Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-01-20
xxxvi,h coNeREss-rIRsr SESSION.
Proceedings Of Yesterday Afternoon.


press, Mr. Bayard's resolution that the Senate do
not proceed to final action any Legislative BUSH
ness before the organization of the House, after
| considerable discussion and amendment, was, on
motion Of Mr.. Powell, laid on the table
Then, Mr.. Bingham moving to refer a private
bill which he had introduced i'm the morning to
the COMMITTEE on Private Land Claims, and Mr.
Mason raising the question Of order that 1t was
not competent to take such action the Vice Presi-
| dent declined to decide the question: and sub
| United 1t to the Senate; and the motion was de-
cided to be In order-yeas is. nays7.
Mr.. King submitted the following resolution,
and asked its present consideration:
Resolred, That select committee be appoint
| ed to inquire and report to the Senate whether
S4l,OOO, or other sum or sums, were paid by the
public printer, or any party who executed print
| Ing and binding for the last Congress or the Ex
scutive Departments, for the or benefit of any
person or party conducting newspaper or to
AID In the support OF any newspaper establish
ment; and especially whether any such payment
was made to or for the benefit Of the person or
party Interested in the publication of the Wash
in2ton Constitution, (lately called the Union. J
| the pennsylvania, ot the Philadelphia Argus;
standing had at any time during the last Congress
or g nee the Sd March last, between Mr. Bowman
late superintendent of Public Printing. who was
on the 18th instant elected printer to the Senate,
ana the printer Tor the Senate and the Executive
Departments during the last Congress nv which
the said Bowman was to receive 800 600 or other
sum, year, from such printer while such prpt,r
should nave the printing and binding of Congress
VI ga Tue Executive DEPARTMENTS payment of said
N2"o" or ether sum year to cease whenever
| such printing or binding should in Whole or in
part be withheld from such printer or party con.
tTactEg to pay; whether any thing yvas nal nv
such printer or party TO said RownIan and if any
thing, how much; whether any and If anv yyLat
| other amount was levied for any newspaper or
party or parties who executed public printing. or
was Iald by such printer party or Withheld
on' OF the price fixed by law for printing from
any parry WHO executed public printing for Con
Sr'SS or the Executive Departments; and whether
any member of the Cabinet or any officer of tho
Government was abetting or privy to any such
contract, understanding, levy or payment or the
Wllnholding any part of the price fixed by law
ior pruning from any person party who .X -.
ecuted the printing. And the said committee are
instructed to indnite and report what reduction
ought to be made in the prices paid for pub
lic printing. For the purposes Of this resolution
the said committee are authorized to rxamina
witnesses and to send for persons and papers
Mr. Mason thought the resolution had better lie
over tha paper wasa long one, and while lie had
no o. lection TO any invest CATION he did not know
now far 1t might interfere with vested rights
Mr. King had no objection to its being laid over
until Monday
On motion the Senate adourned until I o.cIool
on Monday next.
HoUsE-After We went to press, Mr.. NOEL of
Mo-, obtained the floor, and was proceeding to
address the House, when
MIR. Curtis. of Iowa, raised point of order that
the previous question having teen moved on The
motion to proceed to ballot, it must be decided
without Debate.
This point created consi derable debate. pendino
which, e
Mr. Bocock having asserted that tie House could
ADOPT no rule before the organization
Mr: CoilaX, OF IND, said the gentleman from
virginia (Mr. BocOckl did not understand that
the previous question is before the House and how
"onid they ascertain whether he is right. or not
except by submitting it to the vote Of the House,
Mr.. w lnsiow, of y. c.. said he bad proposi-
ton to make. which was that by common consent
all questions be withdrawn till they come 10 the
resolution offered by the gentleman from North
carolina ONT Gllmer) as an amendment to the
original resolution offered by the gentleman from
missouri, (Mr. Clark, y with the understanding
that the question shall be divided and taken rst
upon the proposition to strike out Mr. Clarks res
olution.
Mr.. Colfax would ask the gentleman from Mis-
sssiPp II there had been any written agreement
on that side that the plurality rule should not be
allowed to be voted upon here,
MIR. Barksdale declined answering
MIR. Burnett, of KY. would answer the question
He would say to the gentleman from Indian that
mere is written agreement signed by members
who pledge themselvesto resist by all parlamen-
| tary means, the adoption Of the plurality rule.
,,, Nh Gofax asked whether, il ,".jo.ty, or even
for or aganst-the adoption of the plurality rule
this resistance was designed to prevent the House
from voting,
M. burnett SAID tAat the gentlemen who signed
| that agreement intended to stand by it,
Mr.. CClfax That does not answer nv question
Mi Burnett would speak for himself alone He
was willing TO cooperate with any others, and by
all parliamentary means and every stratagem de-
feat the plurality rule, until his term Of office
snonld expire. Applause
Nr Coifax would like 10 ask, unless the arree-
| ment was not intended for the public eve. tue
number of these who signed it.
| Mr.. Nee ucen said ne drew that instrument and
| IL iian necn handed around amongst gentlemen
only with the understanding that it was not to be
! carried to the black republicans He would like
| To isk where the gentleman got bis informant on ,
| Laughter
| Mr. Colfax could not remember He would ike
| 10 Know how many 81 gned that agreement, and
whether the list included any body from the crth-
| west
Mr. Lamar, of Miss, did not know how MANY
signatures Were attached, but pretty sure there
Were none of northwestern democrats
| Mr. Nallandigham, of Ohio, believed the pln
rallty resolution to be un Constitutional, and could
never vote for II; and so long the resolution pre-
| posing 1t was out of order he would resist its
| adoption by all parliamentary machinery. But
| whenever the proposition could be brought up le
| ultimately. he for one would consent to vote for
| 1t A paper had been presented for his signature,
| which he respectfully declined to sign, but
whether or not it was limited to tue case be had
| suggested he did not remember. He was an
swerable only to his constituents for his course
| Mr.. PendletOm, OF Ohio, said that WIS his PC
slton. and Ne believed it was the position of all
| the northwestern democrats
Mr.. NOEL, Of Mo, merely wished to say that he
| did not sign it.
| Mr. keitt, Of s. c , said that in resisting this
plurality rule they were vindicatng the rights Of
| Their constituents [Applause
| M Cox, OF ohio, asked why the Republicans
c0Hid not select some other merher of their party
| ihey could elect either Mr.. COrwin, of Oaio, Mr.
| Pennington, of New Jersey or SIR Morris Of
| pennsylvania, by majority vote. and if they
could not do 1t they must confess themselves in the
| ;iiihority. The reason thy did not 10 was in
4 or th.yx al in
| category in regard to tn" Fl iper book.
| MI Col;ax asked who mon that side his col
| league was willing to vote for
| MI Cox had not So be wonid vote for any one
| MI toltax would then respectfully Submit 10
hlS colleague. us IN intorS-r Of the Kansas NJ
nrisEt bill, that be ou%ht to leave them to settle
| .hrf own domestic affairs II: their own way
| Laughter
Mr. Cox. In accordance with the Constitution
mr. Cofay sild the Constitution required them
10 SIT still and vote.
Alter further remarks from Mr.. Colfax the
House, at half past four, adjourned.
Proceedings of To-day.