The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-07
CONGRESSIONAL AL.
Thirty Fifth congress--seoond sess,
MONDAY, pECEMpER 6, ls5s.
SENATE.

Virginia Messrs Mason and Hunter
North Carolina-Messrs. Reid and Clingman.
South Carolina--AIr. Hammond
Georgia-Mr. Iverson.
Alabama-Messrs Clay and Fitzpatrick
Mississippi Messrs. Brown and Davis
Louisiana Mr.. Slde
kentucky-Mr. Thompson.
Tennessee7--Mr. Bell
Ohio--Mr Wade.
Indiana--Messrs. Bright and Fitch.
Uinos--Mr. Trumbull ... .....
Missouri-Messrs. Green aud Polk
Michi san-Messrs Chandler and Stuart,
Wisconsin -Messrs. Doolittle and Durkee.
Iowa Messrs Harlan and Jones
Caifornia-Messrs. Broderick and .Gwin.
Minnesota -Messrs. Rice and Shields.
Prayer was offered by Rev, T. ID. GURLEY, ID. ID.
On motion by Mr. BRIGHT, theaoath of office was ad.
mnisered TO Hon Mr.. BATES, of Delaware, who there
upon took his seat in the Senate.
Mr.. CLAY presented the credentials of Hon MATTHIAS
WARD appointed senator by the governor of the State
of Texas to ill the vacancy stoned by the death OF
Hon. p HENDERSON, until the legislature shall elect
his successor which read and, the oath of Office
having been administered him. he took his in the
Senate
Mr.. REID presented the credentials of Hon THOMAS L.
CLNGMAN elected by the legislature of North Carolina to
fill the vacancy occasioned 10y tho resignation of Hon
Asa Biggs which read, and Mr.. C. appeared,
qualified, and took his seat
TMr. GWIN submitted the following resolution which
was considered by unanimous consent and agreed to
Ordered That tbs Secretary inform House of
thai quorum the Senate has assembled and that the Senate
ready to proceed business.
On motion, it was
Ordered That daily meeting of tho
until otherwise ordered
MESSAGE FROM THE REPRESENTATIVES =, ~ ~
message was received from the House of Representa-.
tives by Mr. Allen, their clerk informing the Senate
that quorum of the House had assembled and that the
House ready to proceed to business also, announ
cling that the House had passed resolution for the APP
pontment of committee, jointly with such committee
he Amounted the of the to wait
on the President of the United States and inform him
that quorum of each House assembled, and that
Congress was ready to receive any communication he
might be pleased to make. ...
RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
Mr. ALLEN submitted the following resolution :;
which considered by lSlmouS consent and agreed
to:
esoea That committee consisting three mcmbcrs he OPP
House Of to wait President United
him that quorum each House had assembled
Congress ready communication no be
pleased to make,
On motion by Mr.. ALLEN,
Ordered the committee be appointed by the Vice President
And Mr.. ALLEN, Mr.. sLIpELI, and Mr.. Foor were
cordingly appointed
Mr. GWIN gave notice that he should call up the Pa
cic railroad bill to- morrow, at twelve o'clock.
Mr. MASON moved that the bill to indemnify the
master and owners the Spanish schooner Amstad and
her cargo be taken up and made the special order of the
day for Monday next
Mr. SLIDEIL inquired what position that would place
the bill in compared with the special orders made at
the last session Did they not retain their position
the calendar
The CHAIR replied that they did.
Mr.. SEWARD said he would prefer that the senator
from Virginia should modify his motion, and say Tues
day, he should be absent on next Monday.
Mr.. MASON had no objection to that His object
merely to give notice that that day he should ask the
Senate to take up and consider that bill 1t had passed
had ,f
Representatives and he desired to have the subject act
ed upon really affecting the honor and good faith
of the country
Mr. SEWARD stated that he did not want to be under
stood by suggesting Tuesday instead of Monday that he
gave his consent that this bill should have precedence
over other special orders He did not regard it
meritorious measure and no reason why it should
be pressed before other business. If the Senate, how
ever should think it proper to take it up it would be
matter of convenience to him to have it up ON
Tuesday instead of Monday.
Mr.. FESSENDEN had heard no reason assigned why
this which was merely private BILL should take prece-
deuce all the other private bills upon the calendar
He ready to consider it whenever it should up
in its order, but objected to making special order
Mr.. MASON replied that there rule of the Sen.
ate to define what private bill and what not,
and that had than been mooted question be-
fore the Senate This bill founded upon claim
made by the government of Spain upon the government
of the United States and alleged by that government to
be DUE first, under the laws OF nations, and, second,
under an existing treaty with Spain 1t had been pre-
ferred several times by Spain and had and over
again been pressed upon Congress by successive Prcsi
dents q claim due TO Spain. IL true that the
ney when paid would go into the hands of Spanish sub
jects. He did not make this motion any other
than his suggestion but he familiar with the
justice of the claim The Executive could not pay it, and
could only recommend its payment to Congress.
Mr.. FESSIENDEN said that there had been no such
recognition of that claim placed the government in
the attitude that it necessary to procure approp
alton from Congress to meet an admitted claim.
Mr.. MASON. 1t has been admitted by the Executive
over and again.
Mr.. FISSENDEN. That may be, but the Executive
can only admit the claim as an individual 1t might be
Just in the opinion of the Executive but Mr. f. said he
in the habit of looking at opinions not much with
reference to their to their merits This
private claim made through government, and there
private claims much older and the justice of which
admitted by much larger number of people. This
subject would occasion great deal of debate and
should be taken up at the of this short
session it must prevent the consideration of much other
business.
The question being taken, the motion of Mr. MASON
was agreed to, as follows:
YEAs-Mesrs Bates, Biglcr, Bright Brown, Clay Chugman
Davis Fitch Fitzpatrick Green Gwin, Hammond erson Jones
Kennedy Mason Pcarce Polk Reid Rice Shields stuart Thomson
NAysMcssrs Brodcrk Cameron, Chandler, Clark Dixon
nttle Dukoe Fessenden Foot Foster Hale Hamn Harlan King
Seward Simmons, TruIbull, Wade and Wison--l9.
Mr.. C0LI4AMER announced that he had paired off
with Mr.. SLIDELL on the above question.
COLLEGES.
Mr.. STUART remarked that there was bill upon the
calendar in which he felt interest He referred TO
and Territories which may provide colleges for the benefit
Tho I'M, lJs mot