The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-02-21

First Session.
Wednesday, February IL, 1856.
SENATE

Wednesday, February IL, 1856.
SENATE.
Mr.. Sumner presented resolutions of the State
OF Massachusetts concerning the Fugitive Slave
Act, setting forth that, inasmuch as there is no
power granted to the General Government for
the. enactment of any law of Congress for the re-
turn of fugitive slaves, the Fugitive Slave Act
is direct violation of the tenth article of
amendments to the Constitution of the United
States and that their Representatives in Con-
gress should use all honorable means to secure
| the unconditional repeal of the same as hostile
alike to the provisions of the National Consti
tuition and the dictates of the Christian religion.
an infraction equally of the supreme law of the
land and of the higher law" of God in conso-
nance Herewith.
Also, joint resolutions from the same, in re-
lation to the Territory of Kansas, calling on the
President OF the United States to take instant
and effectual measures for sustaining in Kan
sas the sovereignty of the people against the
| violence and incursions of mobs from Nilsson.
ri, &c.
Also, from the same, concerning the French
spoiations, declaring that the refusal of the
United States to indemnify the parties rightful-
ly interested in them is disgraceful repudia
ton of just obligations, and should receive the
earnest protest of the people of each State anx-
| ious to preserve untarnished the national hon.
or, and to maintain unsullied the national credit
Also, from the same, resolves relating to du-
ties On foreign coal, and for the repeal of all
laws requiring duties on foreign coal.
These several memorials were ordered to be
| printed and laid on the table, with the excep-
| ton of that relating to coal, which was referred
to the Committee on Finance.
On motion by Mr.. Sumner,
ResOlred, That the Committee on Commerce
be directed to consider the expediency of abol-
ishing by law the exaction of twenty cents from
the monthly wages of seamen in the merchant
service of the United States, and of boatmen on
the Western waters, constituting what is called
| hospital money, SO that when sick or disabled
they may enjoy their present privileges at the
marine hospital without the present tax.
On motion by Mr.. Sumner,
Res0tDed, That the Committee on the Post
Office and Post Roads be directed to consider
the expediency of providing for the convenience
| and security of remittances abroad in small
sums, by authorizing orders or drafts from our
| Post Office on foreign Post Offices with which
it is in correspondence, constituting system
of international post office orders.
Mr.. Brown gave notice that he would intro
duce bill to provide a library for the young
men of the District Of Columbia
Mr.. Mason introduced the following joint res
olution, and asked its passage without the for
mality of a reference:
Resolued, de-, That the vacancies in the
Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton of the class 60 other than members of Con-
gress," occasioned by the resignation of Rufus
Choate, and the death of John Mcpherson Ber-
rien, be filled by the appointment of George E.
Badger, of North Carolina, and Cornelius C..
FELTON,, of Massachusetts.
The action of the Naval Board was then dis.
cussed at length.
On motion by Mr.. Mason, the Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration of Executive bust
ness, and, after a brief session, the doors were
opened, and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House proceeded to vote for Public
Printer, and, on the eleventh trial, Mr.. Wen.
dell was elected, as follows.
For Mr.. WendeU.-Messrs Aiken, Allen,
Barksdale, Bell, II. S. Bennett, Bishop, Bocock,
Bowie, Boyce, Branch, Brooks, Burnett, J. P.
Campbell, Caruthers, Clark of New York, Cling
man, Williamson e. w. Cobb, Cox, Craige,
Crawford, Davidson, Dowdell Edmundson, Ed
wards, Elliott, English, Eustis, Evans, Faulk-
ner, Florence, Foster, Thomas j. ID. Fuller,
Goode, Greenwood, Augustus Hall, J. NJ. Ear
ris, Sampson w. Harris, Thomas l.. Harris,
| Hickman, Houston, Hughston, Jewett, George
| w, Jones, Kidwell, Lake, Letcher, Lumpkin,
Mace, 4. X. Marshall, Samuel S. Marshall,
McMullin, Mcqueen, John G. Miller, Millson,
Milward, Nichols, Andrew Oliver, Mordecai
Oliver, Orr, Pennington, Porter, Powell, Puryear,
| Quitman: Ready, Rcaud, Rivers, Robbins Ruff
fin, Rust, Savage Seward, Shorter, VIM. Smith,
VIM. R. Smith, Stephens, Stewart, Swope, Tay-
lor, Thurston, Trippe, Tyson, Underwood, Walk,
Walker, Watkins, Williams, Winslow, Wright
of Mississippi, Wright of Tennessee, and Zolli-
Golfer.
For Mr.. FolzeA.-Messrs. Albright, Allison,
Benson, Bliss, Burlington, Cragin, Dean, Dick
son, Flagler, Galloway, Granger, Grow, Kelsey,
Knowlton, Letter, Morgan, Mott, Murray, Perry,
Pike, Pringle Walbridge Waldron, Ellihu B.
Washburne, Israel Washburn, and Watson.
| Far Mr.. Defrees-Messrs Barbour, Brenton,
Lewis ID. Camp bel Colfax, Cumback, Dunn,
Harrison, Haven, Holloway, Howard, Knox,
H. Marshall of Kentucky, Parker, Scott, and
Thorington.
For Mr.. Sargent James H. Campbell, Com
ms, Covode, Cullen, Dick, Miller of New York,
Roberts, and Robson.
For Mr. Coombs.-Messrs. Bingham, Harlan,
Richie, Sabin, Sapp, Sherman, Stanton, and
Wade.
For Mr.. Web6.-Messrs. Burlingame, Robert
B. Hall, Morrill,, Stran4han, Wakeman, Meach-
| EN-, and Dodd.
For Mr.. Farnham.-Messrs. Broom, Garlic,
and Davis of Maryland.
For Mr.. Prentice.-Mr. Etheridge.
For Mr.. Knapp.-Mr Lindey.
The Speaker then announced the following
as the standing committees of the House, ap-
pointed under the resolution of the 9Th instant:
Committee Of Elections.-I. Washburn, jr.,
Me-; A. II. Stephens, GA. G. Z. Watson, Ohio /;
f. E. Spinner, N. Y. NJ. Oliver, Mo-. j. Kick
man, Pa; S. Colfax, Indiana; W. r. Smith,
ala. j. A. Bingham, Ohio.
/ Of }pdys and Means-I, ID. Campbell, Ohio;
W. A. Howard, Mich; 81. Cobb, Ga; G. w.
Jones, Tenn; II. w. Davis, Md; Z. Sage, y.
T.; ). 5. Phelps, NO.; j. 81. Campbell, Pa. I;
A. De Witt, Mass.
0f Claims. R. Giddings, Ohio; j. Letch-
er, "a; S. Bishop, N. j.; j. G. Jones, Pa. !;
u. q: Dunn, Ind. L. Knowlton, Me. ; NJ. Tay-
lor, Louisiana; VIM. A. Gilbert, n. Y; s. s..
Marshall, Ill.
On Commerce.-E. B. Washburne, ILL.,; E.
Wade, Ohio; J. S. Millson, Va. ]. Mcqueen,
). e.; J. k. Tyson, Pa; L. NJ. Kennett, Mo. !;
U. r. Peton, n. Y; L. B. Comins, Mass. G..
Eustis, jr., La.
On Public Lands.-H Bennett, N. Y. A.
Harlan, Ohio; w. R. w. Cobb, Ala; j. j.
, Lindley, No.; E. d. Cullen, Del. d. S. Wal
bridge, Mich. S. Brenton, Ind. A. E. Maxwell,
Fla; j. Thorington, Iowa.
On the Post Office and Post Roads.-D
Mace, Ind; j. o. Norton ILL.,. 7. 7. Flagler,
N. Y; d: Barclay Pa; T. c. Day, Ohio; p.
Powell, Va. P. Walker, Ala; J. M. Wood,
Me-; P. 7. Herbert, Cal.