The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-01-25

er to strike out the enacting clause thereof.
Mr.. Letcher withdrew his motion.
Several amendments were offered, discussed,
and rejected, when
Mr. Wheeler moved to strike out the enact
ing. clause.
Pending which, the Committee rose.
The House then adjourned.
Thursday, January Is, 1855.
SENATE.
The President of the Senate laid before the
body letter from Rufus Choate, of Massa.
chusetts, resigning his position as Regent Of the
Smithsonian Institution.
A long debate ensued, in which Messrs
Pearce, Mason, Douglas, Badger, Seward, Clay
ton, and others, participated; when the letter
was ordered to be laid on the table.
Mr.. Clayton then introduced the following
resolution, which was agreed to:
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judi
ciary inquire whether any, and if any, what, &C
ton is necessary and proper in regard to the
Smithsonian Institution.
Mr.. Chase introduced joint resolution au-
thorizing the President of the United States to
contract with Hiram Powers for a work of art ;
which was laid on the table, and ordered to be
printed.
This resolution authorizes the President to
contract with said Powers for some work of
art suitable for the ornament Of the Capitol,
and appropriates sum not exceeding 81, 800
for the accomplishment of the same.
| The Chair ruled the first thing in order to be
the unfinished business of Yesterday, the bill
to amend and modify the judicial system of the
| United States.
The question pending was the motion of Mr..
Stuart to postpone the bill until the first Mon
day in December next.
| The question having been taken, it was de-
cided in the affirmative-yeas 20, nays 10.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
bill in addition to certain acts granting bounty
land to certain officers and soldiers who have
been engaged in the military service of the
| United States. The amendment pending was
that offered by Mr.. Foot, to include the Platts-
burgh volunteers which was agreed to, and the
discussion was continued by Messrs. Brod
head, Shields, Badger, upon this and other
amendments. The Senate adjourned, without
final action on the bill.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The following gentlemen compose the com
mittee appointed to inquire whether the
Smithsonian Institution has been managed and
its funds expended in accordance with the law
establishing the Institution, and whether any
the designs Of its founders" Mr.. Upham, OF
Massachusetts, Mr. Witte, of Pennsylvania ;
Mr.. Taylor, of Tennessee Mr. Wells, of Wis
consin; and Mr.. Puryear, of North Carolina.
Mr.. Warren from the Committee on Public
Lands, reported back House bill to amend an
act entitled Gan act to enable the State of
Arkansas and other States TO reclaim the swamp
lands within their limits, with the recommends
ton that it lie on the table, as the House had
already determined the question.
The bill was accordingly laid on the table.
The House went into Committee Of the Whole
on the state of the Union, Mr.. Orr, of South
Carolina, in the chair,) and resumed the con
sideration of the bill to provide for the establish
ment of railroad between the Atlantic States
and the Pacific ocean, the question being on
the motion of Mr. Wheeler to strike out the
enacting clause Mr.. Wheeler's motion was
disagreed to-yeas 50, nays not counted.
Mr.. McDougall, after further consideration,
moved to strike out the enacting clause, SO as
| to have the bill reported to the House.
The question was then taken on the motion
of Mr.. McDougall to strike out the enacting
clause, and it was agreed to-yeas 81, nays 40.
The Committee then rose and reported it's
action to the House.
The question being on concurrng in the
action of the Committee, (which, if agreed to,
would be equivalent to the rejection fthe bill,
it was decided in the negative.
Mr.. McDougall then moved, as a substitute
for the original bill, that proposed in Committee
of the Whole by Mr.. Dunbar, stating that it
was the bill reported by the select committee
of the Senate, with the notifications yesterday
suggested by Mr.. Washburn, of Maine.
Mr.. Stanton, of Tennessee, suggested to the
gentleman from California, that the House adj
journ in order that the friends of the bill might
have an opportunity to consult on the subject.
Mr.. McDOugall acquiesced.
And the House adjourned.