The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-02-06
IN CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES
Thirty Fourth Congress First session.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1856,
SENATE.
ExkcUTRE COMMUNICATIONS,


.... SENATE.
ExkcUTIEE COMMUNICATIONS
The PRESIDENT pro em laid before the Senate a con,
munieaton from the Secretary of State made in obedience
to law giving statements showing the ia which
the funds OF that department have been dsbursed for the
fiscal year ending the 30h Of June, 1885, including the
contingent expenses OF foreign intercourse for the pc
rod which was read and, motion by Mr. WELLER il
was ordered to lie on the table and 10 be printed
The PRhSibENr pro teu' laid before the Senate a re
port Of the Secretary of War; made in obedience law
companed by lists Of the clerks and other persons employ
cd in that department other than officers of the army du
ring the year 1855; which read and ordered to lie
the table and be printed,
The PRESIDENT pro also laid before the Senate
communication rom the Secretary of War, transmitting
seventy-ve copies OF the official Army Register for 1856
which was read and ordered to lie the table and TO be
printed s
The PRESIDENT pro tenn. also laid before the Senate
communication from the Secretary Of War; transmitting
in obedience to law abstract Of OF the militia
the States and Territories with their arms equipments and
ammuniton from the latest received by depart
men which was read and ordered to lie the table and
The PRESIDENT pro tenn. also laid before the Senate
communication from the Secretary of War; in answer to
resolution OF the Senate calling for information as to
what is necessary to complete the detences of the coast
from Mobile to New Orleans inclusive; which read,
and ordered to lie ON the table and to be printed
The PRESIDENT pro ten also laid before the Senate
communication from the Secretary of War; in answer
the resolution of the 2Sh ultimo requesting him fur
nh to the Senate copies of the correspondence between the
War Department and Capt j. f. Gmer in relation to the
application and expenditure of the appropriation made by
the last Congress for the Improvement OF the Savannah
river together with the reports of the engineer department
and the decisions of the Secretary War upon sub
jeci which was read and motion by Mr. ~ ERSON IL
was referred to the Committee on Commerce. "'
NAVAL BOARD. #.,
On motion by Mr. JONES, of Tennessee the resolution
submitted by him. calling for the journal of the proceed
ngs of the late naval board taken up and made the
special order for tomorrow at one o'clock.
RELIEF FOR TIE OF WASHINGTON
Mr. CLAYTON submitted the following resolution, and
asked its immediate consideration:
Whereas the severity of the weather
caused among the poor and destitute of the city of Washng
ton and extreme degree of suffering for the want
Resoced That under direction Sergeant Arms,
wood be procured and furnhed in small and suitable
titles for the of such suffering poor and destitute until
the severity the weather shall abae exceeding in the
whole two hundred To be paid for out OF the contn
gent fund of the Senate. .
Mr. HUNTER thought that such action was unprece-
dened and that the money should not be taken from the
contingent fund.
Mr. CLAYTON said that similar action had been repeat
edy taken by both houses. The power do SO de-
rived from the power OF Congress standing in the same
relation TO the District Of Columbia that Stale legislature
does to the State in which it is located In almost every
State Of the Union where the local legislatures in
sion resolutions Of this kind had been adopted during
this Of extreme gor. Relief wanted immedi-
aeyj in few days 1t would be too late He had been
informed that in several instances death had resulted
the want Of this necessary Of life.
Mr. HUNTER did not deny the right to appropriate
money in the regular way with the of the
other branches oi the government but il quite
other thing TO take the money which had been granted for
the specific of the Senate contingent fund and de-
vote il in the manner proposed ..
Mr. T00MBS coneurred in the views Of the senator from
Virginia He thought IL perversion of the constitution
take money appropriated for object and to devote IL
to any other object however mertorous it might be-
Mr.. CLAYTON replied that il impossible in this
the ordinary mode of legislation
afford any relief to the suffering II should have TO
wait until bill could be passed through both houses Of
Congress those who are suffering must die before relief can
be extended to them.
Mr. CLAY moved TO amend the resolution by striking
the words contingent fund Of the Senate and insert
ing in lieu thereof pe diem of senators in equal proper
TONS
Mr.. TooNBs preferred to he his own almoncr He
moved to amend the amendment that IL would read to
be paid for out Of the diem of senators voting for the
resolution" [Laughterl
Mr.. IyERSON and Mr. ADAMS opposed the resolu-
ton.
Mr. WELLER suggested that if the resolution was laid
the table the pages could round the chamber and
afford each senator the opportunity TO contribute as much
he felt able. .
ready lost more the time spent In discussing the resou
ton than the wood would have cost
Mr. IYERSON moved that the resolution be laid the
table which agreed to-yeas "a, nays l7-as fol-
lows:
Cay Evans Fitzpatrick Hamlin Hunter Iverson John
SON Jones Of Iowa Mallory, Mason, Rusk Sebastian, Sill
NAYS-Messra Adams, Allen, benjamin. Clayton, Cola
Fish, Foster, Geyer, Harlan, Houston James, Pearce
Seward, Sumner, Wade, Wilson, and Wright-H.
CENTRAL AMERICA.
The Senate then proceeded TO the consideration Of the
motion submitted by Mr. CLAYTON the gath ult
fer TO the Committee Foreign Relations the message
from the President Of the United States transmitting
COPY of the letter Of Lord John Russell to Mr. Champion
dated January 10, 1853, in which the British government
declare that they Intend to adhere strictly the treaty
OF Washington Of the 10th Of April 1850 and not TO
sumo any sovereignty, either direct indirect in Central
America
Mr. FOOT said that clear and explicit the Clayton
Buwer treaty II hardly seemed susceptible Of serious
doubt as TO the construction aud meaning Of IL; but II
any doubt had existed this point II must have been
moved by attentive reading Of the correspondence be-
tween the OF this country and that of Great
minister 10 that county but justice required that he
should say that his argument in relation TO this subject
was of consummate ability He concurred with The
senator from Michigan in the opinion that that argument
was full clear, and unanswerable II not only able
but covered the whole ground and left nothing more TO
be said faithful observance OF the treaty required
of her Mesys government immediate withdrawal OF
any actual occupancy exercise Of dominion on the
Mosquito coast which she holds under the pretex Of
proecorate the people there He proceeded TO re-
view the claims Of Great Britain over the Belize the
Bay Islands and other nd acen territories and declared
that they founded In right of discovery conquest
purchase, treaty; but II clear case OF forctbe
entry and detainer II the right which the high
wayman had 10 the purse Of unarmed traveller He
interest demanded that should insist that Great Brit
ain should fulfil her treaty stpuatons and the idea OF
yielding TO the pretensons Of that government and al
lowing her to evade its plain provisions was not TO be