The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-02-05

niitISe as may pS appointed Dy the house OF
Representatives, to ascertain and report mode |
of examining the votes for President and Vice |
President of the United States, and of notifying
the persons elected of their election.
The following bills from the House of Repre-. |
sentatives were read by their titles, and, on
motion of Mr.. Douglas, referred to the Com
mittee on Territories
An act to authorize the people Of the Terri
tory of Oregon to form a Constitution and
State Government.
An act to authorize the people of the Terri
tory of Minnesota to form Constitution and
State Government.
On motion by Mr. Fish, the joint resolution
authorizing the Secretary of the Navy to pay
to the officers and seamen of the expedition in
search of DR.. Kane the same rate of pay that
was allowed the officers and seamen OF the ex-
petition under Lieut. De Haven, was recon-
mtted to the Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr.. Adams moved to proceed to the con-
sideration of the bill to establish a Department
of Law, and to prescribe certain duties of the
Auditor and Comptroller of the Treasury.
Several unimportant amendments were
agreed to-
Mr.. Crittenden expressed the opinion that
bill proposing so radical a change as forming
a new and separate Department of the Govern
ment would require more time and closer ex-
Mr.. Seward said the bill was certainly
very important one, aud intimated that the
little time now left Of the session would be in
sufficient to give it that consideration the i'm
portance of the subject demands, and was
about to state further reasons, when the hour
for taking up the special order arrived.
Mr.. Adams then moved that its further con-
sideration be postponed until halfpast II to-
morrow; which motion was agreed to.
Mr.. Hunter then moved to postpone all prior
orders, and proceed to the consideration of the
bill making appropriations for the support Of
the Indian department and for fulfilling treaty
stipulations with certain Indian tribes for the
year ending June 80, 1858; which was agreed
to.
This bill, having had various amendments
made to it, was reported to the Senate, the
amendments concurred in, and the bill was
read g third time and passed.
HOUSE.
The Speaker laid before the body com
munication from the Clerk of the House, trans
hitting orders of the Legislative Ass embly of
Canada in relation to the transmission of copies
of all documents ordered to be printed by said
Assembly to the House of Representatives Of
the United States; which was referred to the
Committee on the Library, and ordered to be
printed.
Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, introduced bill
to establish at Augusta, in the State of Georgia,
port Of delivery; which was read three times
and passed.
Mr.. Whitney, OF New York, introduced a
bill to provide for and regulate the organize
ton of the House of Representatives of the Uni
ted States which was read twice, and referred
to the Committee On TIE judiciary.
On motion of Mr.. Grow, of Pennsylvania,
under a suspension Of the rules, Saturday next
was set apart for the consideration of Territorial
business.
Mr.. Kelsey, of New York, from the select
committee appointed on the 9th ultimo, report
cd the following resolution, which was ag;cod
to:
Resoz0ed, That the Sergeant-at-Arms of this
House be, and is hereby, instructed to bring
James W. Simonton, now in his custody by order
OF the House, before the select committee ap-
pointed Oh the 9th ultimo, TO answer, or the
summons of the Speaker, such questions as may
be propounded to him, touching the subject
matter of said investigation By said committee.
A message was received from the Senate, in
forming the House that that body had passed a
joint resolution for the appointment Of q com
mittee, to consist Of three members, to Join
such committee as may be appointed by the
House OF Representatives, 70 ascertain and re-
pert a mode of examining the votes for Presi-
Ga motion Of Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee, it
was agreed to; and the Chair was authorized
| to appoint a committee of FIVE members to carry
ont the object of the resolution.
| The Speaker thereupon appointed Messrs.
| Jones of Tennessee, Washburn of Maine, Full.
| Ter of Pennsylvania Letter Of Ohio, and Bocock
| of Virginia, the said committee.
| MIR. Fuller, of Maine, pressed the considera-
ton OF bill to establish the collection districts
of the United States, and to designate the ports
of entry and delivery in the same. This is a
bill of great length, embodying all the districts
in one act. Some time was spent in various
motions concerning it, but its further consider
| alton was postponed until Monday next
Mr.. Pelton, of New York, under suspension
of the rules, reported from the Committee on
Commerce the bill to authorize the President
OF the United States to cause to be procured,
By purchase or otherwise, suitable steamer,
to be stationed at the port of New York for a
| revenue cutter, and for the purpose of afTording
relief to distressed vessels, their passengers and
crews, and recommended that the House con-
cur in the amendments of the Senate thereto
And the question being taken, the amend.
ments were agreed to. SO the bill is passed.
Mr.. Barbour, of Indiana, moved suspension
Of the rules, to enable him to report from the
Committee on the Judiciary the following reso-
luton:
Reso2oed, That John c. Watrous, United
States district judge for the district of Texas,
belmpeached Of high crimes and iHisGemeanors.
Pending the motion to suspend, at quarter
to four O'Clock, the House adjourned.