The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-03

uCn, ISL, Oot, rosIer, Oeyef, L1aLuiln, 1arlan,
Hunter Iverson, Pugh, Reed, Sebastian, Sidell,
Stuart, Sumner, Trumbull, and Wade-27.
Mr.. Hunter called up the bill from the House,
making appropriations for invalid and other
pensions.
Mr.. 81. explained that the bill was precisely
the same as that which had been before pass.
ed by the Senate, and expressed the opinion
that it could not lead to debate. The House,
instead of acting on the bill sent from the Sem
ate, had substituted their own, which was a
literal transcript of the Senstes bill.
After one or two amendments, the bill was
| passed.
| The Senate then proceeded to the considera-
ton of the bill for the admission of Kansas into
the Union, and the proposed amendment offer
ed by Mr.. Seward
| Mr.. Collamer said however anxious he might
be to have the subject disposed of, such was
the condition of his throat and lungs that it
would be impossible for him to proceed to-day,
| and therefore he would not be in the way of the
Senator from Georgia.
T, Mr. Seward observed, that if the Senator from
Vermont Mr.. Collamerl was too much indis.
! posed to proceed, the Senator from Iowa TMr.
Harlan desired to address the Senate on the
| subject of Kansas matters, and was ready to go
on with the debate.
| Mr.. Harlan addressed the Senate, at great
| which the bill was founded.
Mr.. Butler replied, and the further consider
alton of the subject was postponed until Thurs
day next.
The Senate then proceeded to the considera-
ton of Executive business, and after some time
spent therein, the doors were reopened
| Mr.. Pugh submitted the following resolution,
which was considered, and agreed to. =
Resolred, That the President be requested to
communicate any additional documents in his
possession, or possession Of either of the De-
partments, relating to the condition of affairs
in Kansas Territory, including the Legislative
journals, Executive minutes. and the returns OF
census that may have been taken.
And the Senate adjourned to Monday.
| HOUSE.
On motion of Mr. Campbell, of Ohio, the bill
to SUPPLY deficiencies in the appropriations for
the service of the fiscal year ending June 80,
1857, returned from the Senate with amend
ments, was taken from the Speakers table, and
referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.
The House 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, the
question being on the appeal of Mr.. Orr, of
South Carolina, from the decision of the Chair
entertaining the motion of Mr.. Chaffee Of Mas
sachusetts, to reconsider the vote seconding the
demand for the previous question.
Mr.. Orr, of South Carolina, remarked, that as
the decision of the Chair was in opposition to
what he conceived to have been the uniform
practice of the House, and was likely to become
a precedent for the present Congress, he would
ask for the yeas and nays on the question,
"Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the
judgment of the House?'
81 -.
taken, resulted-yeas LOG, nays AZ. So the
decision of the Chair was sustained.
The question recurring on the motion to re-
consider the vote seconding the demand for the
previous question, various motions were made
| and questions of order submitted Finally,
Mr.. Letcher, of Virginia, moved that the mo-
ton to reconsider be laid on the table; which
motion was negatived by the casting vote of the
| Speaker-yeas 81, nays 81.
The question was then taken on the motion
to reconsider, and it was decided in the mega
tive-yeas II, nays So.
The question recurring, "Shali the main
question be now put ~
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, moved that the whole
subject be laid on the table; which motion was
disagreed to-yeas 20, nays 90.
The main question was then ordered to be
put-yeas 90, nays GA.
The question was accordingly stated to be
On the motion heretofore submitted by Mr..
Meacham, of Vermont, to recommit the bill to
the Committee for the District of Columbia,
made for the purpose of keeping the subject
before the House.
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, then severally moved
that the bill be LAID on the table, postponed in
definitely, and postponed until the 3 day of
March, 1857; all of which motions the Chair
ruled out OF order at the present stage of the
bill
Mr.. Campbell, of Pennsylvania, moved that
the House adjourn; which motion did not
prevail.
The motion to recommit was then disagreed
to-yeas rs, nays 81.
| The question required on the amendment OF
Mr.. IL. Marshall of Kentucky, requiring, as
one of the qualifications of voter in this city,
that he shall have been citizen of the United
States one year at the time he offers to vote.
Here motion after motion was made to ad-
journ, and that when the House adjourn to-day
it adjourn to meet on Monday next but each
motion was withdrawn, as the yeas and nays
were ordered upon it.
Mr.. McCarty, of New York, moved to recon-
slider the vote by which the House refused to
recommit the bill.
| Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee, moved to lay the
motion to reconsider on the table.
MIR. Washburne, of Illinois, moved that when
the House adjourn to-day, it adjourn to meet on
| Monday next which motion was negatived-
yeas 40, nays los.
| Mr.. Sage, of New York. moved that the House
adjourn; which motion was not agreed to-
yeas 35, nays "a.
Mr.. Edwards, of New York, moved that when
the House adjourn, it adj ourn to meet on Satur-
day next; which motion did not prevail.
Mr. Sage, of New Y rk, moved that the House
| "a.
40, nays ".
The question required on the motion of Mr..
Jones, Of Tennessee, to lay on the table the
motion of Mr.. McCarty.
Mr.. Edwards moved that the House adjourn ;
which motion was not agreed to--yeas %,
nays 62.
No quorum having voted
Mr. Greenwood, of Arkansas, desired to
know if it would be in order to move a call of
the House.
The Speaker replied, that the rules of the
House precluded call under existing circum-
stances.
Mr.. Cobb, of Georgia, insisted that when the
House found itself without quorum, and those
present refused to adjourn, they had the power
to send for absent members. The practice of
the House might have been different, but he
thought that they ought to have this power
under the Constitution, and exercise 1t, Tie
last vote exhibiting the fact that there was not
a quorum of members present, and less than a
quorum of the House having the power, under
the Constitution, to compel the attendance of
absent members, he moved that the Speaker
direct the Sergeantatarms to summon and
| cau,pel the attendance of ahSept mann hars of