Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-03-13
noINGs IN CONGRESS.

SENATE After prayer, and the reading of
the Journal, q
The Senate was occupied during the morn
ing hour in receiving petitions of misccllane.
Gus nature. on public and private subjects,
| amono which were number presented by Mr.
Seward against the Nebraska bill.
+ Mr.. Fish presented petition from the mef-
chants of New York, for aid in constructing a
Shin Canal, around the Falls OF Niagara, and
moved its reference to the committee on COM
merce.
Mr. Smart moved as an amendment that the
petition should be laid on the table, and said
that il had been already referred to the Com
mittee ON Public Lands, who had been dis
charged from its further consideration.
Mr. Seward said that the subject had been
referred to the Committee on Commerce, du-
ring the last Congress but too late to make a
report.
A lively debate ensued, and as Mr. Stuart
persisted in his amendment, the ayes and noes
were taken-ayes TO- noes ZO 1he amend
| ment was consequently lost
The vote on referring the petition to the
Committee on Commerce was then taken and
carried in the Affirmative.
Mr.. Mason presented a petition from citi-
zens of Alexandria for affording protection to
American citizens in their religious worship
abroad.
Mr.. Everett presented petition from Lieut.
Maury, in the name of the meeting held last
year at Memphis, respecting the opening of the
Amazon.
The Senate was still occupied in receiving
petitions, &e., when we left
HousE.-To-day, after the reading of the
journal, the Speaker laid before tie House the
Presidents reply to the resolution of inquiry,
adopted not long since, on motion of Mr..
Walker of New Y ork, for information concern
ing the condition of the ocean mail steamers
&c accepted" by the Government under the
several ocean steamer mail contracts, wheth er
they are fit for war purposes, &C., &c; referred
10 the Committee on Naval Affairs, and ordered
to be printed.
Mr.. Hunt, rising to question of privilege,
asked and was granted leave to make per
sonal explanation. Whereupon Mr.. Fl. called
the attention of the House to the report in the
Globe, of the proceedings leading to the per-
sonal misunderstanding which occurred on Fri
day afternoon, in the Hall, to which Mr.. Sol
lers, Mr.. Lane, Of Indiana, and himself, were
parties; tbs said report concluding with words
which might be construed into a personal re-
Election upon himself, (Mr. H. on the part of
Mr.. L. He inquired of that gentleman, wheth-
er, in saying that he laughed the rebuke to
scorn, he meant to apply the offensive words to
him. Mr.. H., personally?
Mr.. Lane, by leave, next replied at some
length to the remarks of Mr.. H., contending
that what he said on the occasion in question,
was said playfully, and that unless the gentle
man from Louisiana intended to essay to per-
sOnally rebuke him-to assume authority to
do so-he did not intend to apply the offensive
language to him.
Mr.. Hunt, again taking the floor, remarked
that he was astonished to hear that the gentle
man from Indiana was not in earnest in the
remarks which had called forth what he, (Mr.
Hunt had said offensive to Mr.. L.; his manner
and appearance at the time having caused his
words to fall very Extensively on the ears of
members from ali sections of the country who
surrounded him. Feeling compelled to regard
what Mr.. L. had just said in explanation, az
having been said in earnest, he would dismiss
the affair from his thoughts, and would only
hope that the gentleman from Indiana would
not in future attempt to make any more such
playful remarks on such subjects or occasions
The Speaker then announced the first bust
ness in order, to be the question on suspending
the rules for the consideration Of resolution
| directing the Sergeant-at Arms to pay Vim
Carr Lane per diem and mi!age while engaged
| recently in contcstipg the right of Manuel j
Galleg0s to represent New Mexico in the
House, on which the yeas and nays had been
called some days before; rule not susphnded-
yeas 20 NAYS 10.