The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-06
In CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES
FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1855


M SUMNER presented 4 memorial Of the Board o.
wl send the Arctic FOR the purpose Of res
cuinz afordng relief the expedition under the COM
mand u DR. Kane, now IN those regions which Was ~
ferred 10 the Committee ON Naval Affairs .
Mr. JONES OF Iowa. presented the petition Of citzsns o.
Iowa. praying The establishment Of certain postroue 10
that State which referred to the COMMITTEES on the
Post Ofhcv and Post Roads
Mr. fESENDEN presented the petition Of Daniel Little
field one OF the heirs H. ttlefeld of the revolutionary
army, praying that the seven years hapay 70 when $40
Iittieieid was entitled may be paid 10 mis- hers-at-law !
which referred to the Committee ON Revolutionary
Claims.
and administrator OF EbeneLer Colby revolutionary sol
der praying be allowed the difference between ne
OF pension which he was entitled ana .ha' nc
actually received which referred TO the Committee on
Revolutionary Claims
Mr. MALLORY presented the petition Of Irene O. Scar
rt widow OF an officer of the army, praying pension;
which was referred to the Committee ON Pensions
Mr. RUSk presented the petition Of James Myer pray
ing compensation for services rendered ana i0sses ss
tanned BY him quartermaster 10 the Mexican boundary
Commission; which referred TO the Committee Of
Claims. 4
MILITARY ACADEMY
On motion by Mr. HUNTER the Senate proceeded to the
consideration of the bin from the House OF Representatives
making appropriations for the support OF the Mitafy
Academy Tor the year ending June 3d. 1882 and the
amendments reported by the Comaee Finance having
been agreed to- the bill was read third time and passed.
ADJOURNMENT OVER
On motion, il was
meet on Tuesday next
Mr. BRODHEAD moved that the Senate take up his
bounty-and bill
Mr. CAsS stated tina, his colleague Mr.; SruAar] had
made application to the departments for information as to
the of land which would probably be requisite to
carry the provisions Of the bill in its present form and
he thought it the duty Of the Senate TO get all the light
which was to lie obtained before acting upon subject Of
such importance He therefore appealed to his friend from
Pennsylvana allow the bill to lie until Tuesday
tll ,loblu tal
Mr. BRoDHEAD yielded to the request and withdrew
the motion.
BILL RxcoxMrrrEp
On motion by Mr. GwIN the bill in addition to act
approved March g. 1897 and entitled aAn supplement
ary to an act entitled AN amend the judicial sys
TEN OF the United States, taken from the table and
referred TO the Committee on the Judiciary
nKssaes PROM HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES
message was received from the House Of Representa-
that the House have passed bill for the relief Of pur-
chaser and ocators OF swamp and overowed lands in
The bill Just received from the House of Representatives
read twice by unanimous consent and referred to the
Committee on Public Lands.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr. CASS gave notice that he should call up consid-
Grafton early day the bill making appropriations for
deepening the channel the ST. Clair fats deep
enng the channel the fats of the St Marys river in
The State Of Michigan He desired have that bill
obstructions from the mouths Of the Mississippi river
M DODGE OF Iowa. gave notice that at the same time
he should ask tue Senate to take up and consider the bill
continue the Improvement of the Des Moines and the
Rock River rapids, in the Upper Mississippi
III. SLlDELL submitted an amendment to the bill to
distractions navigation the mouths Of the Mis-
sissippi river which received informally and ordered
TO be printed
JUDICIAL SYSTEM
On motion by Mr. BUTLER the Senate proceeded to the
consideration q the bill to amend and modify the judicial
system Of tile United States; which read Mr. b. then
proceeded the provisions Of the bill He said that
it proposed eonfne the business OF the Supreme
Court appellate jurisdiction and circuits
described in the bill throughout the United States with
the provision that the circuit judges shall be located in
and perform the duties of these circuits leaving the dis
trics very much rs they aretat is not interfering with
the jurisdiction OF the district judges In this case appeals
would be carried up from the district and circuit courts
directly to the Supreme Court He detailed the practical
effect OF the changes proposed and concluded by stating
his opinion that this was the only plan of judicial reform
which could be adopted by Congress
Several amendments then adopted, one Of which
enarge the number Of circuits to eleven by the addition
Of California.
Mr. DOUGLAS then proposed to amend the bill by
striking all after the enactng clause and inserting the
substitute which laid the table informally and
ordered be printed the last session lie briefly stated
the reasons which led him to differ from the Committee
the Judiciary the best plan adopted and explained
the operation OF his proposed substitute lie thought il
for the good OF the country chat the Judges the Su-
preme Court should be required into the different
tons of the country and hold local this would
give them opportunity mngle with the Judges
and the bar. But the other hand If they were
to be released from all duties except those relating
TO appellate jurisdiction they would become pa
per judges he had heard them called They will
lose that weight of Authority in the country which
they ought TO have just in proportion they lose their
knowledge Of local legislation and Of the practice and
modes OF proceeding the courts below He thought
theory OF the original plan although the in
of business had rendered some modification
necessary but he not disposed to interfere with the
harmony Of the present system His bill proposed to Gre
ate judges but that the duties performed by
the district and circuit courts Of the United States shall
hereafter be performed BY the district Judges in the sew
era districts The district judge will hold district court
and circuit court az the time and be
ken up either In the other under the present
TEN IN the OF conrt with chancery powers The bill
further divides the United States into nine judicial cir
cults and provides that there shall be held in each Of those
circuits year court of appeal which shall be
posed Of the district Judge of each district within that
circuit together with of the judges Supreme Court
OF the United States prssidc By this plan the
evils now existing will be remedcd He would also make
these Judges OF the Supreme Court preside over the various
circuits in rotation that woui preside IN the same
circuit but once in nine years This he thought would
have tendency 10 beaze them and expand their views
further provision inserted in regard the judges
the Supreme Court that when they thus absent from
the seat OF government and presiding courts OF appeal
they shall receive the per diem and mileage that il
given 10 members Of Congress The principle
Is also 10 be applied TO the district Judges
Messrs ADAMS, PRATT, and CASS expressed their
views on the subject
Mr.. ToUCEY opposed the amendment OF Mr. DoueLas
and defended the plan reported By the Committee ON the