The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-10
In CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES
thirty Fourth Congress FIRST session.
WEDNESDAY, july ., 1856.
SENATE.

4 message received from the House Of Representa-
ves by Mr. Cuom, their Clerk announcing the Senate
that the House had reconsdered the three bills making
appropriations for improvements At the mouth of the Mis-
sssipp river and the st Mary's river and the St Cla
Hats with the objections of the President Of the United
States thereto and had repassed the said bills by the
sttuonal vote of two-thirds. t8 @Hr
Mr. BENJAMIN then submitted resolutions directing the
Secretary OF the Senate to to the Secretary of State
the bills just received from the House of Representatives
together with the certificates of the Secretary the Senate
and Clerk of the House of Representatives showing that
the said acts passed by vote Of twohrds of both
houses OF Congress after the objections OF the President
thereto had been read and after the reconsideration of said
acts by both houses OF Congress- in accordance with the
constitution.
Gate that he had examined the early history of this gov
ernment for precedens in relation to the question which
was raised the other day whether bin could be passed
the veto OF the President by twohirds of the
bers present OF each house. whether thirds of the
whole number of members requisite In the course
OF that examination he had found th at the first session
OF the First Congress- which composed in great part of
those who had been members of the convention that
formed the constitution eleven amendments of the cons
tuition had passed both houses of Congress- and in both
houses the vote by which they adopted vote OF
twothrds OF the members present and not twohrds OF
the whole body Of members Thus, far precedent
concerned the decision of the Chair clearly
tnined. .5.. .H ..r
Mr. MASON said that when the question arose the other
day there time examine it and refer prece-
dens and that be appealed from the decision Of the Chair
in order that question which appeared TO be involved in
doubt might be determined by the decision Of the
Senate Upon mature reflection and examination, he
was not disposed to question the correctness of the de-
csion then made by the Chair and sustained by the Sem
ate u.
Mr. BUTLER and Mr. ToUCEY were understood to ex-
themselves satisfied with the correctness Of the de-
cision, although at first disposed TO question it.
Mr.. TUOMBS denied that these precAdents worth
any than the mere opinion of those who
bers OF Congress at that time They had binding force
upon they could not make that constitutional which
the proper judicial tribunal might pronounce not to be So
and he had always observed that far precedens
cord with the peculiar views and wishes of men they
relied but whenever they contrary to those views
and wishes they disregarded.
Mr.. WELLER thought the precedent in this case, which
cited by the senator from louisiana of than
ordinary authority inasmuch as large number of the
then members of Congress had participated in framing the
constitution and thus might well be supposed to be better
judges to the true meaning of that than any
one could be at this day.
Mr.. TOUCEY asked what object was intended to be
comphed by the adoption of the resolutions proposed
The Secretary Of State bound TO know what laws had
been passed here the signatures of the President of the
Senate and the Speaker of ths House Of Representatives
together with the fact which appeared the official record
that they had passed both houses by the requisite vote Of
wohirds, sufficient without the formay of reso-
luton announcing the fact.
Mr. BENJAMIN replied that IN ordinary cases after
bill passed by both houses and received the signature
os the President OF the United States he deposited the
original copy in the Department of State for preservation
In this case as the bills were passed without his approval
IL merely proposed that the Secretary of the Senate
should take them TO the State Department instead Of their
passing through the hands of the President Somebody
must take them there the law requires that they should
be deposited in the State Department. and the resolutions
drawn in conformity with precedent.
The resolutions were considered by unanimous consent
and agreed 10, ..... ..,.
aKMoRALs PETITIONS
Mr. HUNTER presented memorial from citizens Of
Washington d. @, praying that act Of incorporation
may be passed for the guardians OF the poor to enable
them TO establish house Of refuge upon improved
plan They represent that they desire to establish indus
trial farms connected with schools and shops for the in
strucon and employment of such poor as may be willing
to make suitable efforts In their behalf and others
for such may be guilty Of minor offences The petition
referred the Committee the District OF Columbia
Mr. THOMSON, Of New Jersv, asked leave TO with
draw from the files of the Senate the memorial and papers
of Pamela Preswck and other heirs of Wm. Wigton and
they be referred TO the Committee Of Claims which
agreed 10. ~
Mr. BIGGs presented the petition Of James Taylor in
behalf Of the Cherokee Indians of North Carolina who
removed West praying that they may be allowed
the pay and subsistence allowed
those who have removed West which referred 10
the Committee on Indian Affairs.
AFFAIRS IN KANSAS.
Mr. JOHNSON, from the Committee on Printing, TO
whom was referred the motion to print twenty thousand
extra copies of the Senate bill TO authorize the people OF
the Territory of Kansas to form constitution and State
government preparatory their admission into the Union
on an equal footing with the other States and also the
ton TO print the various amendments TO the and the
yeas and nays their adoption reported in favor OF the
printing Of the BILL and adversely to the printing OF the
amendments.
Mr. TRUMBULL could see no reason why the bill should
be printed any more than any other bill which the Senate
might pass but II the majority desired to send II out 10
the country eeciioneering document for the coming
campaign, it would be than fair TO present the
whole view OF the subject by giving the amendments which
were proposed and the by which they rejected
Mr.. WELLER thought IL unimportant TO show the peo-
pie what the Senate not in favor Of but IL was oil
some importance that the BILL in the shape In which 1t had
passed should go out TO the country and be extensively
circulated The positions assumed by the majority Of the
Senate had been misrepesented and they desired TO cor
rect these Misrepresentation by circulating the bill in the
form OF Senate document that its authenticity could
not be disputed It might be when IL printed in the
newspapers.
The debate was continued great length by Messrs.
FESSENDEN, ToUCBY, WILSON, WADE, WELLER
BlGLER. and others.
taeks Of It's opponents In able and eloquent In
the of his remarks he said that the republicans did
not peace in Kansas until after the pres
Dental election They kept up this agitation for political
effect the capital upon which they traded and hoped to
ride into power the blood OF their elowcitzens
Therefore they opposed every scheme for the paccaon
Kansas that could be presented and angel from
Heaven could frame bill that they would be satisfied
With previous tho presidential election. The bill which
had passed the Senate and before the House.
fair just and equitable measure; could pretend
to deny that and yet they did not like Il.
Mr.. d. alluded, in very pointed manner to the change
of tactics which the opposition had resor,ed to- In the
early part Of the session they had made loud and repeat
cd complaints that the real inhabitants of the Territory
had overdden and crushed by invasion Of people
from Missouri and said that IL Kansas could speak FOR her
self that would be oil that they would ask for npetenfh'
of the bona fde inhabitants OF the Territory free
State men, Well the honorable senator from Georgia Mr.
TooNR brought in proposition granting them just what
/ they asked and how IL metz Immediately the cry
was raised that pl the freeSate bad been driven