regulate the mileage of members of Congress," and the title as amended 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. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said bill. Mr. Gurley, from the Committee on Printing, to whom the subject was referred, reported the following resolution; which was read, considered, and, under the operation of the previous question, agreed to, viz: Resolved, That one thousand extra copies of the report of the Third Auditor of the Treasury, in pursuance of a resolution of the House, passed February 8, 1859, in relation to the claims of Oregon and Washington Territory for expenses incurred in repelling Indian hostilities, be printed for the use of the House. Mr. Gurley 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. Gurley, from the same committee, to whom the subject was referred, reported the following resolution; which was, read, considered, and, under the operation of the previous question, agreed to, viz: Resolved, That five hundred extra copies of the bill (H. R. 114) further to provide for the safety of passengers on vessels propelled in whole or in part by steam, and the accompanying report (No. 9,) be printed for the use of the House. Mr. Gurley 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. Hoard submitted, as a question of privilege, the following preamble and resolution; which were read, considered, and, under the operation of the previous question, agreed to, viz: Whereas a representative from the State of Pennsylvania, Mr. Hickman, did on the 12th day of December last, on the floor of this House, make the following statement: "As Mr. Buchanan could not purchase me, so I cannot be purchased by others. I have already been offered more than I am worth, and refused to sell myself at that." And on the same day Mr. Haskin, a representative from the State of New York, on the floor of this House, made the following statement: "In answer to this (a charge of being one of the mercenary band) let me say that no one knows better than Mr. Buchanan himself the utter falsehood of this charge, for he endeavored by threats and by seductions of his patronage, without effect, to draw true men away from the path of duty." And on the 14th day of December last Mr. Adrain, a representative from New Jersey, on the floor of this House, made the following statement: "During the Lecompton controversy I was approached in such a manner as shows corruption on the part of the administration." And whereas such statements imply an interference by the Execu tive department of the government with the action and rights of this House, incompatible with the dignity and purity of legislation, in derogation of the privileges of this body, and destructive of the public confidence in our institutions and government: Therefore Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed by the Speaker to inquire and investigate whether any improper attempts have been or are being made by any person connected with the present executive department of this government, or by any person acting with their advice or consent, to influence the action of this House, or of any of its members, upon any question or measure upon which it has acted, or which it has or may have under consideration, directly or indirectly, by any promise, offer, or intimation of employment, patronage, office, favor, or reward, under the government or under any department, officer, or servant thereof, to be conferred or withheld, in consideration of any vote given or to be given, withheld or to be withheld; with power to send for persons and papers, examine witnesses, and leave to report at any time by bill or otherwise. Mr. Edward Joy Morris 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. And then, On motion of Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, at 4 o'clock and 40 minutes p. m., the House adjourned. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1860. Notices were given, under the rule of motions, for leave to introduce a bill and joint resolution, as follows, viz: By Mr. Burch: A bill to authorize the common council of the town of Crescent City, in the State of California, to purchase the town site of said town for the use and benefit of the inhabitants thereof. By Mr. Millson: A joint resolution declaring the construction of the act entitled "An act making further provision for the satisfaction of Virginia land warrants," approved August 31, 1852. Mr. Davidson, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found truly enrolled a bill of the following title, viz: S. 217. An act for the relief of William B. Herrick. When The Speaker signed the same. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Hickey, their Chief Clerk: in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House. I am also directed to notify the House of the orders of the Senate to print certain documents. Mr. Phelps, by unanimous consent, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby requested to communicate to this House estimates of the sums necessary to complete the capitol and the penitentiary buildings in the Territory of New Mexico. Mr. Holman, by unanimous consent, introduced bills of the following titles, viz: H. R. 281. A bill to provide for the granting of exemplifications of records and papers remaining in the General Land Office; H. R. 282. A bill to authorize the State of Indiana to appropriate the lands granted to that State by Congress for the use of a seminary of learning and for the endowment of the Indiana University, and the proceeds thereof, to any other educational purpose in the discretion. of the State; which were severally read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. Farnsworth, by unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing an assay office and branch mint at Chicago, Illinois, and that they report by bill or otherwise. Pending the question on agreeing thereto, Mr. Edward Joy Morris moved to amend the same by striking out "Commerce" and inserting "Ways and Means" in lieu thereof; which motion was agreed to. The said resolution as amended was then agreed to. Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 283) concerning certain swamp and overflowed lands in the State of Illinois; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. On motion of Mr. Underwood, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That he be excused from further service on the Committee on Expenditures in the Navy Department, The Speaker appointed Mr. Bocock to fill the vacancy occasioned thereby. On motion of Mr. Briggs, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That the Committee on Revolutionary Claims be discharged from the further consideration of the petitions of Ferguson Smith, widow of Robert Smith; of Wallace Estill; and of Mary Bullock, widow of Daniel Bullock, and that the same be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions. The Speaker having proceeded, as the regular order of business, to call the committees for reports, resuming the call where it was suspended yesterday Mr. Thayer, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom were referred bills of the following titles, viz: H. R. 22. A bill to prevent the sale of the public lands, except to actual settlers, for ten years after the same shall have been surveyed; and S. 197. An act in relation to the assignees of bounty land warrants; reported the same severally without amendment. Ordered, That the said bills be committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, and printed. Mr. Thayer, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 6) donating public lands to the several States which may provide colleges for the benefit of agriculture and the mechanic arts, reported the same with a recommendation that it do not pass. Pending the question on its engrossment, Mr. Morrill moved that its further consideration be postponed until the third Tuesday in April next, and that it be printed. Pending which, After debate, Mr. Crawford moved that the bill be laid on the table. 72 It was decided in the negative, Nays. 106 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. Francis W. Kellogg Mr. Thomas A. R. Nelson Mr. William Stewart William B. Stokes Ellihu B. Washburne Edwin H. Webster So the House refused to lay the bill on the table. So it was Ordered, That the further consideration of the bill be postponed until the third Tuesday in April next, and that it be printed. Mr. Vandever, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 177) to extend the time within which the governor of the State of Oregon shall select lands, as provided in the act for the admission of Oregon, reported the same without amendment. Ordered, That the said bill be committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, and printed. Mr. Vandever moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the said bill was committed. The said motion was passed over for the present. Mr. Vandever, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 203) to enable the trustees of the Blue Mont College to pre-empt a certain quarter section of land, and for other purposes, reported the same without amendment. Ordered, That the said bill be committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, and printed. Mr. Vandever, from the same committee, to whom was referred the petition of John W. Taylor, made a report thereon, accompanied by a bill (H. R. 284) for the relief of John W. Taylor and certain other assignees of pre-emption land locations; which bill was read a first and second time, committed to a Committee of the Whole House, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and the bill and report ordered to be printed. Mr. Windom, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill of the Senate (S. 26) to extend the provisions of "An act to enable the State of Arkansas and other States to reclaim the swamp lands within their limits" to Minnesota and Oregon, and for other purposes, reported the same without amendment. Pending the question on its third reading, |