Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-03-13
Thirty-Sixth Congress-First Session.
MONDAY. March B. 1850 enGte.-NOlhi

MONDAY, March B, 1861 SenGte.-Nothln
of interest,"
House-A resolution was adopted referring
the Pacific Railroad bill to select Committee Q
IS; and another for a select Committee OF +
investigate whether the President or any Othe
officer of the Government has sought to inter
tere with the business of Congress, or defeat tn
execution of any law, or whether money ha
been used for elecIioneering in Pennsylvania o
! elsewhere, and under what authority this wa
done: where the money came from, etc. Muci
opposition was made to this resolution by thu
Democracy Mr. Reagan introduced resolu
ton to place $4,000, 900 at the disposal of til,
President for suppressing hostilities on the Ri
Grande Referred to the Military Committee.
TUEsDAY-Senate.- Hyatt, the re
cusant witness in the Harper's Ferry investiga
ton, was brought up in the custody of the Ser
geant-at Arms and given until Friday to deter
mine whether lie would purge himself of con
tempt IN refusing to testify before the COMMITTEES
Mr.. Browns Territorial resolutions We're taker
up, debated and laid over. Mr.. Brown gave no
tice that he would move 10 amendment to the
Democratic Senatorial caucus resolutions pre-
scented by Mr.. Davis, in effect that immediate
legislation was necessary by Congress, to protect
slave property in the Territories.
Mr.. Wigtall's amendment to the Military A.
cademy bill was taken up and during the discus.
sion communication from the President and
Gov. Houston was received showing the neces
sity of Immediate action to protect the Rio
Grande frontiers of Texas.
House.-The bill for the protection of female
emigrant passengers was amended ard passed
The Committee on Commerce reported bill for
the simplfcation and codfcation of the revenue
laws. A bin appropriating 1854 900 for the i'm
provement OF the harbor OF Chicago was passed
The Rev. Thomas Fl. Stockton was elected
Chaplain of the House.
WEDNEsDAY.-Senate.-A the morning
hour, Mr.. Browns resolutions in regard to the
Territories were taken up, aud Mr. Wade spoke
on the subject. Mr.. Davis, from the Military
Committee, reported bill making appropriations
to equip regiment of Texan mounted volun-
reers, but the Senate refused to proceed to It's
immediate consideration.
H0use.-The bill donating public lands for the
support of State Agricultural Colleges was de
Dated and postponed. Various bills aud reso-
buttons were reported, and the House then went
into Committee of the Whole, and listened 10
three ant-slavery speeches from different mem
bers; only varied by little episode growing
out OF az imputation of Southern courage made
by one of the speakers.
THURsDAY.-Senate.-M Grimes gave notice
OF Dill TO provide for the retrOcesSiOn OF t. e
District of Columbia to Maryland, and the re-
noval Of the Capitol of the United States to
some more central and convenient place! The
slavery question was further discussed by Messrs
Coamer and Benjamin
House--The bill for the correction Of abuses
ia connection with the Government printing
was reported The bills to reduce the expenses
of the Post Office Department, and to provide
by contract for the transportation of mails be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific States, and the
Army Appropriation bill, were also reported
The resolution authorizing the President to have
the Executive documents printed in advance Of
the meeting OF Congress was passed.
FRIDAY enate.-Mr Hyatt, the recusant
witness in the Harper's Ferry affair, was brought
before the Senate yesterday, aud in answer to an
| interrogatory as whether he was prepared to ap-
pear before the Committee and answer such
questions as were propounded to him, presented
a legal argument against the power of the SEN
ate to compel his attendance. Mr.. Mason sub.
United resolution to put him in Jail for con
tempt, which vas pending when the Senate adj
journed to Monday.
House.-Atter transacting some uDimportant
business, the House adjourned till Monday.