The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-13
CONGRESS-.
rHtRrY-rK1RD coNGREss-F1Rsr SESSION
Senate. Wsdnesdan Julu S, 1854.

THfRTY-TRIRD CoNGREss-FIRsT SESSION.
Senate Wednesday, july 5, 1854.
The Secretary read a letter from Mr.. Atchi-
son, requesting the Hon. MIR. Badger to preside
to-day which was read, and the request was
unanimously acceded to.
MIR. Sumner presented the memorial of the
legal voters of Portsmouth, New Hampshire,
and of Andover, Massachusetts, praying the
repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law.
Mr.. Hamlin reported back the House bill to
correct clerical error in the act granting
new register to the steamer Ell Paraguay by
new name, and the same was considered and
passed.
atoms for the repair Of the Long Bridge over
the Potomac river.
MIR. Mason submitted a resolution, which
was agreed to, directing an inquiry as to the
expediency of erecting building at Wheeling,
Virginia, to be used as o post Office custom
house, and court room.
Also, a resolution calling for the correspond
ence with Brazil in relation to the seizure Of
an American vessel and an American citizen
in that country; which was adopted.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
bill to establish line of steamers between San
Francisco, in California, and Shanghai, in China,
by the way of the Sandwich Islands and Japan;
and the same was passed-yeas % nays 8.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
bill authorizing the Washington and Alexan-
dria Railroad Company to extend their road,
by way of the long bridge and the streets of
Washington city, to the depot of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad.
Mr.. Bright by way Of test vote on the BILL
moved that it be laid on the table; and the
motion was agreed to-yeas 26, nays IL.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
| bill to establish line of telegraph between
the Mississippi and San Francisco, Califor
| MIA.
Mr.. Hamlin explained the bill-that it
granted two millions Of acres of land for the
construction of the line; it required the trans
mission, free Of cost Of eight thousand words q
month for the grant; that it was to be given
out by contract to the lowest bidder, and was
to be completed in two years. The rates pre-
scribed were to be double those charged on
lines in the States; this line TO be constructed
under ground, costing three times as much as
the ordinary lines of telegraph.
The bill was then postponed till tomorrow.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of
the bill for the more efeotual suppression of
the African slave trade, by restricting the right
Of transfer Of American vessels in foreign ports.
The pending amendment was the one appro-
priating $3.50 900 annually, to aid the Aneri-
can Colonization Society in keeping up line
of armed steamers to ply between the United
| States and the coast of Africa.
MIR. Petit withdrew his amendment, and the
bill was passed.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
bill vetoed by the President, granting lands to
the several States, for the relief of the INDECENT
| Insane.
Mr.. Brodhead addressed the Senate in sup
port of tho veto, and in strong opposition to
| the Homestead bill.
1t was then postponed till tomorrow, when
the vote will be taken.
The resolution that the Senate hereafter
meet at nine o'clock, daily, was taken up and
debated.
House of Representatives. July 5, 1854.
The Speaker laid before the House COM
munication from the Hon. Gilbert Dean, re-
signing his position as member of this body:
laid on the table, and ordered to be printed
The Speaker also laid before the House
communication from the Treasury Department,
relating to the leases made with the Bank of
Commerce and the Bank of the State of New
York, for their respective buildings for the use
of the Assay Office in that city, and asking an
appropriation therefor.
| The Speaker announced the business first in
order to be the consideration of the bill grant
ing lands equally to the several States to aid in
the construction of railroads and for the support
of schools (Mr. Benefits land BILLY post
poned to this day.
MIR. Bennett arose and addressed the House
at length in support of this BILL and partcu-
larly in opposition to the arguments advanced
by Mr. Disney in his speech on this subject.
The House then resolved itself into Commit
kAa NF H. LII
| tMr. Orr in the chair and resumed the con-
sideration of the Civil and Diplomatic Appro-
priation bill.
Senate, Thursday July s, 1854.
MIR. Gillette presented the resolutions of the
| Legislature OF Connecticut upon the subject of
| slavery, the repeal of the Missouri restriction
demanding the repeal of 30 much of the Ne
braska act as declares that restriction void,
and censuring the Hon. Isaac Toucey for voting
for said Nebraska bill, against the express in
structions of the Legislature of Connecticut
| MIR. Toucey said these resolutions were passed
by the coalescing majority of the present Leg
lslature of Connecticut, composed of the Abo-
lition and Wing parties with whom he had
never had any political association, but to
whom he had always been opposed. He be-
longed to the party of strict constructionists of
the Constitution, and the maintenance of the
rights of the States. To his devotion to these
principles he owed bis seat in the Senate. He
reviewed the action of the Legislature of Con-
| necticut at this session, with respect to the
| Fugitive Slave Law and other matters pertain.
ing to Slavery, and said that vote of censure
coming from the majority of Legislature
thus constituted was the highest compliment it
could pay him. He had dsobeyed the instruc-
tons of the Legislature, because they were in
conflict with the Constitution of the United
| States, which he had sworn TO support.
| Mr.. Gillette responded, and said that the
present unhappy difference between the State
of Connections and one OF her Representatives
was one of the first fruits of the pacific, tran
quillizing measure, called the Nebraska bill,
winch committed the great breach of the ma