Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-01-14

Congress.
MONDAY. Jan. 5.-.Senate The bill for the
settlement of the pay ofoficers OF the revolution
Iary army, their widows, and orphans, having
been taken up, Mr. Seward made speech
in support of the measure. Mr.. Pugh opposed
lit, and no final action was taken.
Mr.. Butler, from the committee on the Jndl-
ciary, made report against the right OF Dir.
Harlan to seat in the Senate from the State OF
Iowa.
Honse-On motion of Mr. Walk resolution
was adopted, requesting the President OF the u
nited States to inform the House By what au-
thority he employs government architect for
designing and erecting all public buildings, and
placing the same under the superintendent OF
military engineers.
MIR. Quitman vainly strove to report bill in
, creasing the pay of officers of the army.
l Mr. Wabridge moved suspension of the
rules, in order to enable him to introduce res.
olution making the subject of the Pacific rail-
road the special order for the 14th of January
3 The motion did not preva-yeas 70, nays l05
. q two-third vote being necessary for that pur-
r pose.
MISUNDERSTANDING. Mason of Virginia
3 was elected President pro tenn.
/ Mr.. Harlan moved that the senate proceed to
3 the consideration of the report of the commit
tee on the Judiciary relative to his claims to a
seat as Senator from Iowa.
Mr.. Butler stated that the reasons which in
fuenced the majority of the committee in COM
ing TO the conclusion that Mr.. Harlan was not
duly elected. These were, in brief, that the Sem
} ate as body, did not attend that meeting in a
joint con vention at which Mr.. Harlan was elect
ed, and their teller was not there as was requir-
ed by law. The Senate had adjourned over,
andthere was no Senate in session at the time. A
majority ofSenators were present in theirindivid
ual capacity, but the Senate as body were not
there. The President of the Senate, the regular
presiding officer of the convention, was not
present, and the convention elected president
pro TEN. These irregularities vitated the con-
vention.
Mr.. TOombs made verbal report from the
minority OF the committee, in favor of Mr.. Har-
lan's right to the seat He said the joint con-
vention consisted of members who composed
the two legislative bodies, and as soon as they
met in joint convention the distinction heretofore
existing between them as members of different
branches was obliterated Their names were
arranged in alphabetical order on one list
Hence the absence or refusal to participate in
the proceedings on the part of any number less
than the majority Of the whole number of mem
bers composing the joint convention, could not
invalidate tue doings of the convention. lie
thought the fraudulent and factious con-
duct of those Senators in Iowa, who sought
to defeat the election and Illustrate the will Of
the people of Iowa, ought to he condemned by
this body and by the entire American people.
| Mr.. Pugh argue in support OF the constitu-
tionaty of Mr.. Haran's election, and Mr.. Gey-
er spoke on the other side.
House-The Presidents message was further
discussed by Mr.. Stephens of Georgia, and Mr..
Davis, of Maryland.
WEDNESDAY. -Senate-The President trans
mtted to Senate letter from the New York,
Newfoundland and London Telegraph Company
asking assistance from the United States on the
same terms as it has been afforded by the Brit
isl Government.
Mr.. Weller reported bill to increase the pay
of the officers of the army, and gave notice that
he should call it up at an early day.
The consideration of the Iowa election case
was resumed. Mr.. Bayard argued against the
right of Mr.. Harlan TO his seat. Mr. Foster took
the opposite ground in favor of MI Harlan's
right to q seat.
The President pro tenn submitteda letter from
the Hon. Hannibal Hamlin, resigning his seat
as Senator from the State of Maine.
The Senate adjourned till Friday.
House.-The tiresOme debate on the Presl-
dents message was resumed. Mr. Barclay was
particularly severe on the President and the
viows expressed in his message Mr.. Sandige,
of Louisiana, defended Southern rights and ir-
stitutions.
The House then adjourned until Friday.
| FRIDAY-Senate.-Mr Seward introduced n
bill to authorize the Secretary of State, under
the direction of the President, to contract with
the New York, New Foundland and London
Telegraph Company for the use of their subma-
rine communication for fifty years by the Gov
eminent of the United States on the same terms
and conditions as the British Government; also
to aid the company in laying their submarine
cable. The bill was referred to the Committee
on Post Office
| The House bill providing for the payment of
invalid and other pensions was passed.
| The Iowa election was further considered, but
no action was taken.
A resolution was adopted asking the Presi-
dent for information in regard to the election of
Americans from the Island AYES, by the Vene-
zulean government, while gathering guano for
shipment Adjourned to Monday.
House.-Twenty.one bills on the private cal
endar were passed. AS the House was about to
adjourn, Mr.. Kelsey said that the Washington
correspondent of the New York Times had made
charge of bribery and corruption on Members
of the House and others, which demanded in
vestigation, and he submitted resolution for
the appointment of O committee of five with
power to send for persons and papers.
Mr. Paine, of n c., said that he had knowl-
edge If such an attempt having been made by
one member to others in relation to the Mime
sofa Land Bill.
Great confusion ensued, and loud calls for the
name of the offender, but Mr.. Paine refused to
give it. The resolution was finally passed, and
the House adjourned.
SATuRDAY.-Ho Speaker announc-
ed the select committee to investigate the alleg
ed conspiracy, to consist of Messrs. Kelsey, Orr.
Davis of Maryland, Richie and Teamer.
/ Mr. Grow said he had for two or three weeks
petition signed by 1906 voters of Kansas ,remon-
straing against the right of Whitfield, TO o seat
as delegate from that Territory. He had been in.
formed that large number of similar petitions
are on their way.
lie asked to have read the petition of Mr..
Reeder, setting forth his reasons for contestins
Mr.. Whitfcld's seat. Objection was made and
the papers were referred to the committee on e.
| lections.
Orr AT LAsT-An old man named Gregg,who
has been confined in Fauquier county Jail since
the first of October, 1916, for debt under the
old law, was released on Christmas day by jailor
Cross, there being nothing left in the hands Of
the law to pay his Jail expenses. We learn that
this man had property enough to pay the debt
against him, but that lie preferred spending his
weary hours within the gloomy walls OF the
county prison to paying the debt which he owed.
The person who had him confined has been dead
some years, but we learn put provision in his