The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1854-08-02
CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON. ,1ulv

CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, July %
SENATE.-Mr. Pearcc, of Maryland,
submitted resolution of inquiry into
the recent destruction of Greytown by
the United States sloop.of-war Cyane.
The resolution was adopted.
Mr. Rusk, Of Texas, moved that the
Senate take up the bill for the relief Of
the officers who served in the Texas ma.
Wy during the war
Mr.. Mason, of Va. moved that the
Senate 60 into Executive session.
A vote was taken on Mr.. Rusk's mo.
ton, which was declared lost--ayos IL,
nays %
Mr. Mason renewed his motion.
Mr., Stuart, of Mich, urged the i'm.
portance Of taking up the River and
Harbor bill. He said he would vote
to take up no other bill until this ono
was disposed of.
Mr.. Seward, of N Y, also urged that
the River and Harbor bill be taken up.
His chief reasons for this were, that the
Appropriation bill, were pretty certain
to pass, while the passage of the Hartor
bill was not so certain, as but few days
of the session remained
Besides, it was important that if the
bill passed at all, that it be passed at an
early day as possible, in order that the
President might have time to thorough
ly examine it and determine whether or
not to approve Of it before that final ad-
journment took place.
The vote was then taken upon Senator
Mason's motion for an Executive session
and lost.
Mr. Stuart then renewed his m Otion
to take up the River and IIarbor bill,
which prevailed by yeas So, nays H.
Mr.. Hunter Of Va, reported back the
Army and Post Office appropriation
bill.
The River and Harbor bill was sub
sequcntly taken up
Several amendments of no general i'm.
portance were discussed.
Mr.. Benjamin supported tho amend
mont authorizing the Secretary of War
to suspend any of the appropriations con
tanned i'll the bill that lie may at any
timo deem advisable.
The debate was continued by Mcssrs
Badger, Seward and Chase. (The
amendment has since been rejected, and
the bill will probably be vetoed
HousE-Mr. Washburn Of H., stated
to tho House that the Special Commit.
tee appointed to investigate the alleged
frauds in tho Minnesota Land bill had
nearly completed their labors.
As the subject of the Interpolation of
a resolution fixing the compensation of
the employees of Congress involved mat
fers Of delicacy 50 far as he was concern.
ed it was proper that he should ask to be
excused from any further service on tho
committee.
The House granted his request.
The Post Road bill was then taken
up, read and passed,
Mr., Chandler. of Pa moved n sus.
pension Of the rules, in order that lie
might offer resolution calling for all
the official information in possession of
the government relative to the lombard.
mcnt at Grey town
Also, a copy of instructions issued to
Commander llolins, The yeas aud nays
were ordered and the suspension agreed
to. yeas 1872, nays 81.
The resolution was then adontcd.
Mr.. Elliott of Mass moved a suspen.
sion of the rules to enable him to Intro
duce bill having for its object the re.
peal Of the fugitive slave law.
y vote beng taken upon the motion,
it was decided in the negative, ayes l5,
nays l20
A communication was received from
the War department conveying Il letter
from Governor Stevens of Washington
Territory. in which he states that the
Indians at Fort Simpson had made an
attacl; upon the border settlement of the
Territory aud killed several persons.
Among the slain, it is feared, is Chief
Justice Lauper
MIR. Faulkner, from the committee On
Military Affairs, reported bill in favor
of increasing the pay ofnon commissions
ed officers and privates in the U. S. ar.
my. Passed.
The House then went into committee
of the whole on tho private calendar
After which the committee rose and re-
ported over fifty private bills which pass
ed, when the House adjourned.