Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill to make it penal in an officer of the United States to become a contractor, or take an interest, either direct or indirect, in any contract to furnish supplies to the government of the United States.

Mr. Mallory submitted the following resolution; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Relations be instructed to inquire into the propriety of authorizing the President of the United States to have investigations made whether any Spanish subjects, not citizens of the United States, have sustained damages by loss of property or otherwise in consequence of public outbreaks or violence in the State of Florida, growing out of the late Cuba expedition; and into the propriety of authorizing the President to make prompt indemnity to the Spanish government, for such Spanish subjects, for such damage.

Mr. Seward submitted the following resolution for consideration: Resolved, That the Committee on the Library be instructed to inquire into the expediency of subscribing for Stryker's Annual Register.

The bill (S. 292) for the relief of Richard W. Meade was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole.

On motion by Mr. Gwin,

Ordered, That it be recommitted to the Committee on Naval Affairs. The following message was received from the President of the United States by Mr. M. P. Fillmore, his secretary:

To the Senate of the United States:

In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 24th instant, relating to the extension of the Capitol, I have the honor to submit herewith a report from the Secretary of the Interior, which furnishes, it is believed, the required information.

WASHINGTON, March 29, 1852.

The message was read.

MILLARD FILLMORE.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Public Buildings, and printed.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Forney, their Clerk:

Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed a bill (H. R. 207) entitled "An act to supply deficiencies in the appropriations for the service of the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1852;" in which they request the concurrence of the Senate.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed an enrolled bill, I am directed to bring it to the Senate for the signature of their President.

The President pro tempore signed the enrolled bill (S. 78) last reported to have been examined, and it was delivered to the committee to be presented to the President of the United States.

The bill (H. R. 207) this day received from the House of Representatives for concurrence, was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. Mason, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, to whom was referred the petition of Catharine Crosby, submitted a report, (No. 157) accompanied by a bill (S. 322) for the relief of the representatives of Thomas D. Anderson, deceased.

The bill was read, and passed to the second reading.

Ordered, That the report be printed.

Mr. Mason, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, who were instructed to inquire into the subject, reported a bill (S. 323) to indemnify the master and owners of the Spanish schooner Amistad and her cargo; which was read, and passed to the second reading.

Mr. Mason also submitted a report (No. 158) on the subject; which was ordered to be printed.

Mr. Geyer, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 103) for the relief of John McIntosh, reported it without amendment.

Mr. Foot, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 99) for the relief of Francis Tribou, reported it without amend

ment.

Mr. Foot, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 102) for the relief of Ichabod Weymouth, reported it without amendment.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution submitted by Mr. Hale, the 26th instant, respecting the purchase of a historical painting, "Washington crossing the Delaware;" and the resolution was agreed to.

The engrossed bill (S. 53) to provide for the unpaid claims of the officers and soldiers of the Virginia State and continental lines of the revolutionary war, was read a third time, and the title was amended.

Resolved, That this bill pass, and that the title thereof be, "An act to compensate the owners of certain military lands in the State of Kentucky granted to the officers and soldiers of the Virginia line of the army of the Revolution, which have been taken by paramount claims."

Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.

The engrossed bill (S. 39) to authorize the payment of invalid pensions in certain cases, was read a third time.

Resolved, That this bill pass, and that the title thereof be as aforesaid. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.

On motion by Mr. Cooper, to reconsider the vote on passing to a third reading the bill (H. R. 141) for the benefit of the Carmelite Nunnery of Baltimore,

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to Friday

next.

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration. of the bill (S. 15) to establish a navy yard and depot on the bay of San Francisco, in California, and for other purposes; and, after debate,

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to

morrow.

The bill (S. 271) amendatory of existing laws relative to the half-dollar, quarter-dollar, dime, and half-dime, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and the blank in the 8th section

having been filled with "the first day of May next," it was reported to the Senate.

Ordered, That it be engrossed and read a third time.

The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (S. 52) increasing the salary of the district judge of the United States for the district of New Hampshire; and the reported amendment having been agreed to,

On motion by Mr. Downs,

The Senate adjourned.

TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 1852.

Mr. Sumner presented two petitions of citizens of Boston and its vicinity, Massachusetts, praying a reduction of the rates of ocean postage; which were referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. Soulé presented the memorial of James Reed, praying the appointment of a tribunal to review the decisions of the late board of commissioners for the settlement of the claims of American citizens against Mexico; which was referred to the Select Committee on the subject.

Mr. Rusk presented a petition of stone masons and laborers employed on the extension of the Capitol, praying relief for loss of wages occasioned by delay in obtaining an appropriation for continuing the work; which was referred to the Committee on Public Buildings.

Mr. Seward presented a petition of citizens of Buffalo, New York, praying an extension of Woodworth's patent for a planing-machine; which was referred to the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office.

Mr. Bradbury presented resolutions of the legislature of Maine, in relation to abuses practised on passengers in California steamers.

Ordered, That they be printed.

Mr. Badger presented a memorial of the present and late watchmen of the Navy Department, praying extra compensation; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. Brooke presented a resolution of the legislature of Mississippi, in favor of an appropriation for removing the bar in the Gulf of Mexico, opposite the mouth of the East Pascagoula river; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. Dodge, of Iowa, presented a memorial of citizens of Lee county, Iowa, praying the appointment of commissioners to examine and settle all claims to lands in the Sac and Fox half-breed reservation; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Dodge, of Iowa, presented a memorial of inhabitants of Clayton, Iowa, praying that the transportation of the mails on Sunday may be prohibited by law; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. Dodge, of Iowa, presented a memorial of citizens of Illinois, praying a donation of land to the State to aid in the construction of a railroad from Burlington to the Missouri river; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. Douglas presented a memorial of citizens of Macoupin, Illinois, praying that the bridges of the Wheeling and Belmont Bridge Company

may be established as mail routes; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Douglas presented a petition of the officers of the Buel Institute, Illinois, praying the establishment of an agricultural bureau at Washington; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

Mr. Shields presented the petition of Hannah Dutton, one of the heirs of William Douglas, a revolutionary officer, praying to be allowed bounty land; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

On motion by Mr. Adams,

Ordered, That the petition of James G. Bell, on the files of the Senate. be referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

On motion by Mr. Seward,

Ordered, That the petition of Pamelia Preswick, for herself and the other heirs of William Wigton, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

On motion by Mr. Norris,

Ordered, That the petition of H. L. Kendrick, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Chase submitted the following resolution for consideration:

Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making the salary of each judge of a district court of the United States equal to that of any associate justice of the supreme court of the State in which the district may be established.

Mr. Borland submitted the following resolution; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Public Buildings be instructed to inquire how far and in what direction the grounds around the Capitol will have to be extended in conformity with the plan of extension of the building that has been begun; how much private property would be included in such extension of the grounds, and what amount of money would probably be required to purchase said private property and make the necessary improvements of the grounds in consequence of the extension.

Mr. Brooke submitted the following resolution; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the expediency of removing the bar in the Gulf of Mexico, opposite the mouth of East Pascagoula river, in the State of Mississippi, and to report the probable cost of the same.

Mr. Brodhead submitted the following resolution:

Resolved, That the clerk of the Committee of Claims be continued at the usual rate of compensation, and that he be allowed his compensation from the commencement to the end of the present session.

The resolution was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent; and no amendment being made, it was reported to the Senate. Ordered, That it pass to a third reading.

The said resolution was read the third time, by unanimous consent.
Resolved, That it pass.

Mr. Jones, of Tennessee, submitted the following resolution; which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of granting to the Female Orphan Asylum of the city

of Memphis, a piece of land owned by the government in that city, which was purchased for the use of the government as an arsenal, but which has been abandoned and is not used by the government for that or any other

purpose.

Mr. Soulé submitted the following resolution; which was read: Resolved, That the Select Committee on the memorials in relation to the proceedings of the board of commissioners on claims against Mexico appoint a clerk, at the same rate of compensation as allowed to clerks of other committees of the Senate.

The resolution was read the second time, by unanimous consent, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment being made, it was reported to the Senate.

Ordered, That it pass to a third reading.

The said resolution was read the third time, by unanimous consent.
Resolved, That it pass.

On motion by Mr. Fish,

Ordered, That the memorial of Johnson Livingston and his associates, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

On motion by Mr. Hale,

Ordered, That the heirs of Nathaniel Hobbs have leave to withdraw their petition and papers.

On motion by Mr. Clemens,

Ordered, That the petition of Seneca G. Simmons, on the files of the Senate, relating to compensation for services as secretary to the Creek and Osage commissioners, be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Mr. Dawson, from the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office, to whom had been referred the petition of Cyrus H. McCormick for the extension of his patent, submitted a report (No. 160) to accompany bill S. 261; which was ordered to be printed.

On motion by Mr. Borland,

Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Raphael Semmes, and that it be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

On motion by Mr. Shields,

Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the report of the Secretary of War, in relation to the construction of a military road from Fort Dodge to Dubuque, communicated the 13th January.

On motion by Mr. Shields,

Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of merchants, and a petition of citizens of San Antonio, Texas, and that they be referred to the Committee on Commerce.

On motion by Mr. Shields,

Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the following subjects:"

Memorial of Brevet Colonel J. K. F. Mansfield;

Memorial of certain non-commissioned officers of the regiment of mounted riflemen, presented the 4th of February;

Petition of Charles B. Brower.