The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-27
H,us. of Representatives, july IS, 1854.

ed them D0tA ao upJuSs'
Ny Benjamin followed in opposition to the
ILL
Hgus. Of Representatives., july IS, 1854.
The bill regulating postage was taken up.
Mr. ODDS said he did not see the gentleman
f,or, Virginia Mr.. McMULLENl in his seat !;
, ~ "a be had nothing further to say on the
s-fi,et Of this bill, he would demand the pre-
T.0a question: WV -.
,l, Obs withdrew his demand.
NJ. Washburne opposed the bill He con-
tsD led that the Post Office Department was a
..lr,rstained establishment-that the service
: rendered to the Government was at least
s1rs il value to any apparent deficiency.
Mr.. Garrit Smith opposed the bill also, and
tb,u,ht that private enterprise could accom-
rlisl the services now rendered by the Govern
TTa,t and that they should be left to that
means of accomplishment. He illustrated his
argument at length.
Hr. Eliot Of Massachusetts, also opposed
the bill. He regarded it as one of the most
mi.cheyious bills of the session, and adapted to
throw obstacles in the way of the intellectual
rr3gres3 Of the country. Nothing but the
s,-oagest necessity, he said, should induce an
increase of postage on papers and books. He
thought the idea that the Post Office Depart
ueps should be selfsustained was not more
reasonable than that any other Department
thyall be sclf-sustsined.
Mr.. T. spoke at great length, and entered
mo ca elaborate examination of the subject
Senate, Wednesday, july 10, 1854.
Sir. Sumner presented the memorial of
Charles Francis Adams, and three hundred
s,hers citizens of all parties, of Quincy, Mas
sa.husetts praying the repeal of the Fugitive
Slave Law.
Mr. Chase presented similar petitions from
cit.zers Of Ohio.
Dr. Petit from the Committee on the Judi
dry, to which had been referred numerous
MEMORIALS praying the repeal Of the Fugitive
Slave Law, reported tina. the same had been
duly considered, and the committee were Of
opinion that any such legislation was inexre-
dent; and that the committee ought TO be dis
charged from the further consideration of the
aaEe. The committee were according dis
charged. II
Mr Clayton, as test question on the Home
stead bill, moved to lay it on the table; and it
was decided in the negative, as follows:
YrAs-Messrs. Badger, Bayard, Benjamin,
Brodhead, Butler, Clay, Clayton, Dawson,
Dixon, Evans, Fessenden, Fish, Fitzpatrick,
Foot, Houston, Hunter, Mallory, Mason, Nor
us, Pearce, Pratt, Thompson of Kentucky,
T)ombs, and Toucey-24.
NAYs-Messrs. Adams, Allen, Atchison, Bell,
Bright, Brown, Cass, Chase, Dodge of Wis
cons.n Dodge Of Iowa, Douglas, Geyer, Gil
le.e Gwin, James, Johnson, Jones of Iowa,
Ines OF Tennessee, Petit, Rockwell, Sebas-
TN, Shields, Sldell, Stuart, Summer, Walker,
and Wcller-27.
House Of Representatives., July 10, 1854.
llr. Stanton, Of Tennessee reported from
he Committee on the Judiciary the Senate
BIZ, with amendments, for procuring an edi6ce
flg the accommodation of the United States
District Court, in Boston.
Air. Stanton explained that the amendments
recommended the inclusion of New York ind
Pt..ad,ll hiG that temporary and not perma-
lent lr.angcments might be made in the first
P..ce; ard hat, with view to permanent ar
z@DgeIcnts, the President is authorized to pro-
cGge by purchase or otherwise, suitable sites
ior ediioes adapted to the uses Of the courts.
Mr.. Stanton urged the necessity of imme-
di-te action on this measure.
The amendments proposed by the Committee
were adopted, and the bill was passed.
Nr. Odds called for the regular order OF bust
ne=s AID the bill regulating the postage on Pc
ncdlcals, &c, was taken up.
Mr.. Dickinson moved to lay the bill upon
The table
This motion was decided in the Affirmative
yeas "A, nays 81.
Senate, Thursday, July 20, 1854.
hf,er long discussion upon the Homestead
BIZ
Nh. Hunter moved substitute for it. This
substitute proposes to graduate the prices oil
Inc lands from twenty-five cents to one dollar,
according to the time the same may have been
IN market; allowing the State to take pre-emp.
u1n rights to any land within its limits and
also for purposes Of internal Improvements
It also gives the actual settler quarter section
q land for which, after five years cultivation
Re snail pay twenty. five cents an acre.
Slessrs. Cas- and Bright advocated the sub
si.td'e if they could not get the bill as it came
iT5m tire E0lse, they were willing to take this
Mr.. Gwin moved to amend the substitute sc
thas Prescriptions in California be put at one
dollar per acre; which was agreed to.
Mr. Chase moved an amendment, the efec
Of which was that when the public lands ii
any State should lie reduced to thirty thou
s2ad acres, they should be ceded to the States
IN which they lie.
Mr. Hunter opposed the amendment, AND
The question having been taken, it was decided
10 the negative-yeas 6, nays 81.
Mr. Chase moved to strike out the wore
white" believing, as he did, that it would
give strength to the BILL
The question was taken on the motion O
Mr. Chase, and it received affirmative vote
to SO nays.
The question was then taken on Mr.. Hun
ters's substitute as it was amended. and it wa
decided in the affirmative, as follows:
lEAs-Mes6rs. Adams, Atchison, Benjamin
Bnght Brodhead, Brown, Butler, Cass, Clay
Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge of Iowa, Douglas
h7ans Fitzpatrick, Geyer, Gwin, Houston
Hunter, James, johnson, Jones Of Iowa, Mallc
~, Mason, Petit, Rusk, Sebastian, Shield
SAdell. Stuart Thompson Of Kentucky, Thon
son Of New Jersey, Toombs, Toucey, and Wall
er-34
NAYs-Mess-s Allen, Badger, Bell, Chas
Dawson, Fessenden, Fish, Foote, Gillette, Jone
u tennessee, Pratt, Sumner, and Wade-13
The bill was then ordered to be engrosse
iaF third reading, and the Senate adJourne
Il y o'clock P M.
House Of Representatives., July 20, 1854.
Mir. Odds, from the Post Office COMMITTEE
reported the usual bill establishing post route
Inc House resolve. itself into Committee {
The Whole on the state of the Union, and r
s1ned the consideration of the Army Appr'
IlstiOn bill, (Mr. Wright, Of Pennsylvania,
tho chair)
lha debate in Committee related to the pr
posed sale to the city of st. Louis, for the pu
poses of park, of the United States propert
upon which the arsenal near that city is i
Gated