Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-28
rHRrY-rrrH coNGaEss.-sEcoND SESSION.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2G, 1859.
SENATE

THRrY-FHTH coNsaEss.-sEcoND SESSION
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2G, 1859.
SENATE.
Mr.. IIanlin presented the credentials Of llon
William Pitt Fcsscndcn. elected a Senator from
the State of Maine for six years from the 18th o
March. 1859. Read and referred.
Mr.. Cameron presented the petition of one
thousand citizens of Pennsylvania. praying fol
an increase of the tariff. Referred.
Mr.. Collamcr presented the petition OF Gil
zens Of Southern Nebraska, protesting against
annexing a portion of that Territory 10 Kansas
Mr.. Bielcr Offered! :; resolution instructing
the Committee on the Judiciary 10 inquire what
change in the existing laws is necessary to reIf
der the Attorney Generals office more efficient,
without increasing lis expense to the Govern
ment. Agreed To.
Mr.. Seward moved TO take up the resolution
allowing Hon. ". VI. McCa:ty and Hon. ;
Lane, elected AS Senator's from Indiana, admis'
sion TO the Senate floor. Agreed 10.
4 lengthy debate between Me>>rS. Mason and
Trumbull ensued, regarding the propriety Of
admitting these gentlemen.
NJ. Mason said that the Senate had decided
this question by voting that the present Sena'
tors were entitled 10 their seats; and he did
not bcl;cvc in ~annul!;ns or changing That de
cision.
Mr.. Seward advocated the admission of these
gentlemen at some length. They were now III
the gallery with the ether spectators, and It al
m!ttrd to the floor would he a. silent As IN Their
present position. Their admission would not
disturb the decision in the case Of the present
sitting Senators.
Tie resolution WIS lail on the tablc-ayes
81. noes -.
bill was ,l.en resumci; the pendins question
bcin. OH the adoption o! Mr.. Wilson's amend
ment to the substitute of Mr.. Davis. The
amendment WAS rclcctcd-ycas Is, nays u
The question then recurring OH the adoption o'
Mr.. Davis substitute, it WAS decided III The ne
.a;ivc-ycas IS, nays 30.
Mr.. Purh next moved his amendment fixing
the Western terminus of the road at some point
on the Eastern boundary of the State OF Cali
lornia. The amendment was rejected-yeas
%, nays IS.
The proceedings at this stage were interrupt
ed by a brief Executive session, after which
the consideration OF the subject was %resuIned,
when Mr.. Polk moved 10 fix the Western ter
minuS OF the road At some point on the N'>t-
crn bouaiay line Of Iowa. Missouri. or .lrkan-
So. between the i2d ami 18th parallel Of north
latitude. The amendment was !o>i y ~.
nays 50.
The amendment Of Mr. Doolittlc, providing
for ucw surveys and observations by = corps ol
civil engineers before determining or the DIES
tined routc Of the road, was then put TO 4 vote
and rejected without division.
Mr.. Bell thercIpon called UP his amendment
authorizing the Secretary Of the interior To adj
v~crtiSc for proposals 10 contriict three routes, q
Northern. Il Southern, and = Central, leaving
Congress, ut a subsequent day. 10 choose be
tween them. Tie distinguished Senator sup
ported tie proposition in 4 brici argument, &C.
signed Ia .vinc.. the coastilutionallty and ca
p~ciiency Of this great intcrna! improvement
lie particularly remarked on the singular fact
that those who doubt the propricty OF buildings
P.ciii: Railroad. bccat.sc Of their constitutional
s~cruplc>. uncon>c;uusiy adopt. in advocating
the acquisition of Cuba, the same line Of ar
s.irnrrit which IS held to be so unSound when
urged bv the friends of the railroad. II 1t was
lawful aud proper 10 acquire Cuba because that
Island WAS necessary 10 the military deiences
and commercial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of the country.
why was it inalmiS>iblc TO employ the same
reasons in advocacy of the Pacific Railroad:
nc 'llltli'it!Ilul W. W. DSli, va PN''S '''
m;t.ci toa vote, was rolcc,cd-yeas 10, nays
%.
M. Hammond next moved 10 lay the bill OH
the table, which motion was lost-ycaS 81. nays
~.
The substitute proposition Of Mr.. Rice Was
then put to a vote and rejected, yeas II. nays
-: when, after notice given by Mr.. Sim
mons Of an amendment which he p%urposed to
oilcr. the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE Of REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. Craig. of Mo-. reported from tie Com
mi,tcc on Post Offices and Post Roads 4 bill FOR
the transportation Of mails from the Atlantic
to the Pacific coast. Referred to Committee Of
Whole.
NJ. Chapman. Of Pa. reported from the Ju-
diciarv committee u bill to punish forgery Of
bounty land warrants, certificates OF location,
o: duplicates. o. knowingly u:tcring and circu-
latins the same. This bill provides a punish
mcnt therefor of Imprisonment and hard Ia
bnr for not less than three nor more than sew
en- wears.
Mr. Chapman said that the bill met the ell
tire approval Of the Committee on the Judicia-
nv. There is at present no statute for punish
I ing such offences. The bill was passed.
Mr. Whitley of Del, reported back lavorably
from the Committee on Agriculture the joint re-
solutions inStruc,ing the President 10 take inca
s,,rcS for securing = modification or reduction
Of duties on American tobacco imported into
foreign countries. These resolutions direct
the President 10 use all the power conferred by
the Constitution il obtaining this result.
.yr. Morris oi Pa, thought that the PrcSi-
dru, oush, to be empowered TO Use his au;ho-
ritv To- remove all restrictions on American
trade. The provisions Of the resolution might
we'll BE- extended 10 the iron trade and Ia other
interests. He had 10 objection 10 protection,
+ but thought that all interests ought To hccqial-
ly protected.
The resolution was passed.
The House then went into Committee Of the
Whole. and took up the consular and dlp!c-
matte appropriation bill.
Tie question was taken upon the provi;o
Submitted by Mr.. Curry Yesterday in regard
10 the appropriation !or the payinen, OF ex'
pcn.es incurred in Pursuance Of the act Of 1919.
and it was lost.
NJ. Crawford. of Georgia, said ne could not
SUPPORT the appropriation of $15,0o0 Tor carry
iny into effect the provisions o. the act o. 1919.
Lcca;sc 100000 would 20 to the Colonization
Society for supporting and educating the ne
rrocs taken from the brig Echo. and moved to
strike 4; ont. The law of 1919 only authorized
4. the President to provide for the support Of the
negroes while here, and ~ effect their remova
, hcvoud the limits of the United States.
. NJ. Stewart, Of Maryland, sustained the ac'
ton q the President a. emincntly wise ant
proper. The law Of lsla required him TO take
charge Of these negroes and deliver them To 4
= proper agent. Il, III ctirrtins that result. II
{, became necessary 10 make Il contract with that
/, agca; for their support for a year, ne could Se'
:. no good GROUND Tor objection. In carryin:
!. out the law he thought the President >hou!'
he guide! 10y principles OF common SENSE
He WAS opposed 10 these >ipeF'inc distinctions
=; made BY gentlemen.
Mr.. Millson, of Virginia, was surprised At tn
,ensii;vcnc,S oi Southern gentlemen upon 'lii'
i, subject, who seemed disposed to treat 1t a.
3. matter affecting the slave trade. lie dii no