Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-02-16
THIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS,
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 10.
SENATE

The CHAIR said the first business was the
special order, being the bill to prohibit the is
sue of bank notes of certain denomination in
the District OF Columbia.
Mr. Mason from the Harper's Ferry Com
mittee, reported a resolution, that the Presi-
dent OF the Senate issue warrants for the arrest
of +. b. Sanborn, John Brown, Jr., and Jas.
Redpath, who had refused to obey the sum-
mons of the committee to testify, and bring
them before the Senate to answer for contempt
Mr. HALE said he would vote against it.
He believed there was no power in the Senate
to compel the attendance of these men.
The resolution was adOpted-yeas 46, nays A..
Those voting in the negative were Bingham,
Hale, Sumner, and Toombs. Seward and
King voted yea.
Mr. TooMBs made an explanation of his re-
marks of yesterday. He had not said, if the
Fugitive Slave law was unconstitutional, the
action Of Wisconsin was right. 1t did not de-
pend on that. A state court could not inter-
fere with the decision of the U. s. court hay
ing Jurisdiction.
Mr. DooLITTLE said he would argue the
question at the proper time. He regarded it
as an abSurdity to say the United States court
had jurisdiction if the law is unconstitutional.
Various reports, petitions, and bills of a
private nature were presented
Mr. CAMERON moved to take up the bill for
the relief of the widow of Gen. Persiter T.
Smith. Agreed to. The bill proposed to
place Mrs. Smith on the pension roll at fifty
dollars per month.
Mr.. TooMBs said he would oppose it, and its
further consideration was then postponed.
On motion of Mr. GRIMES, Mr.. Davis reso.
buttons were made the special order for Mon
day next.
The chair presented the resolutions of the
municipal authorities of Georgetown, protest.
lug against the passage of the bill to prohibit
the circulation Of paper money in the District
OF Columbia.
Mr.. HUNTER moved to postpone prior orders
and take up the Post Office deficiency bill
Carried. The House having refused to con-
cur in the amendment of the Senate abolishng
the ranking privilege, Mr.. HUNTER moved
tlat the Senate recede from its amendment
He was unwilling to attempt to force egisla-
ton on the other house. The motion was
agreed to-yeas A. nays IL.
Mr.. TooMBS moved to reconsider. He was
opposed to tile Senate's receding. In the de-
bate Ill the House strong opinion was eX-
pressed adverse to the franking mileage, but
they were opposed to legislation being incor-
p)rated in the appropriation bill. The amend.
ment regulating the printing of blanks effected
a radical change in existing laws. Therefore
he wished for a reconsideration. The motion
W IcCOHSluSI was tOSJ ny yeas IL, nays ~.
Mr.. GwIN now asked the Senate to proceed
to the consideration of the bill to abolish the
ranking privilege. Agreed to.
The first amendment by the Committee on
Post Offices and Post Roads, was that the law
abOlishing the franking privilege should not
apply to those to whom it was granted by
name.
Mr.. GwIN moved all amendment that during
the session of Congress, and for thirty days
before the meeting, and thirty days after adj
journing, the President Vice President and
heads of departments, and members of Com
gress, should be allowed to send free mail mat
ter, not over two ounces in weight. Mr.. G.
said the object of the committee was to abolish
the ranking privilege. If other legislation
was necessary, it could be done at another
time.
Mr., MASON opposed the amendment
Mr.. HAMLIN moved to strike out all the bill
except the few lines abolishng the ranking
privilege. He wanted to abolish the system in
toto. He did it on the ground of personal con-
venence. He did not advoc it as a measure
of emergency.
Mr.. CHANDLER said the expense of the Post
Office Department was owing to the system of
jobbing which prevailed.
Mr.. PuGH was in favor of striking out en-
tirely the federal government, which eXpends
more than all the states. The enormous
amount, if reached by correct estimation,
would not be borne moment. If the govern
ment expended only $l0,000,000, we would
never hear of an "rrepressible conflict"
Mr.. SIMMONS would stop printing books
that overload the mail.
Mr.. HAMLINs motion was carried.
Mr.. MASON moved to add that hereafter
nothing pass free by mail Carried.
Mr.. POWELL moved to amend by providing
that persons now entitled to the tranking priv
ilege be excused from prepay ment, to take eff
feet on the 10th Of April.
The question recurring on the amendment
OF the committee, Mr.. HAMLIN moved to
strike off the proviso in relation to whom
privilege is granted
Mr.. BENJAMIN said Mrs. Polk was given
the privilege as a compliment.
Mr.. HAMLIN proposed to withdraw his mo-
ton, If she was the only person named
Mr., CAMERON thought il better TO strike all
out. The amendment was then rejected.
MIR. POWELL moved to amend the substitute
of the committee, so that the law take effect
on the 10th of April. Agreed to.
The substitute Of the post Office bill was
then agreed to.
Mr.. MASON moved to add, that hereafter
nothing pass free in the mail.
Mr.. CAMERON moved, as an amendment, to
except newspaper exchanges.
Mr.. SEWARD suggested the exemption of
newspapers as is now done by law.
Mr.. CAMERON agreed to this
Mr.. CRITTESDEN moved to adjourn. Lost.
Mr.. MASON withdrew his amendment.