The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-18
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE Els.
The House met at IL o'clock, m.
HON. RUFUS cHoATl

cHOATE
The SPEAKER laid before the House a letter from Rufus
Choae rendering the resignation Of his office as one of the
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. He did not resign
from loss of interest in its affairs but because OF per-
sonal Inconvenience to attend business, and more par
cuarl because OF his dissent from the recent action OF
the board respecting the management OF the institution
Mr. MEACAM asked leave to submit resolution to re-
fer the letter Of the Hon Rufus Choate resgning his office
one Of the Regents Of the Smithsonian Institution to
select committee of fve and that the said committee be
inquire and report to this House whether the
Smithsonian Institution has been managed, ana its funds
expended in accordance with the law establishing the in
suon and whether any additional legislation be neces-
lry carry the objects of it's founders and that the
i'd committee be empowered to send for persons ana pa
Mr. NJ demanded the previous question on the adoption
of the resolution.
the resolution submitted BY the gentlemen from Vermont;
and he moved that the communication of Mr. Choate be
laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
Mr. BAYIY of Virginia, thought that the resolution and
letter ought to go the Committee the Judiciary, and
hoped that the gentleman would withdraw his motion to
lay the table end print
Mr. CLINGMAN of the opinion that the motion to
print was a debaabe question
Mr. ENGLISH modified his motion SO as to lay the reso-
luton and communication the table and withdrew his
motion 10 print.
Mr. MEACHAM on that motion asked for the yeas and
nays aud they were ordered N
The question being then taken by and nays the
motion lay sthe table was disagreed to--yeas 81,
nays 3d.
Mr. FRANKLIN stated that If the previous question
should not be ordered he would that the resolution
and communication be referred TO the committee the
Smithsonian fund He thought that would be the proper
reference nasmuch il is subject over which that COM
mittee would have jurisdiction.
The previous question then orderedayes a. noes
H.
On the question on the adoption Of the resolution Mr.
PRINGLE asked for the and and they were
dered
The question being then taken by yeas and nays the
resolution agreed to---yeas 90, nays 81.
Mr. MEACHA AM moved to reconsider the last taken,
and to lay the motion to reconsider on the table.
NJ. elraI f,r f1ay sondn and neV
The question to lay the motion to reconsider on the table
was agreed to--yeas "a, nays 49,
BILLS INTRODUCED.
Mr. UPHAM asked and obtained leave to introduce bill
for the preservation Of Lynn harbor in the State Of Massa
chuses which read twice by unanimous consent and
referred TO the Committee on Commerce.
Also bin r,survey the harbor of Rockport in the
State Of Massachusetts, which read twice by unani-
nous consent referred the Committee Commerce
Also bill resurvey the harbor Of Annisquam in the
State of Massachusetts, which read twice by unani
consent and referred to the Committee Commerce
Also bill for the preservation of the harbor Of Marble
head in the State of Massachusetts; which read twice
by unanimous consent and referred to the Committee on
Commerce.
MIR. COBB made personal explanation with regard to
his position on the homestead bill e having been nsrep-
resented in his speech that subject His speeches
reported incorrectly during the last political canvass in his
State.
Mr. BALL wished to ask the gentleman from Alabama
if he afraid that SAM would be after him. Laugh
In.
for when he left home that gentleman known in
his district. Renewed laughter
A.
The House then the consideration of the bill for
the relief Of Samuel A. Belden; which, after being dis
eussed by Messrs SKELETON, STANTON Of Tennessee,
HUNT, BAYLY of Virginia, and MlLLSON, passed
over informally.
On notion The House then resolved itself into the Com
ittce Of the Whole the Of the Union mr. Dan in
the chair and resumed the consideration of the Pacific
railroad BILL
Mr. LETCHER withdrew his motion Of yesterday to
strike out the enacting clause Of the bill
The question then the substitute of Mr. PERKINS,
of Louisiana.
Mr.. PERKINS, of New York. moved TO strike out the
word Twelve the nth line and insert "three" a. to
appropriate public lands in alternate sections for the space
of three miles each side Of the road instead of twelve
he was opposed to giving away much land Uness this
time would when this country would be flooded
by landless peasantry.
Mr.. WASHBURN Of Maine, was opposed TO the amend
men because he thought would defeat object of the
bill-namely the construction OF or railroads
from the Mississippi TO the Pacific He desired to the
construction of such road and hoped that the committee
would vote down every amendment that should be Of
fered.
The amendment was agreed to
Mr. HENDRICKS said he had amendment 10 submit
which he thought would test the views of the friends
this IL to strike out that portion OF the bill
which provides for the construction ola southern
the amendment shonld be adopted he would then submit
another strike out that portion Of the bill which pro-
vides for northern route He did not think that the
ernmen could ever accomplish the construction OF more