The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-20
THIRTY-F CONG RESS
Second Session.
Wednesday,, January II, 1859.
SENATE

er on lne coast OI georgia WIN cargo Oh
slaves.
The President communicates to the Senate
the report of the Attorney General, to whom
the resolution was referred, which states " that
at this stage of the proceedings it would, in my
opinion, be incompatible with the public inter
est to communicate the steps which have been
taken therein The fact that a vessel of that
name did land cargo of upwards of three hun
dred negroes from the coast of Africa in Geor-
gia is well known, and there is official informa-
ton to that effect. 1t is also true that the most
effective measures have been adopted by this
Government and by the local authorities of the
United States in Georgia to execute the laws
which forbid such importation and to punish the
offenders.
Mr.. Hunter, from the Committee on Finance
to which was referred House bill making appro-
priations for the payment of invalid and other
pensions of the United States for the year end
ing the Both June, 1860, reported it back with
amendments, and gave notice that he would ask
the Senate to proceed to its consideration to-
morrow.
The amendments consist in part of reducing
the amount for pensions under the acts of
March, 1918, and May, 1923, and June, 1882,
from $500 to $4,000; and abolishes after
July, 1859, the present agencies for the pay
ment Of pensions, and the duties to be discharged
by officers named under the act of 1916; said
officers not to be allowed any additional COM
pensation for the duties thus imposed upon
them. In all applications for pensions, the af-
hdavit OF two surgeons is required, whose cred
Utility as such must be certified to by the mag
istrate before whom the affidavit is made, sta
ting the continuance of the disability for which
the pension was originally granted describing
it, and the rate of such disability at the time of
making the affidavit, &c.
Mr.. Mason moved that the Senate proceed to
consider the bill to equalize the compensa-
ton Of the Ministers of the United States to
France and England during the period therein
mentioned which motion having been agreed
Mr. Mason explained and advocated the
bill.
The bill was then reported to the Senate, and
read third time.
And the question being on the passage of the
bill, it was decided in the negatve-yeas 8,
nays 80.
The Pacific Railroad BiU-The Senate re-
sumed the consideration of the Pacific railroad
bill, the question being on the motion of Mr..
Iverson to recommit the bill with instructions
to the committee to report bill providing for
a Northern and Southern route to which Mr.
Doolittle had moved an amendment so that the
bill, when reported back, should provide for a
Central route also.
The amendment of Mr. Doolittle was agreed
to by the following vote:
YeaS-Messrs. Bigler, Broderick, Cameron,
Chandler, Clark, Collamer, Crittenden, Dixon,
Doolittle, Douglas, Fessennen, Fitch, Foot,
Foster, Green, Gwin, Hale, Hamlin, Harlan,
Johnson of Arkansas Jones, Kennedy, Polk,
Pugh, Rice Sebastian, Seward, Simmons,
Stuart, Thompson of Kentucky, Toombs, Trum-
bull, Wade, Wilson, and Wright-35.
MasSrc Rail Rrou-n Cboon,+ C1o,-
Clingman, Fitzpatrick Hammond, Houston,
Iverson, johnson of Tennessee Mason, Pearce
Reid. and Ward-l4.
Mr. Brown discussed the constitutional ques
ton at some length, contending that the Gov
eminent had no right to advance its means for
a project of this kind. He should vote for the
proposition to recommit the bill, not because
he should thereby commit himself to vote for it
when reported back but he desired to have it
recOmmitted in order to get clear of the subject
and have it out of the way.
Mr.. Green replied to the constitutional arpu- |
ment of Mr.. Brown. He desired to have but |
one road, starting westward from the western |
boundary of Missouri and running to about the |
lO2d parallel, where it might branch out into |
two routes, the one north and the other south |
He hoped, however, that the bill would not be |
recommitted, but that the Senate would go on
and vote for or against the various projects, I'M
till one should be found which could command
the support ola majority of the body.
Mr.. Bigler gave notice of an amendment,
which he should offer at the proper time to Sc
cure the construction of the Central division of
the road through the desert.
Mr.. Doolittle advocated the proposition sub
mtted by himself a substitute for the bill re-
ported by the committee.
The question being taken on the motion to
recommit it was not agreed to, as follows:
Yeas Messrs. Bayard, Benjamin, Brown,
Chestnut, Clay, Clingman, Crittenden, Fitzpat-
rick, Hamlin, Hammond, Houston, Hunter, |
Iverson, Johnson OF Tennessee, Mallory, Ma |
son. Pearce, Pugh, Reid, Rice, Slidell, Stuart
Toombs, Ward, and Yuee-25.
Ndys-Messrs. Bates, Bell, Bgler, Broderick, |
Cameron Chandler, Clark, Collamer, Davis, |
Dixon, Doolitte, Douglas, Durkee, Fessenden,
Fitch, Foot, Foster, Green, Gwin, Hale, Harlan,
Jones, Kennedy, King, Polk, Sebastian, Sew.
ard, Shields, Simmons, Trumbull, Wade, and
Wilson-32.
Mr.. Houston spoke in advocacy of the South
ern ronte and repudiated the idea that the
great body of the South were in favor of seces.
sion or disunon The South were not respon-
sible for the introduction of Slavery there.
They were not a commercial people, and had
never participated in the slave trade until re-
Gently and that he branded as an act of unmiti.
very because it was for their interest to do so
the South had retained it because it was for
their interest to do so. He did not like the
term Southern rights, for the South had no
rights which were not equally possessed by the
North.
Mr.. Douglas supported the bill in the form
in which it had been reported from the COM
mitteee. He thought that its provisions were
fair towards all sections both the North and
the South. Let the two termini be central, and
then let the road be built where the contract
ors find the best route to be located. As far as
his information extended, the Albuquerque
route, along the 35th parallel of latitude, would
probably be found to be the best.
Mr.. Iverson made few remarks in response
to what had been said by Mr.. Houston in refer
ence to secession. He denied the right of that
Senator to speak on behalf of the South, for he
had been repudiated by his own State for his
intensity of feeling in favor of union, when that
union could only be maintained at the sacr-
flee of the rights and interests of the South.
Mr.. Houston rose to reply, but the hour be-
ing late he give way to motion for adjourn
ment.
And the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE
Reference ofthe NaUdl appropriation Bill
The Speaker stated the business in order to be
the consideration of the bill making appropria-
tons for the naval service for the year ending
June 30. l960-the question being on the mo-
ton of Mr. Sherman, of Ohio, that it be referred
to the Committee on Naval Affairs, offered in
lieu of the motion of Mr.. Phelps, of Missouri,
that it be referred TO the Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union.
Mr.. Sherman believed the Committee of
Ways and Means was willing and anxious To