The daily union., 1856-04-02
In CONGRESS or THE q. STATES.
thirty Fourth Congress- First session.
TUESDAY APRIL ], 1856
SENATE.
MRMoRIALs, PRrlrIoEs, Erc.

I III ~ F--F'
'Gsa 'a va SENATE. t''a'' 'a'".".@
~ ..u... i . MEMORIALS, PEririoSs ETo. ., .,Es
Mr. BROWN presented the preamble and resolutions Of
the legislature of Mississippi In favor Of appropriation
10 aid in the construction of canal for the eopenng Of
the Bayou Manshaci which read and referred to the
COMMITTEES on Commerce. a'g@Ea ~. -. "4n @. ~'L
Mr. B. also presented the petition of Michael r. Clark Of
Mississippi praying an increase OF pension goeount Of
wounds received In the hate war with Mexico which
referred 70 the Committee on Pensions. 4' 5N.
Wood praying compensation for the services Of her de-
ceased husband surgeon in the military service OF the
United States; which was referred to the Committee on
Mr. FISH presented petition from ls4 citizens of New
York. praying that tne public lands may be laid out In
lots and granted forthe free and exclusive use Of actual
settlers which was referred TO the Committee Public
Lands HDu % 1sv:f@sI rs s.AAe W 'tf '# -1
MIR. ALLEN presented the petition Of A. L. Mason,
guardian Of J. Duncan Mason, praying to be allowed a
pension account Of the military services Of his father
which was referred to the Committee on Pensions. 's
Mr.. SEWARD askedleave to withdraw from the files Of
the Senate the petition and papers of Christian Hansen
and that the same be referred to the Committee on Naval
Affairs; which agreed to.
Mr. s. also asked leave withdraw from the files OF the
Senate the petition Of Isaac Smith in order that it might
be presented in the House of which
agreed to.
DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR sysTEM
Mr.. MASON, from the Committee on Foreign Relations,
TO whom referred the joint resolution to amend the
of March 1885, entitled An act to remodel the dplo-
1t without amendment and asked its immediate con-
sderaon Mr. NJ. stated that the act Of 1865 provided
the President Of the United States should nominate
some time before the FIRST of July all foreign ministers
resident mini plenpotentary and ax by gradua-
ton salary to eNch mission. That act was passed at
late period of the esson when II was Impossible to amend
it without ieopariin the whole measure and, there
FORE many objection ble features In the bill suffered
remain unnoticed among them was that clause Of the
bill which seemed to- make It mandatory on the Pres-
dent to elevate mns resident to ministers penpoen
ary But when the to be carried into execution
it became apparent that this provision could not be con-
seed as mandatory bee ause Congress bad no power to
atory only The President did not aei that portion Of
the law to change tine grade OF these mnis'es and
1t was now important that tue snct should be settled as
soon as possible order that nominations may be made
The great end Of the to hs compensation
OF the various mssions Md 1t was shown that by means
OF The Increased graduation and taxing away ou.as a.
much diminished But the cct has been. undes the ae
tua operation of the law in consequence Of the delay Of
the President carrying into execution That portion OF It
to diminish the preexsng In adequate salaries The OBJ
ect OF the joint resolution was to leave 1t to the dis
creon of the President elevate sch he pleases and
leave the salaries Of the others usaected Mr. NJ fur
ther remarked that the consular syse had nothing do
with foreign relations and sperly came within the
province Of the Committee on Commerce for that reason
in thai part Of the bill The joint outon reported BY
them met the entire appreciation Of the executive depart
men and be asked that it might be Immediately pat on Its
Mr. BAYARD was of the opinion that the Of 1855
qured many other amendments which were quite as in-
potant that which the senator from Virginia had al
luded and he would prefer the adoption Of the resolution
referring all that portion OF the law which relates to the
consular system the Committee Commerce, and that
in relation TO the diplomatic system TO the Committee on
Foreign Relations with instructions that those committees
report bills modifying the law in all those particulars
where Ii may be found in practice TO operate njudcously
Mr. MASON urged the necessity Of adopting this meas
ure now being imperatively needed and other amend
could be made hereafter If II should be thought eI
pedient.
The jNoint resolution was then reed third time and
passed.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr.. RUt K, from the Committee the Post Office and
Post Roads whom referred the bill providing for
IN overland mail from point the Mississippi rivcr
San Fran cisco, California reported IL with sundry
Mr. FITZPA TRICK, from the Committee on Printing
ubmited m auyeese report the memorial of Joseph L.
smith, praying distribution Of all documents Pubshed
,y Congress to each common school or school district
throughout the nited States.
Mr.. FESSENDEN, from! the same committee, made an
adverse report the resolution directing that committee
he Senate copies Of Manual Of the Laws Of the
United States the subject naturalization passengers
md passenger sbps and the Ia VS. OF the several States in
eaton TO emigrans. DC conpik BY h. ID. J"hnson and
W. E. Reddall, Of the Sta to DEPART nent
Mr.. =, from the same committee reported in favor OF
printing one thousand extra copies oil the Presidents mes
ed States Mint and s branches r the year 1855, five
nundred Of which to be for the OF the Mint which
was agreed 70.
INTRODUCED
Mr.. SEWARD asked and obtained leave to introduce
bill for the relief OF Timothy Cavan which was read
twice and referred TO the Committee on Pc 1sions.
Mr.. BRIGHT asked and obtained leave I Introduce
bill 10 continue the apd Office Yincennes Indiana and
ascertain and Adjust the titles certain lands in the
States Of Indiana ard Illinois formerly included within the
vincenDes land district; which was read twe and re-
erred to the Comm ittee on Public Lands.
SUBMITTED.
Mr. HOUSTON submitted the following resol ltiou !;
which lies over iii to-morrsw, under the rulei
Re'oUed That the Secretary Of the Navy be directed
furnish the Senate with copies Of the proceedings OF the
val court martial recently held 10 the city Of PbAdepb In
for the trial Of Captain Rch and all the
lsting thereto in the department.
REsotUrroSs ADOPTED.
Mr. JONES, Of Iowa. submitted resolution requesting
the Secretary OF hs Interior mmunicae the Senate
what provision, II any should be made TO compensate
registers and receivers Of the land offices for taking In
bounty land warrants and scrip instead Of money in the
sale or disposition OF the public lands agreed to-
Mr. FISH submitted resolution iostructing the Secre-
ary Of the Treasury to report the Svnac cot cise
and tabular torm the number of officers o. each grade or
csss at present employed u each of the several
Districts wherein any change 10 proposed either with re-
spect the number the compensation of auy such Of
frers by the Senate bill "relang the appointment of
officers for the collection d the customs to provide for
their compensation and aso the amount Of co upensa
ton, pay euioumeus NJ present allowed each grade
and the proposed allowed by said bi desg-
Mating the several grades classes Of officers n o. ch col
lection district in which the proposed bill would al low
increase Of numbers beyond the number pres. ut en-
poysd. The resolution was agreed to.
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