Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-28
TUESDAY, JANUARY IS, 1859.
SENATE.

stated that he was requested to inform the Sc
nate that the Vice President would necessarily
be absent for a few days.
On motion of Mr.. Bright, Senator Fitzpat
rick was called to the chair.
Mr.. purh stated that he had noticed severa
Geographic reports in the New York paper.
u,rnoriinp 10 narratc a debate in Executive scs
sion; and ms. this had been copied by a city pa
per, he would send it to the Secretary 5 desk tc
be read.
The Secretary read a statement from The
New York Herald, containing an alleged report
Of q debate in secret session.
Mr.. Puga characterized it As >cuTrl!onS and
false; and he thought that if such a breach I"
the proceedings of the Senate had taken place,
it was time some remedy should be made.
Mr.. Fitch said that he agreed with the scna'
tor. He should even think it necessary to have
u sworn reporter in Executive session TO take
down villa, was said. lie denounced the report
rs false.
Mr.. Davis said that what had been imputed
TO him in Executive session, IS reported IN The
papers, wis false. The Senator from Illinois
(Mr. Douglass knew too we'll that he had never
made any such remarks a, had been imputed
to him. lMr. Douglas nodded ~assent.)
NJ. Doug.aS said Inc %concurred fully in wiaf
had been said. The Senator from Mississippi
(Mr. Davis did not attack him. and he did moi
believe that the Senator had done him any in
Justice. He characterised the alleged report oi
the proceedings rs false.
Mr.. Green said that he might make a few re-
marks explanatory of the manner in which this
report had been made. during executive srs-
sion. on Friday last. he noticed q dark looking
object in the Northeast corner of the lobby, r..
scmb ing somewhat a human being. He di-
rectcd the attention Of the Vice President TO it.
and Il search was instituted; and /. dark room
WAS found with no entrance but Il trap-doOr.-
In the room was found two black cats. Laugh
ter Now, it was well known that these AMI
mails had not reported the proceedings; but the
room and trap-door were suspicious, and he
maintained TINS fact. as some Senators were
aware of it. Every effort should be made I,
have the proceedings in executive session car
ricd Oh in private.
Mr.. Mason thought with Mr.. Davis. that an
INQUIRY into the subject should be made. 1t
wa well known that the private proceedings Of
the Senate were sometimes reported accurately;
and this had b:rn carried TO such An extern,
that it wa known that it must have been done
on the floor. If tho Senate were to have cXccu-
tive session, let them be private. Tie present
manner of publishing these reports only fed a
vitiatcd appetite Of the vcnal press.
Mr.. Green offered a resolution calling on the
Secretary Of the Treasury for 4 copy Of the
rcpor, made by the special commissioner to
Fraser river. Agreed to.
Mr.. Davis moved that the Senate proceed to
ii --...I -..o ac,na 1T, D,ir,oI hill -
The motion prevailed.
Mr.. wilson offered an additional section y
the bill as an amendment.
Mr.. Wilson supported his amendment in a
few brief remarks.
Mr.. Simmons reviewed the bill at length.
Mr.. johnson, of Tennessee, SAID he should
vote agai1s the bill. lie belonged to the strict
constrnctioniSt. and az one, could no; sane
ton this proposition. 1t was, in his opinion,
unconstitutional; and to assume that it was 4
doubtful question Of constitutional power, it
was then the duty Of Senators To follow JciIcr-
sons maxim of adherence to principle.
This proposition has been advocated as a war
The Constitution says that all pro
positions for the support Of the army shall not
exist for more than two years. Is it necessary.
then. for the support Of the army 10 build this
road as a war power? And is it necessary to
assume the incidents Of war in order that this
road can be built: Congress shorld desiSt from
the exercise Of such a power.
The fact Of tlli, measure having been en-
dorscd BY the Cincinnati convention, had been
hung rs 4 milestone on to il by the Senator
from California, (Slr. Gwin;j that it was RECON-
mcndcd hy the President and adhered TO by the
party. But all Democrats were no. bound to
this measure.
Mr.. j.. did not understand that this resolution
was a Democratic tenet.
lie explained that the resolutions recon-
mcndirg the passage of n Pacific Railroad bill.
as reported at Cincinnati. were not passed with
entire unanimilv. and were not considered as
tcncts or articles Of faith by the Democratic
party.
Mr.. j. then entered into an explanation OF the
manner in which political conventions arc form
ed. and the way in which the President is eject
cd. lie would tomorrow prefer TO see the
House of Representatives nominate 4 President
than to see it done in 4 so-cullcd national politi-
cal convention. These conventions violated the
spirit. if not the Constitution itself.
Mr. Broderick, OF California, said rs the
Senator from Tennessee profr>-cd To nc S;ich q
strict construclioni>t he would like him n tell
where he found the constitutional power to
place thirty millions Of dollars in the hands %!
the President a. q corruption fund, with the
power to spend Il hundred million more Il ne
chose? lie was also very much shocked at
the proposition 10 give away some !and for this
railroad. and yet at the last session voted TO
give the whole public domain to actual settlers.
Mr.. Broicrick also replied t. Hr. Davis
speech, in which he had characterized the cen
trial route -; desert, and read from Captain
Bcckwi,h's report to show that plenty OF wa
ter and grass were found along the line Of the
forty-frst parallel from the western border OF
Missouri to California. lie also said it was the
shortest route, being but 1890 miles IN length.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr. Niblack of Indiana, offered a resolution
the President to furnish the House
with information in reference to the disposition
Of the five per cent fund arising from the sale
Of public lands reserved for the benefit Of the
people of the Territory Of Indiana
Mr.. English Of Indiana, reported adversely
from the Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads. unon the memorial Of the Regents Of the
Mount Vernon Ladies Association. asking Tor
the use of the ranking privileges. Mr.. f.
stated that the Committee were OF opinion that
the privilege ought to be restricted instead Of
extended.
Mr.. F. also reported back from the same
committee the bill for aholishing the Post
Office Department.
Mr.. T.. also reported back from inc same
committee the memorial Of Charles Buttertield,
asking for a line of mail steamers between
United States and Mexican ports, and moved
that the memorial he referred To the Commit
tee on Commerce. =.
Mr.. J. Cochranc, Of y. T.. said that this
subject had n bearing OF the general interests
and prosperity of the country, and ought to
be referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. Jones. of Tenn, novel to lay the memo
rial on the table.
The vote was taken by the %iellers, and re-
sul,cd-S2 afirma i've, IS negative.
Mr.. English also reported back from the
Corn;ttce nm Post Office and. Post Roads the