Washington sentinel., 1855-02-07
House Of REPRESENTATIVES,,

The House, by vote Of ayes 81, noes az, laid
| on the table the motion made yesterday, by Mr..
PEcxHAM, TO reconsider the vote by which
passed the resolution directing the Speaker to
woke the privilege under which William B. Chase
holds reporters desk in the Hall, and that he be
expelled from the Hall.
The House resumed the consideration of the
bill to remodel the diplomatic and consular system
Of the United States.
Mr.. PERKINS, Of Louisiana, on former day,
explained the provisions relative TO the diplomatic
provisions. and he now proceeded TO explain
| those with regard TO the consular system pro-
posed by the bill
He said that in many cases foreigners act as our
consuls abroad, men who have no knowledge of
our institutions, often not speaking our language
They are clothed with power to tax American
commerce and seamen, which Is limited simply
by their disc. elton, or the regulations OF the
country in which they severally reside. This has
| led 10 abuses which seem Incredible The bill
embraces the existing laws in one code, 80 as 10
make The knowledge easy of access, and render
| plain provisions now obscure.
The bill provides that no one shall be a consul
who Is not citizen Of the Unitec States; and that
he shall not receive remuneration for his services
until he arrives al his post, the pay TO when
| he leaves il. The third reform contemplaies q
| simpfcation Of the grade Of consular rank, and
simply provides for consular and commercial
| agents. The fourth, that consul al large COM
mercial port shall devote his lime exclusively 10
his official business and the fifth, that he shall
| receive salary rather than be dependent on the
| fuctuating fees Of his Office.
Mr. CHANDLER commenced speech in favor
| of the bil but had not proceeded far when he
| yielded the floor to
Mr. BRECKENRIDGE, on whose motion..the
House resolved itself into the Committee of the
| Whole on the state Of the Union, Mr.. HENDRICKS
in the chair, and proceeded TO the consideration
| OF the special order-ihe Senate bill to provide
for the paymen, Of such creditors of the late Re-
| public Of Texas as are comprehended in the act
| OF Congress of September 9, 1850.
THE bill provides that in lieu OF the &5,000,O00
payable to The State OF Texas, in FIVE per cent.
stock OF the United States, by the act ofSeptembsr
9,ls50, the Secretary OF the Treasury is author
! lied TO pay 10 the creditors Of the late Republic
who hold such bonds, or other evidences OF debt
| for which the revenues Of that Republic were
pledged, the sum OF IS 500 000 10 be apportioned
among the said holders pro rata provided that the
interest the debt contracted in this act shall be
determined by the existing laws Of the State OF
Texas.
The last section provides that the act shall not
OF the Legislature of Texas, nor until the Lcgsla-
| ture Of that State shall pass act withdrawing
| and abandoning all claims and demands against
the United States, growing out OF Indian depreda-
ons prior to the admission Of the said State into
| the Union.
| Debate followed, in which Messrs. BRKcKIN.
| RIDGE, SMYTH, BELL, JONES, OF Tennessee, and
| others participated but without coming to con-
| clusion on the subject,
| The committee rose and the House adjourned