Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-02-08
Thirty-fifth Congress...2nd Session.

Thirty-fifth Congress.--2nd Session.
MONDAY, Jan. 81, 1S59-Senate.-Mr. blgler
introduced resolution declaring, as the opinion
OF the Senate, that the creation OF large puo
lie debt in time Of peace was inconsistent with
our true policy; and therefore the revenue should
be adjusted so as to meet the expenses, &c.-
Laid over.
The resolution relative to the conduct OF Com
Paulding and the neutrality laws, was taken up
Mr.. Foot defended PauldiDg, and MeSSrs, Grit
tenden and Seward followed in the same strain
HoatSe.-After some other business, Mr.. AL
gour, asked leave to offer preamble and resou
ton denouncing the African slave trace, IL
strong terms. The vote on suspending the rules
for the purpose, was Ito yeas, 81 nays-not two
thirds.
Mr.. Houston asked leave to introduce bill
authorizing the President of the United States tc
contract for loan of S20,000,000. The House
refused to suspend the rules. Yeas rs, nays ~
TUEsDAr.-Senate- The bill donating land tc
agricultural colleges was considered. c,-
House.-The Homestead bill was passed-yeas
l20, nays 76. 1t provides that any person who
is at the head of family, over twenty one year;
of age, and citizen of the United States, or who
has filed an intention to become such according
to the naturalization laws, shall be entitled to en-
ter one-quarter section of any vacant or nnappro
priated land, and hold the same, on condition O
actual settlement and cultivation.
The French Spoliation bill was taken up, ane
referred to the Committee of the Whole.
WEDNEsDAY.-Senate-Mr. Pugh moved tina
the President be requested to transmit any cor
respondence with Prussia, relative to the com
pulsory enlistment of persons claiming Amer
can protection, in the Prussian army. Adopted
The House bill for the punishment of counter
feitng military land warrants, was read ant
passed.
The Agricultural College bill was taken up
but on Mr.. Pugh's motion, was re-committed.
House.-Mr Greenwood, from the Committed
on Indian Affairs, reported bill providing to-
the issue of land patents to the Shawnee lndl
ans and naturalzing them as citizens OF the Uni
ted States. After some debate the naturalization
clause was stricken out, and the bill was theI
rejected by nine majority.
| The House resolved itself into Committee o
the Whole on the State of the Union on the bil
to detray the expenses of the Legislative, Judi
cial and Executive Departments for the year end
ing the 30th of June, 1860.
A debate took place on the subject of pay ant
mileage, in which the present abuses were refer
red to- and the necessity for reform as to tn
latter earnestly urged. Finally, the clause ap
preparation 5000, 900 for mileage, affecting tn
members of the next Congress, was stricken
out. Ayes 81, nays 3D..
At the night session speeches were made Oh
various subjects. Not more than dozen mem
bers were present.
THURsDAY.-iSenate.-M Bayard, from tn
Judiciary Committee, reported adversely to tn
claims of Messrs Lane and Mccarthy as Indian
Senators. Mr.. Collamer presented the mnorit
report.
MIR. Hunter introduced bill to unite the tw
) Judicial Districts of Texas, the apparent oljec
being to remove Judge Watrous.
On motion of Mr. Gwin the Agricultural Col
lege bill was reconsidered and postponed till Mon
day.
} The Indian appropriation bill was passed.
House.-On motion of Mr.. Reagan it was re
: solved that the Committee on the Judiciary b
instructed to inquire into the expediency of re
. porting bill to define and provide punishment
for polygamy in the Territories of the Unite
States, and to restrain the people and authorl
lies therein from interference with the Federa
judiciary.
The House passed, with some amendments
the Senate bill relative to the New York India
reservation in Kansas. 1t sets apart $40 acre
for each individual Indian who is removed fror
New York to the reservation assigned them un
J der the treaty of 1888.
Mr.. Faulkner reported bill to promote tn
efficiency of the Army and Marine Corps, by re
firing disabled or nfirm officers.
In Committee of the Whole, the considerable
of the Legislative, Executive and Judicial appro
p nriation hill was resumed An earnest debat
ensued on the clause appropriating S5,O0o TO
the purchase of boxes-two for each member t
send home his documents in! The item wa
Istrcken out.
professionally Gwin reported bill
to organise Dacotah and Arizona Territories
The private calendar was considered.
House-The Committee on Elections made
report in the Nebraska contested election case
declaring that Bird B. Chapman is entitled to
seat instead of Mr.. Ferguson, the sitting mem
Der.
SATURDAY. Seward presented
|copcurrent resolutions of the Legislature of New
York. protesting against the increase of the rate
of postage, and instructing their Senators to op
pose any such bill.
Mr. Clay, from the Committee on Commerce
reported substitute for certain bill relative t
the collection of customs. The bill reduces tn
expenditures of the government about 100000
aud dispenses with the employment of one thou
sand persons engaged in the collection Of therey
lenue.
House.-Nothing of interest