purpose of introducing into the two cities a supply of water for the protection of the public buildings and the use of the citizens. By Mr. Disney: The memorial of Edward Everett and others, asking Congress to employ Hiram Powers to execute for the Capitol of the United States the statue of "America." Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. Mr. Haymond, by unanimous consent, and in pursuance of previous notice, introduced a bill (No. 417) "granting lands to the State of Virginia to aid said State in constructing certain railroads therein;" which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. Albert G. Brown moved that the rules be suspended, so as to enable him to move for leave to introduce a bill "granting the right of way and making a grant of land to the States of Louisiana and Mississippi in aid of the construction of a railroad from Madisonville, Louisiana, to Jackson, Mississippi." And the question being put, It was decided in the negative-two-thirds not voting in favor thereof. On motion of Mr. Strong, the House resumed the consideration of the bill of the House (No. 402) "to prescribe the mode of obtaining evidence in cases of contested elections," the consideration of which was postponed until this day. The Speaker stated the question to be upon ordering the said bill to be engrossed, and read a third time. After debate, Mr. Schenck moved that it be committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; which motion was disagreed to. Mr. Jones moved to amend the said bill by striking out the words "within thirty days," in the 6th line of the 1st section. And the question being put, It was decided in the negative. So the said amendment was disagreed to. Mr. Hall submitted the following amendment, viz: Add, at the end of the 10th line of the 1st section, the following proviso: "Provided, That if, from any cause not within the control of the contestant, said notice cannot be given, then said notice shall be given within thirty days after said disability shall cease." The said amendment having been read, Mr. Putnam moved to amend the same by adding at the end thereof the following, viz: "And provided further, That, in case of the absence of the member whose seat is contested, the notice aforesaid may be served by leaving the same at his place of residence with some member of the family of suitable age to understand the same. After further debate, Mr. Schenck moved that the said bill and pending amendments be committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. McClernand moved the previous question; which was seconded, and the main question ordered to be put. The Speaker stated the question to be first upon agreeing to the motion submitted by Mr. Schenck to commit the said bill and pending amend ments to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. And being put, It was decided in the negative. Under the further operation of the previous question, the question was next put upon agreeing to the amendment submitted by Mr. Putnam to the amendment submitted by Mr. Hall; and it was decided in the affirm ative. So the amendment to the amendment was agreed to. The question was next put upon agreeing to the amendment as amend ed; and it was decided in the negative. So the amendment, as amended, was disagreed to. The question was next put, Shall the bill be engrossed and read a third time? And it was decided in the affirmative, SYeas... 105 58 The yeas and nays being desired by one fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. Nathaniel Albertson William S. Ashe George Ashmun Thomas H. Averett Thomas H. Baly William H. Bissell Thomas S. Bocock Franklin W. Bowdon Armistead Burt George Alfred Caldwell Thomas L. Clingman Williamson R. W. Cobb William Duer James H. Duncan Andrew Ewing Winfield S. Featherston Graham N. Fitch Orin Fowler John Freedley Mr. Thomas J D. Fuller Elbridge Gerry Humphrey Marshall Edward W. McGaughey Robert M. McLane Fayette McMullen John McQueen Mr. William McWillie Charles H. Peaslee Mr. Joseph Casey Joseph R. Chandler So the said bill was ordered to be engrossed, and read a third time; and, being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time. Mr. Strong moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Mr. Hall moved that the said bill be laid upon the table; which motion was disagreed to. The question being upon the passage of the said bill, Mr. Strong moved the previous question; which was seconded, and the main question ordered, and, under the operation thereof, the said bill was passed. Mr. Strong moved that the vote by which the said bill was passed be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate in the said bill. Mr. McDowell moved that, when the House adjourn to-day, it adjourn until Thursday next. And the question being put, It was decided in the affirmative, The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Those who voted in the negative are― Mr. Nathaniel Albertson Henry P. Alexander Thomas H. Averett Kinsley S. Bingham George Alfred Caldwell So it was Mr. Thomas J. D. Fuller Job Mann Orsamus B. Matteson Edward W. McGaughey Henry D. Moore Mr. Jonathan D. Morris Charles H. Peaslee Christopher H. Williams George W. Wright. Ordered, That, when the House adjourn to-day, it adjourn until Thursday next. Mr. Stanly moved that the rules be suspended, so as to enable him to introduce the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That the use of this hall be granted to Asa Whitney to explain his project for the construction of a railroad to the Pacific ocean, on such evening as he may designate. And the question being put, It was decided in the negative-two-thirds not voting in favor thereof. Mr. Dunham moved that the vote by which the bill of the House (No. 69) for the relief of the legal representatives of Colonel John H. Stone" was on Friday last laid upon the table be reconsidered. Mr. Jacob 'I'hompson, by unanimous consent, presented the resolutions of the State of Mississippi in relation to her senators and representatives in Congress; which were laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed. Mr. George A. Caldwell moved that the rules be suspended, so as to enable him to move for leave to introduce a joint resolution "explanatory of the act approved September 28, 1950, entitled 'An act granting bounty land to certain officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United States.""" Pending which, Mr. Ashmun moved, at 2 o'clock and 37 minutes p. m., that the House adjourn; which motion was disagreed to. The question recurring upon the motion submitted by Mr. George A. Caldwell, the yeas and nays were ordered thereon. And then, On motion of Mr. Robert W. Johnson, at 2 o'clock and 40 minutes p. m., the House adjourned until Thursday next, at 12 o'clock m. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1850. Another member appeared and took his seat, viz: The following petitions were laid on the Clerk's table under the 24th rule of the House, to wit: By Mr. Giddings: The petition of citizens of Geauga county, in the State of Ohio, praying for the establishment of a mail route from Cleve. land, Ohio, to Meadville, in the State of Pennsylvania; Also, the petition of citizens of Ashtabula county, in the State of Ohio, of like import with the foregoing. Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. Giddings: The petition of citizens of Mahoning county, in the State of Ohio, praying for the repeal of the "fugitive slave law;" Also, two petitions of citizens of Trumbull county, in the State of Ohio, of like import with the foregoing; Also, two petitions of citizens of Cuyahoga county, in the State of Ohio, of like import with the foregoing; Also, the petition of citizens of Nantucket, in the State of Massachusetts, of like import with the foregoing. Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. McGaughey: The petition of the members in Congress from the State of Indiana, praying for the division of said State into two judicial districts; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Giddings: The petition of Charles Waldron-heretofore presented January 5, 1843; which was referred to the Committee of Claims. By Mr. Butler: The petition of citizens of Bridgefield, in the State of Connecticut, praying for the construction of a harbor at Norwalk, in said State. By Mr. Nathan Evans: The petition of citizens of the United States engaged in commerce on the northern lakes, praying for the erection of a light-house on Rock or Mouse island, in Lake Erie. Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Com merce. By Mr. La Sère: The petition of Charles F. Fisher, asking Congress to appropriate a sum of money to build a steam-vessel by which to test a new submarine propeller invented by himself; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. Gilbert gave notice, under the rule, of his intention to move for leave to introduce a bill of the following title, viz: "A bill to create a board of commissioners for the examination and payment of claims |