Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-02-14


the officer elected by the last House of Represen.
tatives.
Mr.. DAVIDSON, of Louisiana, moved that the
House adjourn which motion agreed 10:
Yeas 80 nays To
And al halfpast two O'Clock the House ad.
journed
senate, Wednesday, February Is, 1856.
The PRESIDENT pro tenn, laid before the
senate communication from the Secretary ofthe
Navy, transmitting abstracts of contracts for fur
nishng articles for the bureau of Yards and
Docks.
Mr. SUMNER presented Joint Resolutions of
the Legislature OF Massachusetts, relative TO the
fugitive slave law of 1850, in which that law is
declared 10 be in direct violation of the Constitu-
| ZION OF the United States, and the Senators from
that State are directed, and the Representatives
| requested 10 use all honorable means 10 procure
| It's Immediate repeal, on account of its being in
conlravention not only of the supreme law Of the
| land, but the higher law Of God
Also, Joint resolutions of the Legislature of
Massachusetts in relation 10 the territory of Kan
| sas, stating that that territory has been invaded
| by an armed mob from the State of Missouri, and
call on the President to take effectua measures
| 10 project The sovereign people against such out
| RACES.
| Also, joint resolutions concerning French spoil
atoms. All the above were laid on the table and
| ordered TO be printed.
| Mr. SUMNER also presented Joint resolutions
OF the Legislature of Massachusetts, in relation 10
| the duties on foreign coal which were referred to
| the Committee on Finance.
large number Of petitions from naval officers,
complaining oil the action of the late Naval Board.
We're received and referred to the Committee on
/ Naval Affairs.
the appointment of civilians TO fill vacancies in
| the board of regents of the Smithsonian Insttu-
ton 1t appoints Hon. George f Badger, of North
Carolina, and Professor Cornelius G. FELTON,, of
Massachusetts TO ill the vacancies in the Board
| occasioned by the death of Hon. j. M Berrien, of
Georgia, and Hon. Rufus Choate, Of Massachu-
sets. The joint resolution was read three times
i by unanimous consent and passed.
] Mr.. BENJAMIN submitted resolution that
| each member of the Senate be furnished with the
| tenth volume of Little IL Browns edition of the
Statutes at Large, and that the preceding volumes
| be furnished TO those members who have not
already received them. Agreed to.
Mr.. HALE desired 10 call up his resolution, SUBJ
i United yesterday, instructing the Committee on
the Judiciary 10 inquire into the constitutonalty
OF the law "to promote the efficiency Of the navy
/ under which the Naval Board acted.
| Mr.. MALLORY said that the memorials on this
subject had been uniformly referred TO the Com
| mittee on Naval Affairs, and hence that committee
| had the whole subject before them; il was now
proposed TO refer the same matter TO another CON-
| miitee He thought it better to wait until that
committee should report and, if their report was
not satisfactory, the proposed resolution could be
| adopted.
| MIR. BUTLER concurred in the desire tina, the
| resolution should not be adopted al present.
| Mr.. HALE consented TO lei il lie over.
| Mr.. SUMNER submitted resolution, instruct
| ing the Committee on the Post Office and Post
Roads 10 consider the expediency Of providing for
the convenience and security of transmitting
| abroad small sums OF money, that orders or drafts
be issued from our post Office on foreign post
| offices with which It is in correspondence so as 10
constitute system of international post office
| orders. Agreed 10.
| Mr.. ,. also submitted resolution directing the
Committee on Commerce TO consider the expedi.
ency of abolishing by law, the exacton of twenty
GEMS from the monthly wages of seamen in the
commercial marine of the United States and boat
men on the western walters, constituting what is
| called hospital money--so that when sick they
may enjoy their present hospital privileges without
| this tax. Agreed TO.
| Mr.. FITZPATRICK introduced a bill n pur-
| suance OF notice, 10 provide for the examination
and payment Of certain claims OF citizens of Georgia
| and Alabama, on account of losses sustained by
| depredations of the Greek Indians.
| Nh. TRUMBULL,in pursuance of notice, asked
and obtained leave 10 introduce bill for the con-
siructlon OF suitable building for the accommo-
/ daton OF the circuit and district courts OF the
| United states, and the several offices connected
herewith, and the post office, al Springfield Illi-
| nos.
| The Senate resumed the consideration of the
| resolution submitted some tune since by Mr..
JONES' OF Tennessee, calling for the journal Of The
| naval board
| Mr.. BENJAMIN resumed and concluded his
| remarks in relation 10 the proceedings OF the
board. IN which he defended them from imputa.
| tons which bad been cast upon them. He took
| the ground that where vacancies had been occa-
| stoned by The action of the board, Congress had
/ no power 10 fill them and if injustice had been
done 10 any officers, the remedy must be soue hi
1 In some other way. The course which he pro-
posed was, first, 10 confirm all the nominations
which the President should make, in compliance
/ with the law-let the law be fairly executed 80
long as II Is law. But he would favor the estab-
lishment OF board OF review, who should re.
consider the decisions of The naval board and he
would recommend the passage of a law authoriz.
ing the President of the United States 10 restore
| TO active service the officers who may be pro-
nounced by this board of review competent and
efficient officers, II their judgment u approved by
hm' Let them be put back into the navy, with
The provision that whenever vacancies in their
number occur by death or resignation, these va
cancies are not 10 be filed The only inconve-
| nence that could result from a law Of that kind
would be, that for a short period the country
might be put 10 the expense OF paying few more
dollars per annum, by having few more officers
| IN each grade than our laws now require. This
course would reconcile the claims of justice to
officers abroad, officers at home, and the public
service Of the country; and at the same time il
would restore health and vigor 10 the body OF the
navy.
Mr.. MALLORY said that a proposition OF this
| kind had been considered by the Committee on
Naval Affairs, and bad met with some favor
Messrs. BAYARD, HALE, and CRITTEN-
| DEN replied 10 the remarks of Mr.. BENJAMIN and
| others; and Mr. MALLORY defended the action of
| the naval board.
| Mr. TOOMBS argued that the law had not been
| properly executed and advocated the adoption of
| the resolution. He wanted TO get all the infor-
nation, and then they could decide what ought TO
be done
Mr.. BUTLER obtained the floor. when The
further consideration OF the subject was post
poned until tomorrow and, after an Executive
| session,
The Senate adjourned
House of Representative.