The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-06
PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY.SIyTH CONGRESS


! WASHINGTON, January 5.-The Senate met at one
o'clock and very little business of public interest
was done. Several petitions presented, and
bills introduced in relation to private claims, and
; papers withdrawn from the files for reference
! to the appropriate committees.
Mr.. HAMMOND, at his request, excused from
serving on the Commttee on Finance Mr.. Toombs
| was excused from serving on the Committee on
| Revolutionary Claims, and Mr.. Fessenden from ser
wing on the special committee appointed yesterday
| on certain land claims in Louisiana.
| The motion to print the Presidents annual mes
sage and the report of the Secretary of the Treasu
ry the state of the finances, was referred to the
| Committee on Printing
On motion, by Mr.. SALISBURY, a resolution was
adopted, requesting the Secretary of War to COM
municate to the Senate a COPY of the report and
estimate of Captain John Newton, of the Engineer
CORPS in relation to the construction of wharf or
pier at Lewes, Delaware.
On motion, the Senate adjourned until Monday
next.
NoTE.-Mr. Toombs fills the vacancy caused by
MIR. Hammond's resignation on the Committee on
Finance; and Mr.. Foster takes Mr.. Fessendess place
on the Select Committee.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr.. NORRIS of Illinois, offered a resolution which
was read for information-that the Superintendent
of the Public Buildings be directed to replace the
desks and chairs as they were in this hall pre-
yiOus to their removal; and to enable him to do so,
he be directed to prepare for temporary occupancy,
the old Hall of Representatives. He said he would
not call up the resolution this morning.
Mr.. BINGHAM and others objected.
Mr.. MONTGOMERY said Mr.. Cofax yesterday at
tackled his former proposition for temporary
organization, the ground that it was violation
Of the Constitution. He had offered it in good faith
We are in debt to the mail contractors S4 100000
1t is honest debt, honestly contracted for servi
ces honestly performed. 1t is not a Democratic,
Republican or American debt, but national debt
Adopt his proposition, and they could pass the
Post-office appropriation bill and redeem the credit
of the nation
Mr.. WILSON said, if the gentleman was anxious to
pay the debt, he would ask him to adopt the plu-
rality rule now.
Mr.. MONTGOMERY replied, that if he were to ac-
cept it, others unwilling to do so. If
three-fourths willing to accept, and if the
other fourth protest. an organization could not be
effected, nor if even ten men protested The prop
ostion was fair, honest and just, and he insisted
that it was constitutional, and referred to past leg
islative history to show the precedents in such
cases.
Mr.. STEVENS asked whether his colleague could
show that before an organization, Speaker pro
tenn. had ever been elected?
Mr.. MONTGOMERY replied that in lS39'40 Mr.
Adams elected chairman.
Mr.. STEyENs-Was Mr.. Adams Speaker then
Mr.. MONTGOMERY said he considered him such
Mr.. Corwn would be to-day-namely, tempo
rary Speaker, ifthe House would adopt his resolu-
tion
Mr.. Morris, of Pennsylvania, asked whether
there was any legislation while Mr.. Adams was
chairman?
Mr. MONTGOMERY Sald he had not examined the
records to see, but if there was no legislation that
did not prove there could not have been. All men,
conservative, should have patriotism enough to
come up together, rising above transient questions
and meet the common enemy, whose success would
only further endanger the perpetuity of the con-
federacy.
Mr. WELLS said that they had been here for five
weeks endeavoring to elect a Speaker. He was much
pleased with the remarks of Mr.. McRae, who had
remarked that he fair and wanted fair
play. In this pugilistc 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 the best calculated to promote
that object. TO this they must ultimately resort.
He willing to stay here and vote from now
until tomorrow morning, so that they might an
swer the expectation of the country, and afford
lief to all suffering mail contractors.
Some explanations took place between Messrs.
REAGAN and GooCH as to their remarks yesterday.
Mr.. STEVENS raised point of order-that the
resolution of Mr.. Montgomery (Which the gentle
man reviewed) is not in order, for the reason that
previous to entering upon business the act of Con-
gress requires that the Speaker shall be in,
and that the Speaker shall then proceed to admin
lister the oath to the Clerk and to the members,
and no resolution of this body can repeal it. The
proposition was mere absurdity, to legislate be-
fore the House is organized by the election of
Speaker and Clerk. The precedents of the gentle |
man not applicable to this case.
The further consideration of the subject here
rested.
Mr. REAGAN resumed his remarks from Yesterday, |
in opposition to the doctrines of the Republican
party, and spoke of gentleman endorsing the cir
cuaton of the Helper book, which contains treason
able doctrines, and of having placed one of the
dorsers OF the book in nomination for Speaker.
The House again voted for Speaker, two ballots
being taken, in each Of which Mr.. Sherman lacked
three votes only Of an election.
Mr.. Vallandigham received on the first ballot So
votes and on the next fell down to 2, and Mr.. Bo-
cock having been placed in nomination received 56
votes. MIR. Gilmer the next highest, receiving
II votes on both ballots, and many scattering votes.
Mr.. MILES rose and made some suggestions in re-
gard to organization.
Mr.. HICKMAN proposed question to Mr.. Adrain, !
which opened up spirited colloquy between him
and Mr.. Davis, of Indiana, and Messrs Porter and
Dunn from the same State.
Mr.. Porter and Mr.. Dunn insisted that Mr..
Davis, in the last Congressional canvass, had de-
nounced the Dred Scott decision. Mr.. Davis pro-
nounced the charga false. He had denounced the
Presidents Interpretation of it.
For time there ~ much excitement.
Adjourned.
Mr.. Miles has the floor for tomorrow.