The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-05-27

diciarv, affirming the right of Messrs. Bright
and Fitch to the seats they now hold as Sena-
tors from the State of Indiana Mr.. Pugh hsv-
ing moved that the report and documents in
the case be printed, Mr.. Trumbull, as a member
OF the judiciary Committee, asked for postpone.
ment of the question until he could examine the
papers. Mr.. Pugh contested the right Of Mr.. T.
to overhaul the papers of the majority Of the
committee, and urged an immediate vote On the
question of printing the same. The motion of
a subsequent stage of proceedings, withdrew
bis motion to print and asked to be excused
from further service on the Judiciary Commit.
| tee. The motion to print the documents, be-
ing renewed by Mr.. Benjamin, was carried.
Mr.. Douglas asked and obtained leave to in.
troducs bill to restrain and redress outrsges
upon the flag and citizens of the United States ;
which was read twice, and referred to the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations.
1t provides that in case of fragrant violation
of the laws of nations by outrage upon the flag,
soil, or citizens of the United States, or upon
| their property, under circumstances requiring
prompt redress, and when, in the opinion of
the President of the United States, delay would
be incompatible with the honor and dignity of
the Republic, the President shall be authorized
to employ such force as he may deem necessa.
~ to prevent the preparation of such outrages,
and to obtain Just redress and satisfaction for
the same when perpetrated; and it shall be his
duty to lay the facts of each case, together with
the reasons for his action in the premises, be.
fore Congress, at the earliest practicable moment
for such further action thereon as Congress
may direct.
| Mr.. Douglas also asked and obtained leave
to introduce bill to facilitate commune alton
been the Atlantic and Pacific States by cleo
trio telegraph which was read twice, and re.
ferred to the Committee on the Post Office and
| Post Roads.
| IatErRdt fmprOrenens.-Mr. Wade moved
that the Senate proceed to the consideration OF
| the bill making appropriations for repairing
and securing the works at the harbor of Chicago
Illinois. He thought it important, if any action
was to be taken on these Internal improve
ment bills during the present session, that they
should be considered without delay.
The motion was agreed to-yeas 30, nays 81
Mr.. Hunter moved postpone all prior orders
90 as to proceed to the consideration of the bill
authorizing q loan of fifteen millions of dol
lars.
Mr.. Wade hoped all the friends of river and
harbor improvements would stand by these
bills, IN preference to all appropriation or loar
1
If they were now set aside they must be lost
while there was no danger that any of the ap
preparation bills, or the loan bill, or any Other
nj cessary public measure that ought to b,
passed, would fail of being passed before tn.
day of adjournment
The question being taken, the motion of Mr.
Hunter was agreed to-yeas 35, nays 10.
Mr.. Wilson reviewed the growing expend
itures of the Government during the last few
Administrations, and criticised the estimates
Of the present Secretary Of the Treasury, who
ne thought, had greatly miscalculated for tn,
future, as be undeniably had done with regart
TO the last few months.
Mr.. Collamer alluded to the present condi
ton of the Treasury, as being but fulilmen
OF predictions made on the eve of the last hast,
and ill-digested modification of the tariff.
Alter further remarks by Messrs. Hunter
hayne, Cameron, and others, Mr.. Bigler moves
to amend the bill by providing that the note
issued under it should be transferable with III,
coupons attached. Experience had shown
said Mr.. B., that coupon loan" is NOR
readily negotiated and is preferred by capital
lists. The amendment was carried.
The section of the bill providing for two sd
dltional clerks in the Treasury Department
after being amended, on motion of Mr.. Bigler
so as to authorize the appointment of only one
vas, on motion of Mr.. Wilson, stricken out al
together-yeas 26, nays 20.
Mr.. Wilson further moved to amend the bill
by limiting the amount authorised for the ex
pense of engraving the plates, &C., to S., 0O
instead Of $4,000; which motion was adop,
ed--yeas u, nays Il.
Mr.. Cameron then moved to restrict the rat
Of interest to five instead of six per cent.
The motion was carried.
Alter some further discussion of the bill, Mr.
Simmons moved an amendment providing for
home valuation of imported goods which wa
ordered to be printed.
HOUSE
The session was principally occupied in tn,
consideration OF business relating to the Dis
!rict Of Columbia.
To the bill from the Senate to authorize tn,
organization of the fire department a snbsti
tute was reported, authorizing the cities o.
Washington and Georgetown, each for itself
TO organize and regulate paid fire depart
ment, in lieu of volunteer companies, and ap
proPriating $4,000 to aid in the purchase OF
four steam fire engines, and ST., 900 towards
hre-alarm and police telegraph. This bill,
under the rules, had to undergo the scrutiny
of the Committee of the Whole.
The House thereupon went into Committee :
and, after reporting fayorably on the Senate
bill 10 incorporate the Columbian Institution
for the instruction of the deaf and dumb and
the blind, took up the bill regulating municipal
elections in the city of Washington. This bill
led to much discussion, principally on the ques-
non OF citizenship and suffrage. 1t was finally
laid aside to be reported favorably to the House,
as ives also the bill to organize a paid fire de.
partment, and the bill to reimburse the corpo-
ration OF Georgetown money advanced to con-
slruct the Little Falls bridge.
4 long discussion ensued on a bill to author
ne q railroad throughout Pennsylvania ave
nue. but % vote was taken, and the last two
or three hours of the sitting we're occupied il
TIE discussion of miscellaneous subjects, moi
emitting Kansas and Slavery.