Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-01-19
Ilurr.rui oosGHE.s-aD SESSION.
MoSn,t, jiNrAaY -, l51.

SENATE.
Mr. Brodhcad.--I move the Senate consider IN
JON; resolution in favor of relief Ia the Arctic cApedi
ton. There are special reasons for it.
Mr.. Weller offered a resolution that the Sccretar,
Of War be required 10 report what progress has bee
made in the harbor works of San Francisco, and !hoi
present condition., i'll accordance with the prayer of
memorial from the principal bankers, merchants av
properly holders Of tina, city, who ask that the har
Dor mnv be Immediately placed in Il state of defence
Mr.. Gwin, from the select Oh the faclil
rail road, proposed two substitutes for bil!7 Nos. IL
and 5i2.
Mr.. Brudhcad again asked the consideration OF til
Arctic expedition resolution. e.
Mr.. Budgcr-lvc no disposition To interfere VII
this resolution, quite the contrary, but desire tn"' ~
compensation bill should be made the special ords
for Monday next.
Mr.. Hunter desire to present my appropriate"
bills. There is II necessity fur their passage.
Mr.. Badgcr.-Thc appropriation bills otthe Sena''
from Virginia will pass themselves.
The joint resolution i'll regard 10 INC -Nr'''c cape"
ton was taken up.
Mr.. Hunter objected to the passage on the groun
that the search for DR.. Kane would lend ~ loss :
more lives from the uncertainty OF the POSITION "i III
Arctic cxpcdltionlsss.
ram,c,neuts by monuments and signals ~ thar if lo
his Track and route could be discovered.
MIR. Hunter arquiesccd after ilr. Mnllorv's expl;
nation, and the JUN; resolution was pissed.
MIR. Dodge OF Iowa, from the committee on publi
inu,is, reported back, without amendment, a bill 4
amend an net establishing n land district in the Sta,
ri Florida. Rcnd u third time and passed.
The annual ocran steam mail appropriation bill
which was Defeated nj the last session by the rrtusa
Ut III" SENATE to concur in the recommendations %
the culnmittccof conference, was taken up.
The House nj lis last session so amended the ocean
mail bill rs 10 provide for giving notice 10 terminate
the contract with the Collins line of stcanlcrs.
Mr. Rusk objected TO the section Of the bill which
authorized the General, A~inrucy-Grncr.
al and Secretary of the Navy 10 Terminate aIc!! con.
tracts. He moved al indefinite pos;ponrntcnt OF The
bill.
Mr.. Mason thought there WIS danger NJ Il violation
If the faith of The government the action proposed.
He said il wn- never contemplated tIa, government
saOnll take any OF those ship, fox The purpose OF car
rying maii- Themselves.
Mr. Clayton observed that the question involved
the honor ri the government. Congress has lr rigll
10 anuul, except IN accordance with the srirulaiiuu>
IN the contract. Ii he were the biticrc-t enemy at
the contractors he would not cous,I; Ia auuuI the
in the manner proposed. lie thought the
motion IL postpone should be- agreed 10.
Nj. Weller said, notwithstanding fh" failure 10 con-
s!rurt iii" vessels on the Pacific according 4, the com
tract, b" could not, under the circumstances, consrn:
Ia nbrnga;c The cnItrag: without fully rcmuucra'in-
The company for all the vessel, they had constructed
ir that service.
M. Clayton asscu.rd 10 this, on the ground o!th0>c
ha:ins been accepted by the government
through il, officers, and thereby the honor "ttIr gov
,rnIEcnt was pledged for The remuneration Of thccom-
pany.
Ii was asked by several Senator's whether tli"r,
proof that any al those vessels had boon built III
al the contract
Mr.. Rusk said that question rnull only be reached
Dy the Introduction OF n new bill, and il was useless 10
time upon S!cii m intcrrogatory now.
Mr.. Dixon said Senators wcrc discussing the qucs.
ion of the inviplabiliiv Of good faith, aud it was i'm
10 know whether the contractors had kept
their faith will the government.
vi. Hunter thought that the question: Of good ..tiih
iii not enter into the pending question, and the mo-
ION 10 postpone Indefinitely was agreed To.
The judicial reform bill was next taken up.
Mr.. l;eyrr introduced two sections TO succeed the
irSt section proposed by Mr.. Douglas.
Tie first provides 4 district judge for each Of the
separating that court from circuits, consist
M OF States, to avoid certain constitutional Obicc.
ions. The second section provides for the appoint
mcnt Of clerks Of district courts.
Mr.. Douglas a~cccptc! these amendments, ana they
were agreed 10.
Mr.. Grvcr then submitted substitutes for sections
>, and j OF Mr.. Douglas substitute, which
nave in view the establishment OF Gprc!la:" courts.
lie would provide that the Supreme Court Of tho
United States should allnt II Suprrin" trur; 70 cnch
II ,hc circuit, and reject the rotary principle. lie
ave tho details OF his plan. which were discussed
~ several Senators.
W. Butler recapi,ulatcd acYcral objections To the
courts, which were scrcrally answered Iy
Mr.. Douglas.
Mr.. Clayton did not consider that because some
circuits were crowded with business, il was necessary
rcorganizc the whole system. Ifthe bench was III
~, n~,ri. ihrr" WIS danger of thh court becoming q
Irbuiiug -oci"t. rGt!iur than Il Grlibrraiivc body. lie
,!g-.-ird the difficulty OF amending and prrircting
he bill in open Senate, AN! proposed 10 take Il vote
- see what principle the Senate were in favor ~. Hmrl
hen rrcuminit tie bill with its amendments 10 the
committees, Ia be prepared III accordance
with the views agreed upon.
The debate wa here interrupted by al executive
- go. .l-., ,t..1, "a. S-,ut. ltn,ra
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. l.ctclI,r, chairman "i the select committee mp
,r!nlcd last july, made II report thnt W. b.. Chase
nd refused IL appear and answer certain questions
,rop"urlcd by The committee entrusted win ihI"iF-
ny whether The money hHS been offered 10 members
VI Congress, OF other Illegal and improper means
Used for the purpose Of securing the pa.-aSc oi " bill
.y,cniin. the Coli patent Tor ten years; and, also.
money has been offered 10 members, or "'hcE
illegal ar improper means USED, Ia secure tiIc lhsoase
" defeat ni amy bill through Congress, The com,
n,,tcc being empowered 10 send tor persons and
pupers.
asking tho House 10 take action with II view
To- make Mr.. Chase appear and further testify.
Mr.. Lc,chrc cn,isvd to be read the return "i the SER
.,uui-ut-urIne, who say- Mr.. Chase declined 10 mp
I,cur before the committee. ~ his request an extract
was read from the printed report al the proceedings
u the committee. hy which II appeared that Mr.
CiIus". III answer 10 II question, SAID that votes were
made for the Nebraska hill by giving n contract Tor
me of the -X WIZ s!rgm'rs /" George steers at New
York. On being asked the name of the person who
gave this Information, Mr.. Chase deciiurd 10 answer,
though the committee demanded il.
Mr.. Walsh, Hs u personal friend ot Mr.. Steers, sad
the latter did not get the contract 20 build II steamer.
lie was upp0inte! naval constructor NJ II salary Of
=, go per aiD"ni, !r ~" purpose of building one 70!
them. No influence Of members OF Congress was
brought 10 bcnr Oh the appointment, which was given
~ a tribute Ia his gcmir>. He could not AVOID the
,,,,,r mi, u at SAVING fNprp nre n niiuhpr nj srTIh-
luzzaruui hanging round the capitol, H. cores
for newspapers, hardly able 10 write soap-
advertisements. They <" about levying con.
and black mail, pandcring 10 the weakest
abusing ;hc more prominent members.
A. t" the miserable sensual beast Chase, he was
Ec was suffered 10 po!lutc the hail by his
presence. He suggested that the committee cul on
creature and ask him whence he derived his i'll
iorIni;iu.:. And he expressed II lrnpn that the speaker
IN rr.pcc; 10 hinscl; and the House would I'D them OF
miserable creature. While such persons were
suffered to come in the hall he should fear to hang up
hi overcont. Laughter.
Mr. Le,chcr resumed, saying it was impossible TO
proceed with the investigation unless the committee
AN cn.upcl the attendance of witnesses. The know
Of some OF whom is Of great Importance.
The Speaker remarked he had just received a note
rom Mr. Chase. which, by request, was read. In
substance, il was rs follows: 81 have 10 objection To
'urnislI Il committee with the name Of the Individual
alluded To-. II Tiny ran compel his attendance. let
lBIil wv W w 'th Fhai NV '''' I" 49,.
mn were ltalici.cd.
Mr.. Stephens of Ga, remarked this involved aeon.
question, aud suggested that the report D."
OF the table and the committee 90 Oh with the IN
resticatiun.
Mr.. Lc,cher said the committee have summoned
witness twice, aud he knew the purpos" Tor WIG"
Ir WAS summoned.
Mr.. S,cphrns.--rcrhaps when the name c"''r' "
be that Of soiucbudy beyond the sea.
Mr. Leirhrr did not understand Mr., mas. 10 ~;
n. viii amman hri,rr thc rnnmitrec. lIr rather nm
him ns dcfyins the committee, n'id tNti' .Mr
Inr the opinion that it is not in The power W. -
House or tn" committee IL compel HIM 10 "iP'I, ,r
Mr.. Bayly said before going further II "'t" ' 49,, 49,
30 know where we are going 10 lan"' ~ u" Pi =,
ccptor taucht Kim the lesson. always '''f' ~ L'' ,"r
amt i if y: you Il do " no: get the the judgment yoa T mt v, what At,
is your remedy by appeal! He had found this t" be
Il good rule through lie. Was there any law Il ~ -.
the question II not, what law was pr'r'S'r a.
~ - - ,,J IL wuE.l he wen Tor