The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-12-09
tn IRTY-FIFTH Ess.
Second Session.
Monday, December 6, 1853.
"a SENATE.

the State of Texas, to fill the vacancy occa
stoned by the death of Hon. j. P. Henderson
until the Legislature shall elect his successor.
Mr.. Reid presented the credentials of Thomas
L. Clingman, elected by the Legislature Of
North Carolina to fill the vacancy occasioned
by the resignation of Hon. Asa Biggs.
On motion, it was
Ordered, That the daily hour of meeting Of
the Senate be II o'clock, until otherwise Or
dered
Mr.. Gwin gave notice that he should call up
the Pacific railroad bill tomorrow at twelve
o'clock
The Amistad Claim-Mr. Mason moved that
the bill to indemnify the master and owners OF
the Spanish schooner Amistad and her cargo be
taken up and made the special order of the day
for Monday next.
Mr. Seward said he would prefer that the Sen
ator from Virginia would modify his motion,
and say Tuesday, as he should be absent on
next Monday.
Mr.. Mason had no objection to that.
Mr.. Seward said that he did not want to be
understood, by suggesting Tuesday instead OF
Monday, that he gave his consent that this bill
should have precedence over other special Or
derS. He did not regard it as a meritorious
measure, and saw no reason why it should be
pressed before other business.
Mr.. Fessenden had heard no reason assigned
why this, which was merely private bill,
should take precedence over all the other pri-
vate bills upon the calendar. He was ready to
consider it whenever it should come up in its
order, but Objected to making it special
order
The question being taken, the motion of Mr..
Mason was agreed to, as follows
YeaS-Messrs. Bates, Bigler, Bright, Brown,
Clay, Clingman, Davis, Fitch, Fitzpatrick,
Green, Gwin, Hammond, Iverson, Jones, Ken
nedy, Mason, Pearce, Polk, Reid, Rice, Shields,
Stuart, Thomson of New Jersey, and Ward-24.
Ndys-Messrs. Broderick, Cameron, Chand
Ter, Clark, Dixon, Doolittle, Durkee, Fessenden,
Foot, Foster, Hale, Hamlin, Harlan, King,
Seward, Simmons, Trumbull, Wade, and VIII
son-l9.
Mr.. Collamer announced that he had paired
off with Mr.. Slidell on the above question.
Shortly afterwards, the annual message of the
President was received, and was read by the
Clerk
Mr.. Hale remarked that it had been custom
airy on some occasions for gentlemen to express
their sentiments upon the message upon the
motion to print. If the President had confined
himself to his constitutional prerogative and
had only given Congress information with re-
gard to the state of the Union, he should not
have felt called upon to say word on this
occasions but he thought the President had
abused his constitutional prerogative by giving
a history oftransactions that have passed by, and
such history as, he thought, was not entirely
consistent with truth and he could not let such
statements pass unchallenged. Mr.. H. then
took occasion to comment upon several portions
of the message with considerable freedom, espe-
cially that in reference to the affairs of Kansas.
When he had concluded
The question was taken on printing the reg
ular number of the message and accompanying
documents, and it was agreed to. The motion
in regard to the extra copies lies over.
The Chair laid before the Senate the annual
report Of the Secretary of the Treasury which
was ordered to be printed.
And then the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE
In pursuance Of law, the House of Represent
atives was called to order by the Speaker at 9
o'clock NJ.
After prayer by Rev. Mr.. Ball, the officiating
chaplain, the roll was called.
On motion, the daily hour of meeting was
fixed at II o'clock NJ.
The Tarif.-The Speaker called the States
for resolutions and bills.
Mr.. Grow, of Pennsylvania, introduced bill
to modify the law establishing the Court of
Claims, so as to enable creditors to sue in the
District Courts of the United States; and it was
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
MIR. Curtis, of Iowa, introduced a bill for the
construction of a central Pacific railroad and
it was referred to the select committee on rail
roads.
Mr.. Dewart of Pennsylvania, offered the
following resolution:
ReSOleed That the Committee of Ways and
Means, when appointed, be instructed to report
a bill increasing the duty on coal and iron.
Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee, and several other
members, objected.
Mr.. Dewart moved that the rules be sus-
pended.
Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois, asked the gentle
man to modify his resolution so as to include
lead.
Mr.. Dewart consented.
Mr.. Morrill,, of Vermont desired mOdi6ca
ton that would include wool.
Mr.. Dewart consented
Mr.. Davidson hoped the gentleman would in
clude sugar. Laughter.
The resolution was then as modified, read
as follows:
ReSOlUed, That the Committee of WAYS and
Means, when appointed, be instructed to report
a bill increasing the duty ON coal, iron, lead
wool, and such other articles as need protection
against foreign competition.
The question being taken, the motion to sus
pend the rules was not agreed to-yeas lO2
nays, 81 two-thirds not voting in the affirma
tive.
On motion of Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, tn,
Speaker was authorized to appoint the standirss
committees.
A message was received from the President
of the United States, communicating his annua
message; which was read.
Mr.. Phelps, of Missouri, moved that the
ferred to the Committee of the Whole on tn,
state of the Union, and printed, and also tina
one copy of the reports of the Heads of Depart
ments be printed for each member ofthe House
which motions were agreed to-
On motion of Mr. WaShburne, of Illinois. tn,
House adjourned.
LATER FROM CALIFORNIA PER OvERIASI
MAIL---S. Louis, December 3.-The overlan,
California mail of the 9th ult has arrived. will
six passengers, including Lieutenant Mowry
who furnishes a favorable account of the Gil;
river gold mines, the average Weld of which i
900 per day 1t is believed that no richie
diggings exist, even in the most favored nor
tons of California, and, from the location 0
the mines, there is no danger to be apprehende,
from hostile tribes of Indians
A political meeting at ella city had passe,
resolutions endorsing the action of the Mesill,
and Tucson Convention, asking Congress for
Territorial organization. The silver mines !,
the same region are also very rich