The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-02-03
In CONGRESS- OF THE U. STATES.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1855


FRIDAY, FEBRUARY ?, 1858
SENATE
MEMORIAL PRESENTED.
Mr.. JONES of Tennessee presented the memorial Of
Whemarsh B. Seabrook, Joseph Whaiey, and others
praying compensation for military services In South Caro-
lima during the last with Great Britain which was
referred To the Committee ON Military Affairs
MESSAGE FROM rug HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES
message was received from the House of Representa-
uyes by Mr. Mexican chief clerk announcing to the Senate
that the House have passed bill &c establish the once OF
in Utah. and grant lands for school
Senate Is requested.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
Mr. MORTON submitted resolution requesting the Sec
rotary Of the Navy furnish the Senate with the least
possible delay with all the correspondence between that de-
partment and the contractors for building the floating ball
dock basin and railway At the nayyyard Pensacola
since made in the presence OF the commission con
posed OF Capt Josiah Tatna United States navy Major
William H. Chase United States engineers $. I. Hartt
naval and James Heron civil engineers also
all the correspondence between that department and Tue
commandment OF said navyyard respecting second test OF
said dock basin, and railway also all reports made BY
any commission that may have been appointed to pre-
scribe the in which the second test should be
made and the correspondence between the said conmis
sion and the contractors Gilbert Seco Co and, also
the instructions to the second commission appointed 10
witness the second test OF said dock BASIN and railway
with the merchant ship Monarch of the Sea- together with
all correspondence between the department and said COM
mission the report Of the sad commission after the test
had been made and also requesting the Secretary TO mr.
nsh the Senate his for making the second test with
merchant ship instead Of yesselotwar as the contract
required and inform the Senate whether the proposition
of testing the dock BASIN and railway with merchant
ship instead Of gate from the department the
contractors and whether the contractors were willing that
the should be made with vesseo-war according TO
the stipuations Of the contract
The resolution was agreed 10.
PRINTING OF DOCUMENTS
On motion by Mr. MASON the message Of the President
Of the United States and accompanying documents IN rea
ton the correspondence instructions Sc respecting the
naval expedition to Japan were ordered to be printed
ADJOURNMENT
Mr.. MASON stated that the chairman of of the
committees of the Senate, he had received semi-ohcia
communication announcing the death Of Sr Don Felipe
Molina ambassador extraordinary and minister penpoen-
tary this government from Costa Rica Guatemala aud
Salvador and inviting the members Of the Senate to attend
his funeral at ii o'clock tomorrow and in order to ena
BILE comply with that invitation he moved that
when the Senate adourns to-day be to meet on Monday
next
After some remarks by Mr.. CLAYTON and Mr.. GWIN,
the motion agreed to.
BILLS PASSED.
The following bills were taken up, considered, and
passed
House bill for the relief Of Joseph Gerard.
House bill for the relief of the administrators of Oliver
Lee, deceased.
Bill granting bounty land to Susan Palmer.
Bill authorizing the issue of register to the Russian
built ship "Aina-"
NOTICE OF BILL
Mr.. BADGER gave notice that on Monday next or
early day thereafter he should ask leave introduce
bill repeal much Of the 30th section of the act to
tabish the judicial courts of the United States author
ICES the taking OF dispositions without notice.
EFFICIENCY NAVY.
On motion by Mr.. MALLORY the Senate proceeded to
the consideration Of the bill promote the efficiency Of the
navy; which was read and Mr.. NJ. explained it. The OBJ
ec OF the committee in reporting the bill TO prune the
service Of the inefficient and bring forward positions
Of command and responsibility the able and efficient Off
and this the bill proposes to do without any increased
expense to the country the addition Of single officer
the service. 1t proposes to place reserved list out
of the line of promotion and upon leaveoshsence pay
those captains commanders and lieutenants who in
capable from of performing their duties ashore
and aOa and to promote efficient officers in their places
whose pay shall only be increased when duty, and then
only the extent Of the difference between the eaye-o
absence pay and the seaservice pay of the grades
which they may be SO promoted.
No amendment being made the bill was read the third
time and passed
GENERAL ARMSTRONG.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill the
relief of the claimants of the private armed brig General
Armstrong the pending question being the motion of
Mr. BEsJANIs to reconsider the by which the bill
ordered to be engrossed and read third time
Mr.. BADGER moved that the motion lie the table i;
which was not agreed to-yeas o. nays 25-as follows:
YEAS Messrs Adams, Allen, Atchison, Badger, Bra-
nerd BrSdhsad Cay Dawson Evans Fessnden Fish
nessee, PeaIce stuart Sumner, Thompson Of Kentucky
IA Dcnlamihp Drlght, brown,
Cass Clayton Dodge Of Wisconsin Dodge of Iowa. Geyer
Gwin, Houston Jones Of Iowa Mason Petit Pratt Reid
Rockwell Rusk Sebastian, Seward, Sidell. Thomson OF
New Jersey, Weller, and Wrght--25
Mr. BENJAMIN spoke in opposition to the bill He stated
that if the motion to reconsider prevailed, and motion
should be made TO strike all after the enacng clause
and insert substitute appropriating any
mittee of the Senate may think just acknowledgement
of the gallant services Of Capt Reid and his crew. he would
cheeully vote for H. He did not object the amount
to the and dangerous principles which, in his
opinion, the bill based.
Messrs. SEW ARD BAYARD and CLAYTON advocated
the bill at some length; and without taking the question
at quarter past three O'Clock,
The Senate adjourned