The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-28

lne amendment was agreed 10.
Sundry other amendments were adopted when the bill
! was read third time and passed. .tfe
| oIvu AND DIPLOMATIC BILL
On motion by Mr. HUNTER, the Senate then proceeded
to the consideration of the bill from the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes making appropriations for the Legislative,
year ending june 80 1858.
The hour appointed having arrived the Senate took
a recess for two hours.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIONS
The SPEAKER laid before the House a communication
from the Department Of the Interior resou
ton OF the l7th instant respecting public lands.
| On motion of Mr.. CAMPBELL of Ohio, House bin
making appropriations for the service of the Post Office
Department for the year ending the Both Of June 1858
returned from the Senate referred to the Committee
Ways and Means, and ordered 10 be printed.
CASE OF Mr.. EDWARDS, OF NEW YORK.
The House resumed the consideration Of the reports
the select committee appointed the 9th ult to nvest
gate certain alleged charges OF corruption OF members o
Congress the question being on the following resolutions
reported in the case OF Mr. EDWARDS, of New York:
"Resosed, That FRAsors 8. EDwARps member of this
House from the State Of New York, did the Esd day OF
December last, attempt to ence koBERr T. PAINE mem
Der OF this House from the State of North Carolina to vote
contrary the dictates of his Judgment and conscience
n making Lands % e aid in h the OF
mary consideration to the said PsE for his support OF the
esorsed That the said FaAscIs s. EpwAaDs be- and he
is hereby, expelled from this House,"
Mr. EDWARDS, of New York submitted few brief re-
marks in his defence He stated that since he had been
member of Congress- be could say honestly and with
clear conscience that he had been brbed upon any
measure or BILL and it he had unwliingy given offence
any member OF Congress be would ask his pardon He did
say here that he free in his heart from any
tempt TO do wrong as member Of the body but he had
become satisfied from the several votes which had been
given upon similar resolutions that although friends
every side of the House without distinction of party SYM
pahzed with him. and felt that the position that be occu-
pied unpleasant and perhaps wished that the resol-
tons different yet from the force of circumstances
and the sentiments of their immediate locality they
were forced 10 vote for the recommendations of the
mttee To relieve kind friends from such position he
had determined upon resgnng his and had already
transmitted paper to that effect the executive of the
State of New York, to take immediate effect
Mr.. RITCHlE, of Pennsylvania, then moved that the
resolutions in this be laid the table, which motion
was agreed TO-
The question was then stated TO be upon the following
resolution;
"Rsolssd That James W. smonton be expelled from the
floor OF this House as reporter" aa
Mr. KELSEY, of New York. stated that had he obtained
the floor In earlier stage Of the discussion growing out
OF the reports of the select committee he should have pre-
sented his views somewhat at length He desired
remark that the only difference that had arisen in the
lect committee had grown of difference of opinion
TO the proper reports to be made to this House. any
friend of Mr. Simonton desired speak in his behalf he
would give way. He dema ded the previous question.
Mr. SAGE, of New York. moved to amend the resolution
to include Mr. Trpiet, who he understood also
reporter of the House.
Mr. HOUSTON, of Alabama desired to move an amend
ment excluding all persons from the hall who engaged
in prosecuting claims before Congress.
Mr. JONES, of Tennessee hoped that the proposition
would be unanimously received.
Mr. KELSEY declined 10 withdraw the previous eues-
ton. 4a1
The amendment of Mr. SAGE then agreed TO- and the
resolution as thus amended adopted.
The House then proceeded consider the bill reported
by this committees protect the people against corrupt and
secret influences in matters of legislation.
Mr. KELSEY, of New York, wishing to consume the
time of the House. moved that the bill be referred
COMMITTEES OF the Whole on the state of the Union; which
motion not agreed to-
The bill was then put upon its passage.
The previous question demanded and seconded and
the main question ordered when
Mr.. QUlTMAN, of Mississippi, moved that the bill be
laid the table which motion not agreed to-yeas
81, nays SO.
The bill was then passed--yeas l04 nays SO.
Mr.. H. MARSHALL, of Kentucky, moved to reconsider
the vote by which the bill passed He stated that he
had opportunity for the first time while these proceed
ings going examine the bill and thought that
il might well be known to the American people that
while 1t passed by the House, gentlemen taking
their first look at IT, The whole country would laugh it
to utter for it abridged the liberty OF speech they
should agree to receive any compensation to advocate
matter before Congress pending before Congress
whether they did il through the press Otherwise
they within the scope Of this law. He contsnded
that il in shape to pass IL the House wanted TO
reach outside agenIsn they should pass aw prohibit
ing them from entering the Capitol He hoped therefore,
that the House would agree to the motion reconsider
Mr.. QUlTMAN, Of Mississippi reviewed the bill, con-
tending tpat it created class of crimes and that
the constitution delegated power TO Congress 10 do
this He argued that every cizsn Of the United States
had right and that his duty 10 here and adj
dress proper 10 members of Congress he thought
he could promote public policy or private justice
Mr. DAVIS, from Maryland, explained the effect Of the
bill He said that the second section carried out into law
the opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States that
all contracts for contingent compensation to obtain
legislation by secret or sinister Influences void and
that such practices immoral and fraudulent He beg
ged TO express his Judgment that it was of the
allowance of that style of influences that the reputation of
Congress had descended many degrees n the opinion Of
tic people and il was the object Of this to make
these Influences hereafter punishable He contended that
the only right that any in the country had the
right petition Congress- and that right not touched
by the bill In conclusion he moved TO lay the motion to
reconsider on the table.
The question taken and the motion to lay the
ton to reconsider the table agreed toyeas
nays l3s
The motion to reconsider was then agreed TO-
Mr. READY of Tennessee moved that the bill be refer
red to the Committee the Judiciary and printed pend
ing which,
the table; which motion was agreed to-
THE INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL
On motion of Mr. CAMPBELL, ef Ohio, the House in
sisted on lis amendments to the Indian appropriation
BILL disagreed the amendments OF the Senate thereto
and granted the committee of conference asked by that
body.
AND HARBoR IMPROVEMENT BILLS
The House then resumed the consideration Of the fol-
lowing resolution, submitted Tuesday last by Mr..
WAsHBUnSE of Illinois the question being on the mo-
ton to suspend the rules
Resolved That the Committee of the Whole House the
Union from the further consideration
of the bill OF the House mo 1859 to continue the improve
Of Cape Fear rver North Carolina and that the House
proceed to its consideration, and that while so under con-
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