The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-05-22

column.-Ed. Era
The election bill for the District of Colum.
bla then came up, and, after some debate. the
House agreed-yeas 81, nays ITO reconsider
the previous question.
motion, by Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, to Law
the subject on the table, failed-yeas 6s, nays
80.
long debate then ensued, and finally a
substitute was offered by Mr. Campbell. of
Ohio, which was adopted, and the bill as thus
amended was passed.
See editorial comment in another place,-
Ed. Era.]
The Presidents message recognising Mica
ragua was received, and ordered to be printed,
and the House adjourned.
Friday, May l6, 1856.
SENATE.
The bill from the House of Representatives
to define the duties of commissioners of cleo
tons in the city of Washington and for other
purposes, having been received from the House
with amendments
Mr.. Brown moved that the Senate concur in
the same. Although the bill was not such as
he could approve, still, as the election was soon
to take place, he thought it better to take it as
the best that could be procured, without leopard.
ing its loss by further delay.
Mr.. Seward admitted that he had taken an
interest in the original bill of the Senate and
bad used every effort to urge its passage through
the House, but the bill having been amended
there, he should accede to the same, though
not approving of the principles of these amend
ments.
The amendments were then read, and were
concurred in by the Senate; and the bill is
passed.
Mr.. Mallory then rose and concluded his re.
marks in defence of the general action of the
Board of naval officers and the bill reported
from the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr. Crittenden rose Immediately, and replied
to Mr.. Mallory.
Mr.. Benjamin followed, sustaining the action
of the Board with more than his usual earnest
| ness.
Mr.. Toombs rejoined, denouncing the action
OF the Board as iniquitous and unjust, and I'M
precedented in the annals of the country.
The Senate adjourned to Monday.
The House resumed the consideration of the
bill making appropriation for the payment of
certain claims, heretofore reported from the
Court of Claims, the question being on the ref.
erence of the same.
Mr.. Richie, of Pennsylvania, in reply to the
| argument of Mr.. Walker, of Alabama, on this
subject, contended that there was no power
given to the Court of Claims to enter Judgment
for or against any person. The sole power and
right to give effect to the decisions of the court
remained in Congress without an act of Con-
gress, those decisions would have no effect.
Mr.. Walker, of Alabama, briefly replied in
support of the position taken by him, that Con-
gress has no power to revise or reverse the de-
cisions of the Court of Claims.
The pending motion, to refer the bill to the
COMMITTEE OF the Whole, was disagreed to-
yeas Ga, nays 70.
of Claims.
Mr.. Richie, of Pennsylvania, having made
an Intellectual effort to submit the following res
olutions prior to the decision of the question on
the reference of the bill just under consdera.
ton, gave notice that he should offer them on
Monday next:
Resotoed, That bills and reports from the
Court of Claims shall be referred by the Clerk
of the House to the Committee of Claims.
Resolced, That it shall be in order every Fri
day morning, Immediately after the reading of
the Journal, for the Committee of Claims to re-
port with reference to business from the Court
of Claims. D.
The Speaker then laid before the House other
bills reported from the Court of Claims.
Mr.. Haven, of New York, regarded it as now
settled that bills from the Court of Claims should
be referred to the Committee of Claims. He
had isbored faithfully have these bills so re.
ferred as to give effect to the Court of Claims.
| Under the rule Of the House just adopted, how
ever, the Court of Claims would operate as a
clog upon claimants, who in his opinion were
now infinitely worse off than ever before. He
m To rofor bo tad 4.
| to the Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. Giddings, of Ohio, replied, and congrat-
ulated the country upon the fact that the House
had adopted rule of practice which would
benefit the private claimant, ind mete out even
handed justice to all.
The resolutions of Mr.. Richie were then re-.
ceived by unanimous consent.
Mr.. Mace, of Indiana, suggested that the res
olutions should be amended so as to provide
against the bills being put upon their passage
when reported.
Mr.. Jones, of Pennsylvania. That is under
STOOD.
Mr.. Benson, of Maine, desired to amend the
resolutions, so that they should provide that on
Friday morning of each week one hour should
be devoted to the reception of reports from
committees of private nature.
The Speaker ruled the amendment out of or
ueI anu, dlter DrleI ueDate, the roSOlutlQng
of Mr.. Richie were agreed to.
Mr.. Haven then withdrew his motion to COM
NIT the bills before the House, and moved that
they be referred to the Committee of Claims
which motion prevailed.
The Speaker then laid before the House ad-
verse reports from the Court of Claims; which.
according to the terms of the law organizing
said Court, were referred to the Committee of
the Whole, placed upon the private calendar,
and ordered to be printed.
On motion of Mr.. Walker, of Alabama, the
House then went into Committee of the Whole,
Mr.. Washburn, of Maine, in the chair,) and
proceeded to consider some private bills. Near
four O'Clock, the House adjourned.
Aonday May l9Ils56.
SENATE
Two messages were received from the Presi-
dent, vetoing the bills recently passed for the
improvement of the mouth of the Mississippi
river, and deepening the flats in the St. Clair
river. The President says he returns them
because he regards them as parts of general
system Of internal improvements, and refers
them to his message of 1864, vetoing the river
and harbor bill. The consideration of the sub
iect was pOstDOned until WodnaeJav noxf