Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-01-26
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

speeches called forth by the announcement oil
Col Harris's death. The House adopted
resolution to hold evening sessions for debate
ii. e., buncoule speeches).
JAN. 1S.-The Senate adopted joint reso-
luton permitting Mr.. Townsend Harris to ac-
cept gold snuff box f,om England. A reso-
luton, introduced by Mr.. Seward, calling for
the correspondence between our Government
and Spain relative TO the purchase of Cuba,
was adopted. The Pacific Railroad bill oc-
cupied the remainder of the session. a num-
Der of amendments were rejected, and Mr..
Biglcr's substitute, somewhat amended, was
adopted. Finally the Senate, after ordering
the bill to be printed, that they might see
what shape it now wore, adjourned in despair.
The House adopted resolution, offered by
Mr.. Sherman of Ohio, appointing Commit
| tee of Five, TO inquire into the truth of char
ges importing that the Navy Department here
and in Philadelphia has been guilty of favor-
| itism in the award of contracts, and has used
the public money for partisan purposes
Should the inquiry be put into the right hands,
and be prosecuted with proper diligence, some
| interesting discoveries may be made, even at
l
struck out the enacting clause of Mr.. Coch-
| rane's bill to codify the Revenue laws, and
then concurrcd, as the House, thus defeating
the measure by vote of los to 81. Mr.. Cox
of Ohio, made a speech on the 'sLaw of
growth" )" and the ssGeEius of our institutions"
| in which he took ultra tilibuster grounds, and
talked great deal OF secondhand nonsense.
He was for the annexation of the whole world,
| and ssthe rest of mankind.'' Mr.. Hickman
made speech on the Tariff. The majority
and minority reports OF tho Committee upon
the Oregon bill were presented.
JAN. 19-The Senate refused to lay the
Pacific Railroad bill on the table, by vote
OF So to 10. Mr.. Bell withdrew his motion
to re-commit the bill. The residue of the
session was occupied with a discussion on the
constitutionality of carrying the road within
the limits of the States. In the House, Mr..
Cobb of Alabama reported bill amendatory
of the pre- emption laws, by which three
months occupancy of the land is required.
An attempt to table the bill proved unsuccess-
full; but, the morning hour having expired,
the House went into Committee of the Whole
on tho Consular and Diplomatic bill. Mr..
keitt made a Cuba-steaiing speech; in the
course of which he was, however, honest e.
nough to say that ho did not believe the island
could be purchased. The appropriation for
Minister to Persia was stricken out Of the
bill, on motion of Mr.. Colfax. Mr.. Loveioy
of Illinois moved to strike out all the appro-
priations for the salaries of Ministers and
Commissioners, excepting-on the suggestion
of Mr.. Clark-the Minister to Spain. Mr..
Stanton of Ohio, did not see the utility of
Ministers; Mr.. Crawford of Georgia did.
Mr.. Scales of North Carolina cried for re-
trenchment. Mr.. Lovejoy's amendment was
finally rejected, but by only twelve majority.
Motions to strike out tho salaries of Ministers
at Rome and Switzerland, prevailed. In the
evening session, Mr.. Humphrey Marshall of
Kentucky, made an elaborate political ha-
rangue, ostensibly in reply TO recent speeches
of Messrs. Seward, Giddings and Washburn
Other members had leave to print their re-
marks-a practice to which Mr.. Burnett sem
siby objected.
JAN. 20.-The Senate passed the Invalid
Pension bill. Mr.. Benjamin reported sub
stitute for Mr.. Mason S by which the warmak-
ing power is conferred upon the Executive.
The main difference between the substitute
and the original bill is, that the President is
by rsc former required to make an Immediate
report TO Congress of what he may do under
previous provisions. After further discussion
of the Pacific Railroad bill, the Senate ad-
journed. In the House, the Committee on
Mr.. Sherman's motion to investigate charges
of corruption in the Navy Department was
announced. 1t consists of two Republicans,
two Democrats, and one American, as follows:
John Sherman (O.), Chairman; VIM. S.
Groesbeck, Ohio, Chas. Ready, Tenn, Thos.
S. Bocock, Va, David Richie, Pa. Taking
up the bill amending the Presumption Laws,
the House adopted Mr.. Crows amendment,
prohibiting the exposure Of public lands for
sale unless returns of the surveys thereof
shall have been made ten years or more pre-
viously, and then rejected the bill by four
majority. In the evening session speeches
wers delivered by Messrs. Purviance, Thomp-
son and Phelps of Minnesota
JAN. 22.-The time of Congress was taken
up with the private calender.
JAN. 23.-The Senate not in Session. The
House, after considerable objection, received
resolutions in favor of prot ective tariff from
the Legislature of Pennsylvania.
The ScALpEL.-We omitted last week to no.
tice the receipt of the January No. of this in
teresting and valuable quarterly, published in
New York by DR.. Dixon. The Scalpel is net,
aSi ifs ;nhf