Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-03-08
and advocated by Messrs Yulec and

Seward.
Mr. Reniamin stated that he was largely In
terest.J nccuniarily in the Tehuantepec route
and consequently would not vote on the amend
mcnt. which he advocated.
Tho amendment was adoptcd-yeas 80, nay
Ar Hunters committee amendment adopte
Yesterday was, that the power for the issue an
reissue of the treasury notes conferred upol
the President by act Of Congress, December 2"d
1857, shall be revived and continue in fore
from the passage oil this act, until July LIST, 1861
the interest not TO exceed per cent, anu q
defrav the expenses thereof $4,000 be appfo
priated.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick moved to amend by inserl'nl
an Appropriation of $4,000 for ten years. Il
aid the establishment of line OF steamers u
ports in the Mexican Gulf. Mexico having SlVei
grant Of similar amount GILL,
Nessrs. Fitzpatrick. Ward, Benjamin, Sheld'
and Wilson spoke IN favor OF the ProPos'ts. S',,
the latter desiring TO limit inc perloo " nou
vcors and so amended it was adoptcd-yea'
2i. nays 10. ,,,;,
Mr. Bright from the committee on pnoii'
buildings, moved to amend by giving the whole
amount $500, 900, to complete the treasury
building, instead Of $4,000 Adopted.
Mr.. Ivcrson and many other Senator's at
tempted to append claims and other business
rs amendments. the discussion Of which occu
pied much time, but mostly were voted do"r
or set aside as out Of order by Mr.. Hunter
who, in an evidently uncomfortable state o.
mind, would keep bcseeching Senators 10 re
member that there was no hope of passing
crude amendments which only INSTRUCTED tht
indispensable legislation Of the country and
peried the calling Of an extra session
Eight o'clock. p. NJ. The Senate Is still III
session, not having taken even recess. Ihere
is deluge rain without. Within the Their
mometcr indicates So degrees. There are lew
hundred ladies and several hundred men In
the galleries Most of the Senators are IN theii
seats. .
The subject before the Senate is an omnibus
hill but il IS ovcr.rid with amendments, which
have given scope to debate on all topics, from q
protective tariff TO the Kansas Indians. The
main amendments, made as above noted in
Committee of the Whole, have been confirm
ed, excepting Mr. Simmonss proposal for home
valuation. which was lost by vote Of "a
against 90. The section authorizing the Urea
surv notes was confirmed by vote Of 30 to %
Amendments were added to abolish the frank
ing privilege and raise the rates Of postage
which arc identical with those already append
Cd to two other bills.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
4 committee Of conference was asked anc
appointed on the disagreeing votes OF the two
houses on the naval appropriation bill.
The report Of the committee OF conference
on the Washington acqueduct bill was agreed
to.
On motion of Mr. Nichols, the House consi
dercd the report from the Soaring investigation
committee. The resolution accompanying the
report is as follows;
Resolved. That upon q review all the
testimony taken in the matter of the charge
against John A. Soaring, member OF this
House from the State of New York, and chair
man of the committee OH accounts, the evidence
would not warrant conviction nor subject him
to expulsion"
Mr. Nichols stated that since tho report had
been made he had rc-read the testimony, and
came 10 the conclusion the resolution did not
90 far enough, and that it should have entirely
cxoncratcd the member from New York, as the
evidence was not sufficient to mpcach his in.
tecritv in any degree. This conclusion, he said,
was also concurrcd in by other members Of the
committee.
After some debate the resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Crawford of Georgia, submitted report
from the Committee Of Conference on the army
bill. The Senate rccedcd from its amendment
for the payment Of the expenses OF
the Kansas volunteers, and the House agreed
to the appropriations for Notifications with
certain amendments.
The appropriation for Fort Carroll is fixed at
$40. 900; for Fort Delaware $4,000; for Fort
Calhoun SO, 900; for Fort Knox 100000; for
Fort Montgomery $4,000. The whole appro-
pration for Notifications was fixed at 100000.
The report was agreed to.
Mr. Davidson Of Louisiana, made state
men, that the President would sign no more
private bills which might be passed at this ses-
sion Of Congress.
Mr. Phelps moved to suspend the rules, with
a view Of taking up the Senate amendments to
the post-oilice appropi iation bill, in order to
refer the same to the Committee Of the Whole.
The motion prevailed, and Mr.. Phelps moved to
refer the bill to the Committee Of the Whole.
Mr. Grow, Of Pa, raised = point Of order that
the action of the Senate in adding an amend.
mcnt to the bill increasing the rates Of postage,
invaded the privileges Of the House, being in
the nature Of revenue bill, which was in vic.
lation Of the provision Of the Constitution re-
curing that all revenue bills should originate
in the House. lie argued that there was no
difference between raising revenue by tax on
letters than BY tax on merchandise, and that
the Senate had, therefore, exceeded its powers.
He offered 4 resolution that the bill be return
ed 10 the Senate, as section Is Of the Senate
was in the nature Of 4 revenue
bill.
The amendment Of the Senate was the one
increasing the rates Of postage to cents.
The thirteenth section. above alluded to, pro-
poses five and ten cent letter rates, and abo
ishcs the frankns privilege
Mr.. Jones withdrew his amendment and
Mr.. Grows resolution was adopted-yea:
1T, nays 76--so the bill, together with the
amendments, were ordered to be returned t
the Senate.
Mr.. English said that some time ago thu
House passed post route bill exclusively
which was sent to the Senate, but returned
with amendments for al increase Of postage
to abolish the ranking privilege AMI relatin!
to the compensation Of poStnaSters As tn
House had Just acted adversely on simila
amendments to the poStoificc appropriation
bill, he thought it best to introduce new pos
route bill.
On motion of Mr.. English, the rule which re
quircs the reading Of bills was dispensed with
Mr. Millson claimed that he had a right Il
hear the bill read before voting.
The Speaker remarked that he had decided
according to preccdents, that the rule in sucl
cases could be suspended.
Mr. Millson appealed from the decision Of tn
chair; but the chair was sustained.
Mr. English proposed several post rout
amendments, which were adopted, and the bill
was then passcd-yeas ITO, nays &c.
Several private bills were passed.
The House concurrcd in the report Of tn
committee of conference on the Navy bill, b
which $3.50, OOO is appropriated to enable tn
purchase Of the chartered vessels employed i
the Paraguay expedition. Also passed the S,
nate bill carrying into effect the treaty wit
China of November last, by authorship tn
President to appoint commissioners for the eA
animation of claims.