The SPEAKER replied that the morning hour had not yet expired.

Mr. HARRIS moved that the rules be suspended and that the House resolve itself into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union.

Mr. McNAIR. I have been waiting very patiently for this matter to get through, to report a resolution from the Committee on Agriculture.

The SPEAKER. The gentleman must be aware that discussion is not in order during the pendency of a motion to go into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union.

Mr. McNAIR. I expected that the call of the committees would have been gone through with. Mr. McLANAHAN. I ask the gentleman to withdraw his motion for one moment, so as to allow me to present a report.

Mr. HARRIS. If the gentleman could effect his object, I would certainly do it.

Mr. CARTTER. He cannot do it until after the other committees have been called.

Mr. HARRIS withdrew his motion.

Mr. McLANAHAN asked the unanimous consent of the House to make a report.

Mr. OLDS objected.

The question was then taken on the motion to lay the resolution on the table, and the result was -yeas 77, nays 73; as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Abercrombie, Charles Allen, John Appleton, Barrere, Bocock, Breckenridge, Cartter, Chastain, Churchwell, Conger, Dawson, Dockery, Dunham, Eastman, Faulkner, Ficklin, Goodenow, Gorman, Hall, Harper, Isham G. Harris, Sampson W. Harris, Hascall, Haven, Hebard, Hendricks, Hibbard, Hillyer, Holladay, Houston, John W. Howe, Thomas Y. How. Hunter, Jenkins, Andrew Johnson, James Johnson, John Johnson, Daniel T. Jones, George W. Jones, George G. King, Preston King, Khuns, Letcher, Lockhart, Mann, Humphrey Marshall, Mason, McLanahan, Meade, Miller, Millson, Miner, Molony, Henry D. Moore, Murphy, Nabers, Orr, Outlaw, Samuel W. Parker, Phelps, Smith, Benjamin Stanton, Richard H. Stanton, Abraham P. Stevens, Alexander H. Stephens, Stuart, Sweetser, Benjamin Thompson, George W. Thompson, Venable, Walbridge, Wallace, Watkins, Addison White, Wilcox, Wildrick, and Woodward—77.

NAYS-Messrs. Aiken, William Appleton, Babcock, Thomas H. Bayly, Beale, Bell, Bibighaus, Bowie, Brenton, Briggs, Busby, E. Carrington Cabell, Caldwell, Thompson Campbell, Caskie, Chandler, Clark, Cobb, Curus, George T. Davis, Dean, Doty, Edgerton, Edmundson, Fitch, Florence, Fowler, Freeman, Henry M. Fuller, Thomas J. D. Fuller, Gamble, Gaylord, Gilmore, Green, Grey, Grow, Hart, Henn, Robert W. Johnson, Martin, McDonald, McNair, Morrison, Murray, Newton, Olds, Peaslee, Polk, Powell, Price, Riddle, Robbins, Robinson, Savage, Schoolcraft, Schoonmaker, Scudder, Scurry, David L. Seymour, Origen S. Seymour, Frederick P. Stanton, St. Martin, Stratton, Strother, Taylor, Thurston, Townshend, Tuck, Walsh, Ward, Welch, Alexander White, and Yates-73.

So the resolution was laid upon the table. Mr. STANLY moved to reconsider the vote just taken, and to lay that motion on the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

Mr. DUNHAM. I desire to inquire of the Chair if the morning hour has not expired?

The SPEAKER. It has expired. Mr. DUNHAM. Then I move that the rules be suspended, and that the House resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union; and upon that motion I ask for tellers. Tellers were ordered, and Messrs. WATKINS and MASON were appointed.

The question was then taken, and the tellers reported-ayes 50, noes not counted.

So the House refused to go into committee. Mr. FICKLIN, from the Committee for the District of Columbia, reported the following resolution, viz:

Resolved, That the Committee for the District of Columbia, while prosecuting their inquiry, under the order of the House, into the practice of issuing small notes as a currency, and not redeemable in cash, by irresponsible persons or corporations, within the District of Columbia, be and they are hereby authorized to send for persons and papers, and to examine witnesses under oath.

The question was taken, and the resolution adopted.

Mr. THOMPSON, of Virginia, asked the unanimous consent of the House to introduce a bill, of which previous notice had been given, upon the same subject as the resolution just adopted. Objection was made.

Mr. McLANAHAN, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported a bill to regulate the fees and costs to be allowed clerks, marshals, and attorneys, in the circuit and district courts of the United States, and for other purposes; which was read a first and second time by its title.

Mr. McL. said: I am unanimously instructed

by the Judiciary Committee to move that the bill and report be referred to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, and that 2,000 copies of the same be printed for the use of the House.

The SPEAKER. If the gentleman moves to print extra copies of his bill and report, according to the rule it must go to the Committee on Printing.

Mr. McLANAHAN. 1 move, then, that the usual number of copies of the bill and report be printed.

The bill and report were then referred to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. McLANAHAN. I now move that the bill just referred to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union be made the special order of the day for the 25th of February next, and from day to day thereafter until disposed of. Mr. CARTTER objected.

Mr. MEADE. I desire to inquire if the gentleman from Pennsylvania, [Mr. McLANAHAN,] did not make a motion to print an extra number of copies of this report?

The SPEAKER. He did, but the motion was not at the time entertained. The Chair, however, upon reflection, is of the opinion that if the motion is made as a report from the Committee on the Judiciary, that it is competent for him to do so without having it referred to the Committee on Printing.

Mr. McLANAHAN. I am instructed by the Committee on the Judiciary to move that 5,000 copies of the report be printed.

The SPEAKER. That motion is in order. Mr. JONES, of Tennessee. Does the gentleman from Pennsylvania say that he is instructed to move to print 5,000 copies?

Mr. McLANAHAN. Yes, sir. Mr. JONES. I understood the gentleman a moment ago to ask for 2,000.

Mr. McLANAHAN. Mr. Speaker, it is proper, and perhaps necessary, that I should briefly state to the House some of the reasons that induced the Committee on the Judiciary, through me, to present the resolution which I have just made.

The extraordinary increase in the expenses of the judiciary, since the organization of that department of the Government, led the committee into an investigation of the causes that operated to produce this result. This investigation was necessarily one of details, and all of the causes may not have been satisfactorily ascertained; yet it is believed that sufficient will be made known by the report just submitted to show the necessity of prompt legislative action on the subject.

In the year 1800, the expenses of the judiciary establishment of the United States, inclusive of the salaries of the judges, appear to have been $42,214; in 1820, $117,187; in 1830, $204,432; $564,845. During this period of fifty years the popin 1840, $373,695; in 1849, $469,223; in 1850, ulation of the United States increased at a ratio of about three hundred and thirty-three per cent., whilst the expenses of maintaining the judiciary increased at the rate of about twelve hundred and thirty-seven per cent. Now, sir, it is not pretended that increase of population is an exact rule by which to estimate the increase in the expenses of our courts of justice; but it is a mode generally adopted for forming an estimate of the wealth, the business. and prosperity of our country at large. And it is therefore, on the whole, perhaps as good a method as can be selected for forming correct conclusions as to what would be a fair and proper increase in the expenses of the judiciary. The facts before stated cannot fail to show the undue and improper augmentation of expense, incident at this time to th administration of justice in the circuit and district courts of the United States.

In the northern district of the State of New sustaining the United States courts, exclusive of York the expenses of the General Government in the salaries of the judge, marshal, and district attorney, in the year 1830 amounted to $3,500, in the year 1850 to $43,975; more than twelve times as large as in the year 1830. In the State of Massachusetts, in the year 1830, the amount paid by the General Government, exclusive of the salaries of the judge, marshal, and district attorney, was $9,586 13; and in the year 1850 $92,728; about ten times as large as it was in 1830. The causes which have led to this extraordinary increase in judicial

expenses are numerous and various. Many of them are set forth in the report which I have just presented; and many more will probably be reade manifest by the answers-which will soon be furnished by the Department of the Interior-to a series of interrogatories which were addressed to the Secretary of that Department, under a resolution of inquiry from this House. But, sir, sufficient, as I before stated, will be made manifest by the report, which is now submitted, to show the necessity of immediate legislative action on the subject.

The regulation of the fees to be received by the ministerial officers of the courts is a task of more than ordinary difficulty and complexity. The printing of the bill and report for the use of the House is absolutely necessary. And the subject is one of such grave and serious import that extra numbers of the report should be printed, so that the whole country may understand both the known abuses and the proposed reform. The report and the bill should find a wide circulation over the land. We ask, therefore, that a number of copies, corresponding to the exigencies of the case, may be printed, in order that all who desire to investigate the matter may have every facility which it is in the power of the committee to furnish. Sir, there is no subject in which the people are more interested than the one which is now brought to the consideration of the House; and while it demands the prompt and energetic action of Congress, it is one which cannot be properly disposed of without close investigation and calm reflection.

The motion to print 5,000 copies extra of the report was referred to the Committee on Printing.

Mr. MEADE. I am requested by the Committee on Commerce to make a favorable report in the case of a railroad company in Georgia, and ask that the bill reported by the committee on this subject be put upon its passage. There are particular reasons why this should be done. I will state simply to the House the merits of the case. The Monroe Railroad Company, under acts of 1832 and 1840, imported railroad iron, and gave their bonds for it in 1841, with security. Those bonds were to be canceled if the iron was laid by the 3d day of March, 1843. The iron was not laid by the specified time, but it was laid during the year 1843. After this iron was laid upon the road, the Monroe Railroad Company was dissolved, and became insolvent, and the road passed into other hands. The securities were sued upon those bonds, and such suit is either now in progress, or judgment has been recovered against the securities. They ask to be relieved from that bond, upon the ground that the equitable construction of the act of 1842 entitles them as much to relief as if their iron had been laid upon the track previous to the first of March, 1843. This subject was before the last Congress, and referred to the Committee on Commerce, which made a favorable report thereon, with a bill for relief; but for some cause or other the bill was not acted upon during the last session of Congress.

The Solicitor of the Treasury has given his consent, in an informal way, that execution shall not be sued out against these parties, and that the case shall not be prosecuted to final termination, until they shall have had an opportunity to apply House, that a similar application has been made to Congress for relief. I will state further to the by one or two other railroad companies, upon the same grounds, and relief has been afforded to them. I consider that this company is entitled to relief upon an equitable construction of the three statutes which relate to the subject, one of which 1842. If the House wish to be more minutely was passed in 1832, one in 1840, and the third in informed in the case, they can have the report read. It is a short one. I ask the House to permit this bill to be put upon its passage, that relief by all of the members of the committee. may be immediately afforded to the securities. It is a very meritorious case, and was so considered

The bill, being a bill for the relief of the Monroe read a first and second time by its title. Railroad Company and their securities, was then

Mr. HEBARD moved that the bill be referred to the Committee of the Whole House, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and, with the accompanying report, be printed; which motion was agreed to.

Mr. VENABLE, from the Committee on the

Judiciary, made an adverse report upon the memorial of Jehiel Brooks, praying authority to sue the United States for damages, in consequence of a suit instituted against him by the United States; which was ordered to lie upon the table and be printed.

Mr. HARRIS, of Tennessee, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported a bill for the rehef of Andrew Smith; which was read a first and second time by its title, referred to a Committee of the Whole House, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and, with the accompanying report, ordered to be printed.

On motion by Mr. KING, of New York, it

was

Ordered, That the Committee on the Judiciary be disebarged from the further consideration of the memorials of cluzens of Dayton, Ohio, and of citizens of Newark, New Jersey, praying for the passage of an act for the protection of American inventors; and that the same be referred to the Cominittee on Patents.

were severally read a first and second time by their titles, referred to a Committee of the Whole House, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and, with the accompanying reports, ordered to be printed, viz:

A bill for the relief of Semoice, a friendly Creek Indian;

A bill for the relief of Ira Baldwin; and A bill for the relief of William H. Wells and others.

Mr. MILLER, by unanimous consent of the House, introduced a bill, of which previous notice had been given, for an appropriation of money for the improvement of the Missouri river, from its mouth to Council Bluffs; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

Mr. SMART, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the petition of William Mann, praying for compensation for services On motion by Mr. PARKER, of Indiana, it during the war of 1812, made an adverse report;

was

Ordered, That the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Hyacinth Riopelle, of Wayne county, Michigan, for the passage of an act granting him a patent for a certain tract of land, and that it be referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

On motion by Mr. PARKER, of Indiana, it

was

Ordered, That the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of N. Chucks and other citizens of the United States, praying for the payment of moneys withheld and which were due them by the provisions of certain treaties and generally for the redress of grievances, and that it be referred to the Commuttee on Indian Affairs.

Mr. PARKER also, from the Committee on the Judiciary, made an adverse report on the petition of Samuel Drew, asking for the interest on the arrears of pay due him as a soldier in the war of 1812; which was ordered to lie on the table and be printed.

On motion by Mr. DEAN, it was

Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Lucy Ann Roberts, the widow of Major John Roberts, and that it be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions.

Mr. FULLER, of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on Revolutionary Claims, reported a bill for the relief of the heirs of Lieutenant Bartlett Hinds; which was read a first and second time by its title, referred to a Committee of the Whole House, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and, with the accompanying report, ordered to be printed.

On motion by Mr. FULLER, of Pennsylvania,

it was

Ordered, That the petition and papers of Thomas Morris, of Georgia, be withdrawn from the files of the House, with the view of reference.

Mr. JENKINS, from the Committee on Private Land Claims, reported a bill for the relief of Robert Nelson; which was read a first and second time by its title, referred to a Committee of the Whole House, made the order of the day for tomorrow, and, with the accompanying report, ordered to be printed.

He also, from the same committee, made adverse reports in the following cases; which were ordered to lie upon the table and be printed, viz:

The petition of Joseph Newell, asking relief in regard to a section of land located in the Indian country;

The petition of Joseph Roberts, of Breckenridge county, Kentucky, asking for scrip of one thousand acres of land in lieu of one thousand acres granted to William Armstead by the State of Kentucky; and

The petition of William B. Ross and others, of Florida, praying that the warrants of certain grants confirmed to Arredondo may be located upon other public lands.

Mr. THOMPSON, of Virginia, from the Committee on Private Land Claims, reported the following bills; which were severally read a first and second time by their titles, referred to a Committee of the Whole House, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and, with the accompanying reports, ordered to be printed, viz:

A bill for the relief of William McFarland; and A bill for the relief of Patrick Gass.

Mr. MILLER, from the Committee on Private Land Claims, reported the following bills; which

which report was ordered to lie upon the table. Mr. JOHNSON, of Arkansas. We have accomplished a good deal of business to-day, more than the clerks can bring up, and I therefore move the House adjourn.

The question was taken, and the House refused to adjourn.

Mr. GORMAN, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported "A bill for the relief of Josiah P. Pilcher, late a private in company F, second Kentucky regiment of volunteers in the war with Mexico;" which was referred to the Committee of the Whole, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and the bill and report ordered to be printed.

Mr. WILCOX, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill to be entitled "An act for the relief of Sergeant Leonard Skinner;" which was referred to a Committee of the Whole House, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and, with the accompanying report, ordered to be printed.

Also, from the same committee, reported a bill to be entitled "An act for the relief of the heirsat-law of Anthony G. Willis, deceasd, which was read a first and second time by its title, referred to a Committee of the Whole, made the order of nying, ordered to be printed. the day for to-morrow, and, with report accompa

Also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the memorial of John Davis, praying for a pension and an allowance of bounty land, on account of disability incurred while in the service made an adverse report; which was ordered to lie of the United States during the war with Mexico, upon the table and be printed.

Mr. NABERS, from the Committee on Private Land Claims, to whom was referred the memorial of Elliott McCulloch, praying relief in relation to a section of land, made an adverse report; which was laid upon the table.

Mr. NABERS also, from the same committee, reported "A bill for the relief of Jeremiah Wingate;" which was read a first and second time by its title, referred to a Committee of the Whole, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and with the report, ordered to be printed.

Mr. EDGERTON, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the memorial of the heirs of Daniel Landon, asking remuneration for losses sustained in the last war, made an adverse report, and moved that the report be laid upon the table.

Mr. STANTON, of Ohio. I ask the gentleman to withdraw the motion.

Mr. EDGERTON. I will withdraw the motion.

Mr. STANTON, of Ohio. I rise to ask of the House to refer that memorial to the Committee on Military Affairs. I will make a statement that cannot fail, I think, to induce the House to make that reference.

Mr. STANTON, of Tennessee. I rise to a question of order. The gentleman is making a report from a committee, and of course cannot withdraw the motion that is made by order of the committee.

Mr. EDGERTON. I was making a report

from the committee.

The SPEAKER. The gentleman has made an adverse report. It is moved by the gentleman from Ohio, [Mr. STANTON,] to refer the memo

rial and report to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. STANTON. This is a claim presented by the heirs of Daniel Landon for property destroyed at Fort Wayne, in 1812. He went out there at the special instance of the commander of the Fort, in 1802, cultivated land, raised crops, and built a mill. It is claimed that he had a special promise of protection from the commandant of that Fort. He took his means there to the extent of $4,000, and in 1812 his entire property was destroyed by the Indians. I thought, in the first instance, that the proper reference of the claim was to the Committee on Military Affairs. I move that it be referred to the Military Committee, and the argument of the Committee of Claims may go along with it, so that there need not be any fear of injustice being done.

Mr. EDGERTON. Claims under the law of 1816 have been allowed for the destruction of property occupied for military purposes, but the law never has permitted payment for personal property, or for the destruction of buildings not occupied as a military post, or of such a description that the action of the Government had not imparted to them a military character. In this case the loss was sustained by the Indians driving off personal property, and the destruction of buildings not claimed to be occupied by the United States troops.

Mr. SWEETSER. I desire to call the attention of my colleague to the fact, set forth in these papers, that Fort Mayre was a frontier post, and that the property taken here by the claimants was absolutely necessary at that time, in order to fur

nish the means of subsistence to the men at that station. He went there under the protection of the commanding officer, and carried along with him his property.

In the then condition of the country, the troops of the United States were unable to protect the property. I understand the interpretation given to the law of 1816 has been, that wherever the United States, or the officers of the Army, have held out inducements to individuals to make investments, and they made those investments for the purpose of affording the men at a station subsistence, they are regarded as under the protection of the United States, and if sufficient protection has not been afforded to them, the Government is to make good the losses they sustained. That is my understanding.

Mr. DUNHAM. These claims have invariably gone to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. EDGERTON. 1 make this statement as regards this case: This man Landon, in 1802, went to Fort Wayne and purchased a home there on the lands of the United States. He was an army contractor, or the agent of army contractors. The produce raised upon his land was sold by him to those stationed at Fort Wayne. In 1812, the Indians made a descent upon the place, drove off his stock, and burned his building. He was then acting as agent for an army contractor, or issuing commissary; and for this property there destroyed, he claims that the Government shall pay him. The committee came to the conclusion that there was no law authorizing its payment, and that the action of the Government had been in opposition to the payment of claims of this char

acter.

Mr. SMART. I am in favor of the report of the gentleman from Ohio, and will call the attention of the House to the 91st rule; which reads as follows:

"It shall be the duty of the Committee on Military Affairs to take into consideration all subjects relating to the military establishment and public defence which may be referred to them by the House, and to report their opinion thereupon; and also to report, from time to time, such measures as may contribute to economy and accountability in said establishment."

I shall now make but one remark in relation to this subject. From the little experience I have had upon the Military Committee, I am satisfied that it is becoming a mere claims committee and that there is a wrong use made of it. I, for one, am opposed to the reference of these claims to that committee. I do not think the rule so intended. I think, as we have a Committee of Claims, (and a very efficient one it is,) that such claims should be referred there. This reference has been properly made to that committee, and I really hope this report will be adopted. I move to lay the report upon the table. Pending which,

On motion by Mr. FULLER, of Maine,
The House adjourned.

NOTICES OF BILLS.

Mr. CABELL, of Florida, gave notice of bills to survey the military reserves at Tampa Bay and Pilatka, in the State of Florida, and for the erection of a marine hospital at Apalachicola, in said State.

Mr. THOMPSON, of Virginia, asked, and obtained leave to withdraw the papers in the case of William Sparks, now on file in the office of the Clerk of this House, and that the same be referred to the committee on Invalid Persons.

PETITIONS, &c.

The following petitions, memorials, &c., were presented under the rule, and referred to the appropriate committees: By Mr. THOMPSON, of Virginia: The petition of Lewis Turner, of the county of Preston, Virginia, praying for a pension on account of permanent injury to his health in the war of 1812.

Also, the petition and papers of Margaret Garwood, widow of Samuel Garwood, praying for a pension on account of a permanent injury received by her said husband in the battle of Lake Erie, in the flag-ship of Perry, which permanently injured him for life, so as to prevent him from providing for his family.

By Mr. DEAN: The petition of citizens of the District of Columbia for a new and enlarged building for a post office, in the City of Washington.

By Mr. STRATTON: The petition of Robert B. Suteliffe and 58 others, citizens of New Jersey, praying the enactment of a law prohibiting entirely the importation of intoxicating liquors.

By Mr. MOORE, of Pennsylvania: The petition of the Society of Friends, of Philadelphia, for the repeal of the fugitive-slave law.

By Mr. CHURCHWELL: The memorial of Robert James, of Tennessee, praying for the remission of duties on machinery imported by him as an emigrant, for his own use and benefit.

By Mr. SEYMOUR, of New York: The petition of Jole, Coit & Co., to be refunded duties on merchandise damaged while in transitu from one warehouse to another for exportation.

By Mr. CABELL, of Florida: The memorials of William H. Andrews, George S. Jennings, Joseph D. Morris, Edward R. Ives, George J. Lehnbaun, Hiram T. Mann, and Joel B. Smith, assistant marshals of the State of Florida, for additional compensation for taking the last census.

By Mr. WALBRIDGE: The petition of William T. Lawrence, and 137 other citizens of Tompkins and Chemung counties, New York, praying for the establishment of a tri-weekly mail route from Havana, in the county of Chemung, to Ithica, in the county of Tompkins, via Odessa, Cayutaville, Enfield, Centre, &c.

By Mr. HAVEN: The remonstrance of Mugridge and Clark, and other citizens of Buffalo, being bread and cracker bakers of that place, against extending or renewing the patent to Williani R. Nevins, of New York, for a machine for rolling dough and cutting crackers and biscuit, giving the reasons of the remonstrance at length.

By Mr. St. MARTIN: The memorial of Nathan C. Folger in relation to Mexican indemnities.

Also, the petition of Nanette Dijean, widow Padron, praying for relief.

By Mr. McLANAHAN: The petition of citizens of Perry county and Union county, in the State of Pennsylvania, for the establishment of a mail route from Miller's Town, in Perry county, to Mifflinburg, in Union county.

By Mr. HENN: The petition of T. H. P. Duncan and 98

others, asking for mail routes from Corydon, Wayne county, Iowa, via Grand River, to Princeton, Missouri, and from Corydon to Charitou Point, and for weekly service thereon.

IN SENATE. FRIDAY, January 30, 1852. Prayer by the Chaplain, Rev. C. M. BUTLER.

PRIVATE BILL DAY.

On the motion of Mr. NORRIS, the execution of the order by which Friday of each week is devoted to private claims, was suspended until one o'clock.

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATION.

The PRESIDENT pro tem. laid before the Senate a letter from the Treasurer of the United States, communicating copies of his accounts of receipts and disbursements for the service of the Post Office Department for the year ending 30th June, 1851; which was read.

On motion by Mr. HUNTER, it was
Ordered, That it lie on the table.

PETITIONS.

Mr. PEARCE presented the memorial of Augusta Ogden Boyd, praying the continuance of her pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. DODGE, of Iowa, submitted a document in support of the petition of citizens of Kanesville, Iowa, for a grant of land for the benfit of that town; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. FELCH presented the petition of John Gray, praying remuneration for a pair of horses taken by the United States troops during the last war with Great Britain; which was referred to the

Committee of Claims.

Mr. PRATT presented the memorial of Henry Mankin, praying that the Postmaster General may be authorized to contract with him and his asso

ciates, merchants residing in Baltimore and Rio de Janeiro, for the transportation of the mail in steamers from Baltimore and Norfolk to St. Thomas and Barbadoes, in the West Indies, Para, Pernambuco, and Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, and Montevideo in Buenos Ayres; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

PAPERS WITHDRAWN AND REFERRED.

On motion by Mr. HALE, it was

Ordered, That the petition of Thomas Butler, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Com

merce.

On motion by Mr. HAMLIN, it was Ordered, That Anna McLean have leave to withdraw her memorial and papers.

On motion by Mr. SHIELDS, it was

Ordered, That the documents on the tiles of the Senate, relating to the claim of Lewis A. Thomas and Thomas Rogers, be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

On motion by Mr. JONES, of Iowa, it was Ordered, That the petition of John Le Roy, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Pensions. On motion by Mr. CLEMENS, it was Ordered, That the petition of Charles G. Gunter, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

On motion by Mr. UNDERWOOD, it was

Ordered, That the petition of citizens of Paducah, Kentucky, on the files of the Senate, relating to the establishment of a port of delivery, and improving the harbor at that place, be referred to the Committee on Commerce.

On motion by Mr. SHIELDS, it was

Ordered, That the documents on the files of the Senate relating to the incorporation of a Mutual Insurance Company in the city of Washington, be referred to the Committee for the District of Columbia.

REPORTS OF STANDING COMMITTEES. Mr. SOULE, from the Committee on Commerce, to which was referred the memorial of the citizens of Appalachicola, praying that Samuel Bray, keeper of the Dog-Island light-house, on the coast of Florida, may receive some remuneration for the losses sustained by himself and family during the gale of the 23d and 24th of August, 1851, submitted a report, accompanied by a bill for his relief.

The bill was read and passed to the second read

ing.

Ordered, That the report be printed.

Mr. S., also, from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, to which was referred the memorial of Thomas Rhodes, submitted a report, accompanied by a bill for his relief; which was read and passed to a second reading.

Mr. HUNTER, from the Committee on Finance, to which was referred the bill providing for carrying into execution, in further part, the 12th article of the treaty with Mexico, concluded at Guadalupe Hidalgo, reported the same without amendment.

He said that he should have now asked for its consideration, but that he understood the Senator from Louisiana, [Mr. SOULE,] who was not now ready to proceed, desired to be heard upon the subject. He should, however, ask for its consideration at an early day.

Mr. SOULE intimated that he desired to exam

ine some documents relating to the subject-matter of this bill, before he proceeded to its discussion.

Mr. BRODHEAD, from the Committee of Claims, to which was referred the petition of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company, submitted an adverse report; which was ordered to be printed.

PASSENGERS BY STEAMBOATS TO CALIFOR

NIA.

Mr. BRADBURY. I have been requested in behalf of a number of highly-respectable constituents to call the attention of the Senate to abuses alleged to exist in the conveyance of passengers by steamboats from the Atlantic port to Califor

nia.

The abuses complained of are:

1. That these boats, in violation of their public engagements, take ordinarily a much larger number of passengers than they can properly accommodate, or is consistent with health and safety.

2. That the supply of food is often deficient in quantity, and of the poorest and most unwholesome quality.

3. That the treatment of passengers, the sick even, by officers and crews of the boats, is sometimes cruel in the extreme.

It is represented that from these abuses large numbers of our fellow-citizens emigrating to California lose their lives or their health by disease engendered on board these boats.

The petitioners say they believe that a thorough investigation by a committee of Congress, with power to send for persons and papers, would disclose scenes occurring on board some of these boats that could find a parallel only in the horrors of the middle passage in the African slave trade.

Not professing to have a personal knowledge how far these representations are well founded, I believe the subject is worthy of the most thorough investigation, and trust it will receive the attention of the Committee on Commerce. With that view I offer the following resolution:

Resolved. That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire whether any legislation is necessary to prevent abuses in the conveyance of passengers by steamboats from the Atlantic ports to those of California.

Mr. GWIN. I have only to say that I thank the Senator from Maine for bringing this subject to the attention of the Senate. I have heard great complaints of these abuses, and I hope the committee will give to the subject its early attention; and if there are such abuses that they will recommend to the Senate the passage of a bill imposing the severest penalties on the owners of the steamships. I have no doubt that many lives have been lost in consequence of the abuses which exist on board those steamers.

The resolution was adopted.

DISCIPLINE IN THE NAVY.

Mr. BADGER. I have been directed by the Committee on Naval Affairs to offer some amendments to the bill heretofore reported from that committee to enforce discipline and promote good conduct in the naval service of the United States. As I desire to have that bill taken up and considered at some early day, I hope that by the unanimous consent of the Senate these amendments may be laid on the table and printed.

The amendments were received informally, and ordered to be printed.

CUBAN PRISONERS IN SPAIN.
The bill for the relief of American citizens lately

imprisoned and pardoned by the Queen of Spain, was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

BILLS FROM THE HOUSE.

A message was received from the House of Representatives by Mr. FORNEY, its Clerk:

Mr. PRESIDENT: The House of Representatives have passed a joint resolution for the relief of Elizabeth Prewitt, widow and executrix of Robert C. Prewitt, deceased; also, a bill entitled "An act for the benefit of the Carmelite Nunnery in Baltimore; in which resolution and bill they request the concurrence of the Senate.

They were read a first and second time by their titles, and referred, the first to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, and the latter to the Committee on Finance.

UNITED STATES COURTS IN DELAWARE.

Mr. BRADBURY. I desire to call up the bill concerning sessions of the courts of the United States in the district of Delaware. I do this at the instance of the Senator from Delaware, [Mr. BAYARD.] The bill provides for a change of the sessions of the United States courts in that district, which are to be held very soon. I hope the Senate will allow the bill to be taken up, so that it may be passed at this time. I move to postpone the prior orders, with a view to taking up that bill.

The motion was agreed to, and the Senate proceeded to consider the bill as in Committee of the Whole.

It provides that the Courts of the United States in and for the district of Delaware, shall hereafter be held at New Castle, in the said district; that there shall be two regular terms of the circuit court of the United States in said district, which shall commence on the third Tuesday of June, and third Tuesday of October, in each and every year hereafter; and that there shall be four regular terms of the district court of the United States for the said district, which shall commence on the second Tuesday of April, June, September, and January. The bill also provides, that the office of the clerk of the circuit court for said district, and the records of the said court, shall be kept, either at Wilmington or New Castle, as may be directed by an order of the judges of said court, made

either in term or during vacation, and entered on the records thereof; and that the office of the clerk of the said district court, and the records thereof, shall be kept at either of the said places, as may be directed by the judge of the said district court, by an order made in term or during vacation, and entered on the records thereof.

It further provides that no process issued or proceedings begun in either of the said courts shall be voided by this change of the place and time of holding the said courts, and that all process, bail bonds, or recognizances, returnable at the next term of said courts, shall be returnable and returned at the terms of said courts, respectively, next occurring after the passage of this act, in the same manner as if they had been made so returnable on the face thereof, and shall have full effect and force, and that all continuances shall be made to conform to the provisions of this act.

The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment, and was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

NAVAL APPOINTMENTS.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution, submitted on the 27th instant by Mr. HALE, in relation to the tenure of appointments in the naval service; and the resolution was agreed to, as follows:

Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law that appointments in the naval service of the United States shall hereafter be for a limited time, which shall be expressed in the commissions.

ADVERSE REPORTS.

The Senate proceeded to consider the adverse reports on the President's desk, which had been made from committees on memorials referred to them. The question in each case was on concurring in the report of the committee, and the Sennate decided affirmatively on the following: The petition of Leonard J. Thomas; The petition of Charles H. Blood; The petition of Joseph Hill and Sons; The petition of José Baya; The petition of Phoebe Glover;

The petition of John H. Patterson;

The petition of Samuel M. Bootes;

The memorial of Robert Piatt;

their term of service, they accounted, as in duty bound, to R. R. Crum, quartermaster, delivering to him all invoices and goods in their possession. Although they were employed by Crum as his assistants, the Government has endeavored to hold them responsible as its agents, because they signed the vouchers as Assistant Quartermasters; but there was no contract between them and the Government. They were not commissioned by the Government in that character, but they acted under Crum, a regularly-qualified commissioned officer of the Government. They received a great deal of property as Crum's agents, and they accounted for it all; but Crum being in default to the Government, they were held accountable. The affidavit of Cash and Ellis is sustained by the affidavit of Crum, who says that they acted as his agents, and as such were authorized to receive large supplies. He says he held them responsible to him, and that he demanded and received of them all their papers, vouchers, invoices, and receipts. They fully accounted for and properly applied all the stores received by them. The Government did not give them their regular pay, but withheld it from them, and the committee thought that Crum, the quartermaster, and not Giles and Ellis, should be held liable to the Government for any deficiencies or arrearages in his department as quartermaster or commissary.

Mr. HUNTER. That seems to be a bill which requires the Government to pay agents who were employed by this Mr. Crum. I think this ought not to be done. I hope the bill will be passed by informally.

Mr. BADGER. As the chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, who reported this bill, is not in his place, I move to postpone its further consideration until to-morrow.

The motion was agreed to.

JOHN T. SULLIVAN.

The bill for the relief of John T. Sullivan was read a second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole. It provides that the Postmaster General be authorized and required to pay to John T. Sullivan $1,670, out of the funds of the Post Office Department, for folding, cutting, and quarto binding 17,500 copies of laws and instructions to postmasters, under a contract made with

The petition of Samuel Crapin;

The petition of Hugh W. Dobbin;

The petition of Samuel Prisleau;

The petition of Thomas Flanagan;
The petition of Sarah Bennett; and
The petition of A. J. Williamson.

The Senate proceeded to consider the adverse report of the Committee of Claims on the petition of William A. Duer, administrator of William Duer, deceased; and,

On motion by Mr. BADGER, it was ordered to lie on the table.

MARY W. THOMPSON.

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill for the relief of Mary W. Thompson; and no amendment being made, it was reported to the Senate, and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

DAVID C. CASH AND GILES U. ELLIS. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill from the House of Representatives for the relief of David C. Cash and Giles U. Ellis.

The bill provides that the Secretary of the Treasury be authorized and directed to pay to David C. Cash, late lieutenant, and Giles U. Ellis, late a private in the Seminole war in Florida, whatever may be due to them on the monthly rolls for military service in said war. On this bill the Committee on Military Affairs of the Senate reported adversely.

Mr. HUNTER called for the reading of the report.

The Secretary read the report of the Committee on Military Affairs of the House of Representatives, from which it appears that David C. Cash and Giles U. Ellis served in the war with the Seminole Indians, Cash as a lieutenant, and Ellis as a private. They were engaged by Rich ard R. Crum of the Commissary Department, to disburse supplies to the troops, and they well and truly discharged that duty. At the expiration of

April, 1839; and also for folding, stitching, and binding other laws and regulations subsequent to said contract, and for the storage of said laws. The bill was reported to the Senate and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

JOSEPH GIDEON.

The bill for the relief of Joseph Gideon was read a second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole. It provides that the proper accounting officer of the Treasury be authorized and directed to settle and adjust the accounts of Joseph Gideon, as acting purser of the United States store-ship Fredonia, from December 18, 1847, to May 16, 1848, and from June 8, 1848, to January 18, 1851, and to pay him the difference between the compensation of a captain's clerk and an active purser for that time.

Mr. FELCH called for the reading of the report of the Committee on Naval Affairs.

The Secretary read it accordingly. It sets forth that Joseph Gideon was duly appointed by the commander of the store-ship Fredonia an acting purser on board, and that he faithfully executed the duties of purser in the Gulf of Mexico and on the Pacific coast, for the period mentioned in the bill. He also, at the same time, discharged the duties of captain's clerk, for which he received compensation; but the committee deem him entitled to the additional amount now proposed to be given to him.

The bill was reported to the Senate and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

JOHN O. MEANS.

The bill was reported to the Senate, and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

PRIVATE LAND CLAIM.

The bill to confirm the claim of John Ervin to a certain tract of land in the Bastrop Claim, was read a second time, and the Senate proceeded to consider it as in Committee of the Whole.

It provides that John Ervin shall be confirmed in his title to the land on which he resides, in the State of Louisiana, to the extent of six hundred and forty acres, to be taken by legal subdivisions so as to include his improvements; and that a patent be issued to him for a legal survey of the same, under the direction of the Surveyor General for said State; provided that this act shall amount only to a relinquishment of title on the part of the United States.

Mr. FELCH asked for the reading of the report.

It was read accordingly. It appears from it that twenty-three years since Mr. Ervin settled on and improved a tract of land in the Bastrop Claim, in the State of Louisiana, on which he has ever since resided. Previous to his settlement the land had been sold by the grantee to a Mr. Ballanger, who, after having made some improvements, abandoned it and left the country, and has not been heard of since, nor has any agent or heir appeared for him. In consequence of this, the claimant has not been enabled, as he intended to do, to purchase the But he has held title of Ballanger to the tract. peaceable and uninterrupted possession long enough to give him, under the laws of Louisiana, a title by prescription against all claimants except the United States. An act of Congress was passed on the 3d of March, 1851, which intended to give a donation to settlers of twenty years standing and upwards. It provided that the title of the United States should be relinquished against such persons. This claimant would have been entitled to the benefit of this act but for the fact that he did not hold his lands of the original grantee. This being a mere technical point, the claimant, of course, is within the spirit and intention of the act of 3d March, 1851. The committee state, also, that the claimant is a very old man, and that it would be a very important thing for him, in his old age, to have his title settled.

Mr. FELCH. The chairman of the committee, [Mr. DowNs,] who reported this bill, is not in his seat. I would like to know what has been our legislation on this subject heretofore.

Mr. HALE. This was a subject of consideration in the Committee on Private Land Claims, and the committee unanimously agreed that this case required the attention of Congress. It is a case in which an individual has occupied his land for more than twenty years; but the land was so situated that, for some reason or other, it was not open to entry. This individual has occupied the land for more than twenty years. Nobody has disturbed him; nobody but the United States can disturb him. The committee deemed it proper that the claim of the United States to the land which he has occupied for more than twenty years should be relinquished. I hope the bill will pass. This claimant is a very old man, and this is but a trifling matter.

The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment.

Mr. HUNTER. I prefer that the bill should lie over until the Senator who reported it shall be in his seat, and we can hear some further explanation of it. I move to lay the bill on the table. The motion was not agreed to.

Mr. SOULE. I hope this bill will pass. I am sorry there should be any opposition to it. If there is any opposition, I hope it will lie on the table until my colleague, who reported it, shall be in his place.

Mr. HALE. I think the Senate did not listen to the reading of the report. If the Senate will give their attention to its reading, I think there will be no necessity for a speech; for the report states the case very plainly. I ask that the report be again read.

The report was again read.

Mr. UNDERWOOD. I would like to hear the act of the 3d of March, 1851, referred to in the report, read.

Mr. GWIN. I have no doubt as to the justice of this claim. I hope the Senate will pass it. The Senator from Louisiana, [Mr. Downs,] who