Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-08-22
CONGRESSIONAL PRocEEpIEas

dents message, just received, were ordered to
be printed.
On motion Of Mr.. Hunter, joint resolution
suspending the operation of the 2lst joint rule
forbidding Congress to take up any unfinished
business Of the last session until after the ex-
piration of the first six days of a new session,
was passed.
The standing committees of the late session
were next revived by resolution.
The House joint resolution for afixing the
signatures Of the presiding officers of the two
Houses, or either of them, as may be neces-
sary, to such bills as having been passed at
the late session failed to become laws only
for the want of such signatures, was received
and passed; and the Senate adjourned.
In the House, at the termination of the re-
cess-2t p. m.-the House reassembled.
Mr. Campbell, of Ohio, ased leave to report
from the Committee of Ways and Means bill
making appropriations for the support of the
army for the year ending 3Oth June 1856 He
stated that the bill was the same as the one
that died on Monday last because of the disa
greeting votes of the houses. 1t contained the
proviso inserted by the House, and stricken
out by the Senate; and he proposed to perfect
that proviso by moving to strike out all after
the word provided" and inserting in lieu
things in Kansas as they were after the passage
of the Nebraska act, wiping out everything
that has been done there, and providing for
the election of q new legislature.
Mr. Stephens had expected the Committee
Of Ways and Means to report an army bill
proper, unencumbered with provisoes, and he
had no doubt they would have had consented
to do so, the majority of the House, if they
desired it, having then the opportunity of en-
numbering it with prOvisoes He could not,
however, sit in his seat and allow the bill pro-
posed by the gentleman from Ohio to be report.
ed to the House without making objections.
The Speaker stated that, objection being
made, the bill could not be received, and that
the business in order was calling upon the
committees for reports.
The committees were then called in their
regular order.
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, when the Committee
of W avs and Means was called, reported from
that committee the army appropriation bill.
Mr.. Orr said that he understood there was
| a proviso attached to that bill providing for
| changing the existing laws; and if so, it was
not germane to the bill, being legislation in
an appropriation bill.
The Speaker decided that the proviso was
of a kindred nature with the subject Of the
bill, and in order.
Mr.. Orr appealed from the decision Of the
Chair.
Mr.. Washburne, of illinois, moved to lay
the appeal on the table; which motion was
| agreed to-yeas 50, nays 70.
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, moved to commit
| the bill to the Committee of the Whole on the
| state Of the Union; which motion was agreed
| to.
A message from the President was received
| covering report from the Secretary Of War
| as follows:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
| WASHINGTON, August 81, 1856 /
SIR: In answer to your inquiry as to the
| balances remaining in the treasury from the
last appropriation for the support of the army,
| have the honor to state that the obligations
already occurred by the government exceeds
the sum Of those balances by about $500, 900.
1t may be proper to add that a portion of the
balances in the treasury, having been appro-
| priated for specific objects, are not available
for the support Of the army.
| The present strength OF the army in regi-
ments is over $4,000 officers and men-more
than 10000 of whom are engaged in active
field operations, and in protecting the frontiers
| against the depredations of hostile Indians :;
| the small force not thus employed hold the
| Notifications which cover the commercial
| cities and salient points most exposed to sud-
| den descent by a foreign foe. To disband the
troops would subject our frontier settlements
| to the attacks of formidable savage enemy,
and render our Notifications, which have re-
| CURED years of labor and millions of expendi-
| ture to construct, useless for national defence
| in any sudden emergency.
Very respectfully, your obedent servant.
JEFFERSON DAVIS,
| 10 the President Secretary of War.
| The House then went into Committee, (Mr
| Grow in the chair.)
| the old provisO of the House, and insert the
| following
| Prortdsd, That all laws passed by the leg
| islature Of the Territory of Kansas be. and the
| same are hereby, disafirmed, abroeated. and
declared invalid: And prov,ded further, That
1t shall be the duty Of the governor of said
Territory, and he is hereby authorized, forth.
| with TO recognize the said Territory of Kansas.
| under and In accordance with the provisions
Of the act entitled can act to organize the
Territories of Nebraska and Kansas" passed
May 81, 1904, as fully and entirely to all in
| tents and purposes, as if no effort had been
heretofore made for that purpose And the
! said governor is hereby authorized and EN-.
| powered to call an election Of members of the
| legislature for said Territory, according to
| said act, to appoint and prescribe the powers
and duties of the JUICES of such election. and
| the forms of eaths and returns in relation
| thereto, and to issue general instructions con-
| oerning the same: PrOvtded, That 1t ST all not
be lawful for any person to vote at such cleo.
| ZION unless he shall have been an actual in
habitant of the said Territy for the period of
four months, and of the district or preoinct in
which he may offer his vote, for the period of
| thirty days Immediately preceding such cleo
| ton: and proUtded further, That illegal or
| fraudulent voting at said election, or false
swearing for the purpose of voting at or con-
testing the same, or any part thereof, shall be
punishable by the district courts of said Ter
iltory by fine not exceeding two hundred dol.
lars, and imprisonment not exceeding one wear
False swearing at, or in relation to, said cleo.
| ton, is hereby declared perjury: And PROM.
ded JIrthsT, That the sum of twenty-five thou
sand dollars is hereby appropriated, from any
money in the treasury not otherwise appro.
| prlated, to be expended under the direction of
said governor in carrying into effect the pro-
visions of this act, and the powers and duties
| conferred upon him by the said act passed
May &c. 1854
Mr.. Cobb of Georgia, submitted the point Of
order that the amendment was not germane to
any portion of the bill referred to the commit.
tee by the House.