Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-01-28
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 1854.
IN SENATE.


Mr. SEBASTIAN lin the unavoidable absence Of the
Senator from Mississippi, Mr.. ADAas) presented the
credentials Of the Hon. A. G. BRowK elected by the Le-
gslaure of Mississippi Senator in the Congress Of the
United States for the term prescribed by law.
The oath Of Office having been administered Mr. Brown
took his seat.
The PRESIDENT Of the Senate laid before the body
communication from the Department Of the Interior
commenting appropriation of $4,000 pay the debts
Of the last commissioner to and mark the boundary
between the United States and Mexico which read
and referred TO the Committee Finance.
Mr.. DODGE, from the Committee on Public Lands,
to which referred the bill authorize the State of
Illinois select the residue of lands to which she is
titled under the act of ID of March, 1927 granting land
to aid that State in opening canal to connect the waters
Of Illinois river with those of Lake Michigan, reported
back the with amendment
Mr.. HUNTER, from the Committee Finance, to
which was referred House bill making appropriations
for the payment of invalid and other pensions of the
United States for the fiscal year ending 30th June 1862
reported back the with amendment which was
considered and agreed to- and the bill passed
amended
Mr.. SHIELDS, from the Committee on Military AZ
fairs TO which referred House bill for the relief of
the u s. troops who sufferers by the recent disas
ter to the steamship San Francisco reported back the
same, with sundry amendments, and asked their mme-
diAte consideration.
1.-THE first amendment includes Lieut.. F. K, Murray
and any other officer of the United States ma
Wy who was in the ship under orders.
The second amendment is proviso that the Of
Cd to the officers and men by authority of the President
previous their ebarkaton shall be passed their
dit, and their receipts for the same be cancelled.
The third amendment adds the following: That the
widows and minor children of those officers,
stoned officers and prvates who persisted by this disaster
who died from disease in consequence thereof shall be
allowed pensions in the in all respects
they had been killed in battle."]
These amendments having been severay agreed to-
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, offered amendment con-
tanning additional section to the effect that the Second
Auditor ascertain the amount Of losses sustained by all
connected with the service board said vessel and that
he pay the Of the Treasury of the United States
Mr. JONES addressed the Senate in favor of his amend
Although it had not received the sanction of the
committee, he persuaded that the sympathy Of every
individual member of the in favor of il. He
inanced the Of deserving sergeant who had saved
from his pay about 81 000 every farthng of which
lost and he thought the Government ought in justice
refund it. AID now when the treasury was 50 full as
to need depletion and when the facts all fresh be-
fore them, it BETTER in his opinion not delay
the payment to . later day. ... e..
Mr. JOHNSON felt deeply for the loss of the sergeant
in short for the losses sustained by all board the i'll
faed ship, but nmated that the adoption of any such
amendment must open the doors too WIDE and lead to
nnumerable drafts upon the treasury He did not think
that the Government should be made underwater in
the matter; those persons who took their property
did it at their risk spoke Of the difficulty that
must necessarily in obtaining statement
Of the losses incurred and thought the amendment rather
calculated to smbarrass the bill. ..
Mr. SHIELDS thought the amendment ought not to
prevail at least at this early juncture There were
statements made which would become question Of mill
tary inquiry He spoke of certain reports Of officers
having first left the ship instead of being the last leave
her. until those under their command had been safely
embarked Some Of those officers personally known
to him, and gallant in battle; but he thought
much courage should be displayed in the hour of dan
ger at in battle. He considered the amendment
premature to say the least and hoped it would not be
pressed. .,.
Mr.. JONES then, at the suggestion of several mem
bers, withdrew his amendment. .
Mr.. BUTLER understood to say that, in CONVEX
saton with Lieut. Murray that officer had excupated the
military officers from all blame that they did not so
remain board the Kilby," but prevented from
returning to the ship the barque having parted from
her in the night. ~
Mr.. SHIELDS was most happy to hear that statement
The bill, amended, then read the third time and
passed. ..'~
RIVERS AND HARBoRs ..
Mr. BELL desired to ask question of the chairman Of
the Committee Commerce. Pe desired to be informed
whether that committee intended to report any bill for
the improvement rivers and harbors 1t seemed to be
the general impression in that committee that such bills
should originate in the popular branch and the result
that bill reached the Senate until late period
of the session. and frequently until the for
making improvements had expired Thus, for want of
system and regularity in the appropriation these works
had become diapidated and rendered almost useless
This matter had grown into habit and had become in
be used plausible argument against the
whole system Of river and harbor improvement lie de-
sired know whether the committee would report BILL
or in accordance with the usual practice, await the
ton Of the other House He thought the committee might
report BILL and the Senate could mature it and send it
to the other branch, and in that way perhaps help
avoid the delays destructive to the interests of the pub
lc At all events the responsibility of the failure to
tnue the works, of suffering them to fall into decay
for of prompt action must rest where it belonged
Mr. HAMLIN, as chairman Of the committee, replied
that it had been the uniform practice for the committee to
await the action of the other Houseone never in any in
stance departed from within his memory; was he
aware that the committee had any intention of departing
from the rule this He thought the committee had
the right to rginae sucha bill, but the ongconnued
psactce of the Government had been to allow all appro
priaon bills originate in the other branch OF Congress-
and he could good reason why it should not be ad
hered TO- There where bills had been reported
for some particular improvements such the mouth of
the Mississippi &C., and such might be the case again
in fact he had rather favored the system Of making ap
preparations in separate bills by that means merito
rous works Of great public utility were not likely to be
retarded. So far he concerned, he had favored
the separate system but he always found himself IN mi
nority in the committee ...
Mr.. BADGER thought that Senator'S could scarcely
fail to perceive the Inconvenience we'll injury that
had resulted from awaiting the action OF the other branch
He thought it would be WE'LL at least beneficial that
the Committee Commerce should exercise its undoubt
ed right of originating general bill the subject but
the committee fit to confne its abors to special bills
he hoped il would at least respect to memorial pre-
scented by him the other day for the removal of the OBJ
sructons the mouth Of Cape Fear river in North Caro-
Hna the continuance Of which was one Of the greatest
ourages the country and he expressed the hope that
the committee would at least report separate bill for the
removal of the same
Mr. SEWARD expressed himself in favor of general
action by the Committee and the subject was then
dropped. .-.-
Washington Railroad Company which was read and re
ferred IN the Committee on the District of Columbia