The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-12-23
THE NATIONAL ERA: WASHINGTON D. C, DECEMBER 3d. 1855

Mr.. Bowie, of Maryland, introduced a joint
resolution, with view to obtain modification
or reductionson the duty ON American tobacco
by foreign Governments; which was referred &c
the Committee on Agriculture.
The consideration of the Watrous impeach
ment case was resumed.
The resolution pending was in favor of i'm
parchment, for which the House, by j IL against
", adopted a substitute, that the testimony
taken before the Judiciary COMMITTEES in the
case of Judge Watrous is insufficient to Justify
the preferring of articles Of Impeachment
against him for high crimes and misdemean
ors. ' is
The House agreed to the resolution, as thus
amended, by ll3 against So. 8
Mr.. Boyce, of South Carolina, called up the
report made from the Committee on Elections
last session. stating that " it appears there were
such tumults, riots, intimidations, and Injustice
in the third Congressional district, Baltimore
IN November, 1857, that there could not be q
fair election that it shall therefore be declared
null and void, and that the Speaker be request
ed to notify the Governor of Maryland Of the
fact" n - :
Mr. Bcyee offered a resolution admitting Mr.
"hyte, who contests the right Of Mr. Harris tc
a seat on the floor of the House during the con
sideration of the subject, with the right to
speak.
Pending the consideration of the subject the
House adjourned
Thursday, December l6, 1858.
SENATE
Mr.. Wilson, of Mass, moved to amend the
Arizona Territory bill, so as to provide for the
election of Governor, Secretary, Judges, and
other officers, by the people, for the term Of two
years. '.i III
Mr. Wilson also introduced resolution call.
ing on the President for information concern.
ing the landing, by the yacht Wanderer, on the
coast OF Georgia, of cargo Of slaves. Adopted
Mr. Clngman, of North Carolina, attempted
TO bring up his resolution to abrogate the CLAW.
ton and Bulwer treaty.
Mr. Mason, of Va, Chairman of the Commit.
tee on Foreign Affairs, was in favor Of LAYING
the resolution on the table.
Mr.. Collamer of Vermont, Mr.. Shields OF
Minnesota, and others, expressed their senti-
ments; after which, the vote was taken, resulting
IN yeas p, nays 2S. So the resolution was not
taken up.
The consideration of the Pacific railroad bill
was then resumed, Mr.. Bell, of Tennessee, hav-
ing the floor -
After Mr.. Bells remarks, the further consid.
Grafton of the Pacific railroad bill was post
poned. M
Mr.: Iverson, of Georgia, introduced a bill to
give the back pay to the officers since reinstated.
who were retired by the Naval Board.
The Senate Agricultural College bill was
made the special order for Tuesday next
The Senate then adjourned till Monday next
HOUSE
The Speaker laid before the House a message
from the President, enclosing communications
from the State and Navy Departments, in re-
spouse to the resolutions calling for information
relative to recent events in Central America.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
without being read.
The House then resumed the consideration
of the Maryland contested election case of Mr..
Whyte against Mr.. Harris.
Mr.. Boyce, of South Carolina, said that Mr..
Whyte did not claim the seat for himself, but
SIMPLY opposed the retention Of it by Mr.. Harris.
The House, by vote of l08 yeas to 80 NAYS,
LAID on the table the resolution admitting Mr..
"hyte to the floor, and the liberty of speaking
on the subject. Q
MIR. Eustis, of Louisiana, moved to table the
resolution reported from the Committee on Elec-
tons, which read as follows: at appears to
this House that there was much tumuit. riot. in.
timidation, and injustice, i'll the election for
Representative in Congress from the third Con.
gressional district of Maryland, on the Sd of
November, 1857, in contempt of law, and in
violation Of the freedom Of election that said
election Is void, and the seat is declared vacant,
and the Speaker is hereby directed to notify the
Governor of Maryland of the fact"
The motion to lay on the table prevailed
yeas LOG, nays 81.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union
Mr.. Phelps, Of Missouri, endeavored to have
taken up the Presidents annual MESSAGE. but
the consideration Of the bill reported last SEES.
SION, granting pensions to the officers and sol.
dlers OF the war of 1872 and those engaged in
all wars during that period, was resumed
hr. savage, OF Tennessee, insisted that the
honor and reputation of the country demanded
that those brave men should have their services
recognised.
Mr.: Nichols, of Ohio, was opposed to the
principle of the bill throughout, and to increas.
ing the fund Of pensioners under it.
Mr. Burnett, of Kentucky, replied, that no
policy was better calculated. under our system
of Government to keep alive the spirit of patri
otism and devotion to their country, than by as
suring its defenders, when they become old and
helpless, that they will be taken care of by
Government. :.
Mr.. Richie, of Pennsylvania, said that the
resources OF the country would by this system
be exhausted, and we would be prevented from
carrying on any war at all, if necessity should
require it.
Mr.. Mason, of Kentucky, said that those who
asked tor pensions did not come here as pau.
pers, but are entitled to pensions in discharge
OF debt promised to be paid.
Various amendments were then voted on. but
nothing definite accomplished. Adjourned
Friday, December II, 1858.
The Senate was not in session to-day.
HOUSE
Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia moved that the
House 60 into Committee of the Whole upon
the private calendar which was carried.
The Speaker called Mr. Sherman, of Ohio.
to the chair.
The subject before the Committee was the
bill to revive the examination and payment of
certain claims of citizens of Georgia and Ala
bama, on account of losses sustained by the
depredations of the Indians in the Greek war of
1886, 1887, and 1888, and for the subsistence
of the United States army
Mr.. Shorter, of Alabama, explained the cir
cumstances which had led to the introduction
of this bill.
Mr.. Washburn, of Wisconsin, opposed the
bill. He said this subject had come before the
Committee on Indian affairs ofthe Thirty fourth
Congress, and, after careful examination of the
question, that committee decided that the
claims possessed no merit whatever.
Mr. Shorter. | desire the attention of the
gentleman from Wisconsin who addressed the
House last. understood him, while address
ing the House, to say that the people of Ala
bama had fed from their homes in fear of the
Indians, thereby leaving their property, and
that they now come before Congress "to ask
ra,l Ca. tLnit L,.oro,al, D;d Il.