The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1860-01-12
Thursday, January s, 1860.
SENATE.

Thursday, January s, 1860.
SENATE.
The Senate met at one o'clock.
Various petitions and memorials were pre-
scented and bills introduced in relation to pri
vate claims, and papers were withdrawn from
the files for reference to the appropriate com
mittees.
Mr.. Hammond, at his request, was excused
from serving on the Committee of Finance. Mr.
Toombs was excused from serving on the Com
mittee on Revolutionary Claims, and Mr.. Fes
sender from serving on the special committee
appointed yesterday on certain land claims in
Louisiana.
The motion to print the Presidents message
| and the Treasury report we're referred to the
Committee on Printing.
Mr.. King presented the petition of Edward
d. Morgan, of New York, and three hundred
others, praying the passage of the homestead
bill.
On motion, the Senate adjourned till Mon.
day.
Note.-Mr. Toombs is appointed on the FL
nance Committee and Mr.. Foster on the spe-
cial committee, to ell the above vacancies.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Morris, of Illinois, offered resolution,
which was read for information, that the Su-
perintendent of the Public Buildings be direct
ed to replace the desks and chairs as they were
in this Hall previous to their removal; and to
enable him to do so, he be directed to prepare
for temporary occupancy the old Hall of Rep
reseDtatives. He said he would not call up the
resolution this morning.
Mr.. Bingham and others objected.
Mr.. Montgomery desired to renew his prop
osition for a temporary organization, to enable
the House to pass an appropriation bill to pay
the mail contractors.
Mr.. Wilson said, if the gentleman was anx-
ious to pay the debt, he would ask him to adopt
the plurality rule now.
Mr.. Montgomery replied that, if he were to
accept it, others were unwilling to do so. II
three-fourths were willing to accept, and if the
other fourth protest, an organization could not
be effected, nor even if ten men protested.
MIR. Stevens raised point of order, that the
resolution of Mr.. Montgomery (which that gem
tleman renewed) is not in order, for the reason
that, previous to entering upon business, the
act of Congress provides that the Speaker shall
be sworn in, and that the Speaker shall then
proceed to administer the oath of office to the
Clerk and to the members, and no resolution o.
| this body can repeal it. The proposition was
a mere absurdity, to legislate before the House
was organized by the election of Speaker and
| Clerk. The precedents of the gentleman are
not applicable to this case.
| The further consideration of the subject here
| rested
| Mr.. Reagan resumed his remarks from yes
terday, in opposition to the doctrines of the
Republican party, and spoke of gentlemen en-
dorsing the circulation of the Helper book
which contains reasonable doctrines, and OF
having placed one of the endorsers of the book
in nomination for Speaker.
Mr. Wells said that they had been here fol-
five weeks endeavoring to elect Speaker. He
was much pleased with the remarks of Mr.. Nc
! Rae, who had remarked that he was fair man
and wanted fair play. In this pugilistic ring
for it could not be called by much better
name, there was nothing like fair play. We are
here, he said, to organize the House; and he
advocated the adoption of the plurality rule as
the best calculated to promote that object. TIC
this they must ultimately resort. He was will
ing to stay here and vote from now until to-
morrow morning, so that they might answer the
expectations of the country, and afford relief to
the suffering mail contractors.
Some explanations took place between
Messrs. Reagan and Gooch, as to their remarks
yesterday.
The House then proceeded to vote for Speak.