The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-02-17
CONGREGATIONAL.
Thursday. Feb. {

lHuTsddy, REQ. ".
SENATE. In the Senate, the French Spoila.
ton Bill was taken up and debated, and final.
ly postponed. A..
when Mr.. Truman Smith spoke up to the
hour of adjournment, without concluding
when the bill was postponed until tomorrow.
House.. The Deficiency Bill was to-day
rejected in the House, by vote oil 70 nays
10 81 yeas. Much connection ensued.
Mr.. Clingman moved Reconsideration,
and that his motion lie on the table,-yeas
SO, nays So. The Speaker gave the casting
vote in tho affirmative, and thus the bill "
cilectually killed. Amid much confusion and
claiming OF hands on the part Of many men,
beers, the House adjourned.
Friday, Ftb. 10.
SENATE. After the transaction OF private
bills. the Nebraska bill was taken up and Mr.
Truman Smith resumed bis speech.
House.. Mr. Houston made IN Intellectual
attempt to introduce n new Deficiency Bill.
The House then went into Committee on
the private calendar, and on rising adjourned
to Monday.
Monday, FEB. 10.
SENATE. Resolutions were adopted, call
ing for copies Of the correspondence with
Brazil, and directing an inquiry rs to in.
crcasing the allowance of officers employed
in the Mexican war.
The Nebraska bill was then taken up, Mr..
Weller commencing the debate.
HoUsE.-Mr. Breckenridge made anolh.
or attempt to introduce Deficiency Appro-
priation Bill, hut the House refused by vote
100 to II.
A resolution by NJ. Mace was also adopt
ed, providing for select committee to in.
vestigate frauds, &C., in disbursements oil
money TO the Collins AID other mail steam
ers.
A communication was received from the
Secretary of the Interior, stating that the
amount of land donated by Congress to
schools, universities, States, railroads, and
to various other objects, is in the aggregate
over 1874, IA 900 acres. Adjourned.
Tuesday, FEB II.
SENATE. The Senate this morning was
crowded at an early hour by persons anxious
to hear tho Texan Senator, Mr.. Houston,
speak on the Nebraska bill.
Petitions were presented by Messrs. Sew
ard and Brodhead agains, the Nebraska bill.
and Mr.. Petit closed his remarks in favor oil
the French Spoliation bill, which was order.
ed to he cngrosscd-Yeas %, nays IL.
A bill was passed allowing Illinois to select
the residue of lands granted to aid her IN
the completion of her canals.
Some business of small moment was tran
sacted, and then the debate on Nebraska
was resumed by Mr.. Houston, who had not
concluded his remarks when the subject was
postponed until tomorrow.
The Senate then went into Executive ses-
ion, and afterwards adjourned.
llousE. The House went into Committee
on the Homestead bill. ltproposcd to grant
every man being the head Of family and
citizen of the United States, a homestead oil
100 acres Of ano, on condition OF occupying
and cultivation for specified period.
Mr.. Dawson supported the bill. In the
course of his remarks he said. that not more
than 100 million acres Of land would be re-
qurcd under the bill for many years TO come,
and il we add 80 millions for Pacific rail.
road, we shall still have 1850 millions OF
acres of public domain; geographical area
larger than England, Wales, Ireland and
Scotland combined sufficient in extent 10
make 200 States as large rs Maryland, New
Jersey or New Hampshire. Without the
adoption Of policy such as the bill propos'
cd, the domain must continue wilderness
for centuries tn come.
NJ. Mace, of Iowa, made long and strong
speech agains. tho disturbance of the com.
promise dcnOuncing the Nebraska bill, and
declaring that he would resist the repeal OF
the Missouri Compromise with all tho pow
crs he possessed, aud that il his constituents
did not approve of his course, it would give
him great pleasure to resign for them to elect
some one in his place.
Mr.. SHELTON, (Dcm.) Of n. j., also do.
nounccd the Nebraska bill, and alluded with
some severity to the course Of the Govern.
ment papers at Washington, in abusing and
decouncing as abOlitionists and lactionists all
who opposed the repeal Of the Missouri Con-
promise.
Mr.. Meacham, of VT, obtained the floor,
when tho Committe rose and the House
adjourned.
FROM CALIFORNIA.