A message from the President of the United States by Mr. M. P. Fillmore, his secretary: Mr. President: The President of the United States approved and signed, the 2d instant, the following acts: S. 135. An act to amend an act entitled "An act to incorporate the Washington Gas Light Company," approved July 8, 1848; S. 478. An act to create three additional land districts in the State of Iowa. Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives accordingly. Mr. Jones, of Iowa, reported from the Committee that they this day presented to the President of the United States the enrolled bill (H. R. 3) an act to protect actual settlers upon the land on the line of the Central railroad and branches by granting pre-emption rights thereto; and on the 24 instant the following enrolled bills: S. 135. An act to amend an act entitled "An act to incorporate the Washington Gas Light Company," approved July 8, 1848; S. 478. An act to create three additional land districts in the State of Iowa. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Hayes, chief Clerk: Mr. President: The House of Representatives disagree to the first amendment of the Senate to the bill (II. R. 87) making appropriations for the support of the military academy for the year ending the 30th June, 1853, and agree to the residue of the amendinents of the Senate to the said bill. The Senate proceeded to consider their first amendment disagreed to by the House of Representatives to the bill (H. R. 87) making appropriations for the support of the military academy for the year ending the 30th June, 1853; and, On motion by Mr. Hunter, Resolved, That they recede therefrom. Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives accordingly. 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 answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 23d ultimo, requesting information in regard to the fisheries on the coasts of the British possessions in North America, I transmit a report from the acting Secretary of State and the documents by which it was accompanied. Commodore M. C. Perry, with the United States steam-frigate Mississippi under his command, has been despatched to that quarter, for the purpose of protecting the rights of American fishermen under the convention of 1818. MILLARD FILLMORE. WASHINGTON, August 2, 1852. The message was read. On motion by Mr. Cass, that it be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, 1 A debate arose; and, On motion by Mr. Seward, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to morrow. After the consideration of executive business, The Senate adjourned. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4, 1852. Mr. Fish presented a petition of citizens of Wayne county, New York, praying an appropriation for the repair of the piers at the mouth of Great Sodus bay, on Lake Ontario; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. Mr. Seward presented a petition of citizens of Williamsburgh, New York, praying that the homestead bill may become a law; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. Badger reported from the committee that they had examined and found duly enrolled the following bill and joint resolution: H. R. 87. An act making appropriations for the support of the military academy for the year ending the 30th of June, 1853; H. R. 24. Joint resolution providing for the distribution of the laws of Congress and the debates thereon. The resolution submitted by Mr. Geyer the 12th July, relative to the purchase of Mayo and Moulton's compilation of pension and bounty land laws, was read the second time and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment being made, it was reported to the Senate. Ordered, That it be engrossed, and read a third time. The resolution was read the third time. Resolved, That it pass. Mr. Adams, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the memorial of the legal representatives of Major Caleb Swann, deceased, submitted a report (No. 321,) accompanied by a bill (S. 514) for their relief. The bill was read, and passed to the second reading. Ordered, That the report be printed. The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion made the 29th July, to reconsider the vote on the engrossment of the resolution (S. R. 54) explanatory of an act supplementary to an act approved the twenty-third day of May, 1850; and the motion was disagreed to. The engrossed resolution (S. R. 54) explanatory of an act supplementary to an act approved the twenty-third day of May, 1850, was read a third time. Resolved, That this resolution pass, and that the title thereof be as aforesaid. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Hayes, chief Clerk: Mr. President: The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed an enrolled bill and an enrolled resolution, I am directed to bring them to the Senate for the signature of their President. The President pro tempore signed the enrolled bill (H. R. 87) and the enrolled resolution (H. R. 24) this day reported to have been examined, and they were delivered to the committee to be presented to the President of the United States. After the consideration of executive business, THURSDAY, AUGUST 5, 1852. The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion by Mr. Cass to refer to the Committee on Foreign Relations the message of the President of the United States of the 3d instant, communicating correspondence relating to the fisheries; and, After debate, On motion by Mr. Bright, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to Thursday next, and that the message with the accompanying documents, together with the message of the 28th February, 1845, and the accompanydocuments be printed. ing Mr. Adams submitted the following motion for consideration: Ordered, That the daily hour of the meeting of the Senate be 11 o'clock, a. m. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (H. R. 43) making appropriation for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian department, and for fulfilling treaty stipulations with various Indian tribes. for the year ending June 30th, 1853; and, After debate, On motion by Mr. Mason, The Senate adjourned. FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 1852. On motion by Mr. Adams, Ordered, That the execution of the order of the Senate assigning Friday of each week for the consideration of private claims, be suspended until one o'clock. The Senate proceeded to consider the motion submitted yesterday by Mr. Adams, that the daily hour of the meeting of the Senate be eleven o'clock, a. m.; and The motion was agreed to. Mr. Jones, of Tennessee, presented the petition of John H. Scruggs, praying a pension in consideration of his services in the Florida war in the year 1818; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions. Mr. Pratt presented the memorial of Thomas Crown, praying to be allowed for damages occasioned by the breach of a contract on the part of the United States; which was referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. Brodhead, from the Committee of Claims, reported the following resolution; which was read: Resolved, That the clerk to the Committee of Claims be continued at the usual rate of compensation, to be employed during the recess of the Senate in completing and keeping up the index and digest of the reports of the committee authorized by the resolution of March, 1851, and in discharging such other duties as the committee may require. Mr. Clarke submitted the following resolution; which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy be directed to furnish the Senate with copies of all contracts entered into by him for the use of the dry dock in California. Mr. Seward submitted the following resolution; which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to inform the Senate, if not incompatible with the public interests, whether any propositions have been made by the King of the Sandwich Islands to transfer the sovereignty of these islands to the United States, and to communicate to the Senate all official information on that subject in his possession. Mr. Weller submitted the following resolution; which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior be directed to inform the Senate whether any reports have been received from the Indian commissioners in California upon the subject of the debts contracted by them, and if so, that he transmit copies thereof to the Senate. Mr. Weller submitted the following resolution; which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to report to the Senate the total amount of revenue from customs collected by collector Collier for the district of San Francisco, California; also the amount paid over to his successor Thomas Butler King, at what time and by whose order any such amount was so paid over; also the amount due by the last settled account of said collector Collier to the United States, and what steps have been taken, if any, to secure the same. Resolved further, That the said secretary report whether any and what portion of the aforesaid amount received by collector King has been placed to the credit of the treasurer of the United States in his account with said treasurer as a designated depositary and at what time. Mr. Meriwether submitted the following resolution; which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Committee on Roads and Canals be requested to inquire into the propriety of making an appropriation sufficient to purchase the remainder of the stock in the Louisville and Portland canal, owned by individuals, and thereafter reducing the tolls on said canal to a sum sufficient to cover all necessary repairs and the working thereof. Mr. Houston submitted the following resolution; which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to inquire into abuses, bribery or fraud in the prosecution of claims before Congress, commissions or the departments; or in passing through Congress bills embracing private, individual or corporate interests, or in obtaining or granting con and that said committee have power to send for persons and papers, and examine witnesses on oath; whereupon, Mr. Houston, Mr. Borland, Mr. Underwood, Mr. Meriwether and Mr. Brooke were appointed the committee. On motion by Mr. Felch. Ordered, That the Committee on Public Lands be discharged from the further consideration of the following subjects: Memorial of George Andrews; Petition of Charles Burris and others; Memorial of the legislature of Alabama relative to the graduation of the price of the public lands in that State; Petition of citizens of Bangor, Maine, in relation to the bill granting land to the States for railroads; and also from the memorials and petitions referred to the committee on the subject of the homestead bill, and in favor of granting lands to actual settlers. On motion by Mr. Hamlin, Ordered, That one thousand additional copies of the message of the President in relation to the fisheries with the accompanying documents, be printed for the use of the Senate. On motion by Mr. Butler, Ordered, That the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the further consideration of the memorial of David Butler, and that it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. On motion by Mr. Felch, Ordered, That the Committee on Public Lands be discharged from the further consideration of the memorial of C. B. McKnight and others, and from the further consideration of the petition of citizens of Ohio for the sale of the unsold lands purchased of the tribe of Wyandot Indians. Mr. Brodhead, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the memorial of George H. Derby, submitted a report (No. 322,) accompanied by a bill (S. 515) for his relief. The bill was read, and passed to the second reading. Ordered, That the report be printed. Mr. Felch, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (S. 279) to provide for the sale of certain portions of the public lands to the States within which they lie, for the purpose of constructing railroads and canals, reported it without amendment. Mr. Felch, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (II. R. 7) to encourage agriculture, commerce, manufactures, and all other branches of industry by granting to every man who is the head of a family and a citizen of the United States, a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land out of the public domain upon condition of occupancy and cultivation of the same, for the period herein specified, reported it without amendment, and that it ought not to pass. Mr. Felch, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (S. 11) to cede the public lands of the United States to the States respectively in which they are situated, on condition that the said States shall severally grant and convey the said lands to actual occupants only, in limited quantities, for cost of survey and title muniments only, reported it without amendment, and that the same ought not to pass. Mr. Felch, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 280) making grants of lands to aid in the construction of |