Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-01-21
XXXVTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Wednesday. Jan. II, 1855.
FIRST SESSION.

In the Senate. Wednesday, Mr.. Doolttle,
of Wisconsin, offered joint resolution direct
ing the presentation Of medal to Commodore
Pauldng. Subsequently Mr.. Brown of Mis-
siSsippi, gave Iotice of lis inteLtion to offer
all amendment, conveying a vote of cenSure
to that officer This will have the effect,
when the matter comes up, of testing the rela
tive strength of the friends and opponents OF
Gen. Walker in the Senate The motion to
reconsider the vote amending the joint resolu-
tion defining the power of the President rela-
tive to the nomination to active service OF na-
val officers affected by the action Of the late
Retiring Board was warmly debated, and fl
nally the motion prevailed aud the amendment
was rejected. after which the resolution was
passed with another amendment, limiting the
the power Of the President to nominate to six
months after the passage of the act In the
House the day was spent in debate in Commit
tee of theWhole on the Presidents annual Mes
sage.
Thursday, Jan. a.
In the Senate, Mr.. Houston gave notice of
his intention to introduce bill providing for
the admission of Kansas into the Union. The
Joint resolution directing the presentation Of
medal to Commodore Paulding was made the
special order for Wednesday of next week.
In the House, after the presentation Of pc
tition from Ben Brice and five thousand
other citizens of New. Y York, for a law giving
the public lands to actual settlers the debate
on the Presidents annual Message was con-
tinued in Committee of the Whole, and took
somewhat wider range than usual. Mr.. Blair,
of Missouri, gave notice of his intention to in
4roduna a resolution 6irnctipr a Commit To
inquire into the expediency of acquiring terri
tory by treaty or otherwise, in Central or
South America, for the purpose of colonizing
free blacks from this country to be protected
as dependency under the flag Of the United
States.
WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, Jan Is.
The Senate was not in session
III the House, Mr. Stanton, Of Ohio, offered
q preamble and resolution setting forth the
fact that the published report of the Commit
tee appointed to investigate the affairs OF the
Middesex Manufacturing Company stated that
$1,000 were paid to secure the passage of
the Tariff act of 1851, and calling for an in
qury into the matter He proposed the ap-
pontment of a select committee of five, with
power to send for persons and papers, and pro-
tctu dC eOllC iCuSth W o"'OCu'S
action on the proposition This gave rise to a
long and warm debate, in which the question
was fully discussed. Various amendments
were proposed as to the manner in which the
investigation should he conducted, and, final
ly, one suggested by Mr.. Letcher. of Virginia,
as a substitute, was adopted, which provides
for a select Committee of FIVE with power
who are to investigate the charges preferred
against members and officers of the last House.
growing out of the disbursement of any sums
of money by Lawrence, Stone & Co, or other
persons, and report the facts to the House,
with such recommendations as they deem prop
er. Mr.. Harris, of Illinois-the subject of the
Corruption Investigating Committee of the
House having been brought up-offered a
preamble and resolution proposing that Mr..
Matteson'S case he investigated, looking to his
expulsion from the House but as Mr. Mat
teson was absent from Washington, the mat
ter was postponed until Monday week. A
resolution was passed authorizing a Special
Committee to investigate the facts attending
the sale Of the Fort Smelling reservation. -
The Judiciary Committee were authorized to
send for persons and papers relative to the
charges against Judge Watrous Of Texas
The Joint resolution Of the Senate, in regard
to the retired naval officers proposed to be res
tored to the active list, WAS lost, objection be-
ing made to its consideration.