The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-23
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT


first district of Michigan. Consideration
was postponed till Tuesday next.
Mr.. Campbell reported resolution, which
was adopted, giving Mr.. Howard leave to
occupy q seat on the floor pending the dis
cussion in this case, and permission to speak
to the merits of the question. .a-
The House then went into committee on
the report to amend the rules. 30
Mr.. Washburne, of Maine, explained that
the object OF the amendment was more to
correct the practice under the rules than the
rules themselves, and facilitate the dispatch
of business and remove well founded COM
plants. Several hours were consumed with
out coming to conclusion on the subject,
when the committee arose and the Indian
appropriation bill was passed.
Mr.. Hamilton moved that the military
roadway bill as returned by the Senate with
amendments on military affairs, saying one
of them was of great interest to Texas, and
had already been considered by the commit
tee, namely: calling out mounted regiments.
Mr.. Reagan said the subject required ur-
gent action in view of the existence of hos
tilities on the Texas frontier and subjected
the view OF his colleague, Mr.. Hamilton.
Pending the question and the reference,
the House adjourned.
WASHINGTON, March l6, 1860.
SENATE.-The chair presented message
from the President, communicating addi-
tional documents in reference to the alleged
hostilities on the Rio Grande. They were
laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
A communication was also received from
the secretary of the treasury, transmitting
the statistics relative to trade with the
British North American provinces.
Several petitions were presented, the con.
tents of which could not be heard in the
reporters gallery.
On motion of Mr.. Anthony, resolution
was adopted instructing the postoffice COM
mittee to inquire into the expediency of pro-
viding by law for the prepayment of letters
by the penny post.
Mr.. Latham introduced a bill to create a
separate district for the inspection of the
boilers and machinery of steam vessels.
The bill authorizing the sale of the public
arms to the states, and to regulate the ap-
pointment of the superintendent of the
national armories was taken up.
Mr.. Hunter said that structures had been
made the other day on the superintendent at
Harper's Ferry, which did injustice to that
gentleman. He was a good officer who
faithfully performed his duties.
On motion of Mr.. Davis, an amendment
was adopted, that the sales in each year
shall not exceed the increased manufacture
which may result from said sales, and if the
whole number to be sold is less than the
acquisitions made, they shall be divided
among the States applying pro rata, as the
arms furnished by the United States are
now distributed.
Mr.. Simons moved to strike out the first
section of the bill, which provides for the
distribution of the arms.
Lost, 20 to %.
YEAs.-Messrs. Anthony, Bingham, Chand.
Ter, Clark, Collamer, Dixon, Doolittle, Durkee,
Fessenden, Foot, Foster, Grimes. Hall, Hamb-
lin, Harlan. Sumner, Trumbull, Wade, Wilkin-
son and Wilson.
NAYs-Messrs. Bayard, Benjamin, Bright,
Bigler, Brown, Clay, Clingman, Crittenden,
Davis, Douglas, Fitch, Fitzpatrick, Gwin,
Hemphill, Hunter, Ivers0n, johnson of Ten
nessee, Kennedy, Lane, Latham, Mason, Powell,
Rice, Sebastian, slidell, Thompson, Toombs
Mr.. Douglas moved to strike out the
second section, changing the mode of super.
intendence from civil to military.
The chair stated that the motion was rot
in order, as the Senate had already voted
on that question.
Mr.. Hale moved to strike out the enact
ing clause.
On motion of Mr.. Mason, at 3 o'clock,
the Senate went into executive session to
complete the unfinished business of yester.
day. Adjourned.
HoUsE-Mr. Pendleton offered the fol-
lowing preamble and resolution
WHGREAs, The chairman of the committee on
public printing stated on this floor that the
prices for composition now allowed by law are
too large, and half pay would be abundant,
and more than sufficient, and
WHEREAS, That by the terms of resolution
heretofore adopted as preliminary to the
right to reduce the compensation at any time
therefore,
RESOLVED, That the committee on printing
be instructed to report bill by which the
prices for composition now fixed by law be re
duced to half that amount.
Mr.. Washburne, of Maine, objected, say.
ing that unanimous consent was necessary
for its introduction
The House then went into committee for
the amendments to the rules.
During the proceedings, an Intellectual at
tempt was made by Mr.. Reagan to con6ne
the discussion in the committee of the whole
on the state of the Union to the subject
pending, and spoke of the abuses of the
present practice and the uselcss consumption
of time, to the discredit of the House.
MIR. Washburne, of Maine, regarded such
latitude in debate as an essential safety
valve
Mr.. Pendleton showed how, by the work
ings of the rules, members are almost en-
tireiy precluded from introducing bills and
resolut OBS, while unlimited time is afforded
for essays on the negro and all other irrele-
want questions.
Mr.. Branch said this resulted from the
abuse of the rules, for gentlemen would de-
part from legitimate business to go into
committee, so great is their anxiety to make
buncombe speeches.
The amendments were acted upon and re.
ported to the House, nearly all of which
were concurred in, and several were re.
served for special votes.
Mr.. Davies gave notice that on Monday
he would call up the contested election case