Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-01-02
Congressional.

OO0S S11xVu6ls
WASHINGTON CRY. Dec. 31.-House.
Immediately after the reading of the journal,
Mr.. Webster; private secretary of the Presi-
dent, appeared announcig from letter the
message in writing Great excitement was
produced, amid which Mr.. Clingman moved
that it be read in order to hear what it was
Mr. Morgan called for the yeas and nays
on motion that the message be read. He
wanted no reading until the House had orga-
nized.
Mr.. Giddings and others struggled for the
floor. = s.
NJ. Clingnan did not know what the mes
sage contained, but the President had the
right, on the assembling of Congress when in
his judgment necessary, to communicate In
writing The Constitution gives him this au
thority
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, c,ntended that the
reading of the message is business; holding
that no business can be Transacted till the
House organize The sending of the message
in advance of organization vas an innovation.
MIR Clingman was perfectly willing that
gentleman should decide ona question of Or
der.
Mr. Orr said the Constitution expressly
recognizes this body as a House, saying that
the House sh Ill choose their Sp aker and 9TH
er officers. He thought Mr.. Campbell, of
Ohio, contended that the reading of the mes
sage is business; holding that no business can
be transacted till the House organize. The
sending of the message In advance OF organi-
cation was an innovation.
Mr.. Clingman was perfectly willing that
gentlemen shall decide on question of order,
Mr.. Orr said the Constitution expressly re-
cognizes this body as House, saying that
the House shall choose their Speaker and 9th
er officers. He thought Mr. Campbell, of
Ohio, raised his point too soon. 1t is respect
full to the President that the message should
be re-read.
Mr. Campbell, of Ohio, replied that it was
utterly useless to have it read unless they
could do something with it after it was read
Mr.. Stephens insisted that the messsag
should be read it might contain matters i'm
portant for Congress to know.
Mr. Washburn, of Maine, contended that
this is not Congress, and the President cam
not communicate until organization.
Mr.. Giddings said; this is too great a
question to be decided on technically. He
wished to meet it frankly and boldly on its
merits 1t was attempted innovation on
the practice of this government. IF it was
important for the President to communicate,
why did the President delay it for four weeks I?
Mr.. Giddings would not submit to such pro-
ceedings
The debate was continued concerning the
constitutional power in the above premises,
during which Mr. Orr said that the sending
of the message, at this time. was an innova-
ton, but the extraordinary scene here presen-
ted justified the President in taking the respon-
sibility. The question was, shall it be received.
Mr.. Humphrey Marshall thought the mes
sage should be received and laid on the table
till the House organized.
The House, after a long debate, refused to
read the message, and laid the whole subject
on the table The House then adjourned.
Senate After the reading of the journal,
the annual message of the President of the
United States was presented and read.
After the reading of the message, Mr..
Clayton made some remarks relative to the
treaty of April 10Th, 1850, in order to show
the people of the United States the strength of
the position assumed by this government re-
latiye to Central American affairs, and the
injustice of the position taken by Great Brit
ain with regard to the construction of that
treaty. He agreed generally with all that the
President had stated, and contrasted the pa
cific character of this country with the aggIcs-
sive policy always pursued by Great Britain
Mr. Seward inquired whether the ground
taken by the Baitish Government, regarding
the construction of that treaty, namely: that
it was merely prospective in its operation,
and had no reference to actual occupation by
that country of the territory in question, was
the understanding of the government of the
United States, when the treaty was made,
Mr.. Clayten then being Secretary of State.
Mr.. Clayton replied that it was an entirely
new construction, one that he had never be-
fore heard.
The debate was further continued at some
length, and the Senate finally aajouaned until
Wednesday