The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-12-21
IN CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES.
Thirty Fourth Congress First Session.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1855.
SENATE.



On motion by Mr. FOSTER the memorial Of the admin
stratrix of Bryan Caagban deceased and the memorial
Of Nahum Ward ordered be Withdrawn from the
files Of the Senate for the purpose OF being presented 10 the
Court OF Claims
REPORT PROM COMMITTEE.
Mr. BRoDHEAD from the Committee OF Claims, to
whom was referred resolution submitted several days
since by Mr. BELL OF Tennessee in relation TO the reference
of private claims the Court Of Claims with the amend
nent thereto proposed by r HAMLIh reported the follow
ing substitute for the resolution and amendment
Resolved That all private claims upon which adverse
reports made ordered during the last session Of Con
gess and which pending before the Senate at the close
Of the last session. and which claims are founded upon any
law of Congress- upon regulation oil an executive de-
partment upon contract express or implied with
the of the United States and which the claim
before the Court of Claims be- and
the hereby referred 10 the said court and the Sec
rotary OF the Senate be- and hereby instructed de-
liver all the in such cases TO the clerk OF said court
upon his application.
Mr. BRoDHEAD asked that the resolution might be inn
mediately considered 1t would be that the commit
had mboded the words of the law establishing the
Court of Claims in the resolution with respect to the de-
scrpton OF claims to be referred 10 at court ana me
resolution only proposed to refer such cases to them as
they had jurisdiction The only object contem-
plated was enable private claimants TO obtain their pa
pers from the files of the Senate in those where the
had jurisdiction without separate reference IN each
divdual case
Mr. HUNTER thought there might be difficulty in de-
Gliding whether the resolution referred such claims as the
claimants think founded upon any law Of Congress-
&c. only such claims the court think are within their
jurisdiction coming within the description IN the words
resolution He suggested that there be added to the
resolution something like this Such claims to be consd
cred by them if the court shall be OF the opinion that they
within the character described by the resolution
Mr.. BRODHEAD stated that the resolution Embodied the
words of the law and the fact of reference could not
confer jurisdiction where il was not given by the law
Mr.. HUNTER With that understanding, have no OBJ
lection to it.
The resolution was then agreed TO.
SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS.
Mr. CASS stated that some time since before the orma-
ton of the standing committees he had submitted pro-
test from some of the members Of the legislature of Illinois
against the election of Mr. TRUMBuLL senator from that
State He would now move that il be taken from the a-
BILE and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary or
the gentleman had any choice the subject he vas will
ing that it should take any other direction.
Mr. TRUMBULL said that he had no choice as to the
references he perfectly willing that it should go to the
Committee the Judiciary. He would state however,
that the sgners of that protest seemed to have been
aware the that he ceased to be judge and
ceeded the bench two before his election TO
the Senate He would present the evidence of those
facts that might go to the committee together with the
protest.
Mr. BUTLER remarked that sometimes Of this kind
had been referred select committees and other had
been referred the Committee the Judiciary He did
think the latter committee would have any feeling
the subject way the other but If it was the wish
of the sitting member he willing to havea select com
mlttee appointed.
Mr. TRUMBULL had no wish to express about it. He
was content that it should go the standing committee to
which similar cases had been referred
the Committee on the Judiciary was agreed to.
The motion, the Senate adjourned until Monday next
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The House met at IL, n.
The journal OF yesterday Yves read and approved
On notion the House proceeded to vote for Speaker
Messrs. HICKMAN, DowDELL BENSON, and WAsHBURSE OF
Illinois, continuing to act rs tellers.
The Clerk called the roll for the sixtyseventh time, with
the following result:
Whole number of votes, 22l necessary choice ILL.,
of these
Mr.. Banks received ........................l04
Richardson.
H. NJ NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
So there was no choice
Mr.. SMITH, of Alabama said that the vote which had
just been taken was pretty fair indication as TO what
would be done to-day and afforded very little consolation
those who desired the present state of affairs
stng in this body brought to close that he had not
opened his mouth upon the subject although he had fire.
queny desired do because he believed that speaking
was the very last mode by which harmony could be pro-
noted lie did not rise, therefore, make Speech but
to submit proposition which, in his own humble concep-
ton would promote by degrees the business of the House.
it would not effect organization He supposed that
this plan might be surrounded and doubt surround
ed with the difficulties that other plans were but he would
submit it to the House. and allow them judge of its merits
His first proposition was that the House proceed the
election of two standing committees, the Committee OF
Ways and Means and the Committee of Foreign Affairs
mitees each composed of nine members and he there
fore proposed 10 give the republican party, indicated
this floor by los members the privilege OF nominating four
members of each of these committees the administration
party indicated by "a members the privilege of nomina
ting three members of each committee and to the copo
rails guard Of the South with those few northern who
stood by it the humble privilege Of nominating the two
Others That these two committees select their chair
by majority vote and that the charmen thus
eced preside alternately the ordinary business of the
House until Speaker be elected that under this PLAN
hour every day be devoted to the introduction of bills
and resolutions and that they be referred the
mittees that the members Of the House be by the
chairman of the Committee of Ways aud Means and that
they then proceed elects Clerk Postmaster Sergeanat
arms, Doorkeeper and last but not least Chaplain,
through whose prayers something might be effected.
Laughter.
He thought this was no time for invective no time for
elimination and recrnination, time for sharp retor
sarcasm, defiance; that harmony wanted, and in
order TO it. concessions must be made that he be-
leved there constitutional objections to his plan
and if it could be adopted, harmony would be insured
Mr.. BOCOCK. The law is explicit that Congress shall
elect Speaker and he shall be in before proceeding
to other business.
Mr. SMITH That law does not preclude the possibility
of tho House going temporarily dscharging its duties
after the plan have adopted.
Mr.. JONES' of Tennessee, asked the gentleman If the
House could authorize any person to administer the oath
members required by the constitution. That the law
of Congress required that the Speaker should be elected
first, and that some member should administer the
to the members The House. therefore, could const-
an officer perform that duty and tho oaths he ad
minsteed be legal and binding unless it provided for
by law.
Mr. SMITH replied that difficulties might exist to the
adoption Of his plan far that concerned but that