Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-12-10
STANTON SPECTATOR AND GENERAL ADVERTISER
Congress-.

MONDAY, Dec l.-Senate.-The Senate met
at II O'clock, nearly all the members being pre-
sent. The usual committee was appointed to
wait on the President and inform him that
quorum of each House had assembled a SINH
lar committee of the House acted in conjunction
with that OF the Senate; and in each branch the
report was made that the President would com
municate his annual message on Tuesday
House.-About two hundred members were
present. Mr.. Phelps presented the credentials
of Mr.. Whitfield (the pro-slavery delegate from
Kansas and moved he be sworn They were
read, Gov. Geary certifying to the fact that
Whitfield was elected a delegate from Kansas on
the first Monday of October Mr.. Phelps asked
that the usual course be pursued. Mr. Crow of
Pa objected, and after debate between Messrs.
Phelps and Grow, the question, shall Mr.. Whit
field be sworn, was decided in the negative
ayes 81, noes 104. Mr.. Grow moved to recon-
slider the vote and to lay that motion on the
table, which would have excluded Whitfield efec.
tually, but the minority managed to staye off the
vote, and at quarter past seven the House ad-
iourned.
TUEspAY.-Senate.-Th Presidents message
was received and read.
A discussion upon its merits occupied the body
until o'clock, when it adjourned
House-The message was received but not
read on account of the resumption of the consi-
Iteration of the Whitfield contested seat, which
was discussed until adjournment without settling
the question.
WEpyEspAY-Ssnate.-M Mr.. Rusk presented a
Joint resolution of the legislature of Texas, in
favor of a repeal of the recent act OF Congress
in relation to the public debt OF the late republic
of Texas.
On motion of Mr.. Rusk, a resolution was a.
dopted requiring the Secretary of the Treasury
to inform the Senate what amount of the claims
against the late Republic of Texas, provided to
he paid by the act Of Congress of the 2Sth Feb
ruarv. 1856, has been presented at the Depart
ment for payment.
Mr.. Bayard then announced in an appropriate
and feeling manner, the death OF his late col
league, the Hon. John NJ. Clayton. lie was fol-
lowed by Mr.. Crittenden in like tribute OF re-
spect, and likewise by Messrs Cass and Seward.
The usual resolutions of respect were adopted
and the Senate adjourned.
Hcuse.-The subject of Whitield's admission
was again taken up and discussed, but the pro-
ceedings were interrupted by the reception of
message from the Senate announcing the death
of Senator Clayton. Mr.. Cullen, the representa-
tive from Delaware, passed eulogy on the de-
ceased The customary resolutions of repsect
were adopted. and the House adjourned.
Thursday .oenate.-The Senate resumed the
debate growing out of Senator Hae's objection
to printing the Presidents Message, number of
Senators participating and occupying the whole
session without coming to a vote. The debate
was spirited and strongly sectional, but conduc-
ted with decorum.
In the debate Mr. Wade, of Ohio was parti-
cularly severe upon the President.
House-The House occupied itself with the
Whitfield case, but without coming to vote on
the main point at issue.
FRIpAY- ,Senate.-Not in session.
House--In the House ii was ascertained that
Mr.. Whitfeld's friends have majority of three,
when the subject Of his admission was postpon-
ed until Tuesday next.
The House then adjourned until Monday.