Charleston, Key West, and Havana. ADOPTED.
Also, an amendment allowing the postmas-
ter Of Washington city commission Of one
mill per pound Of the public documents which
pass through that Office annually, out of which
he shall pay bis employees $3.50 each per an
mum.
This was debated, and agreed to--yeas 81,
nays IL.
Other amendments were offered and debated.
proposition to establish daily mail be-
tween Cairo (lllinois) and New Orleans, was