Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-07-19
Thirty. third Congress, 1st. Session.

MONDAY, July l0.-Senate.- Chas
and Sumner presented petitions for the repeal G
the fugitive slave law.
The bill authorizing the erection of Telegraph
line to the Pacific was taken up and amended.
The homestead bill was then taken up, ant
advocated by Messrs. Hamln and Gwinn, ant
opposed by Messrs. Evans ard Bayard. Mr.
Clayton offered an amendment giving $l60 to cit
liens not able to avail themselves Of the advant
ages of the bill, instead of the l60 acres of lant
granted to aliens.
Houe-A variety of business was transacted
but nothing of interest.
observation-disclosures Rockwell auc
Sumner presented petitions for the repeal of thu
fugitive slave law.
The bill for telegraph line to San Francisco
was again taken up, and it was then passed yeas
90, nays 10.
The bill allowing the Alexandria Railroad Com
PAW to connect their road with the Baltimore
road was passed.
Mr.. Brown laid on the table substitute for the
homestead bill.
House.-Mr Benefits bill granting lands C
qualy to the several States for railroad and schoo
purposes was postponed till the third Tuesday il
December next.
MIR. Odds from the Committee on Post Offices
reported bill repeating the section in the law o
August, 1858, which makes deduction Of fifty
per cent on prepaid postage on newspapers ant
periodicals He looked on the section as bonus
TO the city press and against the country press.
The River and Harbor bill was taken up il
Committee of the Whole and further discussed.
.-Senate.-Messrs.S Seward sum
ner and Rockwell presented petitions for the re-
neal of the fupitjve slave law.
After some other business the homestead bill
was taken up. Mr.. Clayton temporarily with
drew that part of his amendment which he pro-
posed too insert in lieu of the sixth section leaving
only pending motion to strike out the sixth sec
ton. Messrs. Chase. Stuart and Seward opposed
the striking out. Messrs Butler and Clay advo-
Gated it, The latter said if the bill were passed a
throughly organized natl re American party would
be built up throughout the Southern States. MIR.
Cass replied to objections to the bill.
House.-The postage bill introduced by MIR.
Olds was considered during the morning hour.
The river and harbor bill was considered in
Committee of the Whole, and after much opposl-
ten and confusion was reported To the House.
Y.-Senale.-More anti-slayery petit
tions were presented.
The homestead bill was advocated by Messrs.
Wade, Jones, Of Tennessee, and others, and OPP
posed by Mr.. Clayton.
During the day tin box was received from the
President, which was supposed to contain the ia
pan treaty.
House.-Mr. Kidwell presented memorial Of
the Wheeling Bridge Company, asking an inves-
tigation of the charges against Judge Grier of the
Supreme Court. Referred.
Mr.. May presented the memorial of the Mana
cyoro of tho NVaShinntnn National Monumonf Co.
cety, representing that their funds are exhausted
SC, and submitting the whole subject to Con-
gress. Referred to a select committee of thirteen.
The River and harbor bill was then taken up.
All the amendments were conanrred in, and the
bill passed. Yeas 96, nays rs. Among other
appropriations the bill grants $50 900 for The i'm
provement Of James River near Richmond.
Enthusiastically granting land to Lou
isiana, Missouri &c., for Railroad purposes, were
passed.
Mr. Chase introduced bill to prohibit slavery
in the territories of the United States. He asked
no action on the bill till the next session.
The homestead bill was taken up. Mr.. Chase's
proposed amendment. extending the benefits Of
the bill to aliens hereafter arriving in the United
States, was reected-yeas l3. nays 70. Mr..
Dixon moved to amend by striking out the words
ANY lnuiVluudi anu INSERTING the WoIus any
free white person." Agreed to-yeas 81, nays
l6. On motion of Mr., Brown a provision was
added that any foreign born person who shall fail
to become citizen within six years after entering
upon the land shall forfeit all rights under the act
= yeas 81, nays 9. Mr.. Benjamin moved to add
to the 9th section that any native born person of
the age of l6 years and upwards shall be entitled
to the benefit of the act. Carried-yeas %, nays
notwithstanding Mr.. Jones declared that it
would defeat the BILL Pending another amend
ment offered by Mr.. Clay, the Senate adjourned.
Housc.--A variety of business was attended to,
but nothing of interest.
SArUaDAr.-Senatc.-T joint resolution Of
the thanks of Congress and the presentation of
medal to Capt. Ingraham was passed.
The homestead bill was taken up. Mr.. Stuart
said it was proposed to introduce new bill COM
bining the homestead principle and the graduation
plan of Mr.. Hunter-the possessory right after
cultivation for five years, with price fixed to the
land. to be paid at the end of that time.
Iiouse.-On motion of Mr.. Gerrett Smith me-
mortal of the New York Temperance Alliance,
praying Congress to clothe the Corporation of
Washington with full power to abolish the sale Of
intoxicating drinks was referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary.