The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-03-12
IN CONGRESS OF THE u. STATES
Thirty Fourth Congress-First Session.
TUESDAY, MARCH IL, 1856.
SENATE.
ExEoUTIvE COMMUNICATIONS.

u
sage from the President of the United States in
resoYton Of the Senate calling for correspondence be-
tween any OF the departments Of the government and the
ILLINOIS Central Railroad Company also, message in
swer 10 resolution requesting him inform the Senate
on which OF the public grounds in the city of Washington
he has selected site for bnildmg be used for the pres
erHGon OF the ordnance arms &C. OF the United States
under the act approved March D. 1865 which read
and ordered TO be printed
The PRESIDENT pro TEN also laid before the Senate
message from the President Of the United States transmit
ting communication from the Secretary OF the Interior in
relation 10 Indian disturbances in the Territories OF Ore
gon and Washington, and recommending an immediate ap-
propraon Of .hee hundred thousand dollars for the de-
ivnee ct those Territories which referred the Com
mtiee On Military Afhrs and orderedto be printed.
The PRESIDENT pro tenn. also laid before the Senate
report from the Secretary ofthe Treasury in reply
oluon OF the Senate calling for information in relation
the number and condition of the stations the
coast OF New Jersey the eboats and other apparatus for
saving life in OF shipwreck; which read and on
motion by Mr. iAMLlN was referred to the Committee
on Commerce and ordered to be printed.
The PRESIDENT pro tenn also laid before the Senate
report from the Secretary Of War; in a resou-
on calling for information whether the deenccs at the
mouth Of the kennebec river should he put in Of
pairor new works commenced; which read and or
dered TO lie on the table.
The PRESIDENT pro te,n also laid before the Senate
report from the Secretary of the Interior communicative
in compliance with the resolution of the Senate OF the 2s
uto the number of the OF various kinds other
than clerks in that department which referred to the
Committeeon Finance and ordered to be printed.
MEMORIALS, PETITIONS, ETC
Mr. ELLEh presented the petition OF IhOmns Gardner
and other officers OF the army praying increase Of the
communication price of the army ration which referred
to the Committee GU Military Affairs.
Mr.. W. also presented the memorial of William Carey
Jones' praying compensation for services confidential
agent for the government for the investigation of land IT,
ties in California; which was referred to the Committee
Public Lands.
Mr. BAYARD presented petition of captains of vessels
pilots and others in the port of Newcastle Delaware pray
ing appropriation for improving the harbor ut that
place which referred the Committee on Commerce
Mr. b. also presented the petition of Mary Bennett widow
of Charles Bennett late captain in the revenuecuer
service, praying 10 be allowed pension; which
terred 10 the Committee on Pensions
Mr.. PEARCE presented the memorial of James ?. AL
are of New York, praying compensation for the OF
his improvement in the construction Of steam engines
which was referred to the Committee on Commerce
Mr.. HAMLIN, from the Committee on Commerce to
whom the subject referred reported bill relating to
the appon of officers for the collection of the Gus
oms and to provide for their compensation which was
read and passed To second reading.
NAVAL BOARD.
Mr. BELL of Tennessee stated that the Committee on
Naval Affairs had under consideration several memorials
of officers of the navy, who complain of the action of the
naval retiring board in their and ask redress and
order to give the subje full and thorough examina-
ton it necessary that the committee should have
power to send for and papers He therefore ask
cd that such order might be made-not much from
conviction of its necessity the part of the committee
from desire to do all that the memoriasts reasonably
ask.
bAhl ulu IKE 10 any objection TO
such request from any OF the standing committees of the
body but it seemed to him like opening door that
would never be closed and he could perceive what
beneficial result would be likely be attained The
mittee had already reported bill granting all the relief
to the complanaus that in the power Of Congress
give and why thon II necessary TO prosecute fur
thcr inquiries on the subject
Mr.. BELL replied that many Of the memuralists felt
that unjust impUaons had been cat upon their charac-
ter by the action Of the naval board and they demanded
investigation in order that they might be relieved from
these imputatOns il impossible Tor the committee 10
make such Investigations were desired by the petition
without the power send for persons aud papers
ii for the Senate decide whether the demand for
justice should receive attention or not.
No BRODHEAD inquired whether the power de-
sired in order ascertain the truth of the allegations of
the memoralis or in order that the whole proceedings OF
the naval board might be investigated
Nc BELL did not feel disposed 10 crcumscribe the in
vcsigaon but said IL rather TO enable the committee
do Justice TO the officers who had been retired or dis
mssd than for tue purpose Of examining the grounds up
! on winch the naval toard acted
Mr. BlGLER said that be should be reluctant to vote
against the motion to grant the committee power to OBJ
tain such Information as they might deem important in
order 6nab them discharge the duties imposed upon
them by the Senate and he should also be slow 10 adopt
any which might appear TO do injury any c-
OF the Uued States. But not only had this discus
sion suggested 10 him the inquiry which had just been
made by bis colleague, Mr.. BRoDHEAD, but the further
question: v hat practical use will the committee make OF
this information when they have acquired it2
Mr. BELL thought one important object in the minds Of
the aRRevcd officers would be to relieve them from unjust
suspicious lie did not feel disposed TO urge the adoption
Of the order his own account but left the matter
decided by the Senate according to their ideas Of justice
and proprie,y.
The morning hour having expired the further consid
Grafton OF the subject was postponed until Tomorrow
EFTrCEECY OF
On motion by Mr. WELLER the Senate then proceeded
to the consideration of the bill sppropriang three mil
ous Of dollars for increasing the efficiency Of the United
States army in conformity with the recommendation Of
the PrrsidcBt Of the United States.
The question pending the motion OF Mr. VEL
LER to amend the bill by adding the following:
To be applied to the oboct, expended in the
following, to wit:
For altering small Of old patterns including those
10 possession Of the States and Territories 81 2j0 900
For seacnast and garrison guns mounted 5000, 900.
For manufacturing small Of models, $3.50, 900,
For manufacturing small acooutremCnts, 500 600,
I For supplying ammunition for small arms, Sl50000.
For IMPLYING ammunition tor seacoast, garrison, and field
guns, S450, 900.
For ncressinE the capacity OF the arsenas s2OOO0O.
Mr. W. modified the amendment by adding the following
proviso:
Propided That the President shall have power should he
deem IT advantageous to the public service and necessary
for the proper execution Of the mentioned
from the designated these objects
/ TO another Of these objects.
Mr.. HALE moved to strike ont the proviso.
Mr. BROWN then addressed the Senate some length.
lie said that he had hitherto eraned from expressing
opinion participating in the discussion those topics
ia relation TO which there controversy between this
government and that Of Great Britain he thought It
better TO wait until the correspondence laid before
the body and then the subject could he discussed in all its
bearings ntegenuy. With regard to both Of these
great questousthat in relation to the proper consruc
ton of the ClayonBuwer treaty and that in relation TO
the violation Of sovereign rights by British recruiting
within this counry-ho thought this government had been
.t