The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-03-07
Congress.
Feb. 26.-In Che Senate, Mr.. Trumbull

Feb. 26.-In Che Senate, Mr.. Trumbul
presented memorial from certain Senators
and Representatives Of the Indiana legisla.
ture urging speedy decision on the quss
ton of the eligibility Of DR.. Fitch and Mr.
T. took occasion to press the matter upon
the attention of the Senate. Mr.. Toomb.
said the judiciary committee, to whom thu
matter had been referred, were ready to re
port, the substance Of which was, that thu
question OF the eligibility of DIR. +. depend
ed upon the question whether 3 Senator
who had voted for him in the Indiana legis
lature we're entitled to their seats at til,
time, and proposing therefore, to take evi
dencc on that question before some compe
tent trib, nal in Indiana. The matter givin(
rise to debate, was laid over.
The Senate then passed the Atlantic ant
Pacific Telegraph bill after which the tarif
bin from the House was taken up and dis
cussed until adjournment.
In the House, while the appropriation bill
were on their passage, Mr.. Wright, Of Tenn.
approached the seat Of Mr.. Sherman, will
whom he had had some words few day
before, and the latter gentleman imagining
he came in a menacing manner, hurled
box of waters in his face. Wright there
upon squared himself for fight, when mutua
friends interfered, and the row was stopped
4 duel it is SAID will grow out Of the affair
The House spent the balance of the day il
summarily passing about dozen Of appro
priation bills.
was in session until one o'clock at night OF
the tariff bill, when the House bill, materi
ally amended, was passed.
The House spent the day on the rcsolu
ton, reported by the corruption committee
to expel Gilbert, Mstteson, &c. Mr.. Gilber
got the floor and made a long speech, pro
testing against the action of the committee
defending himself against their charges, &c.
and concluded by scn!ing paper to tn,
speaker resi- ,ning his seat in the House. 4
similar paper was also sent to the speake
from Mr.. Matteson. A long debate the,
arose, as to the competency Of the House t.
take further action in reference to the mem
bers who had just resigned, after which tn,
resolution to censure and expel Gilbert wa
tabled, and that to censure and expel Matte
son was passed by 145 against II. In re
ference to WEIGH and Paine, resolution wa.
adopted that sufficient evidence had not beer
elected to justify their censure or expulsion
March 2.-Mr. Cass, in the Senate, pre-
sented resolutions Of the legislature o
Michigan, censuring him for not obeyine
certain instructions, and spoke at some
length, denying the allegations Of the reso
lutions. The Senate spent the day in pass
ing appropriation bills.
The House passed the post route bill, the
bill providing for 10 new sloops of war; q
bill to deposit the surplus revenue, after re-
serving 81 coo, 900, with the states to be re-
funded when public exigencies required
and half dozen of ordinary appropriation
bills
March 3.-The Senate discussed at some
length, and finally laid on the table the re.
solution in reference to taking testimony in
regard to the Indiana contested election
case. The House post route bill was passed
The report of tho confer oncc committee on
the tariff bill was discussed and agreed to
and at late hour the Senate adjourned.
The House c-ncurred in the Senate bill
for a monthly, semi-inonth!y, and weekly
mail from st. Louis to San Francisco. A
number of other Senate bills were passed
when the House took up the report Of tie
conference committee on the tariff bill. and
after long debate agreed to It, l24 to II,
The Minnesota land bill from the Senate
was passed, and the House adjourned
March both Houses were in session all
night, the clock having been stopped at Il
o'clock, the principal business being to re-
ceivc and dispose Of presidential messages
approving bills, acting on reports Of confer
ence committees, &c. Finally a vote oil
thanks was passed to the Speaker Of the
House by 10 votes against %, the Speaker
made a thrilling" speech, and about 5
o'clock in the morning the House adjourned
sine die The Senate will remain in session
. week or two on executive business.