The SPEAKER. The bill takes its place on the Calendar. Mr. THURSTON moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and to lay that motion upon the table; which latter motion was agreed to. On motion by Mr. DISNEY, it was ordered that the papers of Boyce Purcell be withdrawn from the files of the House and referred to the Committee of Claims. ALLOWANCE OF CLAIMS. Mr. FOWLER asked the unanimous consent of the House to offer the following resolution: Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to transmit to this House a statement exhibiting the amount of claims, if any, including principal and interest, and designating each separately, which have been allowed and paid by the several Departments, or any of the bureaus thereof, from the 4th day of March, 1845, until the 4th day of March, 1849, which had been previously presented and suspended, or disallowed in whole or in part, and specifying the character of such claims, and also the name of each person who at any time acted as agent or solicitor for such claims; together with the names of the persons to whom, the same or any part thereof was paid, spe. cifying, if practicable, the several amounts paid to such agents or solicitors as fees for their services in prosecuting said claims. Mr. GAYLORD objected. Mr. FOWLER moved to suspend the rules, and on that motion asked for the yeas and nays; which were ordered. Mr. ASHE. I call for the reading of the resolution. We have not been able to hear a word of it in this part of the Hall. The SPEAKER. The resolution has been read once, but it will be read again unless objected to. Mr. ANDREWS objected. Mr. ASHE. Then I must ask to be excused from voting, for 1 do not know what the resolution is. The question was put, and it was decided in the negative. So the House refused to excuse Mr. ASHE from voting. Mr. FITCH. I appeal to the gentleman from Maine to withdraw his objection. We have none of us heard the resolution in this part of the Hall, and cannot vote in the dark. Mr. ANDREWS withdrew his objection. The SPEAKER. The proposition is to read the resolution. Mr. STEPHENS. Oh, I have no objection to its being read. The SPEAKER. That is the proposition. Mr. FICKLIN. Is the resolution amendable at this time? The SPEAKER. It is not. The resolution is not now before the House. The question is on suspending the rules to enable the gentleman from Massachusetts to offer the resolution. The question was then put, and there were yeas 164, nays 9; as follows: man, Perkins, Phelps, Porter, Price, Riddle, Robinson, Rus- liams--9. So (two thirds voting in the affirmative) the rules were suspended. The question recurring on the adoption of the resolution, Mr. FOWLER demanded the previous question. Mr. HOUSTON. I hope the previous question will not be sustained. There is a very essential amendment that ought to be made to that resolution. Mr. FOWLER. I think not. The resolution is precisely the same as that passed last week, except that it is addressed to the President instead of the Secretaries. withdraw the demand for the previous question, to allow me to offer this additional amendment, that any of the officers incumbent during the period embraced in the resolution shall have the privilege of going into the offices and vindicating their action during the investigation. Mr. LOCKRART. I cannot withdraw the call for the previous question. Mr. FOWLER. I desire to make a suggestion to the gentleman from Indiana, [Mr. LOCKHART.] If the gentleman will so alter his amendment as to extend it down to the present time, I will accept it. Mr. JONES, of Tennessee. As the resolution which was adopted on Monday last now stands, the Department can report the new proof upon which the claims were allowed. There is nothing in the resolution which precludes it; and they will, no doubt, take this resolution as a precedent to govern their action under the former resolution. Mr. FOWLER. I desire to say The SPEAKER. This discussion is entirely out of order. Mr. FOWLER. I do not propose to discuss The House then divided on seconding the de- Mr. CARTTER demanded tellers. Mr. CABELL. I object to tellers. The call was made too late. The Chair had announced the result of the division. The SPEAKER. The Chair overrules the objection. Tellers were demanded whilst the Chair was in the act of announcing the result. Mr. CABELL. I raised the objection, in order that we may have some principle decided. I called for tellers the other day and the Chair decided that I was too late, although I addressed the Chair before the result of the division was announced. The SPEAKER. Does the gentleman appeal from the decision of the Chair? Mr. CABELL. No. I am indifferent about Tellers were ordered, and Messrs. FULLER of The question was then put, and it was decided So the previous question was not seconded. Mr. LOCKHART. I desire to offer an amendment to the resolution. Mr. FOWLER. Do I not still retain the The SPEAKER. The gentleman effected his The SPEAKER. The gentleman was not un- Mr. FOWLER. I claimed the floor as soon as the result was announced. The SPEAKER. The Chair thinks that the gentleman did not claim the floor in time. Mr. LOCKHART moved to amend the resolution by adding thereto the following: And the additional evidence, if any, upon which such claims were allowed. Mr. LOCKHART then demanded the previous question. since 1849. My purpose is, that all the facts in YEAS-Messrs. Abercrombie, Chas. Allen, Willis Allen, The SPEAKER. Does the gentleman from Indiana agree to the suggestion made by the gentleman from Ohio? Mr. LOCKHART. I do not. Mr. CAMPBELL. Ah! Then only one side is wanted. The SPEAKER. The Chair must enforce the rule. Discussion is not in order. Mr. CARTTER. I appeal to the gentleman to to the present time. Mr. LOCKHART. I am satisfied with it as it now stands. The question now being upon seconding the demand for the previous question, upon a division there were-ayes 99. Mr. WILLIAMS demanded tellers, which were ordered; and Messrs. FULLER of Maine and CHANDLER were appointed. The question was then taken, and the tellers reported-ayes 79, noes 50. So the previous question received a second. The main question was then ordered to be put, which was first on agreeing to Mr. LOCKHART'S amendment. The question was taken, and the amendment was agreed to. The question then recurred upon the adoption of the resolution as amended, and being taken, it was carried in the affirmative. So the resolution was adopted. Mr. STANLY moved that the vote just taken, by which the resolution was adopted, be reconsidered, and to lay that motion on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO CUBA. Mr. FAULKNER, by unanimous consent of the House, introduced the following resolution: Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to communicate to this House, if not incompatible with the public interest, all instructions from the Department of State to the diplomatic agents of the United States abroad, and all dispatches from them not heretofore communicated to Congress, declaratory of, or relating to the policy of the Government of the United States in relation to the Island of Cuba. The question was taken, and the resolution was adopted. RENTS PAID FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS. Mr. DANIEL, by unanimous consent, introduced the following resolution: Resolved, That the Committee on Public Buildings be instructed to ascertain and report to this House what buildings, or parts of buildings, in the District of Columbia, other than those belonging to the United States, have been used by the Government between the first day of January, 1840, and the first day of February, 1852, and the amount paid for rent, or contracted to be paid, in every instance, and their security and fitness as depositories of the public records. And that said committee inquire into the expediency of purchasing or erecting such additional buildings as may be deemed necessary. And that they have leave to report by bill or otherwise. The question was taken, and the resolution was adopted. OCEAN STEAMERS-MAIL CARRIERS. Mr. MEADE asked the unanimous consent of the House to introduce the following resolution: Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs inquire into the expediency of providing by law that every steamer suitable to war purposes regularly running from any port in the United States to any foreign port shall be a mail carrier, under proper conditions, and entitled to receive, as com pensation for such services, the postage arising from letters or other matter transported by such steamer. Mr. JONES, of Tennessee, objected. Mr. MEADE. I move to suspend the rules, to enable me to introduce the resolution. Mr. JONES demanded the yeas and nays; but they were not ordered. The question was then taken, and the House refused to suspend the rules-ayes 54, noes not counted. THE PERCENTAGE ACCOUNTS. Mr. DISNEY asked the unanimous consent of the House to offer the following resolution: Resolved, That the Committee on Public Lands be in structed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law, so that the accounting officers, in computing the amount due to the respective States on account of the percentage to which they are entitled upon the proceeds of the sales of the public lands within their limits, shall embrace, as sales, all public lands granted on account of military services. Mr. TOOMBS objected. Mr. DISNEY moved that the rules be suspended. The question was taken, and, upon a division, 44 rose in the affirmative. Mr. DISNEY demanded tellers; but they were not ordered. So the rules were not suspended. MAIL SERVICE ON THE OHIO AND MISSISSIPPI. Mr. STANTON, of Tennessee, asked the unanimous consent of the House to introduce the following resolution; which was read for the information of the House, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the means of organizing an efficient system of mail service on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and that they report by bill or otherwise. Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia. I object. Mr. STANTON. I move that the rules be suspended, to enable me to introduce the resolution. The question was put, and upon a division there were-ayes 53, noes not counted. So the House refused to suspend the rules. SPIRIT RATION IN THE NAVY. Mr. GOODENOW asked the unanimous consent of the House to offer the following resolution; which was read for information, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of abolishing the spirit ration in the Navy, and of increasing the pay of all classes of enlisted men in that service. Mr. BRAGG. I ask the unanimous consent of the House to present certain resolutions, adopted by the Legislature of Alabama, upon the subject of intervention. I do not desire to have them read even. I move they be printed and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Mr. CARTTER. I object. Mr. BRAGG. Then I move a suspension of the rules. Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia. I call for the reading of the resolutions. The CHAIRMAN. If gentlemen will come to order, the resolutions will be read for informations. The resolutions were then read as follows: Joint Resolutions expressive of the sense of the General Assembly of Alabama in relation to the policy to be pursued by our Government in its intercourse with foreign nations. Whereas, from many indications of popular feeling in some of the States of this Government, and from the speeches and acts of many public men high in the confidence of their own constituents, and in that of the people of the United States, we are led to the belief that a spirit of interference in the political affairs of the European continent prevails to so great an extent as to induce the fear that for the want of calm reflection, we may be involved in all the troubles and difficulties of the political affairs of nations and people far removed from us: Be it therefore resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Alabama in General Assembly convened, That we hold it to be the duty of the Government and the people of the United States to cultivate relations of amity and good will with all the nations of the earth; in peace to treat all as friends, in war enemies; and to have entangling alliances with none; and to practice literally the doctrine of non-intervention. Resolved, That the Governor be requested to forward these resolutions to our Senators and Representatives in Congress, with a request to lay the same before their respective bodies. JOHN D. RATHER, Speaker of the House of Representatives. CHARLES McLEMORE, Speaker of the Senate. Approved, January 9th, 1852. H. W. COLLIER. The question was then taken, and the rules were suspended. Mr.. BRAGG. I move that the resolution be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and be printed; which motion was agreed to. INTERVENTION. Mr. SKELTON. I move that the rules of the House be suspended, for the purpose of introducing a series of resolutions passed by the Legislature of the State of New Jersey upon the subject of intervention. Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia. I object. The resolutions were then read for information. [They will be found in the proceedings of the Senate of to-day.] The question was then taken, and the rules were suspended. Mr. SKELTON. I move that the resolutions be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and be printed; which motion was agreed to. SUSPENDED AND DISALLOWED CLAIMS. Mr. CAMPBELL, of Ohio, by unanimous consent, introduced the following resolution; which was adopted, viz: Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to transmit to this House, in addition to the information called for by the resolution which passed this House on the 26th of January, 1852, relative to suspended and disallowed claims, a statement, specifying the claims which have been allowed upon additional testimony furnished to the Departments since the 4th of March, 1849. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. Mr. JOHNSON, of Tennessee. I ask the unanimous consent of the House for the introduction of the following joint resolution, proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States, viz: Resolved, &c., That the following amendments to the Constitution of the United States be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, which, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the States, shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution: That hereafter, the President and Vice President of the United States shall be chosen by the people of the respective States, in the manner following: Each State shall be divided, by the Legislature thereof, into districts, equal in number to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which such State may be entitled in the Congress of the United States; the said districts to be composed of contiguous territory, and to contain, as nearly as may be, an equal number of persons entitled to be represented under the Constitution, and to be laid off, for the first time, immediately after the ratification of this amendment, and afterwards, at the session of the Legislature next ensuing the apportionment of representatives by the Congress of the United States; that, on the first Thursday in August, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-six, and on the same day every fourth year thereafter, the citizens of each State who possess the qualifiations requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the State Legislatures, shall meet within their respective districts, and vote for a President and Vice President of the United States, one of whom at least shall not be an inhabitant of the same State with themselves; and the person receiving the greatest number of votes for President, and the one receiving the greatest number of votes for Vice President in each district, shall be holden to have received one vote; which fact shall be immediately certified by the Governor of the State, to each of the Senators in Congress from such State, and to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Congress of the United States shall be in session on the second Monday in October, in the year eighteen hundred and fifty-six, and on the same day on every fourth year thereafter; and the President of the Senate, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representatives, shall open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be President, if such number be equal to a majority of the whole number of votes given; but if no person have such majority, then a second election shall be held on the first Thursday in the month of December then next ensuing, between the persons having the two highest numbers for the office of President; which second election shall be conducted, the result certified, and the votes counted, in the same manner as in the first; and the person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be President. But if two or more persons shall have received the greatest, and an equal number of votes, at the second election, then the person who shall have received the greatest number of votes in the greatest number of States, shall be President. The person having the greatest number of votes for Vice President, at the first election, shall be Vice President, if such number be equal to a majority of the whole number of votes given; and if no person have such majority, then a second election shall take place between the persons having the two highest numbers, on the same day that the second election is held for President; and the person having the highest number of the votes for Vice President, shall be Vice President. But if there should happen to be an equality of votes between the persons so voted for at the second election, then the person having the greatest number of votes in the greatest number of States, shall be Vice President. But when a second election shall be necessary in the ease of Vice President, and not necessary in the case of President, then the Senate shall choose a Vice President from the persons having the two highest numbers in the first election, as is now prescribed in the Constitution. SEC. 2. And be it further resolved, That article one, section three, be amended by striking out the word "Legislature," and inserting in lieu thereof, the following words, viz: "persons qualified to vote for members of the most numerous branch of the Legislature," so as to make the third section of said article when ratified by three fourths of the States, read as follows, to wit: The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, chosen by the persons qualified to vote for the members of the most numerous brauch of the Legislature thereof, for six years, and each Senator shall have one vote. SEC. 4. And be it further resolved, That article three, section one, be amended by striking out the words "good behavior," and inserting the following words, viz: "the term of twelve years." And forther, that said article and section be amended by adding the following thereto, viz: "and it shall be the duty of the President of the United States, within twelve months after the ratification of this amendment by three fourths of all the States as provided by the Constitution of the United States, to divide the whole number of judges as near as may be practicable, into three classes. The seats of the judges of the first class shall be vacated at the expiration of the fourth year from such classification; of the second class, at the expiration of the eighth year; and of the third class, at the expiration of the twelfth year, so that one third may be chosen every fourth year thereafter." The article as amended, will read as follows: SECTION 1. The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress from time to time may ordain and establish. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during the term of twelve years, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. And it shall be the duty of the President of the United States, within twelve months after the ratification of this amendment by three fourths of all the States as provided by the Constitution of the United States, to divide the whole number of judges, as near as may be practicable, into three classes. The seats of the judges of the first class, shall be vacated at the expiration of the fourth year from such classification; of the second class, at the expiration of the eighth year; and of the third class, at the expiration of the twelfth year, so that one third may be chosen every fourth year thereafter. Objection was made to its introduction. Mr. JOHNSON moved a suspension of the rules for the purpose indicated by him; which motion, upon a division, was agreed to-ayes 89, noes 33. The joint resolution was read a first and second time by its title, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed. COAST SURVEY MAPS. Mr. RIDDLE, from the Committee on Engraving, reported the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Engraving be and they are hereby authorized to contract for engraving or lithographing seven thousand five hundred and twenty sets of maps accompanying the report of the Superintendent of the Coast Survey, provided that the cost shall not exceed $6,000. Mr. GOODENOW. I rise to a privileged question. I move the House adjourn. Mr. JOHN W. HOWE called for the yeas and nays; which were not ordered. The question was then put, upon a division, and, there were 52 ayes and 84 noes. So the House refused to adjourn. Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia. What necessity is there for the printing of this number of maps? Mr. RIDDLE. I will state, for the information of the House, that we have already ordered the printing of six thousand extra copies of the report of the Superintendent of the Coast Survey in addition to the usual number authorized by law-fifteen hundred and twenty. The committee thought they had no right to contract for the engraving of extra sets of maps without an order from the House, and they have directed me, therefore, to offer the resolution just read. The Senate have ordered the printing of ten thousand extra copies, and the extra numbers ordered by the House can be had much cheaper by being lithographed at the same time. Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia. The remarks of the gentleman, so far as they have roceeded, give me the information I wanted. will ask another question, whether this resolution will interfere at all with the electrotyping now adopted by the Coast Survey? Mr. RIDDLE. I will answer the gentleman's inquiry as far as I am able. In contracting for lithographing, we are compelled to give the contractor the copper plates made at great expense by the Coast Survey office. The lithographer transfers to stone the impressions from the copper plates in the cheapest possible manner. It is not for us to say how he shall do it, but only to contract for its being done well and cheaply. A mistake was made by the gentleman from Kentucky Mr. STANTON, of Ohio. Does not this resolution, giving rise to debate, lie over? Mr. RIDDLE. The Chair has already decided that question. This is a privileged committee, and can make its report at any time. The SPEAKER. The gentleman is correct. Mr. RIDDLE. A contract has been entered into by the Senate with a gentleman in New York, the lithographing to be executed by him under the supervision of the Superintendent of the Coast Survey. The Committee on Engraving thought it proper that a like agreement should be made for the lithographing of the maps for the House. Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia. What disposition is to be made of these lithographs? Mr. RIDDLE. They are to accompany the report, and the report would be useless without them. Mr. STEPHENS. What has become of the engravings which accompany the survey-done by the electrotyping process? Mr. RIDDLE. They have merely struck off a few copies. Mr. HAMMOND. I will say to the gentleman from Georgia, that these maps are engraved upon copper at the office of the Coast Survey. Now, it is proposed that there shall be a number of copies of these maps printed, but it is not proposed that they shall be printed from copper-plates, because it is impossible that within a reasonable time, and at a reasonable expense, the work can be done in this manner. The copper-plates are sent off to New York, or some other city, where there is a lithographing establishment, and impressions from the copper are to be transferred upon stone. Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia. Is that by order of the Coast Survey? Mr. HAMMOND. It is by their order, and they are executing the work in that way. The Senate copy is now executed in that way. The copper plates are in New York, and impressions from them are transferred to stone, because it is done a great deal cheaper and more rapidly. As to the electrotyping to which the gentleman refers, if he knows anything about its operations, he knows that it is a very expensive operation, and requires much time. Mr. STEPHENS. The other day, when a proposition was made by the Committee on Printing to print this extra number of the report of the Coast Survey, the chairman of the committee stated to the House, that the Coast Survey office could print these maps at one dollar a set, by the electrotyping process, and I believe at ninety-two cents. The gentleman now says that the electrotyping is very expensive. I believe the Superintendent of the Coast Survey represents it as very cheap. I have seen them electrotype, and I think it is about one fifth cheaper than engraving. Why, then, should we get these coast-survey maps engraved I am not certain that it is not cheaper than the price I mentioned, but the House has ordered this large number of extra copies, upon the ground that we could get them at ninety-three cents a set. Mr. RIDDLE. You may get them much less by lithographing, as low as seventy-five cents. Mr. STEPHENS. Then I wish to inquire of the chairman of the committee, whether it is their intention to take this map-making out of the Coast Survey? Mr. RIDDLE. It has always been taken from their hands; but they have superintended the execution of the work. Mr. EVANS. I merely wish to say that electrotyping is not engraving or printing. It is a process of making a copy of the copper-plate. It is not the process for printing at all. It is the preparation of an engraved plate from another engraved plate by the galvanic process. Mr. STEPHENS. The electrotyping is simply a reproduction of an engraved plate so as to prevent the retouch of the plate by the artist. This has been done by a discovery made in the Coast Survey office. The original copper-plate first made by the artist is reproduced by a chemical process. That is electrotyping. Now what I mean by electrotyping is making prints from the electrotype of the plate thus produced. What I wish to know of the Committee on Engraving is, whether it is the object to have these impressions made upon a principle different from that the Coast Survey has now established? Mr. HAMMOND. The officers of the Coast Survey desire this course should be taken. They desire that these plates shall be lithographed, and that they shall not be printed from the original copper-plates, or copper-plates produced by the process to which the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. STEPHENS] has alluded. They desire this, because it is a cheaper mode of publishing than from the copper-plates, or by the process to which the gentleman has referred. It is a cheaper process, because the impression is transferred upon stone rapidly, whereas it requires a number of days under the other mode, and a new copperplate. I do not know that I understand exactly the point to which the gentleman from Georgia refers, but if he supposes that it is the object of the committee to interfere with the duties of the officers of the Coast Survey, he is mistaken. Under the rules of the House, the Committee on Engraving are bound to report to the House, whenever maps of any kind are to be published, whether they be engraved or not. Now I do not propose to take any course which will not be advisable, and which the officers of the Coast Survey have not pointed out themselves. Their plates have actually gone on to New York for the use of the Senate, and they are now transferring from copper-plates to stone the impressions from which the maps are to be printed. Mr. STEPHENS. I wish to make another inquiry of the gentleman. Can he inform the House what will be the cost of one of these impressions? Mr. HAMMOND. A friend near me says it will not cost exceeding seventy-five cents. I knew nothing of this resolution until my friend [Mr. RIDDLE] showed it to me. The cost is less than was expected in the debate the other day. Mr. STEPHENS. Then there is another question I wish to ask the gentleman. Is it the object of the Committee on Engraving that some of these copies of the Coast Survey shall be engraved upon steel and others lithographed? Mr. HAMMOND. It is intended that all shall be lithographed. Mr. STEPHENS. Will the committee inform me what the Coast Survey are making so many of these electrotypes now for? Mr. HAMMOND. I do not know that they are. Mr. STEPHENS. I have seen them making a number of them. retain or preserve the copper-plates prepared at the Coast Survey office. If all the impressions are made from copper-plates, they will be worthless at the last, whereas in future they may be required. Mr. STEPHENS. I have but a word to say further, and then I will take my seat. It was my understanding the other day, when the Committee on Public Printing made their report, that the Coast Survey intended to make all these maps and charts by this new process of electrotyping. I barely wish to know, whether it is their intention to keep up that process still at an expense to the Government of 93 cents per copy, and also a contract for lithographing the same? I ask the gentleman from Maryland, [Mr. EVANS,] who seems to be acquainted with this subject, whether that is the object? Mr. SACKETT. I understand that the large charts or maps are made for the practical benefit of navigators. Now, what is the object and purpose of these outline maps? If they do not answer that purpose, why do we make them? Mr. EVANS. I shall take about ten minutes, perhaps not more than five, in answering the inquiries of gentlemen, and in making the proper explanation. The maps printed by the Coast Survey are prepared by what is called the electrotype process. And if there is any gentleman here who does not understand it, I would advise him to go over to the office and look at it, for it is one of the most beautiful chemical operations, worthy the attention of any intelligent gentleman. These maps are sold in bookstores from ten cents to forty cents each. The English Government in the same way print the Nautical Almanac, which costs there say two dollars a copy, but which you can purchase in this country for one dollar. The English print, moreover, large numbers of charts which are sold I believe much beneath cost. These charts, as I observed before, are minute to the utmost degree. They contain every important position, the location of shoals, and directions for entering har bors, and all the leading lines, and bearings from point to point, so that when any navigator arrives upon the coast, he can make out his position without difficulty. These charts never have been printed for the use of Congress, and never ought to be. It would be an enormous job. They are printed and sold to navigators by the Government of the United States. But the report of the Coast Survey contains what we cannot get out of the charts. It contains a large number of astronomical and geographical positions; it gives the latitude and longitude of important points; it describes the progress of the Coast Survey; it tells how the parties have been engaged; how the work has advanced since last year; how they have expended the money voted to them; and everything which is usually contained in a report, so as to enable the members of the House of Representatives to vote intelligi bly on the propositions submitted to them. However, in order to illustrate any report which con cerns mathematical and geographical positions it is of course necessary to accompany the report with maps. Everybody knows that. It is necessary that the child at school should be taught Mr. EVANS. I will answer the gentleman. The engraved plates of the Coast Survey office are for the large charts-some of them as large as a blanket. You do not propose to put these into a small document. The copper-plate printing requires to be done under a roller, and the most rapid copper-plate printer can produce only a very few impressions in a day. The litho-geography by maps. These coast survey reports graphs, however, can be produced in great numbers in a day, like the ordinary mode of printing, and at a much cheaper rate than by the use of copper-plates. The large electrotypes prepared in the Coast Survey office are for the great charts. They take these charts and reduce the size, so you can get them into a small document. Mr. STEPHENS. I understand from the gentleman from Maryland, [Mr. EVANS,] then, that these lithographs are for one class? Mr. EVANS. What I meant was this: The plates prepared for the use of navigators are large plates printed from copper, and those which are to be prepared for the document we print for distribution are outline sketches showing the general progress of the Coast Survey. They do not show the minutiae, and are not intended as a guide to navigators, but show the great progress of the survey for the consideration of the House. The large plates, as the gentleman from Georgia has seen, enter into the most minute particulars, and are intended for the practical use of navigators. Mr. RIDDLE. I will state, for the information of the gentleman, it is the desire of the Coast Survey, and the interest of the Government, to are a sort of treatises on geography, and they therefore require slight sketch maps, which are admirable, as far as they extend, but which do not extend to the minutiae required in the large charts. Mr. SACKETT. I desire to know if the gentleman is advocating the doctrine, that under the power which we have to furnish such conveniences as the commerce of the country may require, we can furnish charts and maps to schools and colleges? Mr. EVANS. I am doing no such thing; and if I had been doing it, I might be doing worse than desiring to bring information home to every child in the land. I venture to say, that the gen tleman's own constituents might profit by it, if we only sent them the New Testament. [A laugh. But I was not talking about any such thing. was answering the inquiry of the gentleman, who desired to know why these small charts were fur nished. Now, if we were to use the electrotype plates of the Coast Survey office, and if the maps were to be prepared from those plates, and bound up with the report, the expense would be incal culable. Mr. STANTON, of Tennessee. With the permission of the gentleman, I will remind him, and particularly the gentleman from Georgia, [Mr. STEPHENS,] of a fact. It was stated in the debate on a former day that the maps for each one of these copies would cost ninety-two cents, and it now appears that they will cost only seventy-five The House, in adopting the former resolution, virtually adopted this one, although they believed the work would cost more. cents. Mr. FULLER, of Maine. Did not similar maps accompany the report of the last year? Mr. EVANS. Certainly; and for every former year. It is not a new proposition. Ever since Mr. Hassler took charge of the Coast Survey, and during the whole time it has been under the charge of Mr. Bache, maps have always accompanied the report, and they are indispensably necessary to elucidate it. We have been in the habit for many years past of printing the journals of officers who have traversed the western country-California and New Mexico, and of accompanying them not only with maps and charts, but with views and likenesses of Indians, got up at an enormous expense, and not at all necessary to the elucidation of the works. I am confident that if gentlemen will look into the matter, they will find that these maps are indispensably necessary. They are not put in for show, for they are not showy maps at all. Nor are they put in to show how deeply scientific they are; that is done in the large maps; they are merely for the elucidation of the report. Now, I wish to say a word to the House in regard to the way in which these surveys are made. I see a gentleman before me who knows perfeetly well how things are done, and who will correct me if I am in error. I mean the gentleman from Delaware, [Mr. RIDDLE,] whom I have known for a long time, and who is well acquainted with the process. In making marine surveys, the earth is regarded as a flat surface-a plane, but everybody knows that it is not so; and therefore, in making geodetical surveys it is necessary to take the rotundity of the earth into account. In carrying on the coast survey of the United States, in the first place, the whole country is divided into certain triangles. A great deal of care is required to present those triangles properly. No single angle of a triangle must be too obtuse, none too acute. They should be as nearly as possible equilateral. These triangles are then plotted down on one of these charts, and as every angular point of every triangle is an absolute, correctly ascertained position in the country, if any gentleman has one in his district, he has an absolute position ascertained there with reference to every other part of the earth's surface. These charts will be highly useful to persons preparing maps of counties, as they show what their geographical position is with regard to other places. These small maps, which can be lithographed at very slight expense, contain a great deal of very valuable geographical information necessary to the elucidation of the report and to enable Congress to understand it. There is this difficulty about electrotyping, that the printing from copper plates requires to be done by a peculiar press with rollers. Each plate requires to be carefully arranged. It requires skill in the operator, and only a few copies can be struck off in the course of a day. But where you use lithographic plates, you can use an ordinary press. It is the same difference as that between copper-plates and wood-cuts. The wood-cuts are easily done, because they are inserted amongst the types; but if you have copper-plates, it must all be done by rollers, and therefore, if the Coast Survey office undertake to use copper-plates instead of lithography, it will subject the House to very great expense. These plates are necessary for the elucidation of the report. They ought not to be copper plates on the large scale, because they would be too minute for that purpose, and would cost too much; they ought not to be copper-plates on the small scale, because of the difficulty of printing; but they ought to be lithographed, because that can be done with the usual press-work, and is, at any rate, much cheaper. In conclusion, let me say that, as was suggested by the gentleman from Maine, [Mr. FULLER,] this is no new thing introduced to inveigle Congress, but an old-established thing; and further, As was stated by the gentleman from Tennessee, [Mr. STANTON,] the maps in each copy of the report will cost only seventy-five cents, instead of ninety-two cents, as was supposed when the subject was last before the House. Mr. FICKLIN. I desire to ask my friend from Maryland [Mr. EVANS] one question in relation to this engraving. I find, on examination, that there is a large number of maps in the document room connected with the Coast Survey. I wish to know whether they are the same with those which it is proposed to engrave? I will send some specimens to the gentleman from Maryland, so that he may be able to answer my interrogatory. Mr. EVANS. They are not. The maps to which the gentleman has called my attention were not prepared by the Coast Survey office at all. Mr. FICKLIN. Who were they prepared by, then? Mr. EVANS. I think they were prepared under the direction of the Navy Department. When these come to be compared with those which we now propose to publish, I think there will be found some difference. I am a judge of maps. Mr. EVANS. Mr. FICKLIN. In looking over the document room I found some two-horse wagon loads of maps there of this species. hope the gentleman will let me keep the maps he has sent to me. I hope he intended to send them to me as a present. Mr. VENABLE. The charts which the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. FICKLIN] has presented here, are nautical charts, and are very unsatisfactory. Those which we propose to publish are geodetic charts, which, as the gentleman from Maryland [Mr. EVANS] has informed us, make allowance for the shape of the earth, which is spheroidical. Nautical charts were prepared by order of the Government as far back as 1805, but they are delusive. They are not accurate, because, not being constructed upon the actual spheroidical shape of the earth, each detached map may be accurate, but when placed by others do not fitone overlaps the other, and the channels are not therefore correctly marked with reference to one another. These maps are made with reference to the triangulation of which my friend from Maryland speaks. The larger and smaller triangulation present to you the precise shape of our coast over the whole extent where the surveys have been completed. Now, it does seem extraordinary that any difficulty should be raised upon this subject. Look at the whole of our Pacific, as well as our Atlantic coast! These charts are prepared by a corps of the most accomplished scholars, comprising practical engineers-gentlemen educated in the Navy-gentlemen skilled in the science of hydrography-gentlemen educated at West Point-gentlemen skilled in the science of topography-all of them men of the highest a tainments, who have been employed for a long time on our coast, and are in every respect qualified for the execution of a work demanding the highest scientific attainments. And the charts which they have constructed from their own observations are complete and accurate. The nautical charts which have been heretofore constructed are taken upon the principle that the earth is a plane, flat surface. They will, therefore, be incomplete and inaccurate. Now, every gentleman here knows that the effect of mistaking a few feet one side or the other of a channel may be the loss of the vessel and all it contains. But these charts give every point with such accuracy that there can be no mistake, and in the absence even of a pilot may give the means of a safe approach to a har bor. Mr. FULLER, of Maine. Since Congress have ordered six thousand copies of those charts to be printed I have received two letters from gentlemen of great experience, saying that the use of those charts would enable them to enter any port covered by them, without the aid of a pilot, they were so accurate. Mr. VENABLE. There is no question about it, as I have before remarked; it is reduced to a demonstrative certainty. It is a mathematical ascertainment of the locality of a channel, and the charts being constructed with reference to the shape of the earth, there can be no mistake as to their accuracy. If you will consult a mariner-any man skillful in the business of sea-faring life, he will tell you that mere nautical charts are often very inaccurate upon the most important points, while in a geodetic chart showing the triangulation, the hydrography, and the topography of the coast gives it absolute certainty, as to the locality of the channel in every point, and every circumstance connected with it; and as the gentleman from Maryland has remarked, with the aid of those charts any navigator can enter any one of our ports with safety, without any other aid. Mr. FICKLIN. In reply to the request of my friend from Maryland, [Mr. EVANS,] that I would present to him the maps which I sent him a moment ago, I beg leave to say, that I will give them to him with all my heart; and if he wants more, he can have two horse wagon loads by going up to the document room. Mr. EVANS. I should like to inquire of the gentleman what right he has to give them away? Mr. FICKLIN. Why, by going up there, and selecting them, and having them brought down here. Mr. EVANS. That is no right at all. Mr. FICKLIN. I hold them by possession; and, as a gentleman near me suggests, by the right of discovery too. [A laugh.] While up, I wish to say to my friend from North Carolina, [Mr. VENABLE,] who, I am glad to see, is engaged in this subject, that a few days ago, when this subject was under discussion, he was eloquent and ardent in showing the necessity of these maps and charts. I did not then have the opportunity of showing him that in the document room a great number of these maps may be found in relation to his own State; that there is a sufficient number in regard to Cape Fear to have supplied his constituents with all the information they require, if they are correct, so that no navigator need have any fear in entering Cape Fear. [A laugh.] Mr. VENABLE. Will the gentleman allow me to say, that if he will look at these charts-for I have looked at them not casually, but I have examined them closely-he will find that the present observations were made by the Coast Survey, and the present charts supply all that is wanting; while he will find that the mere nautical ones, being based upon the supposition that the earth is flat, are of very little use, because inaccurate in this suppose a nautical chart of Norfolk harbor be made, and the one of some harbor on the coast of North Carolina at eighty or a hundred miles distant, he must perceive that no reference being had to the spheroidic shape of the earth, they must be inaccurate in relation to each other. They were nautical surveys and entirely distinct from the system of observations taken by the Coast Survey. And that survey which he has given me, as far as the coast of North Carolina was concerned, was far from being a complete one. They surveyed Cape Fear, but they did not survey the whole coast. It is the misfortune of North Carolina that her coast is one of the most dangerous in the United States, and much more so formerly than now, because of the want of such observations as are now in progress. But little has been expended on that coast, whilst the bounties of the Treasury have been poured out with a liberal hand on the Northern Atlantic and Lake coasts of the United States, with channels ascertained and shoals marked by lights which shine like stars on the dark waters, yes, sir, in constellations, our coast has been neglected, and the perils of navigation greatly increased. The progress of the coast survey off North Carolina, conducted by the distinguished Superintendent and his accomplished assistants, have in a great measure removed the difficulty, and pointed out the channels which render navigation practicable and safe. The engineers employed in the Coast Survey at present have not completed the whole coast from Cape Fear to Charleston, and the work is in progress, and along the coast of Georgia. They have published a portion of these charts. But I will say to my friend, in order that he may have some idea of the value of this work, that the knowledge heretofore possessed of this coast was so imperfect and so unsatisfactory, that it was impossible to get a vessel insured at any reasonable rate which was bound for this coast; but since the work has been completed under the Superintendent of the Coast Survey, these difficulties have been removed in a great measure, and insurance can easily be effected. The difficulties upon the shore of North Carolina have been so far removed, that Mr. VENABLE. I merely stated the difference between nautical and geodetical charts. Mr. FICKLIN. I understood my friend from North Carolina to intimate that it had not been ascertained by the Coast Survey and Department that the form of the earth was not a plane flat surface. He says that the information which we received in 1832 was incorrect. But if he will look into the matter he will find that a great deal of this incorrect matter was published by order of the House. A great many more numbers were printed than was necessary for distribution by the members of the House. ordered, I am, for one, against it. Mr. GORMAN. It does not involve a single cent more expense. It is a a question relating to the duties, falling, in part, legitimately, to the Committee on Engraving, and another part to the Committee on Printing. It is the same thing heretofore decided upon, and does not involve any additional expense. although it has been heretofore regarded as a most Mr. STANTON, of Tennessee. Will the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. FICKLIN] allow me to say a word? About two weeks ago we ordered this printing to be done. It was then stated that the cost of the whole would be about ninety-two cents. We have already ordered the printing to be done, and, as I understand it, this is a mere question of form. The Committee on Engraving thought it would be necessary for them to report, and for that reason the subject has again been brought before the House. Now, what can be the difficulty in the matter? The printing has been ordered, and the engravers must go on with the work. Mr. GORMAN. I also desire a word of explanation. The Committee on Engraving reported upon precisely the same thing which was reported upon by the Committee on Printing. The other day I reported the cost as ninety-two cents, but it has since been ascertained that it could be done for considerably less than that amount. But the engraving of the work belongs to the Committee on Engraving, and the printing belongs to the Committee on Printing. The question remains exactly the same, so far as the House is concerned, as it did when it was up before. I hope the gentleman will call the previous question, and let us dispose of it at once. Mr. FICKLIN. That is just what I wanted to find out, whether it is a question of form or of substance. Mr. VENABLE. It is simply a question of Mr. FICKLIN. I will remark, in regard to this coast survey, that it has been well said by my friend from North Carolina, [Mr. VENABLE,] that dollars are not to be regarded in reference to it; and, indeed, they need not be counted, because it will continue from year to year and, as I apprehend, from century to century at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars, and there will be no end to it while this Government has a seacoast. That being the case, and such the probability, I think it very important we should watch over this expenditure, which already is becoming very large, not to say enormous. It was suggested that the previous question should be moved; but as I do not desire to do so, I will yield the floor. Mr. ORR moved the previous question; which received a second, and the main question was ordered to be put. The resolution was again read for information, and the question was then taken upon the adoption of the resolution, and it was agreed to. WABASH RIVER. Mr. DAVIS, of Indiana, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill, of which previous notice had been given, entitled "A bill to grant to the States of Indiana and Illinois a portion of the public lands therein, for the improvement of the River Wabash;" which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. PUBLIC PRINTING OFFICE. Mr. DOTY, by unanimous consent, introduced entitled "A bill to establish a public printing office, a bill, of which previous notice had been given, and to provide for the appointment of a Superinfirst and second time by its title, and referred to tendent of Public Printing;" which was read a the Committee of the Whole House, and ordered to be printed. POWERS AND DUTIES OF AMERICAN CON SULS. Mr. SACKETT, by unanimous consent, introduced a resolution; which was read for information, as follows, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Affairs be instructed to inquire into the powers and duties of American Consuls and Commercial Agents in relation to American seamen, mariners, officers, and commanders of merchant vessels of the citizens of the United States, in foreign ports and places; and to bring in a bill to more completely define and establish such powers and duties. Mr. SACKETT. If the House will allow me one word upon that resolution, I presume there will be no objection to it. VOICES. "Hear!" "Hear!" Mr. S., (continuing.) There is a claim now before Congress, of a considerable amount, arising out of the exercise of very doubtful powers of one of our consuls, and it is for the purpose of having and obtaining a competent committee to examine into their power and duties, that I ask the adoption of this resolution. The question was then taken on the adoption of the resolution, and it was agreed to. Mr. ORR moved that the House do now adjourn; which motion was agreed to; and the House adjourned till to-morrow at twelve o'clock, m. NOTICES OF BILLS. Mr. WEIGHTMAN gave notice, under the rule, of his intention to introduce a bill amendatory of the act approved September 9th, 1850, entitled "An act proposing to the State of Texas the establishment of her northern and western boundaries, the relinquishment by the said State of all ter ritory claimed by her exterior to said boundaries, and of all her claims upon the United States, and to establish a territorial government for New Mexico." Mr. ALLISON gave notice that he would, on to-morrow, or on some subsequent day, introduce a bill granting one million of acres of land to the State of Pennsylvania, for the purpose of aiding the Pittsburg and Erie Railroad Company in constructing their road. PETITIONS, &c. The following petitions, memorials, &c., were presented under the rule, and referred to the appropriate committees: By Mr. MEADE: The petition of the heirs of Captain Joshua Frepton, praying for commutation pay. Also, the petition of David Toole, praying for a pension in consideration of injuries received while in the service of the United States during the late war. By Mr. ALLISON: The petition of sundry citizens of Washington county, Pennsylvania, praying that the carrying and delivery of the mail on the Christian Sabbath, or Lord's day, be prohibited. Also, two petitions from citizens of Western Pennsyl vania, for a ship canal around the falls of Sainte Marie's river. By Mr. ASHE: The memorials of Dickson Mallard and Carlton Hall, deputy marshals, praying additional compensation for taking the census. By Mr. THOMAS M. HOWE: The memorial of Thomas R. Holmes and others, citizens of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, praying for the construction of a ship canal around the falls of the river Ste. Marie, Michigan. Also, the memorial of N. P. Sawyer and others, of Pittsburg, of the same tenor. Also, the memorial of William M. Semple and others, of Pittsburg, for the same. Also, the memorial of W. W. Wallace, J. D. Williams, and others, of Pittsburg, for the same. Also, the memorial of Charles Naylor and others, of Pittsburg, for the same. By Mr. SCHOONMAKER: The petition of 287 masters of vessels hailing from various ports in the United States, who have freighted from Rondout during the season of 1851, for an appropriation to remove obstructions from the channel of the Rondout river, at or near its junction with the Hudson river, in the State of New York. Also, a petition of citizens of the State and city of New York, for the same purpose. Also, a petiton of Hester Serrine, formerly Hester Paulding, of Yorktown, New York, and widow of John Paulding, deceased, one of the captors of Major Andre, for a pension By Mr. DAVIS, of Indiana: The memorial of J. Parsons Owen, of Ohio, P. E. Boyce, of Indiana, and 52 others, inventors, praying Congress for the completion of the Patent Office building according to the original design prepared by William P. Elliott, an architect of the city of Washington, and approved by the President of the United States in the year 1836. By Mr. GREEN: The memorial of Colonel George W. Morgan, and others, asking an increase of the pension of George Momony, a soldier in the Mexican war. By Mr. AIKEN: The memorial of the Chamber of Commerce of Charleston, South Carolina, praying that an ap propriation be made for deepening the bar and otherwise improving the entrance to the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. By Mr. PORTER: A memorial signed by J. K. Sheeley, and four others, commissioners of the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, recently established by the State of Missoun, at Fulton, in said State, asking a donation of public land ier the use and benefit of said asylum. By Mr. ANDREWS: The memorial of James T. Clark and others, deputy marshals of Oxford county, Maine, for increase of compensation for taking the census of 1850. By Mr. DISNEY: The memorial of William Wilson Chancellor, asking Congress to endow the "National University" in Ohio. Also, the memorial of merchants, shippers, ship-owners, underwriters, and others, of Cincinnati, remonstrating against the repeal of the act for the reduction of costs, &c., in admiralty. By Mr. KUHNS: The petition of John C. Plumer, and 70 other citizens of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, praying for the establishment of a direct mail route from Westnewton to Greensburg, in said county. On motion by Mr. HOLLADAY, it was Ordered, That the petition and papers of Messrs. Finnall & Graham be withdrawn from the files of the House, and be referred again to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. BOYD: The petition of James Sweet, praying compensation for a horse lost in the military service of the United States. By Mr. CHURCHWELL: The memorial of E. Wilson, of Tennessee, praying for the passage of a law authorizing the election or appointment of two public printers to Congress, one a Democrat and one a Whig. Also, a memorial, praying for the passage of the home stead bill. Also, a memorial, praying to have the act of 3d March, 1851, so amended as to have one uniform rate of postage throughout the United States and Territories. By Mr. MOORE, of Pennsylvania: The memorial of John S. Littell, asking for per diem, mileage, &c., for contesting the seat of J. Robbins, jr., in the 31st Congress. By Mr. BELL: The petition of citizens of Patterson township, Dark county, Ohio, praying for the establishment of a mail route from Jacksonville, in said county, to Loramie, in Shelby county, Ohio. By Mr. CHANDLER: The memorial of sundry citizens of Illinois, asking for a grant of public land to aid in the |