Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-12-13
Congress-.

MONDAY, Dec. 1.--Semate. Senate
met at II o'clock, nearly all the members
being present. The usual committee was
appointed to wait on the President and In :
form him that Quorum of each house had
assembled. A similar committee of the
House acted in conjunction with that of the
Senate and in each branch the report was
made that the President would communicate
his annual message on Tuesday.
+ HoaSe.-About two hundred members
were present. Mr.. Phelps presented the
credentials of Mr.. Whitfield (the pro-slave-
ry delegate from Kansas and moved he be
sworn. They were read, Gov. Geary GER
titled to the fact that Whitfield was elected
delegate from Kansas on the first Monday
of October. Mr.. Phelps asked that the
usual course be pursued Mr.. Grow, of
Pa, objected, and after a debate between
Messrs Phelps and Grow, the question shall
Mr.. Whitfield be sworn, was decided in the
negative-ays 81, noes 104. Mr.. Grow
moved to reconsider the vote and to lay that
motion on the table, which would have ex-
cluded Whitfield efectually but the minority
managed to stave off the vote, and at quar-
ter past seven the House adjourned.
TUEsDAY.--Senate. The Presidents
message was received and read.
A discussion upon its merits occupied the
body until o'clock when it adjourned.
House.--The message was received but
not read on account of the resumption of the
consideration of the Whitfield contested seat,
which was discussed until adjournment with
out settling the question.
WEDNEspAY.-Seaate.-- MIR. Rusk pre-
sented joint resolution of the legislature Of
Texas, in favor of repeal of the recent act
of Congress in relation to the public debt of
the late republic CT Texas.
On motion of Mr.. Rusk resolution was
adopted requiring the Secretary of the Treas
ury to inform the Senate what amount Of
the claims against the late Republic Of Texas,
provided to be paid by the act of Congress
of the 2Sth February, 1855, has been pre-
sented at the Department fer payment.
Mr.. Bayard then announced in an appro-
pirate and feeling manner, the death Of his
late colleague the Hon. John NJ. Clayton.
He was followed by Mr.. Crittenden in like
tribute of respect, and likewise by Messrs.
Cass and Seward
The usual resolutions of respect were a.
dopted aud the Senate adjourned.
House.-The subject of Whitheld's adj
mission was again taken up and discussed,
but the proceedings were interrupted by the
reception of a message from the Senate an
nouncing the death Ex-senator Clayton Mr..
Cullen, the representative from Delaware,
passed eulogy on the deceased. The GUS
tomary resolutions of respect were adopt
ed, and the House adjourned.
THURSDAY. Senate The Senate resum-
cd the debate growing out of Senator Hale's
objection to printing the Presidents Message.
number of Senators participating and oc-
eupying the whole session without coming
to vote. The debate was spirited and
strongly sectional, but conducted with de-
rum.
In the debate, Mr.. Wade, of Ohio, was
particularly severe upon the President
House. The House occupied itself with
the Whitfield case, without coming to vote
on the main point at issue.
FRIDAY.---.Senate. No. in Session.
House. In the House it was ascertaned
that Mr.. Whitfelds friends had majority
OF three, when the subject of his admission
was postponed until Tuesday next.
The House then adjourned until Monday.