The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-24
In CONGRESS- OF THE u. STATES.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1856.
PETITION PRESENTED.

SENATE.
Mr. BROWN presented the petition Of David Holt, sol
der OF the of lsl2 praying to be allowed to locate
ms thrt-acrs bouny-lan warrant certain tract OF
land not subject to private entry with the privilege Of en-
ering the residue Of said tract by private entry which
was referred 10 the Committee on Public Lands.
FUNERAL EXPENSES
Mr.. ToUCEY submitted a resolution providing for the
payment TO the widow OF the late Hon Moses Norris de
ceased out of the contingent fund of the Senate the
for funeral expenses OF the deceased was
paid 10 the widow Of Hon William Upham late senator,
for similar purpose and also providing for tho
OF the expenses OF the and officers of the Senate
who accompanied the remains to New Hampshire agreed
to.
GENERAL JAcKsoS's
Mr.. JONES of Tennessee stated that upon the death of
Gersxal jackson the sword which he during his
campaigns and at the battle of New Orleans into the
of the General Armstrong and il was the
desire OF the family Of the latter gentleman to present il
Congress. He to announce that Monday at
twelve o'clock the ceremony of presentation would be per-
formed BY the distinguished senator from Michigan Mr.
CAssl AMI his colleague from Tennessee Mr.. BELL
ADJOURNMENT.
On motion by Mr.. BROWN, the Senate proceeded the
consideration OF the following resolution which sub
mtted ky him several days since:
Resova, (the House of Representatives conourring)
House Of Represenatives adjourn their houses
sine die the night of the Sd OF March at IL O'Clock,
Mr. STUART moved to amend the resolution by striking
out the words TAT IL O'clock"
Mr. BROWN stated that the of his Offering the
oution that the fourth of March this year
Sunday, and he thought that by fixing the hour Of ad
ournmentat twelve o'clock Saturday night the public
business could be finished just well Congress should
remain in session until twelve o'clock Sunday had
sometimes been the practice The immoral example of this
Congress sitting in broad day light Sunday could not
be oherwHe than perncious to the country and sessions
from midnight until day had been very credabe TO
Congress ct any time.
Mr. STUART said that in submitting his amendment he
had no idea of demorazng Congress the country but
experience nad shown and again that
of the highest Importance to the public interest some
times require half hour hour for their completion
and it impossible at this time to determine whether
the condition Of the public business would admit of an ad
ournment at precisely twelve o'clock on Saturday night
not 1t would be recolleced that at the last session. af
ter the hour of adjournment had been fixed Congress
obliged to extend the time for twenty-our hours He
thought the resolution could be just well considered
four or five days hence as now 1t was not press
ing character require to be decided this morning and
he therefore moved lay 1t the table for the present
The question being taken the motion to lay the table
was not agreed to--yeas IL, nays Peas follows;
YEAs.Ms:rs Badger Baysrd & Bell I Bepiam5p W Bred
NAYS-Messrs Brainerd Bright, Brown, Butler, Chase,
Clay, Cooper Dodge of Wisconsin, Evans Fesenden, Fz-
Pearce Seward, Shields, Sumner, Thompson Of Kentucky,
Thomson of New Jersey Toucey, Wade, Wells, Wilson,
and Wright-26.
The question then recurrcd on the amendment of Mr..
STUART; which was not agreed to,
The question then stated the adoption of the res
olution.
necessary because the public business required exten-
sion Of the session. it could subsequently, be rescnded
Mr. BADGER spoke at some length in opposition to the
resolution He thought 1t would neither have the effect OF
saving time money; and the only reason which cond
be urged for with any plausbility was that showed
proper respect for the sancy Of the Sabbath But he dis
seued from that opinion. He knew no more proper or
usiabe object than the discharge of that business which
concerned the welfare and happiness of twenty-five millions
II tn atta md tn hat
duty Sunday he nothing in the character OF the
day which rendered unlawful The Sabbath was an in
stution made for unauthorized for the benefit OF
man il primarily to be used, aud ordinarily to be
used the discharge of the religious duties pertaining to
man but if the legislative business of the country was not
completed he thought it high Christian duty for Con-
gress prosecute that business until 1t should be COM
peted If Congress had the to meet on the Monday
thereafter il would be their duty to adjourn till Monday
but not having the constitutional power to do So was
their solemn religious duty proong the session few
hours If necessary in order to complete the pubic busi-
ness
Mr.. SEWARD stated the reasons which would induce
him to vote the resolution No session could be brought
TO an end unless Congress should sit two nights just
before the close of the session If the resolution was not
adopted the result would be that Congress would SIT the
whole of Saturday night and until Sunday noon but let
the limitation proposed by the resolution be agreed to- the
difference would be that Congress would sit Friday night
all night and would thus be ready to close its aoos on
Saturday night He thought the latter decidedly
preferable being only in conformity with the customary
Interpretation Of the close of day, but also in conformity
with the moral sense of the country.
The question being taken the adoption OF the resou-
ton it agreed to--yeas % nays l3--as follows;
YEAs-Messrs Adams, Bayard, Branerd, Bright, Brown,
Butler Chase, Clay, Cooper Dawson Dodge Wisconsin
Evans Fessenden, Fitzpatrick, Geyer Gillette, tamn,
James Of Iowa. Jones of Tennessee Peace Seward
Shields Sumner, Thompson of Kentucky, Toucey wade,
and Wilson'S.
NAYS-Messrs Badger, Bell, Benjamin. Brodhead, Gwin,
Mallory Morton Pratt Ruk Sebastian, Stuart Thomson OF
New Jersey, and Walker-l3.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED
The resolution submitted yesterday by Mr. STUART in
srlcting the Committee the Judiciary TO inquire into
the necessity of providing for the erection at Detroit IN
the State OF Michigan of suitable buildings Tor the sale
keeping Of such persons may be subject to confinement
s UNITED STATES OFFICERS.
Mr. T0UCEY moved that the Senate proceed to the con-
sderaion Of the bill protect officers and other persons
acting under the authority Of the United States
Mr. WALKER desired to have few private bills taken
up and disposed OF
Mr. CHASE opposed the motion OF Mr.. ToucEY, on the
ground that the bill lead extended debate and
could by possibility pass the other house at this session
The question being taken, the motion was agreed to-
yeas % nays l5-as follows:
YEAS-Messrs Badger, Bayard, Bell, Benjamin, Bright,
Dawson, Evans Fitzpatrick, Geyer Gwn Hunter Johnson
Jones of Tennessee Mallory Morton Pearce Pratt Rusk,
Sebastian, Stuart, Thompson Of Kentucky Toncey, and
Wes-23.
NAyS-Messrs Adams Brainerd Chase, Cooper, fessen-
den Gillette James, Petit, Seward Shields sumner,
Wade, Walker, Wilson, and wright-ib.
Mr. ToUCEY briefly explained the bill, and urged the
necessity of its passage.
slave power He said when he presented several petit
tons yesterday their reference TO select committee was
denied ground that il too late in the session.
and there no time to consider and discuss the