Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-08-05
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 3, 1854.

THURSDAY, AUGUST ., 1904.
Mr.. HOUSTON asked that message might be sent to
the Senate requesting the return of the civil and dpo
matte BILL that might be corrected which had
been made in the report of the action Of the House
the amendments of the Senate thereto.
Mr.. HAVEN objected, giving notice that he should
object to the consideration Of any whatever
until the river and harbor bill should be taken up and
referred to the Committee Of the Whole the state Of
the Union
Mr.. HOUSTON presumed that his motion was priv
legged question: il correct in the report
of the action or the House the amendments Of the
Senate to the civil and diplomatic bill The House had
agreed to the amendment for the construction of marine
hospital at New Orleans and other places but in the
port of the action of the House sent to the Senate
stated that that amendment had been rejected He de-
sired the bill returned from the Senate that this error
might be corrected.
Mr.. HAVEN was the last man who would throw any
obstacle in the way Of the passage of the civil and dpo
matte bill but there another ordinary appropriation
bill, which had majority in both Houses, which ought
to be first taken up and he insisted that the people
were entitled to some consideration well the Gov.
eminent. .&" >.t.#..E
Mr.. ORB said that the gentleman from New York de-
sired the House to take and refer the river and barber
bill out of its order and out Of its place. and before the
homestead BILL which the first considered, the first
passed. the first returned from the Senate and the first
upon the Speakers table He yesterday objected the
taking up of the river and harbor BILL and he supposed
that the gentleman from New York desired to throw
every obstacle he could in the way Of carrying the
Government. The gentleman might do so if he chose
but he would say the honorable member that he would
not withdraw his objection to the taking up of that bill
out Of it's order
message was here read from the Senate announcing
that that body had insisted those Of its amendments
to the civil and diplomatic bill which had been disagreed
to by the House. and had appointed committee Of
ference on the disagreeing votes Of the two Houses
thereon
The question was then TAKEN and the House agreed
the appointment of committee of conference
RECIPROCITY TREATY.
message having been received from the President
On motion Of Mr. BAYLY, of Virginia. it was taken up
and read, as follows:
WASHINGTON, August 2, 1854.
To the House Of Representatives:
herewith transmit you copy Of the treaty between the
United States and Great Britain, negotiated Washington
the 9Th Of June last 1t has been concurred in the
exchanged 1t win be observed that the provision
tine 9Th article the treaty does go operation until
after Legislation thereon by the respective parties
Should Congress- at its present session. the requisite
law the part of the United States give effect to its
spuatons the fishing grounds the Of the
North American Provinces, from which fishermen have
been heretofore excluded oe opened them during
season. and coons between them and
British fishermen avoided.
of the United States at the earliest practicable PERIOD
other advantages which it is believed they will derive from
this treaty. recommend the passage by Congress- at the pre-
sent session. of such law as the part Of the
- FRANKLIN PIERCE.
On motion of Mr.. BAYLY, of Virginia, the message
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and
ordered to be printed.
ALTERATION OF THE RECORDS.
Mr.. CAMPBELL, from the select committee on the
subject made the following report:
The select committee appointed to investigate the al
terations made in House bill No. 342 to aid in the CON
and also in regard to all other Of Interpolation Of
bills or joint resolutions of the House during the
session. in considering the latter branch Of the
OF their inquiries have unanimously agreed upon the fol-
lowing report:
That they have taken testimony in regard to the inter-
poaon Of the joint resolution fixing the compensation
the employees in the Legislative Department Of the Gov
ernment which is herewith submitted They have
to the conclusion that the words sand public folders
nterned and read at the clerks desk through mis-
take 1t appears that Messrs WENTWORTH (of uinois)
and FLORENCE made effort to procure the said altera-
ton through Mr. CURTIS and the committee who had re-
ported it but there is no evidence to show that they
sought such change by any improper On appli-
cation to Mr.. CURTIS he (r C) took copy, mot the
original resolution and, private memorandum for
his own use, interned in pencil in said copy the words
mentioned. The original as well said copy were
red to the clerks desk by the Speakers page and at the
same time Mr. WENTWORTH of linois) said the clerk
call right; oil right" From these facts Mr. Barclay,
the journal clerk inferred that the committee had direct
ed the change and he accordingly interned upon the
original resolution the said words and public folders
The resolution then twice read and the yeas and
nays on suspension Of the rules were partly taken
when the attention Of the House was called to the inter-
polaton Thereupon Mr. Curtis, having announced that
it not authorized by the committee the Speaker
dered the words to be stricken out and the resolution
was then passed in the form in which it had been agreed
on and reported by the Committee on Accounts
The committee therefore think that none of the parties
had any fraudulent or improper design in regard to this
matter. IN
The report was laid the table and ordered to be
printed.
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE, from the same committee, made
majority report on the subject Of the alterations made
in House bill to aid in the construction of railroad in
the Territory Of Minnesota After stating all the cir
cumstances attending the alteration the committee say
that Mr. Forney thought the change Of the word orr
that Of "and in the bill unimportant and that in
directing the alteration governed by practice which
Gen. Paten engrossng clerk Of the Senate had assured
him prevailed with regard to verbal alterations in
where the design Of bills well understood Az.
ter careful review Of the evidence the committee do not
mpugn the motives intentions Of those who made the
alteration but the contrary acluit them Of any crmi-
nal or improper purposes Mr.. STEVENS, Of Michigan
thought that proper make the change to mt the
bill in the shape in which it passed the Committee on
Public Lands and the Clerk, moved by
made to him, directed the change under the influence Of
the same sentiments
The committee, however express in strong Ian
their conviction that any unauthorized change in the
text Of bill which is passed is Of the most dangerous
tendency, and are Of the opinion that those who make
such alterations deserve severe censure
In conclusion the committee report bill restoring the
Minnesota land bill to its language before the alteration
of the word cor" to "and, and providing that in no
event. by virtue Of any heretofore passed shall
the Governor, Auditor and Treasurer of that errtorv
have power to designate the company or companies "a
whom the benefit Of the land granted by the Bill shall
| enure -
The report is signed by Messrs BRKcxrsnrpoR. DAVIS
Of Indiana, and BARRY
Mr.. CAMPBELL, from the minority Of the committee