The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-08-21
Saturday, august l6, 1856.
SENATE

SENATE
The Senate passed the House bill extending
the time for the Texas creditors to present their
claims to the United States Treasury.
The House bill for the settlement of the
claims of the officers of the Revolution, and the
widows and orphans of those who died in the
United States service, was postponed until the
third Monday of December next.
The Senate passed the House bill making
appropriations for lighthouses, and providing
for running the southern boundary of Kansae
The Senate failed to re-pass the bill for the
improvement of the Patapsco river, over tbs
veto Of the President. The vote was-yeas %,
nays 10; not two-thirds.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration
Of the Post Office appropriation bill. After
some debate, an amendment offered by Mr..
Miller, for an overland semi-weekly mail to
San Francisco, from some point on the Missis.
sippi river to cost not exceeding $500, 900 per
annum, was agreed to, and the bill was then
passed.
The House bill to regulate the diplomatic
and consular systems of the United States,
and the annual fortifcation bill, we're passed.
The bill for the improvement of the Des
Moines Rapids was reconsidered, and passed
over the veto-yeas 80, nays l9.
Mr.. Mason raised the point Of order that .hS
bill was reconsidered after it had been vetoed.
and could not be second time seconsidered. :
The Chair decided, that when the Constitu-
tion directed vetoed bill to be reconsidered, il
merely means re-examiued and voted upon !:
and that It stands in the same position as when
first introduced, merely requiring twothirds
vote to pass it.
MIR. Mason appealed from this decision, but
the Senate sustained the Chair-yeas 33, nays 3.
The bill for the improvement Of the naviga-
OF the Fatapsoo river was then reconsidered,
and passed over the veto-yeas 81, nays IA.
Mr.. Hunter, from the committee of confer
ence, reported that they had been unable to
agree on the Legislative Judicial, and Execu-
tive bill, and hoped that the Senate would re-
eede from all its amendments, excepting those in
reference to Kansas and books for members.
Mr.. Fish wanted the Senate to distinctly un.
derstand, before voting on that question, that
ty insisting on the Kansas amendment they
would render the loss of the bill certain.
Mr.. Slidell said he was prepared to meet that
issue.
The other Amendments we're receded from,
and the Kansas and book amendments were
insis.ed on. =! 2" ~
The post.route bill was passed.
Mr.. Mallory moved an Executive session,
and to lay the Army bill aside for that purpose.
The motion was agreed to--yeas Is, nays II.
The doors we're reopend at q quarter past
one clock, when Mr.. Hunter moved to recede
from the single remaining point of difference
in the Legislative appropriation bill; which wss
agreed to, and the bill was passes, -"
The bill masing additional appropriations
for the army was laid on the table, and the
ocean mail steamer bill was taken up.
Mr.. Seward made an Intellectual motioH to
strike out the proviso directing notice TO be
given to terminate the contract with the Col
hns line. Ihe vote stood-yeas q, nays 26.
The bill was then passed without amend
msnt.
At twenty minutes past four o'clock, (Sun-
day morning the Senate adjourned till Mon.
day, at nine o'clock.