The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-02-18

MED by substitute, to strike out all after the
word q Resolved" and insert
That there be paid out of the contingent
fund of the Senate, TO Cornelius Wendell, the
sum OF S6, $50, az q compensation tor publish
ing 10000 copies of the opinions OF the Judges
of The Supreme Court in the case OF bred Scot
rs. John T. A. SANFORD, the said sum in full
FIR copyright and al other charges incident &c
TIE said publication"
Mr.. Evans asked the consideration of the
amendment reported by the committee.
Messrs Seward, Hale, Wilson, and Hsmlin
opposed it.
Mr.. DooIitle offered an amendment, to ex-
Glade the imputation that the Senate sanctions
the opinions of the Court, in ordering the sp
preparation. This was voted down.
The Senate then proceeded to consider the
special order, being the bill to increase the mill
tarv establishment of the United States.
Mr.. Davis concluded bis remarks commenced
Yesterday in favor of the bill and the debate
was continued by Messrs. Houston and Toombs
against the bill, when the question was taken
On the amendment of Mr.. Toombs, to strike
oft the first section, which provides that there
shall be two companies added to each of the
regiments of dragons, cavalry, and infantry,
and mounted rifemen. The amendment was
rejected by the following vote:
Heas-Messrs Bell, Chandler, Collamer, Crit.
tenden, Dixon, Dooli.tle, Durkee, Fessenden,
Foot, Foster, Gwin, Hale, Hamlin, Harlan,
Houston, johnson Of Tennessee, King, Pearce,
Pugh, Simmons, Sumner, Toombs, Trumbull,
Waie, and Wilson-25.
Nays-Messrs. Allen, Bayard, Biggs, Bigler,
Bright, Broderick, Brown, Cameron, Clay, Da.
Wis, Evans, Fitch, Hammond, Hunter, Iversou,
Jones. Mallory, Mason, Polk, Sebastian, Sew.
ard, Slidell, Stuart, Thomson of New Jersey
Wright. and Yulee-26. -
Mr.. Bggs moved proviso, which Was agreed
to, limiting the time of service to two years.
Mr.. Stuart moved to strike out the second
section, which gave the President authority to
increase the number of privates in each com
pany serving in the field or at remote stations
10 ninety-six; which motion also prevailed.
Mr.. Stuart then moved to strike ont the fourth
section, which provides that hereafter regulal
promotions to vacancies, occurring in the regi
mental grades of commissioned officers, shall
be by regiments or corps, instead of by arms
Of service, as now regulated in certain cases.
This motion led to long debate; and with
out taking any question, the Senate, at ten
minutes past five o'clock, adjourned to Monday.
HOUSE.
The Kansas Committee-The Speaker an.
nounced the select committee to whom the
Presidents Kansas message was referred, with
instructions, under the resolution adopted on
the 9th instant, as follows: Messrs. Harris. OF
Illinois; Stephens. of Georgia; Morrill,, of Yer.
mont; Letcher, of Virginia. Wade, of Ohio
Quitmsn, Of Mississippi; Winslow, of North
Caroline; Bennett, of New York; White, OF
Pennsylvania Walbridge, of Michigan; An
dsrson, of Missouri; Stevenson. of Kentucky !;
1c NJ n-G e
chusetts; and Russell, of New York.
The Steamboat Lap.-The House resumed
the consideration of the bill further to amend
an act to provide for the better security of the
lives of passengers on board of vessels propelled
in whole or in part by steam, and for other
purposes.
Mr.. Florence, of Pennsylvania, proceeded
with his argument against the use of tin rivets
or plugs for steam boilers, and in favor of the
use of fusible alloy for that purpose.
Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, took occasion to
say that be hoped the bill would be referred to
the Committee of the Whole, as it was q meas.
ure of very great importance to the commerce
of the country.
Mr. Whitley, of Delaware, opposed the bill,
because it would interfere with and cripple in
tefnsl trade, because it would greatly augment
the horde of office-holders to be appointed BY
the National Administration, and more espe.
cially because it destroyed the existing safe
guard against boiler explosions, by allowing
the use of tin plugs instead of fusible alloy.
Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois, moved the previ.
Gus question, which was seconded-yeas lO2,
nays not counted.
Mr. Washburne then closed the debate on the
bill, replying to the several objections which
had been urged. The House had had ample
time to consider the bill, he said, aud be op
posed the reference to the Committee of the
Whole, because that might be fatal to it, as
every gentleman who was familiar with the
course of legislation well knew. He did not
suppose the bill would be acceptable TO steam
boat owners; it was not intended for the pro
lection of their interests, but for the protection
of tae lives of passengers, often endangered
through their cupidity or negligence.
The question was taken on the motion to
refer the bill to the Committee of the Whole
which prevailed--yeas ll3, nays 70.
The attention of the House was next called.
BY Mr.. Stanton, to the subject of the contumacy
of another witness, John w. Wolcott, of oston,
who had refused to give direct answers to ques
tions propounded TO him by the select commit.
tee on the subject of money alleged to have
been expended by Lawrence, Stone, & Co., in
procuring the passage of the last tariff act.
Mr.. Stanton, BY authority Of the committee,
submitted resolution, directing the Sergeant
alarms to take the witness into custody, and
bring him to the bar of the House, to answer
for contempt of its authority. This led to o
long discussion, in which the relative powers
of the House and the rights of witnesses were
strongly depicted, and the resolution was finally
adopted by decisive vote.
The House then adjourned.
-
Friday, February II, 1853
The Senate did not sit to-day.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Wolcott, beiug brought to the bar of the