- Johnson William
- Mary E. E. Cutts.
Committee of Foreign Affairs. Present Adams Cushing, Everett,
Granger, Shepperd. E. T. White, Caruthers and A. H. H. Stuart. Absent Meriwether only—indisposed— Mr Shepperd was authorised to report to the
house the Senate Bill for paying out from the Treasury, commissions to
the agents and attornies of claimants, under the French Spanish and
Neapolitan Treaties, with a limitary amendment and Everett was
authorised to report the Bill in favour of the claim of Margaret Meade. Mr Everett’s plan for reducing the number of
diplomatic missions abroad was taken up, and read— Cushing started an
objection to the consideration of the subject, denying the right of the
Committee to consider any thing not referred to them by the house— I
then moved that the chairman be instructed to move in the house the
reference to the Committee again of the Resolution of 29 August last,
proposing a reduction of the diplomatic missions abroad, upon which the
Committee make no report at the extra Session— Cushing’s objection was
overruled—supported only by his own vote. The instruction was given, and
I made the motion in the house; immediately after the reading of the
Journal— Cushing objected— I moved a suspension of the rules to enable
me to make the motion— Cushing cavilled and quibbled upon the points of
order, which the Speaker decided
against him— He called the motion for reference a Report, and argued
that no Committee could report upon any thing not referred to them by
the house— Yorke moved the
previous question— The yeas and nays were called and were 173 to 6 for
the reference— I notified the members of the Committee to meet next
Thursday morning at 10.— Stanly
and Botts offered Resolutions
respecting the Coast-wise navigation of the Mail-Steamers—adopted.
Barton and Halsted presented counter-reports
concerning the election of David
Levy as delegate from Florida. Question which was the
majority report—one member signed both— Mallory reported two Bills from the Committee of naval
affairs. Committee of the whole on the state of the Union— General
appropriation Bill— Long speech from Archibald H. Linn— Then Sprigg, Wise
Irwin, all in attack or defence
of Jesse Miller, first Auditor of
the Treasury— Stanly withdraws his motion— Willis Green, Smith, Owsely,
Wise, on the Secretary for signing Patents. Proffit on the Light-house
establishment. M’Keon—
Drawing-room— Mary Cutts here.