Washington sentinel., 1856-03-27
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In THE SENATE, Tuesday, 25lh instant, Mr.
HUNTER, from the Committee on Finance, re-
ported a bill relating TO foreign coins and 10 the
coinage of cents at the Mint of the United States
Il provides that all quarters eighths, and six
teenths of the Spanish mled Mexican dollar
shall be received at all the offices of Tho United
States at twenty, ten, and five cents, and made
legal tenders for all sums not exceeding five dol
lars and that these fractions OF the dollar of foreign
coin when received shall not again be paid out
but be recoiued The bill further authorizes the
President of the United States 10 issue his proca-
nation legalzing new cenl-piece, 10 be formed
either by reduction in the weight OF copper of
the present cent or of some other metal or alloy,
and dispensing with the present cent half cent.
The Secretary of the Treasury is clothed with
power TO require medals 10 be struck at the mint
for the several States, Incorporated companies,
and societies, striking two copies in bronze for
cabinet Of medals to be kept in the mint, and out
of the profits obtain duplicate copies in bronze for
said cabinet of all medals which have been struck
at the mint; the 10 be rendered quarterly
and the profits paid into the Treasury and appear
in the annual reports.
On motion of Mr.. BRoDHEAD, the Committee on
Military Affairs were instructed to inquire into
the expediency of establishing one or more ma
tional foundres.
The remainder of the days session was con-
sumed in the consideration of the Deficiency Ap-
preparation bill.
In THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, on motion
Of Mr.. WALKER, it was resolved that the Commit
a IN ma nd hsi tad m inn
report to the House whether the Kansas invests
eating committee have power 10 coerce the at
tendance of witnesses and punish for contempt
Mr. CAMPBELL, of Ohio, at his request was
excused from serving on the Kansas investigating
committee, and Mr.. Sherman, of the same State,
was appointed by the Speaker to fill the vacancy
thus occasioned.
The House proceeded TO the consideration of
the bill defining the rights Of voters and the du-
ties of commissioners of elections in the city Of
Washington, and for other purposes.
Mr. H. MARSHALL moved an amendment 10 the
first section, so as 10 require one of the quail
fcatlons of naturalized citizen, residence Of
one year Immediately preceding the election.
Whereupon debate arose. involving the ques-
ton of an extension Of the naturalization laws;
ject, the House adjourned.
In THE SENATE, yesterday, Mr.. BENJAMIa sub
mted a resolution, which lies over, directing the
Committee on Printing TO inquire into the expo
diency Of providing, by no legislation, that
greater number Of public documents be printed
than are required by either branch of Congress in
the performance of their legislative duties, unless
by joint resolution of both Housrs ordering such
extra numbers 10 be printed.
Mr. BUTLER offered resolution, which was
agreed TO, instructing the Committee on the Post
Office 10 inquire inlo the expediency of discon
tinung the franking privilege 10 members of Con-
gress, and allowing them money, in lieu thereof,
TO pay their postage.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
deficiency appropriation bill Among the amend
ments adopted was appropriating Sl50,000
for the Patent Office buildings and another of
$4,000 for the repair Of the Eastern branch bridges
The bill passed, and the Senate adjourned.
THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, took up the
Senate BILL providing that where any Judicial dis
tric Of the United States has been may here
after be divided, it shall be in the power of any
federal court to send person convicted of crime
punishable with hard labor 10 any Peni,entiary
within the State, though without the limits of the
judicial district
The bill was debated for nearly two hours, when
the question was taken on the amendment sub
mitted by Mr.. HUMPHREY MARsHALL--that where
the Of the Penitentiary has been denied by
any State, it shall be the duty to con6ne the
criminal in the nearest PenileRiiary which may
be granted for that purpose. II was rejected
yeas Sc, nays 90, was that OF MIR. BARBOUR to
the above, yeas IL, nays Sl) namely: that no
proceeding other than an act Of the Legislature
shall be construed TO be refusal Of The State to
allow The use of her prisons for such purposes.
The House for more than an hour was occu-
pied in the consideration OF a question of order