Washington sentinel., 1854-07-25
C0ngrfssi0naI.
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
senate--Monday, July "a, 1884.

sf IhlhII HAAD OONORESSs
FIRST SESSION.
senate--M Monday, July "a, 1854.
Mr.. PETIT asked and obtained leave TO make
a personal explanation with respect 10 letter
written by Hon. I. III. BENTON 10 an editor in In
diana, in which he Mr.. p. was called great liar
and dirty dog. He said thai If he did not satisfy
the Senate that Colonel BENTON was wicked
and malicious falsifer of the truth or an imbecile
dotard, he would be willing 10 bear the epitheis
which had been applied TO him.
MIR. MASON Submitted TO the senator and the
chair, whether these remarks in reference TO
member Of the other House were decorous, or
were allowed by the rules Of order
The CHAIR Mr.. STUART decided that in per-
sonal explanations, the same rules Of order APP
piled as in other cases. A senator could not re-
fleet upon the conduct or actions of member OF
the House as such.
Mr.. PETIT said that ii what Colonel BENTON
had written of him were true, he would be unwor-
thy TO associate with gentlemen.
Mr.. r. said that he had no intention to refer 10
Mr.. BENTON member ofthe House, or TO any
act Of his as member.
Mr.. MASON asked if the decision Of the Chair
allowed observations 10 be made upon members
ofthe House, for acts not done as members of that
House
The CHAIR said that for acts not done as a
member of Congress, the rule extended no more
protection 70 member OF either House than to
any other citizen.
Mr.. PEIIII resumed lie said that upon his
| recent visit 10 Indiana, he found that Col. BEN
| ToNs speech upon The Nebraska question had been
widely circulated there, and that persons who pre-
viousy had accused Col. b. ofthe most Infamous
crimes--theh and cold booded murder-were
| then most lavish in the praise of that speech He
had then undertaken 10 show that the Missouri
| compromise was just violated by Col b. in having
the Platte country, made free by that compromise
| converted into slave territory by being added to
| the State of Missouri. This statement Of his had
tad 10 i,u a xuhtc
Indiana, and this elected the letter which had
| forced its way into the newspapers letter which
would NOT be creditabe to q lunatic in an asylum,
| or the greatest felon in his cell.
/ He referred TO the book of Col b. "thirty years
in the United States Senate" and read extracts
from il to show that he was right in his history Of
| the matter.
He also quoted Col. BIS words as 10 the means
employed by him TO get northerR men TO vote for
| that measure, and said that, by his own account
BENTON had acted like thief in the night, with the
guile Of the serpent in his heart, and on his
/ tongue. As Eve was approached in Eden so
were the northern members approached, on that
OCCASION by Mr.. BENrcN.
| The CHAIR called the Senate to order.
Mr.. CASS suggestedth the senator pass over
the denunciatory portion Of his remarks.
| Mr.. PETIT said that he was not alluding 10
anything that Col. BENTON had done as member
of the House, but to what he did in 1886, when he
was member of the Senate. af
| Mr.. JOHNSON expressed the hope that the
senator be allowed TO 60 on, and made motion
| to that effect He knew that there was q serious
controversy in this matter.
i Mr.. PETIT said that he had been assailed
without any provocation on his part. He wished
TO pay off the debt.
The motion Of Mr.. JOHNSON was reiected-yess
Mr.. DAWSON moved that the senator be al
lowed to proceed in order; which motion was
agreed to.
Mr.. PETIT resumed and concluded his re.
marks, continuing in strain OF great severity.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
On motion by Mr.. COOPER,
Resolved That President requested to cause to he
Of Professor Espey
On motion by Mr. SLIDELL,
Resere That the Committee the Post Office and Post
Roads instructed inquire into the expesncy Of
tablishing post route from Greensburg, louisiana,
point intersecng the railroad from New Orleans Jack
son, Msssspp at or near the house Of Benjamin wisl
Mr.. SUMNER presented the memorial of Chns
| Mckenzie British subject. praying that the large
fees exacted efforeigners applying for patents,
| be abolished
Mr. MASON objected TO the reception of the
| memorial. Aliens could not address this govern
ment through its legislative branch. The memo
1 rial was not received.
Anumber of House bills were read twice and
referred.
WASHINGTON WATER WORKS.
The Senate then, on motion OF Mr.. HUNTER.
| proceeded TO the consideration of the civil and
I diplomatic appropriation BILL The pending ques-
/ tion was on the amendment appropriating half
million dollars for continuing the Washington
| water works.
Messrs. ADAMS, and DODGE Of Iowa, op.
posed the amendment, and Messrs. CASS, PRATT,
and BADGER supported it.
! Mr.. SLIDHLL moved an amendment 10 add TO
| the appropriation proviso that the corporations
4 of Washington and Georgetown, or either of them,
should appropriate concurrently with the United
| States amount equal TO onethird that which
! should be appropriated by the United States, and
| that the aqueduct should not be more than seven
\ feet in diameter.
Messrs. SHIELDS and MASON opposed the
amendment and Messrs. SLIDELL and BUT
LER supported il.
Mr.. HUNTER said that, with view Of secur-
ing the work, he would, If this amendment be
voted down, offer IL again with the ams mt 10
be contributed by the cities 10 one fourth
/ Messrs. DODGE OF Iowa, COOPER and JOHN
/ SON supported the amendment, and Messrs-
PEARCE,RU MALLORY, and BENJAMIN,
opposed it,
The question being taken, the amendment was
| rejected--yeas 20, nays 30.
Mr.. HUNTER offered a like amendment mod.
| fed TO read as follows:
Prorfded That part Of the sum hereby appropriated
shall be expended until the corporations Of Washington
and Georgetown, either Of them shall appropriate and
purpose and fun power and authority are hereby
given 10 said corporations respectively to raise by
able them or either Of them 70 make the spproDrson
herein required and the said corporations OF Washington
and Georgetown, and the Inhabitants said respec
lively the corporation making the appropriation and
the inhabitants Of such city shall be authorised tho
surplus water which may be brought by the Washington
aqueduc after supplying the establishments
In Washington under such general rules and regulations
hereafter be prescribed by Congrcss and each Of
said corporations shall have the 70 charge and collect
Of the inhabitants OF such city such reasonable tax rent
for the Of the water viii provide for the regular
payment Of the interest and the gradual of the
principal Of any which may be raised under the
thority hereby given
Messrs. CLAYTON, BRIGHT, and BRoD.
! HEAD opposed the amendment as unjust.
Mr.. COOPER supported the amendment. and
| Messrs. ADAMS and DODGE, of Iown, opposed
the whole appropriation.
The question was then taken. and the amend
ment was adopted-yeas 26, nays 10.
Mr.. HAMLIN moved TO amend the amendment
by adding thereto, " Provided, That the aqucduct
shall not be more than seven feet in diameter
This was debated for some time and lost.
| The bill was then postponed, and