The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-10


which the House refused to agree-among them
being the appropriations of 100000 for the
Treasury extension, and $250,000 for the
Washington Aqueduct. those in reference to
the steam mail lines to California, the publica-
ton of the American State Papers, and numer-
Gus others.
The question being then stated on the motion
that the Senate recede, Mr.. Broderick desired
TO have the question taken separately on all the
amendments, and to have them read again as
they were voted on.
The question being taken, the Senate receded
from its first amendment in reference to the
Treasury extension.
The Senate having receded from all its
amendments, the bill is passed.
Mr.. Johnson, of Tennessee, made another
and successful effort to ge: the Senate to con
slider his retrenchment resolution, and it was
agreed 10.
. Thanks to He lice President-Mr Foot of
fered the following resolution, which was unan
imously adopted:
ResOired That the thanks Of the Senate be
and they are hereby rendered to the Hon. join
c. Breckenridge, for the courteous, able, and
dignifed manner in which he has discharged
the responsible duties of Presiding Officer du
ring this session.
Post Office appropriation BW.--A message
was received from the House of Representatives
informing the Senate that the House had agreed
to the report ut the committee of conference Oh
the Post Office appropriation bill.
On motion by Mr.. Stuart, the Senate then
proceeded to the consideration of that subject
and Mr., s. submitted a report on the part o.
the Senate committee. The report states that
Tue committee, " having met after full and free
conference, have agreed as follows that neither
House is unGcc.rsto9d to waive any constitutional
right which they may respectively consider tc
belong to them, and that it be recommended &c
the House TO pass a conference bill, and thai
the Senate concur in the same when it shall be
sent to them Mr.. S, explained that they
agreed to abandon both bills, the one on the
| table of the Senate and the other on the table
| of the House, and report new one which
should be passed blythe House and transmitted
to the Senate, who should pass it also. It wa
| necessary to do something, in order that thu
| service of the Post Office Department might %
| on until the next session without interruption
| They believed there were overwhelming publ,
necessities which demanded the passage o
some bill making these appropriations anC
| they believed that their action, being unani
nous, did preserve the question of constitution
| al right to each House untouched and unyielded
and by so doing they adopted the only measur
| which could secure these two interests. Sub
stantialy it was the same bill which was passe,
by the House i'll the first place, and which tn
| Senate returned with amendments. The com
mittee had done as well as they could do in a
little time a. they had to do it in.
Mr.. Mason refhsSk; that, although there wa
a reservation, yet it was manifest from the re
suit of that conference that the Senate was fol
hidden to exercise its constitutional right.
Mr.. Toombs considered this question G
the greatest possible magnitude. On the on
side is great constitutional question, which n
man has right to surrender if it exists; o.
the other, is the great inconvenience of nc
having postal service performed during tn
year 1860. Between duty and expediency h
| would not hesitate, whatever might be til
course of other men. 10 his Judgment not onl
had the constitutional rights and prerogative
OF the Senate been traIppled on by the Hous,
IN the first place, but they had also been SUI
rendered by the committee of conference an
he wished to tebnke both the one and the othel
The House had usurped the right of sayin
that the Senate was not c0-6Fdjnate branc
of this Government. He proceeded to revie,
the facts in the case, and said this bill. wbic
had Just come from the House, must 90 throug
the regular course of legislation, and should b
considered by one Senator at least
The bill was then read first time by its It'll,
Mr.. Toombs objected to its second readin
to-day.
Mr.. Seward, in order TO test the questio
whether a single objection would prevent tn
consideration of the bill, moved that it no
ha re Its second reading.
Mr.. Toombs renewed his objection.