The Washington union., 1858-02-24
CONGRESSIONAL.
Thirty-Fifth Consress-First Session
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY 20. 1858.
SENATE
MEMORIALS, PETITIONS, Sc.


xsloaIAIS, PETITIONS,
Mr. HAMMOND presented papers in relation TO the
claim of Richard W. Meade for expenses incurred IN con-
sequence OF refusal Of Commodore jones' in command
of the United States squadron in the Pacific to allow him
take command of vessel in obedence TO tho order OF
the Secretary Of the Navy.
MI HAMLIN presented the petition of Grnnell, MIN
turn Co.. and other merchants and of the
city of New York demonstrating against the passage oi
law 10 repeal the act allowing bounties to vessels en-
gagged in cod fishing on the ground that fisheries the
great school from which produced the most enecuve
masters mates and sailors In the merchant service and
In time of war some Of the best in the navy Of the
United States and that the removal of such bountes
would almost annihilate that school for seaInen.
Mr. BROWN presented the petition of mechanics of
the city of Washington praying for the enactment Of
law similar In its provsons TO the laws embraced In the
Revised Code in reference to mechanics liens real
and personal property.
Mr. JONES presented memorial Of the Legislature Of
Iowa. praying grant Of land In aid Of the construction
of the Mcrcgor St. Petersburg and Missouri river rail
road also another in favor Of additional mail facilities
In that State
Several petitions OF private nature presented all
of which referred to the appropriate committees
HEroRrs IRON COMMITTEE
Mr. FOSTER, from the Committee Pensions re-
ported bill for the relief Of Mrs Eliza A. Merchant
widow the late Capt Charles g. Merchant of the Uni
tod States army which read and passed to second
reading.
Mr.. iyERSON from the Committee ON Claims re-
ported bill to provide for settlement of the accounts
Of the late Capt John w McCrabb which read and
passed to second reading.
BILL INTRODUCED.
Mr. JONES asked and obtained leave to introduce
Joint resolution to extend the Limitations of the act enti
tied n act for tho relief of citizens of upon lands
of the United States under certain circumstances ap
proved 2Sd May, 1874 which was read twice and refer
red.
PRINTING onpMxD.
On motion by Mr. HALE, resolution was adopted
of the report Of the Committee Territories the ad
mission of Kansas together with the views OF the minor
tiles of said committee
sALARiEs JUDGES.
On motion by Mr. PUGH, the Senate proceeded to the
consideration Of the bill 10 equalize the salaries of
tain Judges Of the courts for the District of Columbia and
for other purposes.
Mr. PEARCE wished to look at the bill little, and
moved that it further consideration be postponed until
tomorrow which was agreed TO. e{rE
WARRANTS LAFAYETTE.
On motion by Mr. SLIDEIL. the Senate proceeded to
An act TO authorize relocation Of land warrants Nos
g. A. and s. granted by Congress to General lafayette
approved February 26, l845 The provisions Of the bill
were explained BY Messrs. SLIEELL and BENJAMIN :
but on motion by Mr. PUGH the further consideration
of the subject was postponed until Tomorrow.
The following bills were severally considered and
passed:
Bill amend entitled % An to authorize the
President of the United States to to be surveyed
the tract Of land in the Territory Of Minnesota belonging
to the half breeds mixed boods of the Dacotah or
Sioux nation of Indians, and for other purposes, ap
proved July H. 1854.
Bill to amend entitled An act to limit the liza
by of shipowncrs, and for other purposes approved
March s. 1851.
THE INSTRUCTIONS OF TENNESSEE
Mr. BELL presented joint resolutions of the legislature
Of Tennessee commenting his course in opposing the
Kansas Nebraska bl and in favor of the admission Of
Kansas under the Lecompton constitution which were
read. CThey have already been published in the Union
Mr. said that the novel and extraordinary character
Of these resolutions might justify him in making
extended remarks than he should otherwise feel
liberty to make. The first thing that would most natu
rally attract attention would be the date of the adoption
of the resolutions being tho 10th day of the present
month and about four years since the vote given
which there called in question 1t had been usual
when the Of member Of Congress- in either
branch felt themselves aggreved by the action Of their
representative upon question materially affecting their
interests TO take method of expressing their dis
pleasure promptly at least in some reasonable time
after the knowledge of his had reached them either
by calling public meetings in other way and it
remarkable that after long time had elapsed this
subject should now have been revived.
The next thing worthy of notice that in the first
clause the Legislature endorse and approve uncondtion
ally the repeal of the Missouri Compromise after the
mschevous results of that measure have become patent
and unmstakable Nor can they plead ignorance of
these results since the President has plainly and frankly
informed them that of thea results las been to con-
vulse tho whole Union to its very censreto light up
the flames Of civil war In Kansas and to produce danger
GUS sectional parties throughout the confederacy.
Mr. 3. proceeded to allude to the various elections
that had taken place in Tennessee since the vote which
is called in question. The first of these was
in August, 1855, three months after the passage of
the Kansas Nebraska bill In that election the prin-
cpal question involved Amcricansm. The next
election in November 1856, two years and half
after the passage of the Nebraska bill. American
ism entered into that contest the prominent ele-
ment but the Kansas bill to extent debated
The leaders of the democracy dwct upon that but tte
but avaod themselves Of the indications of Fremonts
success in the North, and men of all parties i'm
plored to support Mr. Buchanan and defeat Fremont as
Fillmore had chance Of election After the result of
tho Pennsylvania election became known the Americans
lost confidence in Filmores election and went over
the support of Buchanan who carried that State it be-
ing the first time the deocatc candidate for President
had carried the State for twenty years But Mr.. Fill
more, who had declared that had he been member of
Congress he would have voted against the Nebraska BILL
received 50, 900 votes In Tennessee.
The next election came off in August 1857 In which
the democrats carried the legislature and elected their
candidate for governor The wings and Americans, dis
couraged by their defeat the year previous coud bo
aroused to into tho election and great numbers of
them did not 60 to the polls Ausion vas made TO the
reelection of Mr. Ethedge by increased VOTE not
wthstandng his vote against the Nebraska bill TO be
two Of his colleagues, who voted the way,
defeated but not account of that vote, but
the question Of Americanism. He thought that at
time since the repeal u the Missouri Compromise had
there been any settled indication of tho opinion of the
South that question. Party leaders, matter of
e1pediency, may have taken grounds in favor of that
measure, and In may have carried large vote
OF those who have investigated tho merits OF the