The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-03
Saturday, February 26, 1859.
SENATE


The bill making an appropriation of thirty
millions of dollars g to facilitate the acquisition
of Cuba having been called up, as the un6n-
ished business of the preceding day
Mr.. Slidell rose, and in a few remarks an
nounced his determination to withdraw the
measure from the further consideration of the
Senate during the present session. He was in
duced to take this step, from the conviction
that longer debate of the Cuban proposition
might leopard the passage of the appropriation
! bills, and thus necessitate an extra session of
Congress. If the opposition members of the
Senate had evinced a disposition to proceed
regularly with the dispatch of the public bust
ness, this alternative might not have arisen
but as they had sought rather to obstruct than
facilitate the proceedings of the Senate, he
deemed it the wiser policy to postpone the Gu
ban bill until the opening of the next Congress,
when he would press its consideration at the
earliest possible day.
Some brief remarks were then made by
Messrs. Fessenden, Wade, Wilson, Clerk, and
others, in defence of the course pursued by the
Republican minority Of the Senate, who, ii was
alleged, had merely sought to assert their right
to be heard on this most important measure,
and to he heard at time and under crcum.
stances which should be propitious to calm and
deliberative debate. r.
The Cuban bill having been thus disposed of
for the present session, the Senate proceeded to
take up the bill making appropriations for the
support of the army during the fiscal year end
ing the both June, 1860. This bill was dis
cussed during the remainder of the sitting. and.
after having received several amendments, was
finally passed, by a vote of yeas "A, nays lG.
HOUSE.
The report of the committee of conference on
the dsagreeing votes of the two Houses on the
Indian appropriation bill was received and
agreed to.
bill reported by Mr.. Faulkner, from the
Military Committee, to protect the timber grow
ing upon lands of the United States reserved
for military and other purposes, was passed
The Post Office appropriation bill was re-
considered on the motion of Mr.. Phelps, of
Missouri, and passed, by vote of los to lO4.
Mr.. Phelps moved suspension of the rules,
to enable him to report from the Committee of
Ways and Means bill, reinstating the rate of
duties imposed by the tariff act of 1916. After
much discussion ON points of order, and the
authority of the chairman to report in the form
proposed, Mr. Phelps modified his proposition
SO as to make the report from his committee in
pursuance of the resolution adopted by it,
namely, to allow the bill just named to be re-
ported; to allow Mr.. Morrill, to report substi-
tute, providing for loan and a modification of
the tariff, and any other member Of the COM
mittee to offer amendments. But the House
refused TO suspend the rsles, by vote of 1913
to So; not being twothirds,
Mr.. Phelps reported back the bill making
appropriations for the Legislative, executive,
and judicial expenses of the Government.
Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, made an ineffect-
ual motion to set apart Monday for. Territorial
business.
A message was received from the President
of the United States, returning, with his obiec-
tons, the bill Of the House granting public
lands to the several States for the benefit of
agricultural and mechanic arts. The question
was taken, whether the House would, upon re-
consideration, pass the bill, and decided in the
negative-yeas los, nays 95: not two-thirds.
So the measure fails l+E
The naval appropriation bill was further con.
sidered in Committee Of the Whole, and some
amendments made. The consular and diplo-
rhatic appropriation bill was further considered,
and one of the Senate's amendments adopted,
and others rejected. The general appropriation
bill and the pension bill were also further con-
sidered. The House concurred in the work of
the Committee on all these bills, except the
navy bill; and adjourned at 9 O'Clock.