and make provision for the safe, certain, and more speedy transportation, by railroad, of mails, troops, munitions of war, military and naval stores, between the Atlantic States and those of the Pacific, and for other purposes, accompanied by a report in writing thereon; which bill was read a first and second time, recommitted to the said committee, and the bill and report ordered to be printed. Mr. Laban T. Moore, by unanimous consent, introduced a joint resolution (H. Res. 35) giving construction to the 2d section of the act of February 3, 1853, "to continue half pay to certain widows and orphans;" which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions. Mr. Branch 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. Colfax, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 647) amendatory of the laws regulating the rate of postage; which was read a first and second time, referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, and, together with a communication from the Acting Postmaster General, ordered to be printed. Mr. Francis W. Kellogg, by unanimous consent, introduced bills of the following titles, viz: H. R. 648. A bill making an appropriation for the completion of the harbor at the mouth of St. Joseph's river, in the State of Michigan; H. R. 649. A bill making an appropriation for the completion of the harbor at the mouth of Black river, in the county of Ottawa and State of Michigan; H. R. 650. A bill making an appropriation for the completion of the harbor at the mouth of Grand river, in the State of Michigan; H. R. 651. A bill making an appropriation for the improvement of the harbor at the mouth of the Muskegan river, in the State of Michigan; which were severally read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Commerce. Mr. Fenton, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, to whom was referred the bill of the Senate (S. 229) entitled "An act for the relief of Angelina C. Bowman, widow of Francis L. Bowman, late captain United States army," reported the same without amendment. Pending the question on its third reading, Mr. Fenton moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the bill was ordered to be read a third time. It was accordingly read the third time. The question then being on its passage, Mr. Burnett moved that it be laid upon the table. Pending which, Mr. Whiteley moved, at 3 o'clock and 55 minutes p. m., that the House adjourn; which motion was disagreed to. The question then recurred on the motion of Mr. Burnett, And being put, It was decided in the negative. The question then recurred on the passage of the bill. And being put, It was decided in the affirmative. So the bill was passed. Mr. Florence 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 acquaint the Senate with the passage of the said bill. Mr. Niblack moved, at 3 o'clock and 57 minutes p. m., that the House adjourn; which motion was disagreed to. Mr. Fenton, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, to whom was referred bills of the Senate of the following titles, viz: S. 182. An act for the relief of Nicholas Underhill; S. 108. An act for the relief of Mrs. A. E. Childs; reported the same severally without amendment. Ordered, That the said bills be committed to a Committee of the Whole House, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and printed. Mr. Fenton, from the same committee, reported bills of the following titles, viz: H. R. 652. A bill granting a pension to Nathan Whiteman; H. R. 654. A bill granting a pension to Thomas Bootle; H. R. 655. A bill granting a pension to Prentis Champlain; accompanied by reports in writing thereon; which bills were severally 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 bills and reports ordered to be printed. Mr. Fenton, from the same committee, to whom was referred the petition of Esther Cole, made an adverse report thereon; which was laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Florence, from the same committee, reported a bill (H. R. 656) to grant apension to Mary I. Harris, widow of Colonel Thomas L. Harris, deceased; which was read a first and second time. Pending the question on its engrossment, After debate, Mr. Burnett 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. The question then being on its passage, Mr. Florence moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the bill was passed. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate therein. Mr. Florence moved that the vote by which the said bill was passed be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; which latter motion was agreed to. A message from the Senate, by Mr. Hickey, their Chief Clerk: Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed bills of this House of the following titles, viz: H. R. 213. An act to incorporate the United States Agricultural Society; and H. R. 44. An act confirming certain land entries under the 3d section of the act of 3d March, 1855, entitled "An act making appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department during the fiscal year ending the 30th of June, 1856;" the former without, and the latter with an amendment; in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House. The Senate have also passed bills of the following titles, viz: S. 344. An act to amend an act entitled "An act to amend an act entitled 'An act to establish a criminal court in the District of Columbia;'"' S. 369. An act for the protection of the fisheries upon the Potomac river, in the District of Columbia; in which I am directed to ask the concurrence of this House. Mr. Sickles, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions, to whom was referred the bill of the Senate (S. 73) for the relief of Mrs. Anne M. Smith, widow of the late Brevet Major General Persifer F. Smith, Mrs. Harriet B. Macomb, widow of Major General Alexander Macomb, and Mrs. Arabella Reily, widow of Brevet Major General Bennet Reily, reported the same with amendments, accompanied by a report in writing thereon. Pending the question on agreeing to the said amendments, Pending which, On motion of Mr. Stevenson, at 4 o'clock and 15 minutes p. m., the House adjourned. MONDAY, APRIL 16, 1860. The following petitions, memorials, and other papers, were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the 24th rule of the House, to wit: By Mr. Noell: The petition of George M. Willing, claiming a seat in the House of Representatives as a delegate from the proposed Territory of Jefferson, or "Pike's Peak;" which was referred to the Committee of Elections. By Mr. Thomas L. Anderson: The petition of Thomas W. Lane, praying the payment of one thousand and fifty dollars for beeves furnished the government in 1851 to feed the Indians in California; which was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. By Mr. Simms: The petition of Jackson King and others, praying for relief; which was referred to the Committee of Claims. By Mr. Cadwalader C. Washburn: The petition of Myra Clark Gaines, asking for the confirmation of certain private land, claims. By Mr. Henry W. Davis: The memorial of the Baltimore Board of Trade, relative to a government expedition for the observations of the eclipse of the sun in July next; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. By Mr. Morse: The memorial of the commissioners of the people's Pacific railroad, for a right of way over which to build their road; which was referred to the select committee on the Pacific railroad. By Mr. Carter: The petition of Ignatius Lucas and others, remonstrating against the passage of the bill now before Congress in relation to the fisheries in the District of Columbia; which was referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia. By Mr. Blake: The petition of citizens of the State of Ohio, praying for the repeal of the fugitive slave law; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Phelps: The petition of the registers and receivers of the land offices in the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska, praying to be allowed the expenses of their clerk hire; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. By Mr. Singleton: The memorial of J. S. Douglass, George Douglass, and others, praying for relief; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. By Mr. William C. Anderson: The remonstrance of sundry citizens of the District of Columbia, against the passage of the law suppressing gill nets upon the waters of the Potomac; which was referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia. By Mr. Pendleton: The memorial of C. W. Buck, praying that a pension of ninety-six dollars per annum be allowed to the heirs of John Buck; which was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions. By Mr. Quarles: The petition of the heirs of the late Lieutenant Joseph Wheaton, praying for the pay stipulated by the government for those officers who served to the end of the revolutionary war; which was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims. By Mr. Florence: The memorial of John O. Leary-heretofore referred February 3, 1858; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Hughes: The petition of John Jordan, praying for a pension for services rendered in the Mexican war. By Mr. Francis W. Kellogg: The petition of citizens of the State of Michigan, praying for amendments of the pension laws. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Hamilton: The memorial of citizens of the State of Texas, for a mail-route from Indianola to Goliad. By Mr. John B. Clark: The petition of citizens of the State of Missouri, for a mail-route from Macon City, in the State of Missouri, to Farmington, in the State of Iowa. Ordered, That the said memorial and petition be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House the following message heretofore received from the President of the United States, viz: To the House of Representatives: I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of War, with its ac companiments, communicating the information called for by the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 20th ultimo, respecting Indian hostilities in New Mexico. WASHINGTON, April 12, 1860. JAMES BUCHANAN. Ordered, That the said message and accompanying documents be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, and printed. The Speaker also, by unanimous consent, laid before the House a letter from the Secretary of the Navy, transmitting an abstract of offers for furnishing naval supplies, coming under the cognizance of the Bureau of Yards and Docks, for the year ending June 30, 1860, and also a list of the contracts made by that bureau; which was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed. The Speaker also, by unanimous consent, laid before the House a letter from the Doorkeeper of the House, in answer to a resolution of the House of the 16th of February last calling for a statement of the persons employed by him, their compensation, duties, &c. Mr. Burnett moved that the said letter, together with the letters. of the Clerk and Postmaster of the House, in answer to the same resolution, and the subject of the compensation of the employés of the House generally, be referred to a select committee of five members. Pending which, Mr. Sherman moved that the said subject and letters be referred to the Committee on Accounts, with leave to report at any tim.e. Pending which, After debate, Mr. Burnett moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered and put, viz: Will the House agree to the motion of Mr. Sherman? And it was decided in the affirmative, J Yeas Nays. . 101 77 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative.are |