Mr. Hatton, from the Committee on Expenditures in the Navy Department, to whom were referred the following resolutions, viz: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy has, with the sanction of the President, abused his discretionary power in the selection of a coal agent, and in the purchase of fuel for the government; Resolved, That the contract made by the Secretary of the Navy, under date of September 23, 1858, with William C. N. Swift, for the delivery of live-oak timber, was made in violation of law, and in a manner unusual, improper, and injurious to the public service; Resolved, That the distribution, by the Secretary of the Navy, of the patronage in the navy yards among members of Congress, was destructive of discipline, corrupting in its influence, and highly injurious to the public service; Resolved, That the President and Secretary of the Navy, by receiv ing and considering the party relations of bidders for contracts with the United States, and the effect of awarding contracts upon pending elections, have set an example dangerous to the public safety, and deserving the reproof of this House; Resolved, That the appointment, by the Secretary of the Navy, of Daniel B. Martin, chief engineer, as a member of the board of engineers to report upon proposals for constructing machinery for the United States, the said Martin at that time being pecuniarily interested in some of said proposals, is hereby censured by this House; reported the same with a recommendation that they be concurred in, accompanied by a report in writing thereon. Ordered, That the said report and resolutions be printed, and that their further consideration be postponed until Wednesday next during the morning hour. Mr. Davidson, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that the committee had examined and found truly enrolled bills of the following titles, viz: S. 228. An act for the relief of Valentine Wehrheim; S. 385. An act to incorporate the proprietors of Prospect Hill Cemetery; and S. 426. An act to dissolve the "Washington's Manual Labor School and Male Orphan Asylum Society of the District of Columbia," and to authorize the transfer of its effects to the "Columbia Institution for the instruction of the deaf and dumb and the blind.” When The Speaker signed the same. The Speaker appointed Mr. Beale a member of the Committee on Indian Affairs, and Mr. Hall a member of the Committee on Roads and Canals, to supply vacancies occasioned by the decease of Mr. Burroughs. 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. 564) making appropriations for the ser vice of the Post Office Department during the year ending 30th June, 1861, had come to no resolution thereon. On motion of Mr. Crawford, Ordered, That all further debate in Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union on the 2d section of the said bill of the House No. 564 shall cease. On motion of Mr. Crawford, 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. 564) making appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department during the year ending 30th June, 1861, and the bill of the House (H. R. 217) making appropriations for the construction, preservation, and repairs of certain fortifications and other works of defence for the year ending June 30, 1861, had directed him to report the former with sundry amendments, and that the committee had come to no resolution on the latter. Mr. Sherman submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That all debate in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union on the bill of the House (H. R. 217) making appropriations for the construction, preservation, and repairs of certain fortifications and other works of defence for the year ending June 30, 1861, shall cease in five minutes after its consideration is resumed; and the committee shall then proceed to vote on such amendments as may be pending or offered to the same, and shall then report it to the House with such amendments as may have been agreed to by the committee. The House then proceeded to the consideration of the bill of the House No. 564; the pending question being on the amendments reported from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. Sherman moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof all of the said amendments were agreed to. Ordered, That the bill be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed. Mr. Sherman moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said bill. On motion of Mr. Sherman, Ordered, That the bill of the House (H. R. 217) making appropriations for the construction, preservation, and repairs of certain fortifications and other works of defence for the year ending June 30, 1861, be made a special order. And then, 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. William Kellogg 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. 217) making appropriations for the construction, preservation, and repairs of certain fortifications and other works of defence for the year ending June 30, 1861, had come to no resolution thereon. On motion of Mr. Sherman, Ordered, That all further debate on the last paragraph of the bill of the House No. 217 shall cease. 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. William Kellogg 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. 217) making appropriations for the construction, preservation, and repairs of certain fortifications and other works of defence for the year ending June 30, 1861, and the bill of the House (H. R. 500) making appropriations for the naval service for the year ending June 30, 1861, had directed him to report the former without amendment, and that the committee had come to no resolution on the latter. The Speaker having stated the question to be on the engrossment of the said bill of the House (H. R. 217) making appropriations for the construction, preservation, and repairs of certain fortifications and other works of defence for the year ending June 30, 1861— Mr. Sherman moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the said bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed. 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 title of the said bill having been read, Mr. McRae moved to amend the same so as to read as follows, viz: "A bill making appropriations to suspend the public works, so far as military fortifications are concerned," which motion was disagreed to. The original title was then agreed to. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said bill. Mr. Grow, from the committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two houses on the bill (S. 416) "to secure homesteads to actual settlers on the public domain, and for other purposes," reported that after full and free conference the committee have separated without coming to an agreement." On motion of Mr. Grow, Ordered, That the House further insist on its amendment, disagreed to by the Senate, to the said bill of the Senate, No. 416, and ask a further conference with the Senate on the disagreeing votes of the two houses thereon. Ordered, That Mr. Colfax, Mr. Curry, and Mr. Aldrich be the managers at the said second conference on the part of the House. Ordered, That the Clerk acquaint the Senate therewith. A message was received from the President of the United States, by J. Buchanan, jr., his private secretary, notifying the House that he did, on the 9th instant, approve and sign bills and resolutions of the following titles, viz: H. R. 85. An act for the relief of R. K. Doebler; H. R. 130. An act to pay the State of Missouri the amount expended by said State in repelling the invasion of the Osage Indians; H. R. 214. An act for the relief of Charles W. Brooks, of New York; H. R. 219. An act granting a pension to Major John F. Hunter; H. R. 224. An act for the relief of William Y. Hansell, the heirs of W. H. Underwood, and the representatives of Samuel Rockwell; H. R. 230. An act for the relief of Shade Calloway; H. R. 233. An act for the relief of the legal representatives of five deceased clerks in the Philadelphia custom-house; H. R. 236. An act for the relief of John Dixon; H. R. 237. An act for the relief of Anthony Schlander; H. R. 262. An act for the relief of the heirs or legal representatives of Francis Guillory; H. R. 256. An act for the relief of Brevet Lieutenant Colonel Martin Burke and Captain Charles S. Winder, of the United States army: H. R. 269. An act granting a pension to James Lacey, of Grainger county, Tennessee; H. R. 272. An act granting a pension to Adelaide Adams, widow of Commander George Adams, United States navy; H. R. 277. An act for the relief of Webster S. Steele; H. R. 313. An act granting a pension to Abraham Crum; H. R. 314. An act for the relief of Emma A. Wood, widow of the late Brevet Major George W. F. Wood, of the United States army; H. R. 31. An act for the relief of Andrew E. Marshall; H. R. 349. H. R. 342. An act for the relief of Charles James Lanman; H. R. 314. An act for the relief of the legal representatives of Sylvester Day, late a surgeon in the United States army; H. R. 319. An act for the relief of Peter Rogerson & Son, of St. John's, Newfoundland, owners of the British brig "Jessie;' H. R. 370. An act for the relief of Israel Johnson; H. R. 393. An act granting an invalid pension to Nathan Randall; H. R. 528. An act for the relief of Beda Hayes, widow of Dudley Hayes, of Granby, Hartford county, Connecticut; H. R. 600. An act for the relief of the children and heirs of Alexander Montgomery; H. R. 627. An act for the relief of the widow and other heirs of William Harins, deceased; H. R. 680. An act for the relief of Gottlieb Scheerer; H. R. 764. An act to change the times for holding the terms of the district courts of the United States for the northern district of Alabama; H. Res. 32. Joint resolution for the relief of Henry Woods; and H. Res. 34. Joint resolution for the relief of John T. Robertson, of Virginia. Mr. John Cochrane moved that the rules be suspended, so as to enable him to introduce, and the House to consider, a bill to aid the Ladies' Mount Vernon Association to preserve the tomb and house of Washington; which motion was disagreed to-two-thirds not voting in favor thereof. Mr. Hatton, by unanimous consent, presented a communication of this date, addressed to him as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures in the Navy Department, in relation to certain resolutions referred to said committee on the 19th of March last in regard to expenditures of money in the Navy Department; which was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Tappan moved that the rules be suspended, so as to enable him to submit the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That Friday next be made objection day, for the consideration of the private calendar, and that on that day all Senate bills shall be first considered and disposed of. And the question being put, it was decided in the negative-twothirds not voting in favor thereof. And then, On motion of Mr. Sherman, by unanimous consent, at 4 o'clock and 15 minutes p. m., the House took a recess until 7 o'clock p. m. AFTER THE RECESS. On motion of Mr. Sherman, Ordered, That the bill of the House (H. R. 500) making appropriations for the naval service for the year ending June 30, 1861, be made a special order. Mr. Sherman submitted the following resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That all debate in the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union on the said bill of the House No. 500 shall cease in five minutes after the consideration of the same is resumed; and the committee shall then proceed to vote on such amendments as may be pending or offered to the same, and shall then report it to the House with such amendments as may have been agreed to by the Committee. 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. William Kellogg 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. 500) making appropriations for the naval service for the year ending June 30, 1861, had come to no resolution thereon. |