By Mr. Killinger: The petition of citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, praying pensions to soldiers of the war of 1812-14.

By Mr. Fenton: The petition of Sparhawk Parsons-heretofore referred February 24, 1858.

Ordered, That the said memorial and petitions be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. Spinner: The petition of Mary Helmer-heretofore referred January 4, 1859; which was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions.

By Mr. Hindman: Sixteen memorials of the legislature of the State of Arkansas, praying for mail-routes.

By Mr. Rust: Seven memorials of the legislature of the State of Arkansas, praying the establishment of mail-routes.

By Mr. Junkin: Three petitions of citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, praying the establishment of mail-routes from Ickesburg to Blain; also from Dillsburg to East Berlin; also from Duncannon to Dellville.

By Mr. Hamilton: The memorial of citizens of the State of Texas, praying the establishment of a mail-route from Austin to El Paso. By Mr. Love: The memorial of citizens of Savannah, in the State of Georgia, relative to the mail-route by steamers between Charleston and Havana.

By Mr. Hooper: The memorial of the legislature of Utah Territory, praying the establishment of a daily mail from Omaha, in Nebraska Territory, via Salt Lake, to Sacramento; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads;

Also, the memorial of the legislature of Utah Territory, praying the construction of a magnetic telegraph from Sacramento, in the State of California, via Great Salt Lake City, to Iowa City; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads;

Also, the memorial of the legislature of the Territory of Utah, praying the construction of a national central railroad via Salt Lake City; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads;

Also, the memorial of the legislature of Utah Territory, praying a donation of public lands to cities, towns, and villages for the support of common schools; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands;

Also, the memorial of the legislature of the Territory of Utah, praying an amendment of the organic act of Utah, so as to enable the citizens thereof to elect their own officers; which was referred to the Committee on the Territories.

By Mr. Scott: The petition of McFarland and Downey, praying that the amount due them for rent of their house in Los Angelos, California, occupied by the United States court, be paid; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Dickins, their Secretary:

Mr. Speaker: The Senate have passed a bill of the following title,

viz:

S. 35. An act to abolish the franking privilege;

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.

On motion of Mr. John G. Davis, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That the Committee of Claims be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of John Johnson, and that the same be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

The Speaker, by unanimous consent, laid before the House the annual report of the Superintendent of Public Printing; which was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.

A message was received from the President of the United States, by J. Buchanan, his private secretary, notifying the House that he did this day approve and sign a bill of the following title, viz:

H. R. 1. An act making appropriations to defray the deficiencies in the appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department for the year ending the 30th of June, 1859, and in part for the sup port of the Post Office Department for the year ending the 30th June,

1860.

Mr. Ely, by unanimous consent, introduced bills of the following titles, viz:

H. R. 39. A bill to provide for the erection of a building in the city of Rochester, in the State of New York, for the accommodation of the post office, custom-house, and courts of the United States; and

H. R. 40. A bill making an appropriation for the continuation of the improvement of the harbor of Charlotte, at the mouth of the Genesee river, near Rochester, in the State of New York; which were severally read a first and second time, and referred, as follows, viz:

H. R. 39, to the Committee on the Judiciary.

H. R. 40, to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. Ashmore, by unanimous consent, presented the memorial of Marcus J. Gaines; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

On motion of Mr. McPherson, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That the Committee on Printing be discharged from the further consideration of the resolution submitted by him yesterday in regard to the present system of printing, and that the same be referred to the Select Committee on Printing.

The Speaker then proceeded, in the further execution of the order of the House of yesterday, to call the States and Territories for bills and resolutions.

When

Bills and resolutions were introduced, as follows, viz:

By Mr. Gartrell: H. R. 41. A bill for the relief of the heirs of William York; and

H. R. 42. A bill to establish Atlanta, in the State of Georgia, a port of delivery;

which bills were severally read a first and second time, and referred as follows, viz:

H. R. 41, to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions.

H. R. 42, to the Committee on Commerce.

By Mr. Jones: The following resolution; which was read, and re

ferred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, viz:

Resolved, That the Clerk be instructed to remove the present seats from this House, and replace the old chairs and desks; and, with the view of giving time for this object, that this House, with the concurrence of the Senate, do adjourn for two weeks from and after Friday

next.

Mr. Miles moved that the vote by which the said resolution was committed be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. By Mr. Cobb: Bills of the following titles, viz:

H. R. 43. A bill to abolish the franking privilege;

H. R. 44. A bill 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;"

H. R. 45. A bill to amend an act approved 4th August, 1854, known as the graduation act, so as to permit persons to enter land within three miles of their settlements, farms, or tracts of land;

II. R. 46. A bill to repeal the act establishing a Court of Claims; H. R. 47. A bill repealing the act of August 16, 1856, fixing the pay of senators and members of Congress;

H. R. 48. A bill to repeal the swamp land acts;

H. R. 49. A bill to amend the act granting rights of pre-emption to settlers on the public lands of the Uuited States;

H. R. 50. A bill to construe the word "minimum" price of the public lands;

which bills were severally read a first and second time, and referred as follows, viz:

H. R. 43, to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. H. R. 44, 45, 48, 49 and 50, to the Committee on Public Lands. H. R. 46, to the committee on the Judiciary.

H. R. 46, to the Committee on Public Expenditures.

On motion of Mr. Gilmer,

Ordered, That the testimony, notices, and commissions in the following cases, to wit: William A. Howard against George B. Cooper, from Michigan; Francis P. Blair, jr., against J. R. Barrett, of Missouri, and James S. Chrisman against William C. Anderson, of Kentucky, be printed.

By Mr. Curry: The following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Accounts, viz:

Resolved, That the Committee on Accounts be instructed to inquire into the expediency of some additional legislation securing greater accountability and economy in the disbursement of the contingent fund, and that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise. Also, bills of the following titles, viz:

H. R. 51. A bill repealing all laws or parts of laws granting bounties or allowances to vessels employed in the bank or other cod fisheries;

H. R. 52. A bill to establish a foundry in Shelby county, Alabama;

Which were severally read a first and second time, and referred as follows, viz:

H. R. 51, to the Committee on Commerce.

H. R. 52, to the Committee on Military Affairs.
By Mr. Clopton: Bills of the following titles, viz:

H. R. 53. A bill to repeal "An act further to provide for the collection of duties on imports," approved March 2, 1833, and the twelfth and twenty-fifth sections of "An act to establish the judicial courts of the United States," approved September 24, 1789;

H. R. 54. A bill to provide for the examination and payment of certain claims of citizens of Georgia and Alabama, on account of losses sustained by depredations of the Creek Indians;

H. R. 55. A bill for the relief of Mrs. Mary Ann Henry, of Pennsylvania;

Which were severally read a first and second time, and referred as follows, viz:

H. R. 53, to the Committee on the Judiciary.

H. R. 54, to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

H. R. 55, to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Also, the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Revisal and Unfinished Business, viz:

Resolved, (the Senate concurring,) That the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives be authorized to close the present session by adjourning their respective houses on the eighth day of May, at 1 o'clock p. m.

By Mr. Sydenham Moore: Bills of the following titles, viz:

H. R. 56. A bill to provide for an appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States in certain criminal cases;

H. R. 57. A bill for the relief of Daniel Lookingbill;

which were severally read a first and second time, and referred as follows, viz:

H. R. 56, to the Committee on the Judiciary.

H. R. 57, to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

By Mr. McRae: The following resolution; which was read and agreed to, viz:

Resolved, That the Secretary of War is hereby requested to furnish the House of Representatives with copies of any orders which may be on file in his department on General Andrew Jackson, or any officer acting under his directions or under the authority of the United States, during the war with Great Britain of 1812, closing the com munication between the Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi river, by placing obstructions in the Pass Manchac to prevent the passage of British troops and munitions of war through that channel from the Gulf to the Mississippi river; also any other information in reference to closing said pass by authority of the government which may be on file in the War Office.

Also, the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs, viz:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby requested to furnish the House of Representatives with a memoir of the Missis

sippi sound, on the Mexican Gulf coast, with the maps and charts of the same, as taken by the Coast Survey; also, to furnish the House with a statement of the amount of money at any time heretofore appropriated by Congress for naval and military defences on the Gulf coast of Mississippi.

By Mr. Barksdale: H. R. 58. A bill to repeal certain sections of the act passed 20th April, 1818, commonly called the neutrality law, and to modify other sections thereof; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. Lamar: H. R. 59. A bill to provide a third judicial district in the State of Mississippi; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. Taylor: Bills of the following titles, viz:

H. R. 60. A bill to provide for the acquisition of the Island of Cuba by negotiation, and for its incorporation into the Union in the event of its being so acquired;

H. R. 61. A bill to protect the rights of persons entitled to a preemption right under the laws of the United States in certain cases; H. R. 62. A bill further to amend "An act to provide for the better security of the lives of passengers on board of vessels propelled in whole or in part by steam, and for other purposes;

which were severally read a first and second time, and referred as follows, viz:

H. R. 60, to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

H. R. 61, to the Committee on Public Lands.

H. R. 62, to the Committee on Commerce.

By Mr. Taylor: A joint resolution of the following title, viz:

H. Res. 1. A joint resolution relative to the alleged seizure and condemnation of the American barque "Adriatic" by the French authorities; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

By Mr. Bingham: Bills of the following titles, viz:

H. R. 63. A bill to amend an act entitled "An act to regulate the compensation of members of Congress," passed August 16, 1856, and to repeal so much of said act and all other acts as allows mileage to senators, representatives, and delegates in Congress;

H. R. 64. A bill to disapprove and declare null and void all territorial acts and parts of acts heretofore passed by the legislative assembly of New Mexico which establish, protect, or legalize involuntary servitude, or slavery, within said Territory, except as punishment for crime upon due conviction;

which were severally read a first and second time, and referred as follows:

H. R. 63, to the Committee of Ways and Means.

H. R. 64, to the Committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. Bingham: The following resolution; which was read, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

Resolved, That so much of the President's message as refers to the legality of slavery in the Territories, and so much thereof as recom