The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-02-07

referred the memorial Of Wilson Brothers, asked to be
discharged from the further consideration Of the SAME ana
that i be referred 70 the COMMITTEES on Finance Whsh
Was agreed 70.
RrRoDuoIb.
Mr., PRATT, in pursuance of notice asked and obtained
leave 20 introduce bin for the Improvement OF the
ton OF the paIaseo river and 10 render the port o. bs
more accessible 10 the steamers OF The United states
which was read twice and placed on the calendar
Mr., GEfEh pursuance o. notice asked and obtained
leave TO Introduce bills OF the following titles
Bill 10 provide for the payment 70 the Sutie OF Missouri
Of two per cenm Of the proceeds of the sales Of The
public lands therein heretofore reserved under compact
with said State
Bill making an appropriation TO continue the improve
ment Of the navigation Of the Mississippi river.
Bill making an appropriation to continue the improve
nent of the navigation of the Missouri river.
The above bills were seferaiy fead twice and appropr-
aely referred.
Mr. FESSENDEN in pursuance of notice asked and OBJ
tanned leave introduce bill making appropriations for
the continuation and repair OF certain public works ia the
State of Maine heretofore commenced under the authority
OF law which read twice. and referred TO the Com
miiee Commerce H#G
Mr. YULEE, in pursuance of notice. asked and obtained
leave INTRODUCES bill 70 grant TO the State OF Florida
Hunted right of presumption to the public lands in the vi
entity Of the lines of railroad included in the system
of improvements adopted by that State which was read
twice, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands
| APPROPRIATION BILLS
Mr. HUNTER desired TO call up the resolution reported
by him few days since from the Committee Oh Finance
in relation the preparation Of the appropriation bills
Mr. SEWARD was DESTROYS of expressing his views on
abct but another matter had been assigned as
the special order for to-day he would prefer that the
luton should not be called He would be ready to say
what he had TO say tomorrow. @
The resolution then made the special order for to-
morrow, at halfpast twelve o'clock
NOTICES OF Biils.
Mr. MALLORY gave notice of his intention introduce
bill to improve the harbor Of Apalachicola in the State
OF Florida.
Mr. CLAY gave notice of his intention to introduce bill
grant alternate Sections Of the public lands within the
State of Alabama in aid of the construction OF certain rail-
| roads within that State.
Mr. GEY Err gave notice of his intention to introduce
bill to authorize and direct the settlement of the account
of Bank of State of Missouri for money advanced
for the subsistence and transportation of volunteers
RELIEF TO THE poon THE DISTRICT COLUMBIA
Mr. CLAYTON remarked that in consequence Of the OBJ
econs which had been made the revolution which he
submitted yesterday in behalf of the suffering poor OF this
city he had drawn up joint resolution, which ne hoped
would meet the appreciation Of the SENATE ne also sent
the city physicians of Washington, giving account of
the suffering and deaths that had Within his obser
walton among the poor of this city, and stating that iri
vate charity was exhausted and the poorhouse full
The joint resolution read twice and considered as in
committee of the whoe 1t directs the Sergeantatarms OF
the Senate and the Sergeanatams Of the Heuse OF Keep
resenatives ascertain without delay the within the
city of Washington in which there has been individual
suffering for he want Of fuel during the present extraor
binary and longccntinued hard weather, aud provides
that fuel shall be furnished in small and suitable quant
ties for the relief Of such suffering in such manner ss best
accomplish the humane object in view for which pur-
| pose the sum of 81 500 is appropriated.
Mr. RUSK suggested that the resolution imposed very
| onerons duties the Sergeants-at-arms OF the two
housesdues which they coald not perform without con-
ctng with the regular duties of their office He also de-
sired that the benefits of the resolution should be extended
to Georgetown, and suggested that the money should be
placed in the hands Of the mayors OF the two cities for dis
tribuon. uA.# a aHa@ us4
Mr. CLAYTON accepted the modification, and the joint
resolution amended accordingly. az. \. ta.aN "a. .sa
Mr. T0OMRS felt 1t his duty oppose the resolution,
although Ii very ungraons matter TO stand between
the Suffering and the relief which was proposed g ez
tend TO them. lie opposed to the principle on which
it was based and deemed its tendency bad Government
ought take charge of the administration OF public
charity, and there good reason why that general
rule should be departed from in this case The city OF
Washington able TO take OF its own poori II
not it was scandal and disgrace to lite citizens 1t was
general rule in law that every city and township should
take care its poor and the city of Washington was
well able do being fed by stream running from the
public treasury that flows in cold weather Just as well as
10 warm. .s .# .... .a..
Mr. HAMLIN cordially concurred in the views of the
senator from Georgia but he desired to add additional
reason, which In itself sufficient TO control his vote
He denied the right the public Treasury for the pur
pose of bestowing aims upon the unfortunate poor OF this
city For reason he could not vote for the resolution
however prompted he might be to do so by the feelings OF
Mr. PEARCE advocated the resou,iou, the poor were
very numerous and their necessities very pressing lie
admitted that i was satuity, 6n lhee were plenty y
examples in which gratuiies had been granted Among
Others he mentioned that the Senate had not hesated TO
pay bill of $4,000 for brandy, wine, and cigars for the
use OF Gov. Kossuth and his suite
Mr.. BUTLER thought there would have been greater
degree ofnecessty for the adoption OF some measure OF this
kind 1t had been brought before the Senate by memo
rial of the citizens the part OF the au
thorcs of this city He did urge any constitutional
objections for IL he had had any, they would have been
washed away long ago by the water appropriations which
bad passed this body.
Mr. FOOMBS urged that as the government lighted the
streets paid watchmen and paved all the avenues Be- the
people who had these expenses paid for them ought not to
refuse to take Of their own poor.
Mr. ADAMS thought that II Congress had power to fur
nsh water for the rich 1t had equal power to furnish
wood for the poor.
Mr. CLAYTON argued that the laborng poor had been
invited the District of Columbia By the government Tor
the purpose OF constructing public works, such as the
extension of the Capitol and other public buildings and
this constituted why the people OF the District
ought not be burdened with the support OF the needy
Mr. CLAY spoke in opposition to the joint resolution
He said Congress had not invited these people here
to perform public services; but they here because
they supposed they could receive greater rewprd for their
labor here than elsewhere The water appropriation bad
been alluded but he conceived that the two cases stood
upon very different footing. Water necessary FOR
the protection Of the public buildings and for the comfort
and health of the public officers here while the present
case merely Of private charity Those who bad
advocated the measure had shrked the question of cons
tutoual authority, but they had merely cited precedens
and the time willing 10 admit that the pre-
cedents bad He sympathzed with the feelings
which prompted the senator from Delaware TO offer the
resolution and willing contribute according to his
means literally any senator for the relief OF The poor
but could not give bis for the proposed.
The Joint resolution read third time and passed
yeas %, nays 21--as follows;
YEAS-Messrs Adams, Allen Bell Of Tennessee Benia
min Bright Brown Clay ton, Coamcr Crittenden Dodge
Durkee, Fessenden, Fish, Foot, Foster, Geyer, Harlan
James, Tennessee Pearce, Ruk Seward, Sumner
Trnf rk,l ada tlnpn md