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A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1875
Senate Journal --TUESDAY, June 15, 1858.
By the President of the United States of America.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas an extraordinary occasion has occurred rendering it necessary and proper that the Senate of the United States shall be convened, to receive and act upon such communications as have been or may be made to it on the part of the Executive:
Now, therefore, I, James Buchanan, President of the United States, do issue this my proclamation, declaring that an extraordinary occasion requires the Senate of the United States to convene for the transaction of business at the Capitol, in the city of Washington, on the 15th day of this month, at 12 o'clock at noon of that day, of which all who shall at that time be entitled to act as members of that body are hereby required to take notice.
Given under my hand and the seal of the United States, at Washington, [SEAL.] this 14th day of June, anno Domini 1858, and of the independence of the United States the 82d.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
By the President:
Lewis Cass, Secretary of State.
In conformity with the foregoing proclamation of the President of the United States, the Senate assembled in its chamber, at the city of Washington.
PRESENT:
From the State of Massachusetts,
From the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,
From the State of Connecticut,
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From the State of New York,
From the State of New Jersey,
From the State of Pennsylvania,
From the State Delaware,
From the State of Maryland,
From the State of Virginia,
From the State North Carolina,
From the State of South Carolina,
From the State of Georgia,
From the State of Kentucky,
From the State of Tennessee,
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From the State of Ohio,
From the State of Louisiana,
From the State of Indiana,
From the State of Mississippi,
From the State of Illinois,
From the State of Alabama,
From the State of Missouri,
From the State of Arkansas,
From the State of Michigan,
From the State of Florida,
From the State of Texas,
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From the State of Iowa,
From the State of Wisconsin,
From the State of California,
From the State Minnesota,
The Hon. Benjamin Fitzpatrick, President of the Senate pro tempore, resumed the chair
Mr. Allen submitted the following resolution; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to:
Resolved, That a committee of two members be appointed to wait on the President of the United States, and inform him that a quorum of the Senate has assembled, and that the Senate is ready to receive any communication he may be pleased to make.
Ordered, That the Committee be appointed by the President pro tempore; and
Mr. Allen and Mr. Seward were appointed.
Mr. Green submitted the following resolution; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to:
Resolved, That the standing committees of the Senate, as they stood at the close of the late session, be continued during the present session
Mr. Green presented the memorial of Benjamin W. Perkins, representing that he contracted with the Russian government, through its minister at Washington, for furnishing a quantity of arms and ammunition, for which he has not been paid by that government, and praying that the Senate will take some measures to enforce his rights; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr. Green submitted the following resolution; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
Resolved, That the President be respectfully requested to cause to be communicated to the Senate, at the commencement of its next session, whether any complaints have been made to the government of the United States that contracts have been entered into with citizens of the United States by the Russian government, through the agency of its minister now resident at Washington, or of other persons on the recommendation of the said minister, and that, although such contracts have been fully performed by the citizens who had entered
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into the same, they have been violated by the Russian government or its agents, to the great injury, if not entire ruin, of such citizens.
Resolved, That all evidence of any such contracts in possession of the government, together with such information as to the action of the government in the premises, be communicated to the Senate, (if not incompatible with the public interests,)and that all such information be communicated in confidence.
On motion by Mr. Slidell,
Ordered, That the report of the Secretary of the Navy, communicated to the Senate the 10th of March, 1856, in relation to instructions given to Commodore McCauley while in command of the home squadron, be printed.
Mr. Allen, from the committee appointed to wait on the President of the United States and inform him that a quorum of the Senate is assembled, and that the Senate is ready to receive any communication he may be pleased to make, reported that they had performed the duty assigned them; and that the President replied that he would make a communication to the Senate.
Mr. Mason submitted the following resolutions:
Resolved, as the judgment of the Senate, That American vessels on the high seas, in time of peace, hearing the American flag, remain under the jurisdiction of the country to which they belong; and, therefore, any visitation, molestation, or detention of such vessels by force, or by the exhibition of force, on the part of a foreign power, is in derogation of the sovereignty of the United States.
Resolved, That the recent and repeated violations of this immunity, committed by vessels-of-war belonging to the navy of Great Britain, in the Gulf of Mexico and the adjacent seas, by firing into, interrupting, and otherwise forcibly detaining them on their voyage, requires, in the judgment of the Senate, such unequivocal and final disposition of the subject by the governments of Great Britain and the United States touching the rights involved as shall preclude, hereafter, the occurrence of like aggressions.
Resolved, That the Senate fully approves the action of the Executive in sending a naval force into the infested seas with orders "to protect all vessels of the United States on the high seas from search or detention by the vessels-of-war of any other nation." And it is the opinion of the Senate that, if it becomes necessary, such additional legislation should be supplied in aid of the executive power as will make such protection effectual.
The Senate proceeded, by unanimous consent, to consider the resolutions.
Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr. Mason, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, to whom were referred the resolutions in relation to the visitation, molestation, or detention of American vessels on the high seas, reported the same without amendment.
The Senate proceeded to consider the resolutions; and having been amended on the motion of Mr. Mason,
After the consideration of executive business,
The Senate adjourned.
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