The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03
CONGRESS.
First Session.
Wednesday, Mdrch &c, 1856.

Wednesday,, Mdrch &c, 1856.
SENATE
Nr BENJAMIN then submitted the following
..rolution. and gave notice that he would cal
M when the report of the Committee OF
printing came up for consideration:
Pesolred, That the Committee on Printing
- instructed to inquireinto the expediency o.
oroyiding by legislation that no greater number
e documents, reports, or other matter, be print
i than may be required by either branch o
7oncress in the performance of its Legislative
n executive duties, unless by virtue of join
ssolution of both Houses, ordering the printing
{ an extra number of copies.
On motion by Mr.. Butter,
Rseovre9. That the Committee on the Pos
mice and Post Roads be instructed to inquire
mo the expediency of disseminating to the mem
Isr, Of Congress their franking privilege, and
hat in lieu thereof they may be allowed
joIlars. TO enable them to transmit through the
nail such letters, communications, papers, and
|,okages. as they think proper.
Pss0Irsd That the said committee, should
nov think proper, be authorized to report 9
mi regulating the rates of passage on the papers
md packages aforesaid
Mr.. Hunter moved to postpone all prior bust
,sss. with view to take up the bill to supply
h. deficiencies for the year ending June 30th
$50 which was agreed to.
The amendment pending was that of Mr.
Bayard, I" for finishing the portico and exterior
4 the west wing of the Patent Office building
q nav the reservations due, put up iron railing
and Law down the necessary tagging and pave
ments, Sl50,O00.
The question having been taken, it was
decided in the affirmative, as follows:
Yg,s-Messrs. Bayard, Bell of New Hamp
sb;ra Bell Of Tennessee, Benjamin, Clayton
CaIlamer. Crittenden, Durkee, Fessenden, Fish
Foot. Foster. Geyer, Hale, Jones of Iowa, Nal
,rv Pratt. Seward, Stuart, Sumner, Thomson
# New Jersey, Trumbull, and Weller-24.
N,ys-Messrs. Adams, Biggs, Bigler, Bright
Ratler Cass. Fitzpatrick, Hamlin, Hunter
Iyerson. Pugh, Reid, Rusk, Sebastian, Slidell
roucey, and Wade-l7.
The bill was then reported to the Senate
and the amendments concurred in.
Mr. Pratt then renewed his amendment Il
nroyide for the repair of the Navy Yard ant
Eastern Branch bridges.
The bill was then read third time, and OF
the question, Shall the bill pass?" it wa
agreed to-yeas %, nays IL.
The Senate then proceeded to the considera
,ioN of Executive business, and after brie
perffrs-spent therein, adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House resumed the consideration of the
bill OF the Senate relating to punishment in the
pententiary, the question being on the motor
Of Mr. II. Marshall, of Kentucky, to add to the
bill the following proviso:
Piorilsd. That if the use of penitentiary
shall be refused in any State, it shall be the
luy Of the marshal TO execute the sentence o
the court by confirming the prisoner in the near
rst penitentiary the use of which shall be grant
ed for the purpose.
Mr.. Barbour, of Indiana, moved to AIMED the
amendment by adding thereto the following
Proridsd, further, That in all cases where
prison OF any State has heretofore been use(
with the assent of such State for the imprison
ment Of any person convicted in any court o
the United States, no proceeding of any State
officer other than an act of the Legislature o
he State shall be construed to be a refusal o
the State to allow the use of her prisons 70
sach Imprisonment.
Mr.. Orr, Of South Carolina, moved that tn,
bill and amendments be referred to the Com
miitee on the Judiciary; which motion did no
pregail-yeas II, nays "a.
Inc question was then taken on the amend
ment OF Mr.. Barbour, and it was decided in tn
neg4tive-yeas II, nays 81.
The question recurring on the amendmen
Of Mr. Marshall. it was put, and also decided il
the negatiye--yeas &c, nays 80.
The bill was then read the third time anC
passed.
The HoEse then resumed the consideration
OF the bill defining the rights of voters and the
duties Of commissioners of elections in the city
Of Washington, and for other purposes, tn,
question being on seconding the demand fo
the previous question.
The question was taken, and the previous
question was seconded-yeas 81, nays 65.
The question then being on ordering tn,
main question to be now put, the yeas and nay
were demanded and ordered, and being taken
resuited-yeas 73, nays 80. So the HOUSE
refused to order the main question.
After discussion on points of order, tn,
House adjourned.