The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-01-26

PRIVATE DAY.
on motion oy Mr. BADGER, the following resolution,
submitted by him upon yesterday considered and
agreed 10: 'ti h
Rsotved That ihe residue Of the present session
sIion OF prvae bills the general tie day; and
~ mar ahs % ~ ,s asasy hot o. every month m no such ol shah
sideution oi which may lead to debate.
gH yRIGATg PHILADELPHIA
On motion by Mr. FISH. the Senate proceeded, as 10
committee Of the whole. the considerable of the bill
il6for the relief OF The captors Of the rga,e Phia
delphia
Il directs that in consideration Of The extraordinary and
merItorous services rendered BY Stephen Decatur. al
commander OF the ketch Intrepid on the occasion OF the
rscapiurs and destruction Of The rgate Philadelphia. il
the habor of Trpol February lG, 1884, $4,000 be
paid under the direction OF the Secretary OF the Navy to
p. Stockton. and Mary II. Mcknight, to be distributed
half 70 the WIDOW and the other hall equally among
the nieces that S90 600 be paid 10 the other Surviving
officers and The crew OF the Intrepid, TO the widows,
any, OF such dead or, il thsFa be no wdowS 10
the legal representatives OF such deceased capos be-
distributed pro rats among the officers and crew, their
widows or legal representatives. their assigns the law
fu attorneys Of SAID parties appointed under their hands
and SEALS according 10 The rates fixed by the SIKH
ton q the act OF April lwenyhird, eighteen hundred,
for the better government oil the navy OF the United
States Prouidsd. That in shall any creditor of
any deceased otbcer, seaman, marine be entitled to
any OF the benefits OF this act and Also that any
portion OF this appro palion which may remain uncla-
ed IN The treasury al the expiration Of The term Of three
years from the date OF The act shall be carried The
Mr.. HUNTER called for the reading Of the report, If
any had been made.
Mr. FISH There is no report. This is. in its TERMS
precisely the bill which passed the Senate unanl-
mousy during the last Congress The subject has been
frequently before this and the oiter branch OF Congress-
and has alternately received the sanction OF the
quence OF differences which between the represent
atIves OF one of the claimants. The bill as il passed
the Senate during the last Congress- passed TO
these objections TO satisfy both parties claiming repre-
sentatives OF that officer The bill passed the Senate
unanimously at the session before the last after some
consideration II provides for the distribution and the
valuation OF this fgae IN accordance with the law OF
lso0 commonly called the prize act, with the only excep-
ZION that the share OF Commodore Decatur is made
what larger than would be under act 1t fixes
the valuation OF the vessel at $l05, 900.
Mr.. HUNTER. Why should mol the fund 60 to the
executor! Why introduce this new principle by dis.
ubuting 10 the widows and nieces!
Mr.. BADGER. II is donation.
Mr.. HAMLlN. l think The principle OF the bill is
well seuled. Al one lime there opposition TO the
ol, growing out OF diversity in The interests OF the
this distribution, and The only question which has been
raised was, not whether The parties entitled TO the
amount but TO the manner in which il should be dis
buled and as TO that, do not think necessary that
we should raise technical objections when the parties
themselves are satisfied
Mr. BAYARD. / am in favor OF this bill; but l
should like 10 il amended in respect and will
submit motion for that purpose The bill provides,
regards the commander OF the vessel for the distributor
OF the appropriated among certain parties That
all proper enough The individuals who to receive
thai part OF the appropriation, within the intention OF
Congress, are sufficiently pointed out; but when you
TO the distribution OF the residue OF the fund among
the other officers and the crew, the provision 49, in the
first place. that the money to be paid the surviving
officers and of The kech IaIep.d, the widows
II any, oil such as are deadhat all ghi-'of, ii there
be widow, then to The legal OF de-
ceased captos who engaged the capture and de-
struclon OF the igae aforesaid 10 be distributed pro
rata among The said officers and tlelr widows or
the legal representatives, Their sssgns the la u
torneys oil said paItes ihiak The provision ought not
TO extend be} ond The neai descendants thereore the
ought not 10 be Tor the legal
bui Tor The snfviving Children or their issue.
IL is true there is subseq uent provision that cred
or shall receive any benen under the bill but is it
at least questionable whether. II the money be paid 10
the legal representatives OF the deceased pares which
would, OF course. within the meaning OF the la " include
their executors or admnsrators) and the fund goes into
their hands, creditor may not have right claim il al
law although the money not to be paid 10 him snder
the bill
Ii is not a matter OF question whether il the money
paid the representative OF party, it would moi
form part OF the OF the e,ate Ii might be 40
construed. The object OF Congress suppose 10 make
ow; and. If his widow be dead, then his neal de-
scendanis. do not know whether it will extend 10
collaierals or not; my impression, however, would be
against that The words in the bil"ihe legal represent
aves iheir assigns or the lawful attorneys Of said par
ues-would extend The provision TO the payment OF m
dviduals who might have advanced money upon specu-
laon the necessities OF the parties. | WILL therefore,
strike out OF the seventh line OF the section
the words "the legal representatives OF such deceased
oapors" and insert he surviving children oil the de-
ceased capiors, or their issue"
Mr.. FISH. accept the amendment.
Mr., BAfARD. also move TO make the amend
men IN other parts OF the section, so as TO make ii
sisten
Mr.. FISH and Mr.. BADGER Tha, follows, as
matter OF course.
The PRESIDING OFFICER, (Mr. STUART in the
char) The Chair understands that there objection
to the amendment the bill will therefore be modified
cordngly.
The bill was reported TO the Senate as amended the
amendment was ooncurred in the bill ordered to be
engEossed for third readsg, and read third time
aud passed.
ExEcuTIvE SESSION
On motion by Mr. GWIN, the Senate proceeded to the
consideration OF executive business aud, after time
spent therein, the doors were reopeDed.
DEATH or THE RUSSIAN MINISTER
Mr. MASON. Mr.. President, [ discharge a melan-
choy duty in announcing 10 the Senate that The Hon
ernmeni departed this life. his residence in this Dis
trci, on Monday last, and informed tina, his funeral
will take place TO. afternoon at o'clock. This
eminent gentleman, Mr.. President, known all OF
officially, and presume to most Of us personally
and knew him, while always devoted 10 the interests
and the honor OF his country, TO have adorned the 40
eety ia which he moved By an exemplary and vntuous
lde,
He was The Oldest member OF the diplomatic corps al
Washington having resided here, the minister of his
governne nt for seventeen years. and by malrimo
mil alliance in country he had drawn around him
my orune--my good foriune--io have known HIM well
for many years and to have been IN the habuaI inter-
change with him OF those kind coureses of society
which smooth, while they a5orn varied paths OF |
life. By h,s lanenled death his government has lost
Jealous and faithful minister, and his surviving family