Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-03-01
Thirty.fifth Consress...2nd Session.


was amended and passed. to- FL
The Army appropriation bill passed by the
House, was read and referred. -
On motion of Mr. Slide the bill providing for
the acquisition of Cuba was taken up. Mr.. Ma
son offered an important amendment by way OF
substitute, to the effect that Congress approves
the policy of the message of the President res
peeting the propriety and ultimate necessity of
the acquisition of Cuba. That without any COM
initial as to future measures, should circumstan-
ces render such necessary, at present Congress
confines itself to a declaration that the United
States is prepared to receive the Island whenever
Spain will transfer it for fair equivalent; and
that this government can never be neutral IN
der any policy which would sever Cuba from
Spain in favor of any foreign power.
Mr.. Collamer had the floor and spoke against
the acquisition of Cuba.
House.-The Army appropriation bill was Ia
ken up, and various amendments were adopted
making total reduction of sl,473,O00, thus
cutting down the appropriations Tor the Army
| to $14, 100000. The bill was then passed-yeas
ll6, nays SO.
! The question came up on suspending the rules
to enable Mr.. Phillips to introduce bill provid-
| ing for the payment of the outstanding Treasury
notes, and authorizing loan OF 81, OOO, 600 for
six years, regulating and fixing the duties on i'm
ports, and for other purposes. The House re-
fused to suspend the rules-yeas 1872, nays 0l-
not wo-thirds in the affirmative.
| At the evening session speeches were made
on various subjects.
! TUEsDAy.-Senate.-T Executive, Legisla-
tive, aud Judicial Appropriation bill was taken
up. The bill appropriates as follows: Senators
compensation and mileage, $3l9,ols; Senate
officers, clerks, messengers and others, S79,90O;
contingent expenses, namely, binding, S50,00O;
engraving, $S0,000 stationery, $4,000; news
papers, $4,000; Congressional Globe and bind
ing, $4,000; reporting proceedings for the
| Globe, $18,046; committee clerks, pages, po'
lice, horses, and carriages, $4,000; miscelane'
GUS items, $4,000; compensation and mileage
of the members and delegates of the House, vi
019, 900; House officers, clerks, messengers and
Others, S7S,70o; House contingent expenses,
namely, binding, $4,000; stationery, $4,000;
horses, $500; newspapers $4,000; engrav-
| Ing $4,000; various items, labor, police, etc.,
$4,000; folding documents $4,000.
A protracted debate ensued.
House-The Post Office Appropriation bill
was considered in Committee of the Whole An
amendment abolishng the frankling privilege
was rejected.
The Senate bill incorporating the Washington
National Monument Society was passed.
WEDNESDAY, .Senate.-Th Legislative, Ex-
ecutive, and judicial Appropriation bill came
up, and the question REQUIRED on Mr.. Hae's a.
mendment to repeal the restrictive clause OF the
Kansas admission act. Mr.. Seward advocated
the repeal. Mr.. Brown, of Miss, made strong
Southern speech. Mr.. Douglas defined his po-
sition-in favor of "sqatter sovereignty" Mr..
/ Pugh took the same ground. The debate was
| Iprfan aIJis nf
Miss, Broderick, Green, Stuart, and others till
after midnight.
The amendment was then rejected-yeas 10,
nays Gland the bill passed.
| House-The Post Office Appropriation bill
was considered in Committee of thesWhole.
| THURspAY-Senate.-T Post Routes bill was
taken up. Mr.. Iyerson, in the course OF his re-
marks ON the bill, read a curious document
showing how many of his speeches each Senator
had folded and mailed from the Senate folding
room at the public expense They were folded,
mailed and franked, but not printed at the pub
| lie charge Mr.. Allen sent the fewest and Mr..
Douglas the most Mr.. Allen sent $780, and Mr..
Douglas $4,000.
H9use.-The Post Office Appropriation bill
was taken up. Various amendments were a.
dopted, and the bill was then rejected.
| Mr.. Bocock, from the committee appointed to
examine into the subject of the naval contracts
and frauds, made report, signed by himself and
| by Messrs. Grosbeck and Ready.
Mr.. Sherman, of Ohio, and Mr.. Richie join
in making a separate statement, and both brach-
es of the committee submit resolutions in reia
ton to the subjects exatained by them.
\ The further consideration OF the reports was
postponed until next Monday.
The Naval Appropriation bill was considered
| in ()ommittpa of the Whole,
FRIpAY.--Senate.--The Post Routes bill was
passed 1t abolishes the frankling privilege, and
increases letter postage to cents.
The Cuban bill was then taken up MIR. NAL
lory advocated the acquisition OF Cuba, and
Messrs. Dixon and Kenndy opposed it in eabo-
rate speeches. ta-
An effort was then made to take up the Home
stead,bill, which was discussed in a rambling
manner till late hour.
The Senate continued in session till half past
one o'clock Saturday morning Mr.. Mason's
amendment to Slidell's Cuba bill was laid on the
table-yeas 80, nays 16. A motion to lay Sill
dell's bill on the table was rejected-yeas 10,
nays 80. w.
4 House.--Tbe vote rejecting the Post Office bill
was re. considered, but the House got entangled
on the subject and went into Committee on the
i Naval Appropriation bill. Mr.. Sherman moved
al amendment making large reduction of the
appropriations, and referred TO the gross frauds
in the Department. The amendment was a
dopted.
SATUpoAY.-Ssnate- Mr. Slidel made some
remarks and stated that he would not now press
his Cuba bill, but gave notice that he would in-
troduce it at Oh early day next session.
The Army Appropriation bill was then taken
up aud passed.
| W. d,
| IA message was received from the President
stating that he vetoed the bill granting land 10
agricultural Colleges.
MEETING IN RooK1NauAM.-Th Democrats OF
Rockingham held meeting on Monday week,
February Court day, to consider the question of
Congressional Convention. Mr.. S. T. Walker
offered series of resolutions in opposition TO a
Convention, one of which is as follows:
"Resoloed, That if a Convention be held IN.
der existing circumstances we will feel under no
obligation to support its nominee, and will exer-
else our own free choice in the selection of our
own representative"
The Chairman decided that the resolutions
were adopted. But objection being made, the
question was submitted directly to the meeting,
which decided against a Convention almost u
unanimously. The Valley Democrat says:
! "We publish in another column portion OF
the proceedings OF the meeting in the Court
house on Monday. To give full representation
of everything which occurred, would defy the
efforts of Stenography and the Machinery OF the
best Daguerreotypist that ever wheeled his car
into the streets of Harrisonburg. We recur with
no pleasure to these proceedings The wild ex-
oitement extreme confusion, and petty animosi-
ties which were displayed in this meeting, we
have never witnessed in any meeting in Rock.
iDsham county, and hope we never shall again"