Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1855-01-19
THlRrY-THInD coHGRE~s-2d SESSION.
TrEsnAr, JASrARy Is, 1853
SEN NIT'L.

alr. Jones, Of Iowa, presented the petition Ut jas.
W. Shannnlrg, praying the recognition OF his Z M
mission capnln i'll the army; and that his CLAIMS
for pay since 1896 be considered
The House bin for the sale of Rock Island Illinois.
came back with amendments, which were agreed To
and passed.
Mr.. Fcsscndcn presented bill making Gppropria-
tons for works heretofore commenced IN pursuance oi
law, n the State OF MHnc--passr'l.
Mr.. Cass introduced. resolution NJ enquiry. whcth
er mir and watertght mail bags cannot probably be
substituted for those in USe
Mr. Cnss moved that the hill making nppropra-
ons for internal improvements Dc taken up Oh Non
day next.
Mr.. Benjamin suggested change to Monday week
and Mr.. Hunter 10 Wednesday week Tne bill
was finally made the order uf the day Tor Wednesday,
the 24th.
Mr.. Seward presented memorial signed by Briga-
diers- General Dobbin and Hurd, 25t captains and
4GO subordinate officers and privates, Of the United
States army during the war OF lSl praying tor rei!ci
from sufcrngs caused BY the inacIuac: ui the aws
OF Congress. This petition accompanied by the
mt-,ura OF 50 Indians who were eiigmged III tho sc-
vic. of the United States in the war OF lS.2. Also,
petition Of 500 citizens ot the United States, sup
porting the above application. Also. the petition OF
$. ID. Vanderzee and other citizens of the United
States Tor the oDject. Referred To the commit
tee on pensions.
Tic Congressional compensation bill va, then TAX
| en- up.
Mr.. Weller cavc notice OF his intention to move
that Fridays aud Saturdays BE- set apart for the cola
her!ton OF private claims.
An executive communication was received contain
img the names "i ministers, charges and other diPlo
matte officers oi the Government, with statement o
| the times VIXEN their compensation comncmcod AMI
their departure for their posts.
\ bill on civic ani consular reforms will shortly
come from the House tn the Senate and this conmu.
u!cation ordered 10 be printed Ia give Senators
data for their action thereon.
The compensation b.ll was resumed.
Mr.. Dodge, Of Iowa, modified his amendment so
a. to provide Il payment Of S!,jOo per annum 10 S:-
majors am! Representatives i'll lieu Of tacIr per dIem
and mileage.
Mr. Gcyrr moved 10 strike ou MI + laiins 10 |. ).
Judges and insert Il provision tixns the salaries ol
| the L. States and District Court judges.
lle proposed 10 give $, 800 The chief and = oOG
Ia the associate justices. The salaries D: the District
/ Judges 20 range from :! 81 Ia $3.50.
| The details were unsatisfactory, aml GcsuIt0ry
debate tool; place, in which great number at: Scna.
tors too. part, which finally resulted in Nlr Gcycrs
withdrawing a.! III. amendments, save that relating
to The salaries OF III" judges Of the Supreme Court.
Mr.. johnson read lie amendmen; which he pro.
posed to Ol!rr 10 fix the compensation os members "i
| Congress nj S!,j0o per annum exclusive ot mileage
| Mr.. Butler thought that too small compensation
would exclude men Of small mems, and the icgisIi-
tinn Of the country would be thrown into the hand:
of the rich speculative adventures.
Mr. Toombs urged other considerations in it, ia
v"r but, division. the amendment was r:lect"
The Senate then went into Executive session. and
confirmed the appointment Of j. {. Breckenridge, o
Kentucky. as Minister TO Spain; after which the Sen
ate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
| After unmpurthnt preliminary business, Mr. Breck
rnridge reported from the :omnirt"" nt wav- anC
means the bill for the payment of the Texas creditors
with amendments. Referred 10 the committee oi TN
whole on the stat. u. the Union.
The House then went into committee oi the whole
OH the state uf the Union IN tho Pnctc rail r0ad bill
Mr. Bayly sad he should move 10 take up the
French sppia;iOn bill the earliest possible day.
Mr.. Benton said that private companies and pri'
vate enterprise. in his opinion. should pass on I'M
prnctcabIty ~ Il rail road TO the Pachc ana auent
| TO IL execution.
This wn- question which m glt safely be left Il
private enterprise, one with which private and pub
liz interests mast 70 hand in hand. What IL best 70
the company is best Tor the public. lie had put him
self 10 trouble I" see and converse with prGcti
cal business mrI, n ascertain whether there was an
thing feasible in his PROJECT. lie had reason 70 be
lievc there -. private company ot solid men ar
HOW ready 10 enter INTO arrangements Tor construct
ing the work with their own resources. whoU
grants of land and money from the United State. an
without asking army Of regular soldiers to proiec
il, rs the bill proposed.
He believed tlr. company would be ready 20 com
,n.nc. ,,ri the ha-- ui the ri.ht nt wav, fhcrcb'
steering clear all constitutional di:cuity, and ;ruSr
ing to STATES IN this side and California the other
10 make the conjunction. lie would not now submi
hi plan i'll detail. ~ Ill: arrangements must first b
understood before they can be Incorporated III bill
era government Ia make the road and fair pay fo
services and ON as good terms and III less time thar
anybody else.
lie examined the several surveys oirou,cs aud rldi
culcd them Us being inappropriate ~ 10 the norm
crn, it proved 10 be- the most costly. twas chiI'
of the Administration. and British route. proposn.
not only 10 tic road into Canada, but TO turn ou
great rivers into Canada. This survey was III palpa
bic disregard OF q law OF Congress and wrong ap
| pcatInn of money.
He was speaking in sharp terms OF the folly OF pur
chasing the Mcsa Valley Tor raruud purposes. con
sidering that have seventeen parallels nj latitude
covering every foot over which man and beast trnNe
| to California, when the time allowed hun tor debate
expired.
| Mr.. McDouga denied tina; the Northern route is :
child Of the Administration but wss proposed By the
gentleman himself, when Senator.
Mr. Benton.--That was before We acquired Cali
forn;a.
/ Mr. McDougal.-Wrs il not rs Diuch british
route then n. now As 70 the objection ot granting
lands the gentleman some years AZ" pr"po,eit give
one hundred solid miles, nli through Ia l"iliofnia
two thousand mile. long. Ard not only this. but wa
, willing 10 vote millions Of money. limo was whei
! the gentleman would not take bank promises TO pay
Hence he acquired the title oi "oli liuIiion. ii'
now talks about getting solid men Of Boston to buld
the road but they will do So, unless the" can gel
suc terms they desire. Their" is no tanelblity II
the plan. Taking for granted the gentleman st'i
lacks faith in promises. he cannot believe III the iaItt
of those promises or suggestions that these men are
going to build the road. He then answered obJrc.
! tions 10 and explained the provisions OF the bill.
| Several amendments having been made TO the bill!
all but the first two sections stricken out IN or
der 10 admit substitute offered by Mr. Dunbar. VIII"
e1; laincd that it was introduced IN IN: >cnats
committee and after undergoing notifications was
unanimously reported 10 the Senate II establishes
three different routes of rail road and telegraph lines:
The Southern commencing the western border oi
Texas the central commencing on the western border
Of Missouri OF Iowa: the Northern commencing on thc
western border ot Wisconsin in Minnesota.
| All these are practicable anI can he bull; Ien.ona-
Lly I,sies, these routes will rCcuncIIc III! Iiiicr-
c.ices and conflicts o; Interests between All SECTIONS.
| Mr. L.tclcr moved to strike out the rnsctsnE CLAUSE
Thar h, -sL wn. the shortest way u: getting at tho
end oi the road There only forty or FIFTY days
of the session remaining. and .hcrc WAS more iinpor-
,ant business than this 10 transact.
Pending the m";"m thr committee rose and the
I TInu.. uGi