The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-09
IN CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES.
rty-Fourth Congress-First session.
THURSDAY, NAY 5, 1855.

MEMORIALS. PETITIONS, Krc.

n
zens Of New Jersey aud Pennsylvania praying thAt sne
provisions Of the act OF 1862 provide for the better sseu
ry Of the lives Of passengers on board OF vessels
in whole or ia part by may be made appeapl %
far as requisite 10 all erryboats on our rivers Wmch
were referred 10 the Committee on Commerce
Mr. O. also presented the petition o. Joseph u ~ hsn
ngdy Drawing the repeal of joint resolution OF the Thirty
second Congress in order that be may DO allowed eope
saon during the time he acted as superintendent OF the
census equal 10 he received secretary OF the cen
sns board the same as enjoyed by his successor in
Office which referred TO the COMMITTEES OF Claims
Mr. SUMNER presented the memorial OF the Boston Sub
marine and Wrecking Company praying the passage o.
law 10 admit free OF duty any articles Of foreign growth or
manufacture which may have been obtained exclusively
from submerged or derelic wrecks whether sunk IN our
own or foreign waters to allow this Secretary OF the
Treasury bis discretion to remit the duties on all such
articles which referred to the Committee on Finance
Mr. also presented Joint resolution o. .ne
ton OF breakwater ut Cape May which was referred 10
the Committee Commerce and ordered TO DC printed
Mr. FISH presented resolutions of the board Of trade
and the proceedings of the common council OF Oswego
New York. in favor of the extension Of the
that place, and praying the establishment OF marine
hospital there's which were referred TO the Commee on
Mr. SLIDELL presented the petition of Peter Parker,
praying compensation for his services commissioner al
interim to China which was referred to the Commttee on
Foreign Relations. A
REPORTS COMMITTEES
Mr. ADAMS, from the Committes the Post Office and
Post Roads, reported bill for the relief Of the legal repre-
sentatves Of George Mayo which read and passed to
IL w
Mr.. WADE, from the Committee Of Claims, reported a
bill for the relief of the heirs of Jabez Rocker
late clerk to the Commissioners Of Public Buildings winch
was read three times by unanimous consent and passed
Mr. BROWN, from the COMMITTEES on the District OF Co
umba reported bill to relieve the corporation Of George
town from the payment of bills for making roads west OF
Rock Creek and bill provide for the Improvement Of
the harbor OF Georgetown, District of Columba which
read and passed to a second reading. 4
RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
On motion by Mr. Glass; resolution adopted d.
a.. .t,rnA
Expenses of the Senate to inquire into the propey Of pay
ing r. B. Gilbert late page in the Senate the same
compensation that allowed to the other pages
the second session Of the Thireth Congress. as a
DANISH
Mr. MASON moved that the Senate proceed to the con-
sdeaion of the following resolution which had been re-
ported by the Committee on Foreign Relations
esoleed That the notice which has been given BY the
senate Of e the Sd is 70 the treaty with
that power of the 26h OF April In the 1885, sufficient
tents the eleventh article thereof
and that other further act Of legislation necessary
put end to said treaty part OF the law Of the land
The question being taken the motion agreed to-
yeas "a, nays Gas follows:
YEASMessrs Bayard, Bell of Tennessee, Biggs, Brod
head, Clayton, Colamer Crenden, Dodge Dsrkss Fish
Mason, Pratt, Pagh, shde sumner, Wilson, and Yulee
NAYs-Messrs. Bright Brown, Cas-. Hale, Jones of
nessee, Seward, Stuxrt, Trumbull, and Wade-s
Mr. STUART moved to amend the resolution by striking
out the latter part in the following words and that
other further act Of legislation is necessary to put ar
end TO said treaty part of the law of the land"
Mr. SUMNER remarked that in this country the war
making power had been by the constitution lodged in Con
gess while the power had been lodged u
fwo-hrds Of the Senate. There being express pro
vision ia the constitution, however in regard to tn,
reatyabrogating power it must be left to argumen
and inference where that great power was lodged
which in other governments connected with tn,
treaty-1naLing and the war-making power 1t seemet
10 him that the power TO abrogate treaty Sc
extraordinary in It's character that it ought not t
be committed 70 any fraction of the government
II should be committed to the government in its hghes
manifestation Embodied in act Of Congress. Tn,
magnitude of the power in the absence OF express pro
vision in the constitution Of the United States would
suggest that conclusion But there another consd
Grafton deserving of notice The treatyabrogating power
kindred in character to the war-makng power which
expressly lodged in Congress The abrogation OF
treaty might be prelude 10 war; IT might provoke waf
The former usage Of this gosenmept also in favor
the termination of treaties by the joint action of the two
houses and he proceeded to examine and discuss the
given by the Committee Foreign Relations he
report for the change proposed The language Of thin
treaty had been copied In other treaties and there
Less than foryour treaties which contain this pc
culiar provision; that II a very important ques
ton Among these treaties were four with Great Britain
three with France and treaties with Russia Brazil Mexico
the Netherlands, Naples, Venezuela, and other govern
meus; and Of these treaties that by virtue
which our squadron maintained upon the coas
of Africa for the prevention of the slave trade Anohe
question which In connexon with this subject wa
would be subject in the of the sbtogaon
the treaty and became important that should decid
whether the treaty was abrogated In conformity To ou
laws or not
Mr. STUART said that when the resolution adopted
authorizing the President TO give the notice to Denmark
done business usually done In executive
Rion without unch consideration He alluded TO the fac
that the President In his annual message TO both houses
of Congress bad recommended that the treaty should b.
terminated by the giving OF the notice. stipulated in h'
eleventh article This showed that In the opinion of tn,
President II subject for the action Of Congress and
for the Senate in executive session. But the Pres
dent the only organ OF communication with foreign
power, any notice which he might have given TO Den
mark wss binding her inasmuch she could not &c
behind the notice whether not II had been giyer
upon proper authority and In conformity the constu
ton Of the United States And If the notice binding
Denmark II must also be binding this country, OF
else the anomaly would be presented Of party TO
contract being bound by its provisions while the ofhe
party not STILL he thought that the notice should
have been drawn by the President and sent to the Sen
to be agreed by twothrds Of that body and should
not have been authorized by majority resolution
Mr.. SEWARD concurred In the views which had beer
expressed by Mr.. SumSrR
Mr.. CLAYTON, as a member Of the COMMITTEES on For
eign Relations sustained the action Of that committee and
advocated the adoption Of the resolution.
Mr.. HALE opposed the resolution, and Mr.. BAYARD
sustained ~ #av ~
Mr. TooMBS followed in reply to the arguments Of the
senator from Delaware.
The debate was continued By Messrs CLAYTON, coll
LAMER, BENJAMIN, and CRITTENDEN until nearly
four o'clock when, without coming to a vote,
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The House met at IA, IN.
The SPEAKER laid before the House a commu ton