The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-06
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

anything else that might be in the way whereupon
on motion, the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr.. WASHBURNE, of Illinois, gave notice that on
Monday next he should call up the river and harbor
bill.
Mr. LEACH, of Michigan, presented joint resolutions
of the legislature of that State in regard to the prove
ment of the St Clair Flats which laid the Ia
BILE and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. MORGAN, of New York, presented joint resolu-
ons of the legislature of New York against the increase
the present postage which were laid on the
table and ordered to be printed.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
Mr. WINSTON, of North Carolina, from the Commit
tee Naval Affairs reported bills for the relief of sam
ue A. Cole jr late purser in the United States ship
Levant explanatory of an act for the relief of DIR.
Charles d. MAXWELL surgeon of the United States navy,
and for the relief Of Commander H. j. Hartstene for the
restoration of the bark Resolue and they seyeraly
committed
Mr. HAWKINS of Florida from the same committee
reported bills for the relief Of Sarah Brashcas for the
relief of Mrs Susan G. Rhae, widow of Dr. j. Burrows
and they severally committed.
Mr. DAVIS, OF Massachusetts, from the same commit
tee reported bill for the relief of James H. Causen sole
heir and legal representative of Joseph H. Causen de-
ceased, late purser in the United States army and
bill for the relief of Ann Scott and they sevelly
committed.
Also from the committee, reported bill for the
relief of Lucy A. Wakefield, widow of Benjamin A. Wake
field; and it was taken up and passed
Mr. BoCoCK, of Virginia, from the same committee
reported back Senate bill for the relief of Otway H. Dcr
ryman and it was committed.
Also from the same committee, reported resolution
authorizing the Committee Naval Affairs to employ
clerk for such time his services may be required and
that his pay commence from the date of his services and
it was taken up and passed
Mr. CLARK, Of Missouri from the Committee on Ter
rores reported bill for the relief of John B. Motley
and it was committed.
Mr.. HOPKINS, of Virginia, from the Committee on
AHuiTE rod ot.,uf
consent Of Congress to the acceptance by Captain NJ f.
AIaury and Prof A. ID. Bache of gold medals from the
Sandman government and it taken up and passed
Mr. LElDY, of Pennsylvania from the Committee on
Revolutionary Pensions reported bills for the relief of
Nancy Weeks OF Georgia for the relief of the children
and heirs of Elnahan Sears deceased, late of New York;
and for the relief Of Samuel Wnn only surviving child
Of Richard Winn revolutionary officer and they were
scveray committed.
Mr.. PARKER, of New York. from the same committee
reported bill granting pension to Robert Purchase,
soldier in the revolutionary and it taken up
and passed.
Mr. CASE, of Indiana, from the Committee on Invalid
Pensions, reported the following resolution
Reotoed, That The standing committees the which,
session aersG Were authorized To- employ clerks be authorized
on and that their compensation be from the date Of
du'ing the present session
After brief discussion,
Mr. SEWARD, Of Georgia, moved that the resolution
be laid on the table which motion not agreed to-
yeas 81 nays 10
The resolution then agreed TO.
Mr. CAVANAUGH of Minnesota moved that the
House proceed to the consideration of business ON the
Speakers table pending which
Mr.. PHELPS of Missouri moved that the House go
into Committee of tho Whole the State of the Union;
pending which
PRIVATE
On motion of Mr. DAVIS, of Indiana, the House
went into Committee of the Whole House-yeas a.
nays 73-tNr WAsHBuRNE, of Maine in the chair and
% of he IN ta
calendar.
The first bill taken up was that to indemnity Henry
Lec and John Mckee for Illegal seizure of certain
harque
Mr. HUGHES of Indiana advocated the passage of
the bill He stated that the government disavowcd the
act of the consul who made the seizure released the yes
sell and the courts of the United States decided that its
retention WIS illegal Still the lost his cargo and
the difference between the value of the vessel when it
went into the hands of the consul and when it was sold
in this country amounting to several thousand dollars
The bill before the House only authorized the Secretary
Of the Treasury to pay for the actual amount loss and
to this there could be well founded objection The
claim had been before Congress nearly years had re-
ceved the sanction Of every committee that had exam
ned it, and to be acted upon for the first time
in Committee of the Whole.
Mr. KELSEY of New York. had not risen to discuss
much the particular bill under consideration az to make
one or two suggestions in relation to the action of the
House the private calendar He believed there were
not dozen bills that calendar that could be prop
erly discussed if gentlemen gave their attention to IT,
and properly decided in very much less time than they
were in the habit of consuming in this way He
gave notice that Monday next he should again
propose the resolution which the House had passed here
tofore, and which, in his opinion had such good
effect
Mr. MILLSON, of Virginia, said II was his duty some
six years ago, member of the Committee on Com
merco to consider this BILL when il was the subject of
very careful consideration. His impression was that il
was then rejected by the committee
Mr. MILES, of South Carolina could not saw whether
or not 1t had been unanimously reported by the commit
tee at this session but his impression had been after an
investigation of the facts, that it was meritorous
claim.
Mr. MIIISoN resuming) said it contained a very
grave and important featurethe holding the govern
mcnt responsible for the unlawful mistaken acts of it's
agents. He contendcd that government had ever
consented to hold itself liable for the acts of s executive
agents. The vessel under the protection of the
laws She had gone out foreign vessel sent to for
eign country to be sold Suppose the believed it
10 be his duty to arrest the vessel he had no lawful
power to send her home and it was an error of the
to allow the consul to take possession of it An
he had to do to invoke the laws of that country TO
stand between them and the consul
Mr. MONTGOMERY, of Pennsylvania held that the
owners coad not the consul and there was no Other
mode of redress.
Mr. MIIS0N then moved that the bill be reported TO
the House with the recommendation that the petition and
papers be referred 10 the Secretary of the Treasury with
instructions to make examination and submit rerort