Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-01-15

SENATE.
S<<%S a IL.
MONDAY, january ID, 1885.

SENATE.
MoxDAY, January 10, 1855.
Memorials OF a private nature were submitted by
Messrs. DODGE Of Iowa, FEssENDEE, and VEL
LER.
An Executive communication was received from
the State Department setting forth the names and
compensation Of clerks employed. Ordered to be-
printed.
Mr.. CLAY called up bill to settle the accounts
between the United States and Alabama, which
was read and referred.
Mr. DODGE, Of Iowa reported bin from Com,
mittee on Public Lands to establish land district
in Forida to be called the district Of Tampa, which
was read three times and passed.
An Executive communication was received from
the Department Of the Interior asking certain APP
preparations. Also one from the War Department
both Of which were ordered to be printed.
Mr.. WELLER submitted resolution of inquiry
calling on the Secretary of War, for information
concerning the defenses Of the harbor of San
Francisco, and asked that II be printed.
Mr.. FOOT from Committee on Public Lands re-
ported the bill for the relief Of Mary Phelps which
was passed, and the report ordered TO be printed
Mr.. EVANS reported the bill for the relief Of
the heirs Of Baron De Kslb; which was referred TO
the committee again.
Mr. BROADHEAD called up the joint resolution
for the relief Of the Kane expedition which was
slightly amended.
Mr.. HUNTER doubted the humanity Of these
expeditions. If We continued to send one TO look
for another, we would keep one in the Arctic re-
gions continually.
Mr.. MALLORY spoke Of the history Of the ex.
pedition, and stated that DR.. Kane, under the Inn
preston that he might be detained during this
winter had arranged a system Of monumental
signs, &C., to guide any expedition that might be
sent In search Of him. Upon hearing this,
Mr., HUNTER recalled his objection, as did Mr.
BADGER when the joint resolution was passed
message was received from the President an
nouncing the signing Of number of bills.
The Mail Steam service appropriation bill was
taken up. M
Mr. RUSK spoke against the third section Of the
bill which allows the Attorney General Postmaster
General, and Secretary Of the Navy in two or three
different ways, and then from new contracts with
out consulting Congress. This he thought would
place too much power in the hands of these off,
GERS. Also, the companies from which the con-
tract is taken can petition Congress for damages.
they may have sustained in annuling the contract.
Mr.. MASON seemed to take the same view of
the matter as Mr.. RUsK, but further thought, that
if the Secretary of the Navy should take the ships
for war or other purposes, the company could con-
tnue to carry the mail if they had the power also
that the clause allowing the United States to take
the ships at any time during the contract, was for
the direct purpose of naval defence to the country,
not for the indirect purpose of terminating the
contract.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
MoNDAY, January Is, 1866.
Communications from the State and Treasury
Departments were presented by the SPEAKER to
the House.
bill was introduced to incorporate the Library
Of the Columbia Fire Company, of Washington
city.
Mr.. LETCHER, on behalf of the committee, sub
mitted report in part, the substance of which is
as follows: That among other witnesses summoned
before the committee was Mr.. VIM. Chase who
twice refused, however, to attend. The committee,
therefore, passed resolution submitting the whole
matter to the House for such action as it might
think proper to take.
Mr.. LETCHER then caused to be read from the
Clerks table that portion of the report heretofore
published, which gave an account of Mr.. Chase's
testimony before the committee last session.
Among other things which Mr.. Chase then testi-
fed to was something rather impugning the char
acter of Mr.. Steers, ofNew York in connection with
his obtaining the contract to build one or more Of
six steamships.
Mr.. WALSH rose to defend the character of Mr.
Steers. He knew him well, and knew that he could
be guilty Of no improper conduct Mr.. w. then
proceeded to speak in strong terms Of certain news
paper letter-wrters, who levied black mail upon all
persons who had business before Congress, by pre-
tending that they had great influence with mem
bers. In regard to Mr. Chase, he applied to him
some very strong and contemptuous language, call
Ing him " sensuallooking beast, and using other
epithets equally emphatic.
AT this stage of the discussion, the SPEAKER In
formed the House that he had just received a CON-
munication from Mr. CHASE, and there being &C.
neral demand to hear It, the Speaker read 1t to the
House The substance Of IL was, that be would
give up the name Of his informant, (Which he refu-
sed TO do before the committee il the House could
compel his attendance
Mr.. LETCHER considered this note something
of defiance to the committee and House.
Mr.. BAYLY was proceeding to speak Of the
constitutional question involved, when, upon mo-
ton, and AFTER good deal Of desultory convcrsa-
ton, the subject was laid aside until tomorrow.
Mr.. STEPHENS, of Ga, desired 70 know what
the Committee proposed TO do. Did they intend
to force the attendance Of the witnesY Mr.. 8.
thought grave constitutional question was In
volved which required consideration.
The House then went into Committee OF the
Whole, when Mr. STEPHENS, OF Georgia, replied
TO the speech Of Mr. CAMPBELL, Of Ohio delivered
a few days ago. on the slavery question.