The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-07-10
Monday, July 7, 1856.
SENATE.

Mr.. Stuart moved to postpone all prior bust
ness, with view to proceed to the consideration
of the special order, being the bill entitled "An
act to remove distractions to navigation in the
mouth of the Mississippi river, at the Southwest
Pass and the Pass POutre," returned to the
Senate by the President of the United States,
with his objections; when
Mr.. Slidell rose and addressed the Senate
against the objections of the President to the
bill before them.
Mr.. Cass followed and contended that the
views of the President had undergone a mate
rial change since his veto of the general improve
meDt bill two years ago. On that occasion the
President had said, that while he could not ap-
prove general BILL because 1t contained some
Objectionable items of appropriation, yet there
were some meritorious objects, and if separate
bills, making proper appropriations, were sent
to him, that he would approve them. The Sen
ate had pursued that course, and if any object
was national and constitutional certainly that
of these bills was so, and yet they had been re-
turned. :.
The Senate then proceeded to vote, when
there appeared for the bill-yeas 81, nays 10
as follows,
YEAs-Messrs Allen, Bayard, Bell of New
Hampshire, Bell of Tennessee, BENJAMIN, Bright,
Brown, Cass, Collamer, Crittenden, Dodge,
Douglas, Durkee Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Gey-
err, Hale, James, Johnson, Jones of Iowa, Pearce,
Pugh, Sebastian, Seward, Slidell Stuart, Thomp-
son of Kentucky, Trumbull, Wade, and Wei
ler-3l.
NAYS Messrs Biggs, Brodhead, Butler,
Clay, Evans, Fitzpatrick, Hunter, Mason, Reid,
Toombs, Toucey, and Yulee-l2.
The Chair stated that the bill, having re-
ceived majority of two-thirds, was passed.
Mr.. Mason appealed from the decision of the
Chair, expressing doubt whether the Consti-
| tuition did not contemplate a ma ority of two.
| thirds of all elected, rather than a majority of
two-thirds of those present.
This suggestion led to protracted discus
sion, which lasted until five o'clock, Messrs
Mason, Bell, Stuart, Seward, Biggs, Benjamin,
Butler Clay, Brodhead, Thompson of Kentucky
Toombs, Crittenden, Slidell, Bayard, Toucey,
Yulee, Hunter, Reid, and others, participating
therein.
The question was then taken on sustaining
the decision of the Chair, and it was decided
in the affirmative, as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Allen, Bell of New Hamp-
shire, Bell of Tennessee, Benjamin, Brown,
Cass, Collamer, Crittenden, Dodge, Douglas,
Durkee, Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Geyer, Hale,
Hunter, James, johnson, Jones of Iowa, NAL
lory, Pe.rce, Pratt, Pugh, Reid, Sebastian,
Seward, Slidell, Stuart, Thompson of Kentucky,
Trumbul, Wade, Weller, and YuleeZ34.
NAYsLAessrs. Riggs, Brodhead, Butler,
Clay, Fitzpatrick, Mason, and Toombs-f.
The Senate next proceeded to vote on the
bill entitled An act making an appropriation
for deepening the channel over the flats of the
st. Mary's river, in the State of Michigan" re-
turned to the Senate by the President of the
United States, with his objections; and it was
passed-yeas %, nays TO-.
The Senate then proceeded to consider the
bill entitled An act making an appropriation
for deepening the channel over the st. Clair
flats, in the State of Michigan returned to the
Senate By the President of the United States,
with his objections, being the last; and It was
passed-yeas %, nays 8.
The Senate then proceeded to the considera-
ton of Executive business, and after some time
spent therein, adjourned.
Hopsg i
The first business In order was announced
to be the consideration Of the motion heretofore
made by Mr.. A. K. Marshall, of Kentucky, to
suspend the rules so as to enable him to submit
the following resolution:
Resolued, That the Clerk of the House of
Representatives furnish and deliver to each of
the members and delegates in the House Of the
present Congress, who have not already received
the same, and pay for the same out Of the con.
tingent fund Of the House, snch numbers and
editions of SUCH books, of public character,
a. were furnished to the new members and del.
egates in the last Congress. under the joint
resolution of February %, 1854, and the reso-
luton Of the House of Representatives of June
/ 20, 1854: IR.nnided, That they be furnished at
prices not exceeding those for which they were
heretofore supplied TO such members and dele
gates.
The question was taken, and the motion to
suspend the rules was agreed to-yeas Ito,
nays "a.
Mr.. Marshall then submitted his resolution,
and the question being on the adoption of the