The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-12-15
THIRTY.THIRD CONGRESS-.
SECOND SESSION.


SECOND SESSION.
DEC. 4. Tho Senate vas called to ord CT,
81 members present, Atchkinson sent a let.
ter rcsigning the presidency OF the senate,
and Gen. Cass was elected president pro
TEN. Lawrence Brainarj, free senator from
W., took his seat. and loo'oclock was fixed
as the hour Of meeting. The message was
read. ......i..
Tho House met, 1917 prcsent-drcw lots
for seais-presideni' veto Of last session
River and llarbor Bill read-Blls offered
relative to Oregon and Ulah-correspon-
dence called for relative to the Soule fuss
in Frauce-notice Of bill to extend military
|PensionsTTte abolish duty on coal--call for
the object. Of the late meeting Of American
ministers in liolland,-(relused Of course.)
Message read and 10000 copies ordered.
Dec. 8. Bright Of Indiana. was chosen
President OF Senate-thc South offering o
pretty smart opposition even to one so ser.
vile. Committees OF last session continued.
liousE. Mr.. Sellers (of Maryland) reso-
luton, offered yesterday, calling upon tho
President for information concerning the
Ministers at Ostend and whether It was
bold in pursuance Of instructions from the
State Department, was taken up. Mr.. Sol
lers said he did not want to stiko blow ut
o helpless administration, bu, he asked Tor
the information in order that the public
curiosity might be satisfied. lie trusted
that the Ministers did not meet for the pur-
pose OF fllibustering; and IL for patriotic
purposes, let 1t be shown.
Mr.. Bailey, Of Georgia, said that the reso.
lu.ion was premature. There was nothing
alarming even in the fact Of these meetings
! Of these ministers.
A spirited discussion ensued, which was
engaged in by Messrs. Gray Of Kentucky,
Washburne Of Maine, Letcher Of Virginia,
and Taylor Of Ohio, in iaSor; and Went.
worth Of illinois, Philips of Alabama, Cling.
man Of n. Carolina, Mcslullcn Of Virginia,
and Dewitt Of Massachusetts, in opposition.
The House refused TO send the resolutions to
the Committee on..Poreign Affairs, and next
day laid It OH the table, but afterwards rc.
iered it, and that Is the last Of 1t. ..
Dec. 6 House voted to pass the River
and Harbor bill over the veto, but tailed or
two thirds. The vote stood 95 10 50, a
bard rub on Pierce.
In the Senate, Dec. Z, Mr.. Badger offered
q resolution directing the payment to Mr..
Atkinson, OF q sum equal to the difference
between his pay rs Senator, aud that Of tho
Vice President, during the timo that he was
President pro temporc Of tho Senate. Adopt
cd unanimously.
S-E. X. Collins peiilioned for further provi-
sions securing tho safety Of life and proper>
ty to sea going vessels. Let Mr.. Collins
reduce the rate Of speed in foggy weather.
He can do that without being compelled 10
by law. a bill was passed Tor tho relief OF
George Fisher. Rufus Choatc and J. X.
Paulding were appointed Regents Of tho
Smithsonian institution. Mr.. R,dgcr gavo
notice OF bill to increase the pay Of mem
bers OF Congress and Of the Judges OF tho
Supreme Court and then moved to swindlc
the people by m adjournment until Monday.
which was carried, Of course.
In the House bills were offered providing
greater security to passengers on steam YES
sels-for sale Of lands in Fa., &c.
Dec. IL. David s. Reed Of N. Car. took
his seat. MIR. Adams of Miss. introduced
bill TO establish uniform rule OF naiurali.
zation throughout tho United States.
bill extends term for naturalization to 81
years, and acts prospectively upon those
foreigners only who shall arrive after pas.
sage Of the act.
Mr.. Adams spoke too low 10 be heard in
the galleries. but was understood to argue
that before 100 years, every inch Of tho
continent would be needed by the American
people; he denied all connection with Know
Nothings, disclaiming hostility to foreigners,
but though, emigration dangerous, because
foreigners ranked themselves with abolition.
lists. When he heard that band Of Ger.
mans had burned q u. s. Senator in efigy,
he determined to introduce this bill. Ito
agreed with the Know Nothings in their
desire to extend the term Of naturalization,
and in their preference Of American Protes-
tants for Office, to Foreigners or Catholics.
Mr.. Adams bill yrs read and referred to
the judiciary committee.
MIR. Chase gave notice Of bill 10 abolish
ranking privileges.
| Mr.. Brodhead reported back bill TO cs-
tablish board OF accounts. Bill Of last session
for support.
J In the House tho Pacific Railroad bill was
assign to % Tuesday in Jan. On motion
to refer the message,
!. Mr.. Giddings hoped they would not be pas.
sed without proper discussion. Aslo Grey.
town, he agreed with the President In all his
apologies foI the destruction Of that place,
but wished he could blot the transaction
from history. lie considered that the Prcsi.
dent had entirely reccded from the great
principles laid down In his inaugural.
Mr.. Ingersol asked whether the members
elect from Massachusetts,, were peculiar
friends Of the President, when colloquiaf
controversy arose between him and Giddings
mainly relative to Boston views OF Ingcrsol's
constituents upon the Nebraska bill.
Mr.. Wheeler offered amendment TO pend.
ing resolutions, rrcf,ccd by declaring in
effect that In tho destruction Of Greytown,
tho President has violated constitutional
powers, and TINT select committee OF thir-
ieen DO appointed TO report facts rclativ o
thereto, with power to send for persons and
papers. Amendment rcectcd-ayes IA,
nays not counted.
Little else has been done.