Notices were given, under the rule of motions, for leave to introduce bills, as follows, viz: By Mr. Allen: A bill for the relief of Samuel Elson. By Mr. Hawkins: A bill to change the times of holding the terms of the United States courts of the northern district of Florida. The Speaker appointed Mr. William C. Anderson a member of the Committee on Expenditures in the War Department, in the place of Mr. Cooper, who has ceased to be a member of the House. A message was received from the President of the United States, by J. Buchanan, his private secretary, notifying the House that he did this day approve and sign a resolution and bill of the following titles, viz: H. Res. 15. Joint resolution for the relief of Thomas C. Ware; and H. R. 661. An act to furnish additional mail facilities. Mr. Morse, by unanimous consent, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill of the Senate (S. 299) to increase and regulate the pay of the navy of the United States, reported the same with an amendment in the nature of a substitute therefor. Ordered, That the said bill and amendment, together with an amendment (in the nature of a substitute) to the said amendment proposed to be submitted by Mr. J. Morrison Harris, be printed, and re-referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. Green Adams, by unanimous consent, from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, reported a bill (H. R. 715) to establish a mail six times a week from Sacramento, in California, to Olym pia, in the Territory of Washington, accompanied by a report in writing thereon; which bill was read a first and second time, re-referred to the said committee, and the bill and report ordered to be printed. Mr. Burch, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 716) granting a registry to the brig Adelaide; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Commerce. On motion of Mr. Sherman, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and after some time spent therein, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Dawes reported that the committee having, according to order, had the state of the Union generally under consideration, and particularly the bill of the House (H. R. 503) making further appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1860, had come to no resolution thereon. On motion of Mr. Sherman, Ordered, That all further debate on the 1st section of the said bill (H. R. 503) be closed in three minutes after its consideratior is resumed in Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. On motion of Mr. Sherman, the House again resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and after some time spent therein, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Dawes reported that the committee having, according to order, had the state of the Union generally under consideration, and particularly the bill of the House (H. R. 503) making further appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1860; the amendments of the Senate to the bill of the House (H. R. 499) to supply deficiencies in the appropriations for the service of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1860, and the amendments of the Senate to the bill of the House (H. R. 4) making appropriations for the consular and diplomatic expenses of the government for the year ending June 30, 1861, had directed him to report H. R. 503 with sundry amendments, also the amendments of the Senate to the bill of the House No. 499, recommending concur rence in some, non-concurrence in others, and concurrence with amendments in others of the said amendments; and also that the committee had come to no resolution on the amendments of the Senate to the bill of the House No. 4. The House having proceeded to the consideration of the said bill of the House No. 503, Mr. Burnett moved to amend the same by striking out the proviso to the first section. Pending which, Mr. Sherman moved the previous queston; which was seconded and the main question ordered to be put. By unanimous consent, the previous question was also seconded and the main question ordered to be put on the amendments of the Senate to the bill of the House No. 499. And then, On motion of Mr. Burnett, at 5 o'clock, p. m., the House adjourned. THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1860. The House, by unanimous consent, took a recess until 2 o'clock p. m. AFTER THE RECESS. Mr. Dawes, by unanimous consent, from the Committee of Elections, reported the following resolution; which was read, considered, and, under the operation of the previous question, agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the judges of the supreme court of the State of New York, residing in the city of New York, be, and they are hereby, authorized and requested to appoint and select a commissioner of the degree of counsellor-at-law, whose duty it shall be to take the testimony in the matter of Amor J. Williamson, contesting the seat now held by Hon. Daniel E. Sickles, from the third congressional district of the State of New York, as provided and directed by the resolution passed by the House of Representatives on the 21st of March, 1860. It shall be the duty of the said commissioner so appointed to enter upon his duties immediately after his appointment, and after giving five days' notice to the parties to this contest, to proceed from day to day with the examination of such witnesses as may be brought before him in support of the allegations of the contestant and certain allegations of the sitting member, until the case is closed; provided such examination does not extend beyond sixty days from the time of commencing the taking of such testimony. It shall be the duty of the commissioner appointed under this resolution to provide the attorneys of the parties to this action with such number of subpoenas, issued by the Speaker of this House, as they may require for the witnesses they desire to call. The said commissioner is hereby directed to take up the case from the point which it had reached at the time it was brought before the superior court on the 16th of May, 1860; and all notices given on either side are hereby declared good without further action. All witnesses must be sworn by some officer authorized by the laws of the State of New York to administer oaths. On the conclusion of the case, it shall be the duty of the commissioner hereby provided for to transmit a correct copy of the evidence, pleadings, &c., under oath, to the House of Representatives. And each party is hereby authorized to take the testimony of any witnesses resident in the State of New Jersey, before any judge of a court of record or magistrate authorized to take depositions, resident in the State of New Jersey; and said judge or magistrate is hereby authorized to do each and all things in the premises which the commissioner hereinbefore mentioned is by this resolution authorized to do. The time for the taking of testimony under this resolution is not to commence till the day of the adjournment of the first session of this Congress, and is to extend sixty days thereafter, with the exception of such witnesses not resident of, or living in, or being about to leave, the State of New York, as the contestant may desire to subpoena and examine before said adjournment; and as to such witnesses, the commissioner or judge aforesaid, or either of them, is hereby authorized in manner aforesaid to take and forward their depositions at any time after the passage of this resolution, and before the expiration of said sixty days, when application shall be made to him for that purpose by the contestant. Mr. Dawes moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Mr. Curtis, by unanimous consent, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill (H. R. 717) regulating contracts in the military service of the United States; which was read a first and second time, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state. of the Union, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Curtis also, by unanimous consent, from the same committee, reported a bill (H. R. 718) for retiring superannuated and other disabled officers from the United States army; which was read a first and second time, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, and ordered to be printed. On motion of Mr. Noell, by unanimous consent, the bill of the Senate (S. 107) to confirm the titles of certain purchasers of school lands in Kansas was taken from the Speaker's table, read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims. Mr. Winslow, by unanimous consent, from the select committee under the resolution of the 5th March last, reported the testimony of F. W. Walker, taken on the 15th instant, and so much of the testi mony of C. Wendell, of the 10th instant, as refers to said Walker, accompanied by the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That F. W. Walker be expelled from the reporters' gallery of the House. After debate, The question was put, Will the House agree thereto? And it was decided in the affirmative. So the said resolution was agreed to. Mr. Sherman moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. The House then resumed, as the regular order of business, the fur ther consideration of the bill of the House (H. R. 503) making further appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1860, with the pending amendments thereto, and upon which the main question was ordered to be put. The first amendment having been read and agreed to, Mr. Phelps moved that the vote thereon be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table. And the question being put on the latter motion, It was decided in the negative. The question was then put on the motion to reconsider, and it was decided in the negative. The second, third, and fourth amendments were then severally read and agreed to. The question was then put on the motion submitted yesterday by Mr. Burnett, to strike out the first section of the bill. And it was decided in the negative, {es... 60 115 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. Elijah Babbitt James Buffinton Mr. Daniel W. Gooch James H. Graham So the said amendment was disagreed to. Mr. Thomas A. R. Nelson Charles R. Train William Vandever Charles H. Van Wyck Edward Wade Henry Waldron Ellihu B. Washburne The fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth amendments were then severally read and agreed to. Ordered, That the bill be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time. The question then being on its passage, Mr. Sherman moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered and put, viz: Shall the bill pass? Yeas. And it was decided in the affirmative, Nays. .... 109 59 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. Charles F. Adams Green Adams William Allen William C. Anderson Elijah Babbitt J. R. Barrett Samuel S. Blair Mr. John C. Burch 維 John Cochrane Schuyler Colfax John Covode James Craig Martin J. Crawford Mr. H. Winter Davis Henry L. Dawes Alfred Ely Reuben E. Fenton Orris S. Ferry Augustus Frank |