The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-01-03
Reception of the Message in Congress.


Reception of the Message in Congress.
We published on Tuesday the fact, that the
President lad refused to wait longer for the
of the House, and had sent in his
Message. We were offered on Monday night
at a late hour an abstract of the Message by
telegraph, but preferred waiting for the whole
document The following is Geographic ac-
count Of the reception Of the message by the
Senate and House Of Congress:
SENATE-After the reading of the Journal,
the annual Message of the President of the
United States was presented and read.
After reading Of the Message Mr.. Clayton
made some remarks relative to the treaty. of
April 10Th, 1920, in order to show to the peo-
pie of the United States the strength of the
position assumed by this Government relative
to Central American affairs, and the injustice
to the position taken by Great Britain with
regard to the construction ofthat treaty. He
argued generally with all that the President
has stated contrasted the pacific character of
this country with the aggressive policy always
pursued by Great Britain.
Mr.. Seward inquired whether the ground
taking by the British Government regarding
the construction of that treaty, namely, that
it was merely prospective in its operation, and
had no reference to the actual occupation by
that country of the territory in question, was
the understanding of the Government of the
United States when that treaty was made
Mr. Clayton then being Secretary of State.
Mr. Clayton said that it was an entirely new
Notwithstanding of which had never
before heard.
The debate was futher continued at some
length, and the Senate finally adjourned until
Wednesday.
| HoUsE-Immediatel after reading the jour
nal, Sidney Webster, the private Secretary OF
the President appeared announcing from a
letter the message in writing. Great excite
ment was produced amid which Clingman
moved that it be read in order to hear what it
was.
! Mr. Morgan call for the yeas and nays on
Clingman's motion and said that he wanted
no reading until the House was organized.
! Mr.. Giddings and others then anxiously strug-
gled for the floor.
Mr.. Clingman finally obtained the floor and
said he did know what the message contained,
but the President had right, on assembling
of Congress, when in his judgment necessary
to communicate it in writing. The Constitu-
ton gives him this authority
Mr. Campbell, of Ohio, contended the read
of the message was business and holding that
no business can be transacted until the House
| is organized--the sending the message in adj
vance of an organization was an innovation.
Mr. CIingman was perfectly willing that
the gentle Taen should decide upon the Question
of order
Mr. Orr said the Constitution expressly re-
cognizes this body as the House. The House
of Representatives shall choose their Speaker
and other officers. He though that Mr.. Camp
bell raised the point too soon. 1t is respect
full to the President that the message should
be read.
Mr. Campbell Of Ohio, replied, it was utter
ly useless to have it read unless they could do
something with it after it was read.
Mr. Stephens insisted that the message
should be read. 1t might contain matters i'm
portant for Congress to know.
| Mr. Washburn, ofMaine contended, ''this is
not a Congress, and the President cannot COM
manicate until organizations
| Mr.. Giddings said this is too great ques-
ton to be decided upon tehnicalities. He wish
ed to meet it boldly. 1t was an attempted in
novation on the practice of this Government.
If was important for the President to COM
mnnicate the message, why did the President
delay it for four weeks? He would not
submit to such proceedings.
A debate ensued concerning the constitu-
tional power in the above premises, during
which Mr.. Orr said, the sending of the message
at this time was an innovation, but the extra
ordinary scene here protected the President
in taking the responsibility. The question
was, shall it be received?
Humphrey Marshall thought the message
should be received and laid on the table until
the House adjourned.
The House after long debate, refused to
read the message, and laid the whole subject
on the table.
The House then adjourned until Wednesday,