The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1861-02-20
Doings in Congress.

Mr. Sumner, Of Mass, said the pc
titions were signed through ignorance;
had they known what they we're they
never would have put their names to
the petition. Mr. Crittenden said he
supposed the signers were intelligent
men, and when he presented the pro-
positions he presented them as a
basis of peace; if his propositions
were not so, why had not the gentle
man offered to amend ? and inquired
If the Senator had no proposition to
make. Mr. Sumner said he thought
them wrong in every word and line,
and proposed 10 their stead the Con-
stitution as administered by Wash
ington and the fathers Of the Repnb-
lic After long discussion, which
became general, the Navy appropria-
ton bill was taken up and passed. =
Then Senate then went into executive
session and adjourned.
In the House, Mr.. Sherman sent
up letter from the Secretary of the
Treasury, showing the deplorable con-
dition of his Department, and sugges-
ting mode of relief, and said if that
relief was given, the bill should be
passed. - day Mr.. Garnett remark
ed thar ii required the unanimous
consent and his should not be given
while he was member of the House.
Mr.. Barr, Of KY, remarked that Mr..
Gnrnett would break up the Govern
ment and leave it without money
The bill was not permitted by Mr..
Garnett to be introduced. Mr.. Nor
ris, of Ill, made a report from the
special committee on the Indian trust
bond abstraction case he said it was
unanimous. Mr.. Haskin demanded
the report should be read il explain
ed why the Treasury was empty. Moi
sy proceedings ensued, but it was final
ly decided the report should be read,
and was ordered printed The Senate
amendments to the Pacific Railroad
bill were taken up, discussed, and the
House adjourned.
The Senate on Wednesday went in
procession to the hall Of the House,
to take part in the counting of the
votes for President and Vice. Pfesi-
dent of the United States. The votes
were all found correct. The joint
committee on counting the votes
made report, with resolution that
one member of the Senate be appoint
ed with two members of the House to
notify Abraham Lincoln and Hanni-
bal Hamlin Of their election. The res
olution was adopted. On motion of
Mr.. Cameron, the Tariff bill was ia
ken up. Mr.. Seward gave notice
that he would move to strike out tha'
portion of the bill abolishing the ware
housing system. After some discus
ST on the bill was laid over.
In the House the scene of the count
counting of the votes occupied some
time. A strong police force was sta
toned in various parts of the Capitol.
The foreign ENJOYS were were present,
and appeared to be very much i'm
pressed The proceedings were open
ed with prayer, by Rev Mr. Stock
ton, Chaplin of the House.
In the Senate on Thursday, petit
tions in favor of sustaining the Union
and the Crittenden propositions which
were fully discussed. After short
executive session they adj
Tn the House Mr.. Moorhead asked
&C, leave to introduce a resolution that
Washington's Farewell Address shall
be read in the House by the Clerk, on
the 22d of February, and that the
President, the President elect, mem
bers of the Cabinet, the Judges Of the
Supreme Court, members of the Sen
ate, the chief military and naval Off
GERS, and the Commissioners to the
Peace Convention, be invited The
resolution Icing objected to, it was
not considered The Senates amend
ments to the Pacific Railroad bill were
considered until the expiration of the
morning session. The house struck
out by vote of 95 to 81, that part
proposing that the central road shall
go via Fort Riley from the mouth of
the Kansas river. The COMMITTEE of
Five, who were appointed to inquire
into the alleged conspiracy to seize
the Capitol, reported that in their
opinion from the evidence, there was
no occasion for alarm. Considerable
debate was had after which the report
was ordered printed.
In the Senate on Friday Mr. Thorn
son of New Jersey, presented the pc
tition of citizens of New Jersey in fa-
vor of border State resolutions. The
Senate adjourned after transacting
some unimportant business.
On Saturday, in the Senate, Mr..
Green called up the Territorial bills
for Nevada and Dacotah, which were
the special order. The bills were dis