Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Mr. JOHNSON, of Arkansas. I believe I did not say that. You misunderstood me. Mr. BAYLY. Then what was it that you said?

Mr. JOHNSON. I did not say that they had not printed them at all. I said that if they had printed them, they had chosen to send us the manuscript only.

Mr. BAYLY. That does not alter the case at all. The only copy of these laws which we have is in manuscript. Now every member of the House has a right to see those laws, because every member has a right to move to disapprove of them, and there is but one copy of them in the city. Can there be a better reason assigned for printing them? Suppose the copy of those laws is referred to the Committee on Territories; there are nine members of the committee, and each one of them is to read these laws in the manuscript. Why, it would take nearly the whole session for the members of the committee, with their other engagements, to read them-to say nothing about the members of this House. I want to see these laws, and they ought to be printed.

The gentleman from Missouri [Mr. HALL] tells me that these laws are nothing but a transcript of the Kearny code. I do not know anything about that.

Mr. FOWLER. You want to see that code, I suppose?

Mr. BAYLY. Yes, I want to see that code, as the gentleman from Massachusetts suggests; and I undertake to say here, in respect to the legislation of this Territory of Utah, that if the Ainerican Congress does not keep its eyes open, and does not look to what they are doing there, we shall one of these days have an extent of trouble with that people that nobody here now dreams of. Let any one read the history of that people. Mr. MEADE. Will my colleague allow me to say one single word, as an additional reason for the printing of these laws?

Mr. BAYLY. Certainly. I yield the floor to my colleague.

Mr. MEADE. I will inform my colleague and the House, that I understand that code to have been written by a private soldier in the Army of the United States.

Mr. JOHNSON, of Arkansas. Well, what then?

Mr. MEADE. I want the code printed, because I understand that it reflects great credit upon the private soldier who drew it up.

Mr. JONES, of Tennessee. It has been printed, and is now amongst the public documents.

Mr. JOHNSON, of Arkansas. I should be glad to ask the gentleman from Virginia, whether that soldier had anything more to do with the code than the copying of it? Whether he really drew it up, and whether he enacted it? Because if he did, it would certainly add much to the credit he may deserve.

Mr. MEADE. I will explain to the gentleman from Arkansas, that I understand the code was made at the time that the Territory was without laws, and in the occupancy of General Kearny. One of his privates was called upon by him to write a code of laws, and he not only wrote it, but drew it up. And that private is now a member of this House.

Mr. JOHNSON. Will the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. BAYLY] yield me the floor for a moment?

Mr. HARRIS, of Tennessee. Permit me to move an adjournment.

Mr. BAYLY. Oh no, let me finish what I have got to say.

Mr. JOHNSON. Does the gentleman yield

the floor?

Mr. BAYLY. Reluctantly, I do.

Mr. JOHNSON. It has been ascertained that these laws were copied and I say it with no disrespect to those who copied them-from an odd volume of the old laws of the Territory or State of Missouri. Now we are asked to reprint, for the benefit and use of this House, all those old things that are to be found in print everywhere! Mr. BAYLY. The opposition to the printing of these laws only creates an additional necessity for doing it, because gentlemen-and certainly gentlemen such as my friend from Arkansasnever make useless opposition to anything. I want to see these laws, and it is proper that they should be printed. But, to resume what I was

saying with respect to this Territory of Utah. Unless this Congress keeps its eyes open with respect to the movements of that people, we are going to have an amount of trouble with them that nobody now conceives of.

House adjourn with this motion to reconsider the motion to print still pending, no printing will be done until that motion is disposed of.

The SPEAKER. The Chair will remark that he shall feel himself called upon to order a sus

Mr. HALL. You are not in order in referr-pension of printing until this motion is disposed ing to that subject now.

Mr. BAYLY. If gentlemen will not interrupt me, I shall soon finish what I have to say. It is very rarely that I have ever been found out of order in this House, since I have been here.

I will not, however, pursue the remarks which I intended to make in reference to the Utah Territory, because I find the hour is so late that gentlemen are indisposed to hear debate of any kind. [Loud cries of "Go on!"]

now.

Mr. BAYLY. I do not wish to pursue that topic But I say, it is false economy, it is a grand mistake to undertake to save money by refusing to print matter in which this House ought to feel an interest, and, if it does not, in which the country feels a deep interest.

I want to see the laws that have been passed in New Mexico and Utah. I want to understand what is going on in those Territories. There has enough transpired already, in one of them, to awaken the vigilance of the American people. As I have already said, the House has a veto upon their legislation; and to enable us to act understandingly, we ought to have their laws before us. I care not whether they are written by a private in the Army, or by a general, or by anybody else. I want to see them, and I want to see them all the more, if they were written by a military man, for I have no confidence in military legislation-none whatever.

Mr. STUART. If the gentleman will allow me, I will occupy the floor but a moment.

of.

Mr. STUART. Under the assurance of the Chair, I move that the House do now adjourn. The motion was agreed to; and The House adjourned till Monday next.

[blocks in formation]

Also, the petition of John C. Kuhn, for compensation for services in the Mexican war.

Also, the petition of George K. McGunnegle, surviving partner of Hill & McGunnegle, for compensation for subsistence furnished in the Black Hawk war.

Also, the petition of Gustavus Peterson, for pension for services in the Black Hawk war.

Also, the petition for compensation for services in the Mexican war.

Also, the petition of Robert Forsyth, asking a confirmation of title to a tract of land in St. Louis county, Missouri. Also, the petition of James W. Kingsberry, for comfirmation of a Spanish grant of land to him as legal representative of John Pierre Cabaum.

Also, the memorial of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, for the improvement of the Ohio river opposite

Louisville, Kentucky.

Also, the petition of Hall Hutson, praying for a pension. By Mr. CHANDLER: The memorial of many merchants and other citizens of Philadelphia, asking that one or more vessels be detailed by the Government for a reconnoissance of such ports of the China seas, the Straits of Gaspar, and the Java sea, as lie directly in the various tracks of vessels proceeding to and from China.

Also, the memorial of J. R. Wurchever, D. Lewis, and numerous other citizens of Philadelphia connected with commerce, asking Congress to make appropriation for constructing piers and harbors in the river Delaware.

Also, the memorial of numerous citizens of Philadelphia, asking for a repayment of duties paid by petitioners upon imported merchandise destroyed by a great fire in New York.

Mr. CHANDLER asked permission to withdraw from the files of the House the memorial and accompanying papers of Amelia and Louisa Dumas, to be referred to the proper committee.

By Mr. JOHNSON, of Tennessee: The following petitions and memorials: Of Nathan H. Wells, application for arrearages of pension; of Lewis Roberts; additional proof of Charles and Valentine Sevier, applicants for a pension; and the application of Brooksy Bell, for arrearages of pen

sion.

Mr. JOHNSON. If the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. STUART] will allow me, I desire to say in reply to the gentleman from Virginia, [Mr. BAYLY,] that I now hold in my hand the document which is proposed to be printed. The gentleman from Missouri, [Mr. HALL,] who was in his seat a minute ago, told me that, with the exception of some half a dozen pages, the whole of this voluminous document is now in print, and that, as the Kearny code, it was nearly all copied from the laws of Missouri, and those half dozen pages contain little else but blank paper. So this very slight portion of it is all that remains unprinted." Yet the whole document is to be reprinted, and for what purpose? Now, I ask my friend from Virginia-for I will use that word, so often very improperly used in this House-if he ever in his life read a copy of the laws of any one Territory when they were printed? If these laws were printed, I do not believe they will be read by a single member. The Committee on Territories, whose business it is to examine into these matters, will of course do it. Now, I desire to ask the gentleman from Virginia if he ever in his life read one single copy of the laws of any Terri- Lafayette, Indiana, to intersect the Illinois Central Railtory, when presented in this manner for our consideration? I hope the gentleman will give me a categorical answer.

Mr. BAYLY. I will answer the gentleman.
Mr. JOHNSON. Yes or no?

Mr. BAYLY. I do not choose that the gentleman shall dictate to me my answer; I prefer to give it in my own way.

Mr. JOHNSON. I will not insist upon the gentleman's answering it categorically.

Mr. STUART. I think I can dispose of this question, if gentlemen will allow me, so that neither of them will have any right to complain.

Mr. JOHNSON. Well; I will not keep my friend from Michigan [Mr. STUART] standing much longer. [Laughter.] I will allow him to have his way.

Mr. BAYLY. Will the gentleman allow me for one moment?

Mr. STUART. Will the gentleman allow me first to make my suggestion?

Mr. BAYLY. Certainly.

Mr. STUART. I would suggest that if this House adjourn pending this motion, the paper will still be printed. I understand the Speaker may control this matter to some extent, and he may order it to be printed or not. I assure the House that the Committee on the Territories will not proceed rashly in this matter, the chairman being absent. I hope the House will now adjourn. Mr. BAYLY. I undertake to say that, if the

Also, the petitions and memorials of the following persons, which have been heretofore referred to the appropriate coninittees: William K. Blair, John Conklin, Henry Click,Cha's C. Cargill, Washington Denham, John English, Lawson Goodwin, Valentine Sevier, Cornelius Hughes, Elizabeth Huntsman, John Kerbaugh, widow of Edward Moody, Jonathan Naif, James M. Rhea, Lewis Roberts, David Troxall, Robert Trevitt, Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, James Wright, Jr., N. H. Wells, Nathaniel H. Wills, Howson Kenner, William Mann, John Naff and W. W. Rockhold, Thomas Whinney.

By Mr. FITCH: The petition of Hartley T. Howard and 556 other citizens of Indiana and Illinois, asking a donation of public land to aid in the construction of a railroad from road.

By Mr. FOWLER: The petition of Benjamin F. Winslow and six other citizens of Fall River, Massachusetts, praying that a law may be passed prohibiting the importation of intoxicating liquors from foreign countries.

By Mr. SEYMOUR, of New York: The petition and papers of R. M. Bouton.

By Mr. BRAGG: The memorial of citizens of South Alabama, praying for a resurvey of the public lands in the district of St. Stephen's, Alabama.

By Mr. BROWN, of Mississippi: The memorial of William F. Walker, of Mississippi, praying to be released from a judgment in favor of the United States.

Mr. THOMPSON, of Virginia, asked and obtained leave to withdraw the papers in the case of Drusilla Bukey, and that the same should be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

IN SENATE. SATURDAY, January 10, 1852. Prayer by the Rev. L. F. MORGAN.

PETITIONS.

Mr. HALE presented the petition of citizens of Alton, New Hampshire, praying the adoption of measures for the amicable adjustment of international controversies; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Mr. BUTLER presented the memorial of the Chairman of the Board of Port Wardens of the port of Charleston; the memorial of the President and Secretary of the Charleston Marine Society; and the memorial of the President and Secretary of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce, praying that

from the fund which has accumulated in the Treasury from hospital and prize money and unclaimed balances due to deceased seamen, provision may be made in foreign ports for the comfort and accommodation of sick seamen; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. FISH presented a petition of the petty offcers, seamen, and marines, on board the United States ship North Carolina, praying the repeal of the act of last session of Congress requiring them to receive their ration in kind; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. JONES, of Iowa, presented the memorial of a convention of citizens of Iowa, held at Orkaloosa, praying a grant of land to that State for the construction of a railroad from Davenport to Council Bluffs; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. BORLAND presented the memorial of the Arkansas Central Railroad Company, praying a donation of land for the construction of a railroad from the Mississippi, opposite Memphis, to the boundary of Texas; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. GWIN presented the petition of James W. Low, praying compensation for the capture of the British private armed schooner " Ann" during the

last war with Great Britain; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. CASS presented the memorial of the heirs of Sylvester Day, late an assistant surgeon in the Army, praying the reimbursement of the money paid by the demand for a substitute during the ume he was prevented by sickness from discharging his duties as surgeon at the United States arsenal, at Alleghany, Pennsylvania; which was referred to the Committee of Claims.

Also, a memorial of a Committee of Inventors and Patentees, praying certain amendments to the patent laws; which was referred to the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office.

Mr. SPRUANCE presented a petition of citizens of Pennsylvania, praying an appropriation for the construction of piers and harbors in the Delaware river and bay; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

PAPERS WITHDRAWN AND REFERRED.
On motion by Mr. MASON, it was

Ordered, That the petition of Nathaniel King Kendall, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

On motion by Mr. SMITH, it was

Ordered, That the petition of Francis P. Gardiner, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Pensions.

On motion by Mr. MORTON, it was Ordered, That the memorial of John Tucker, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee of Claims. On motion by Mr. MORTON, it was Ordered, That the petition of Gad Humphreys, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee of Claims. On motion by Mr. MORTON, it was Ordered, That the petition of John Underwood, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

On motion by Mr. HALE, it was

Ordered, That the report of the Secretary of the Navy, communicating the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry in the ease of William K. Latimer, a captain in the Navy, be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

BILLS INTRODUCED.

Mr. BRODHEAD, agreeably to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill for the payment of outstanding loan office and final settlement certificates issued for money loaned, or for services, or for supplies during the revolutionary war; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. GEYER, agreeably to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill decla-ing the assent of Congress to the State of Missouri to impose taxes on lands hereafter sold by

the United States in said State, from and after the day of sale; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr.SEBASTIAN, agreeably to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill granting the right of way and making a grant of land to the State of Arkansas, in aid of the construction of certain railroads in said State; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

REPORT FROM COMMITTEE.

Mr. DAVIS, from the Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred the bill for the relief of Enoch Baldwin and others, reported back the same without amendment, accompanied by a report, which was ordered to be printed.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE CAPITOL.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution
submitted by Mr. CASS, the 29th December, in
relation to the construction of the Capitol, and the
restoration of the Library.

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

RAILROAD COMPANIES.

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

Resolved, That the Committee on Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for granting a right of way through the public lands to all railroad companies authorized by the laws of the respective States to construct said roads, when the same pass through such lands.

MARINE CORPS.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution submitted by Mr. CLEMENS, on the 6th instant; which was read, as follows, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of adopting a separate code of regulations for the government of the Marine Corps of the United States.

Be it further resolved, That said committee be also instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the President of the United States to appoint, annually, two cadets to the Military Academy at West Point, to be educated with a view to appointment in the Marine Corps. STATE OF THE SURVEYS.

The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of the following resolution, submitted by Mr. SHIELDS yesterday:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to employ a draftsman to mark and lay down on the maps now in the room of the Committee on Public Lands the state of the surveys, and also show what has been disposed of by sale or otherwise. The rate of compensation for the service shall be the same as that of a clerk not exceeding $1,800 per annum.

An act for the relief of David C. Cash and Giles
U. Ellis;

An act for the relief of John W. Robinson;
An act for the relief of Gardner Herring;
An act for the relief of Albra Tripp;

An act for the relief of Silas Champion, of the
State of New York;

An act for the relief of Philip Miller;
An act for the relief of Joseph Johnston;
An act for the relief of Robert Milligan;
An act for the relief of Sylvanus Blodget;
An act for the relief of Amos Knapp; and
An act for the payment of arrears of pension to
the guardian of Artemas Conant.

MAILS IN CALIFORNIA.

The joint resolution to authorize the Postmaster General to legalize certain contracts for the transportation of the mail in California and Oregon, was read a third time and passed.

ENGROSSED BILLS PASSED.

The following engrossed bills were read a third time, and passed:

An act for the relief of Mrs. A. M. Dade, widow of the late Major F. L. Dade, United States Army;

An act for the relief of Richard Chaney and others;

An act for the relief of William P. Greene;
An act granting relief to John A. McGaw, of
New York;

An act for the relief of the personal representatives of William A. Slacum, deceased;

An act for the relief of Mrs. Margaret Hetzel, widow and administratrix of A. R. Hetzel, late assistant quartermaster in the Army of the United States;

An act for the relief of Adjutant General Roger Jones;

An act for the relief of the representatives of
Joseph Watson, deceased;

An act for the relief of Rufus Dwinell;
An act for the relief of Allen G. Johnson; and
An act to extend a patent heretofore granted to
John Schley, of the State of Georgia.

NAVY-YARD AT SAN FRANCISCO.

Mr. GWIN. I should be gratified if the Senate would now proceed to the consideration of Senate bill No. 15, which is a bill to establish a navy-yard and depôt on the bay of San Francisco, in California. This is a bill on which it appears necessary that there should be immediate action. The bill requires the President of the United States to cause an examination and survey to be made of the bay of San Francisco, by a board of experienced officers, with a view of selecting such a site for a navy-yard and depôt, on that bay, as will be most suitable for such an establishment. Now, if that board is not appointed immediately, it will be impossible for them to make a survey and report upon it before the next session of Congress, and, of course, impossible to take any active measures before that time for the construction of a navy-yard. It has been found that in the site formerly designed for a navy-yard, there is not sufficient water, and that some other location will have to be chosen.

Mr. SHIELDS. Lest there should be some misunderstanding with regard to this resolution, I will state what is its object. It is a resolution which I was instructed by the Committee on Public Lands to report to the Senate. Draftsmen have been employed by the House of Representatives for several years, who have prepared maps showing the state of the public lands in the different States of the Union. That labor has been performed at a very great expense, and has been exceedingly difficult and troublesome. Those who have performed the work have gone to the General Land Office and examined the plats and the surveys, and have brought these maps up nearly to the present time. In our committee room we have the maps ready for the work, and the work is nearly performed under the operation of some former resolution. The object of this resolution, then, is not to go into anything like the expense which has been incurred in the House of Representatives. I should object to that. But the labor has been done in the House, and is on the maps of the House, and all we want is to transfer that work to the maps which are now in our room. I understand the work can be done without much loss of time, and at a very trifling expense. It can be done, perhaps, in three months. The expense, as will be seen by a reference to the resolution, is not to exceed the hire of a clerk for the time he is employed; and we shall secure thereby the benefit of all the information which has been collected in the House of Represent-days it will be ready to be shipped. But unless atives for several years. The expense has been incurred and the labor performed for the House, and the question is, whether we will take advan.. tage of it.

The resolution was adopted.

BILLS FROM THE HOUSE.

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

Mr. PRESIDENT: The House of Representatives have
passed the following bills, in which they request the con-
currence of the Senate:

An act for the relief of the Virginia Woolen
Company;

An act for the relief of Edward Everett;

There is another reason why this bill should be passed as early as possible. At the last session of Congress an act was passed authorizing the building of a sectional floating dry-dock, and the same objection exists in regard to the location of this dock, as in the location of the navy-yard, namely a want of sufficient water. There was a site selected for this dock, and an experiment made by which it was ascertained that the location was unsuitable. The dock is now built, and in a few

another location be selected, it will be of little or no use. There will be no expense incurred in consequence of the passage of this bill except from the appointment of these commissioners, and the selection of a site for this dock and navy-yard. This bill was reported unanimously by the Committee on Naval Affairs, and I hope that there will be no objection to taking it up.

The PRESIDENT. The motion is to postpone all the previous orders in order to take up this bill. The question being taken, the consideration of the previous order was postponed, and the motion to take up the bill was agreed to.

The bill was then read and considered by the Senate as in Committee of the Whole.

The original bill consists of two sections, reported by the Committee on Naval Affairs, with two additional sections as amendments. The first section authorizes the President of the United States to cause an examination and survey of the bay of San Francisco to be made by a board of commissioners, to be appointed by him for that purpose, with the view of selecting a location for a navy-yard and dry-dock. The second section provides that when such site shall be so selected, the President shall appoint and assign such officers, and make such arrangements, as may be necessary for the establishment of such navyyard, upon the most approved plan.

The amendment reported by the committee, and contained in sections three and four, provides that -in the selection of such site, regard shall be had to its adaptation for the construction of a basin and railway, and the location of the sectional floating dry-dock now in course of construction; and that the President be authorized to allow additional compensation, not exceeding double the amount of their present pay, to the officers whom he may appoint, and to allow them the actual amount of their expenses consequent upon the performance of their duty.

Mr. GWIN. The Senator from Virginia has suggested to me an objection to the bill, which he will state to the Senate. In order that I may make progress, I am willing that the section to which he objects should be stricken out.

The PRESIDENT. The first question will be on the adoption of the amendments.

Mr. BRODHEAD. I would suggest that this bill should be laid over until Monday. It is a very important bill. We have erected a number of dry docks recently, and I think this is a matter which should be carefully examined.

Mr. GWIN. I will not object to that, for I wish the bill to be fully considered.

Mr. BRODHEAD. Then I move to postpone the further consideration of the bill till Monday

next.

The question was taken, and the motion to postpone was agreed to.

THE COMPROMISE MEASURES. The Senate resumed the consideration of Mr. Foote's resolution as amended on the motion of Mr. BADGER, declaring the series of compromise measures of the last session a definitive settlement of all questions growing out of the subject of slavery.

[Mr. Downs spoke at length on the subject; and in favor of the compromise measures. For a report of his speech see Appendix.]

Mr. DAVIS then rose and said: I believe we have reached an hour when, perhaps, it would be as well to adjourn, and I make that motion.

Mr. McRAE. I would ask the Senator to suspend his motion for a moment, in order that I may ask him a question.

Mr. DAVIS. I comply with the Senator's request.

Mr. McRAE. Does the Senator desire, by making the motion to adjourn, to obtain the floor? Mr. DAVIS. I desire to submit a few remarks on the resolution.

Mr. McRAE. I desired myself, at as early a period as I could do so, to give expression to my views on the subject which is before the Senate; therefore it was that I asked the Senator whether he desired the floor. I yield to him. The Senate then adjourned.

IN SENATE. MONDAY, January 12, 1852. Prayer by the Chaplain, Rev. C. M. BUTLER.

PETITIONS.

Mr. SEWARD presented the petition of the widow of Orlando Pierce, a private soldier killed in the war with Mexico, praying a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. RUSK presented the memorial of F. Macmanus, praying the enactment of a law to authorize debenture on goods transported through Port La Baca, San Antonio, and the Rio Grande, to Mexico; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. BRADBURY submitted additional documents in relation to the claims of the States of Maine and Massachusetts to indemnity for lands surrendered to enable the United States to comply

with the stipulations of the 4th article of the treaty of Washington of August 9, 1842; which were referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. DODGE, of Iowa, presented the memorial of Benjamin S. Roberts, an officer of the United States Army, praying indemnity for losses sustained during the war with Mexico; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. FISH presented the petition of assistant marshals for taking the Seventh Census in Westchester county, New York, praying additional compensation; which was referred to the Com

mittee of Claims.

Mr. GWIN presented the memorial of officers of the United States Army stationed in California, praying a continuance of the increased pay granted by an act of Congress; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. SHIELDS presented the petition of citizens of Illinois, praying a grant of the right of way through the public lands for a railroad from Shawneetown to the Mississippi river, opposite St. Louis, Missouri; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. STOCKTON presented two petitions of citizens of Trenton, New Jersey, against the introduction of corporal punishment in the Navy;

which were ordered to lie on the table.

Mr. DOUGLAS presented the memorial of Robert H. Caffee and others, lately attached to the Commission for running and marking the boundary line between the United States and Mexico, praying to be allowed their pay and traveling expenses from the time they ceased to be employed on that service until their return to their homes; which was referred to the Committee of Claims.

Ordered, That the memorial of Elizabeth V. Lomax, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Pensions.

On motion by Mr. SEWARD, it was

Ordered, That the petition of George G. Bishop and Peter U. Morgan, administrator of John Arnold, deceased, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office.

REPORTS FROM STANDING COMMITTEES.

Mr. WADE, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the petition of William A. Duer, administrator of William A. Duer, deceased, submitted an adverse report; which was ordered to be printed.

Mr. FELCH, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill to revise and continue in force for a limited time the provisions of an act relative to suspended entries of public land, reported it without amendment.

He also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill to establish an additional land

office in Michigan, reported it without amend

ment.

Mr. SEWARD, from the Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred a communication from Aaron H. Palmer, submitted a report, accompanied by the following resolution; which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be discharged from the further consideration of the communication of Aaron H. Palmer, relating to the colonial dependencies of Japan, and a plan for opening that empire to the commerce of the United States.

On motion by Mr. SEWARD, it was
Ordered, That the report be printed.

Mr. HAMLIN, from the Committee on Commerce, to whom was referred a memorial of citizens of Portland, Maine, submitted a report, acMr. SEWARD presented the petition of Wes-companied by a bill making an appropriation for ley Smith, alderman, and five hundred residents of the erection of a Marine hospital at Portland, the eleventh ward of the city of New York, calling Maine. the attention of Congress to the question of intervention of Russia in the struggle of Hungary for freedom. It was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, and is as follows:

To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America:

We, the undersigned, citizens of the eleventh ward in the city of New York, do respectfully represent, that we do consider that the petition of Louis Kossuth, on behalf of the people of Hungary, is in accordance with those principles of justice and right which we find implanted in our minds, and to which all humanity owes allegiance. And as we consider that to shrink from the performance of a duty imposed by those principles, as cowardly in a great nation, we ask of your honorable bodies that you, in behalf of the United States, of whom we are a part, do proclaim your acquiescence in the three petitions offered by said Louis Kossuth in a speech made at the banquet given by the municipal authorities of New York, or in so ioany of those petitions a our Constitution and laws permit your acquiescence in.

LOUISVILLE AND PORTLAND CANAL. Mr. UNDERWOOD. I have a petition, very numerously signed by the people of Tennessee, and particularly of the city of Nashville. It prays Congress to make an appropriation for the purpose of rendering the navigation of the Louisville and Portland canal free. It shows the amount of tolls received upon that canal from the time of its construction. The sum received in 1850 was $115,000; and in 1851 the amount, it is believed, was $150,000. I will not detain the Senate by showing how the amount received has increased from $12,750 up to $150,000. I have already given notice that I intend to bring in a bill upon this subject, which I shall offer within a few days. I do not know any committee to which it will be proper to refer the memorial at present, and therefore I hope it will be received and laid upon the table.

It was accordingly laid on the table.,

Mr. UNDERWOOD. I have also received, upon the same subject, the proceedings of the General Council of the city of Louisville, in which they represent the necessity of making the navigation of that canal free, and of an appropriation for its enlargement; and embracing a series of resolutions upon the whole subject; and for the reason already assigned, I will give it the same destination.

It was accordingly laid on the table.

PAPERS WITHDRAWN AND REFERRED.

On motion by Mr. CLARKE, it was Ordered, That the petition of Nancy Bowen, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Pensions, On motion by Mr. HUNTER, it was

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

Ordered, That the report be printed.

On motion by Mr. SHIELDS, it was Ordered, That the Committee on Public Lands be discharged from the further consideration of the memorial of James B. Cushing and others.

CASE OF CAPTAIN THOMAS SNODGRASS.

Mr. SEBASTIAN, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, reported a bill, accompanied by a report, for the relief of Captain Thomas Snodgrass.

The bill provides that the sum of $230 be appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to reimburse to Captain Thomas Snodgrass the expenses incurred by him for a team, and balance for forage and subsistence furnished to his company of volunteers while employed as a guard, or escort, for a party of emigrating Cherokees in the year 1838.

Mr. S. 1 will say, in explanation of the report, that this bill was before the Committee on Indian Affairs at a previous session; that at that time this claim received a faithful investigation, and from the evidence adduced, it was clear that it was just, beyond all question. The committee therefore, without hesitation recommended the passage of that bill at the last session, and in the report they now present, they merely refer to a report which was formerly made. The amount recommended is the same as that embraced in the former Senate bill.

Mr. CLEMENS. I wish to ask the unanimous consent of the Senate to act upon this bill now. It has been reported upon before, and was unanimously recommended by the committee.

There being no objection, the bill was considered by the Senate as in Committee of the Whole, and no amendment being offered, it was reported back to the Senate, and ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

LOCATING MILITARY LAND WARRANTS.

Mr. FELCH. I am instructed by the Committee on Public Lands to ask to be discharged from the further consideration of a number of petitions referred to them, asking additional compensation to the several land officers for locating military bounty land warrants in the several States.

Mr. WALKER. I would inquire if the committee have any special reasons for asking to be discharged from the consideration of these petitions, and whether the committee which makes this report wish to be understood as being averse to giving further compensation?

Mr. FELCH. I should have stated, but I supposed every Senator knew, that we have reported in favor of giving additional compensation; and therefore it was that we ask to be discharged from the further consideration of these memorials.

Mr. WALKER. If I understand what the Senator refers to, it is an amendment to the bill providing for the assignability of land warrants; but if that bill should not become a law, the provision to which the Senator refers will go down of course.

Mr. FELCH. We cannot be accountable for what may be the action of the Senate on the subject; but whatever it may be, it is competent for any member to present the subject again.

The motion was agreed to, and it was

Ordered, That the Committee on Public Lands be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of the late and present land officers of Dixon, Illinois, praying additional compensation on account of services connected with bounty lands, and from the several memorials and petitions on the same subject referred to the committee.

Mr. UNDERWOOD subsequently moved to postpone a prior orders for the purpose of taking up and disposing of the bill referred to, to make bounty land warrants assignable. He said he learned from many Senators, that they were in the receipt of large numbers of letters in relation to that measure. He had received many himself, and he was desirous that the subject should be disposed of. As it was discussed and passed at the last session, he apprehended no debate upon it now, and hence he made his motion, believing that it would consume but very little time.

After a brief conversation, the honorable Senator agreed to postpone his motion until to-morrow.

COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC LANDS.

Mr. SHIELDS. I wish to ask a favor of the Senate this morning, and that is, that I may be discharged from further service as a member of the Committee on Public Lands. I am chairman of two other committees of the Senate; and as the committee is now constituted, there are three members from three adjoining States. I think, therefore, that it is but just to the Southwest, or some other portion of the country, that they should have a representative.

The question being taken, it was agreed to; and on motion of Mr. SHIELDS, it was

Ordered, That the President pro tempore of the Senate all the vacancy thus occasioned in the Committee on Publie Lands.

Mr. BORLAND was appointed.

BILL INTRODUced.

Mr. FISH, agreeably to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill to increase the salary of the district judge of the United States for the southern district of Florida; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

NOTICE OF BILL.

Mr. FELCH gave notice of his intention to ask leave to introduce a bill for the relief of William A. Richmond.

INDEX TO THE LAWS.

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

Resolved, That of the synoptical index of the laws prepared and printed pursuant to a resolution of the Senate,there be distributed in the same manner as the copies of Little & Brown's edition of the laws were distributed under the act of 8th August, 1846, (except to the Library of Congress,) six hundred and seventy copies; and to each member of the Senate and House of Representatives who has not already received the same, one copy; and that ten copies be placed in the Library of Congress.

Resolved, That each member of the Senate he furnished with the 9th volume of Little & Brown's edition of the laws, and that the preceding volumes be furnished to those members who have not already received them.

PRIVATE BILLS.

The following bills from the House of Representatives were read a first and second time by their titles:

An act for the relief of the Virginia Woolen Company;

An act for the relief of Edward Everett; and An act for the relief of David C. Cash and Giles U. Ellis.

Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee on MilItary Affairs.

The following bills were read a first and second time by their titles:

An act for the relief of John W. Robinson; An act for the relief of Gardner Herring; An act for the relief of Albra Trippi; An act for the relief of Silas Champion, of the State of New York;

political or personal, for the highly-respectable gentlemen whose names are introduced in this resolution. If I were about to confer a favor upon any one of the proprietors of the various printing estab lishments in this city, I know of no reason why I should not do that favor as readily and as cheerfully to the gentlemen who are named in that resolution as to any other firm or parties whatever, who are concerned in this department of industry. But, Mr. President, it is proposed in this resolu

An act for the relief of Philip Miller; An act for the relief of Joseph Johnston; An act for the relief of Robert Milligan; An act for the relief of Sylvanus Blodget; An act for the relief of Amos Knapp; and An act for the payment of arrears of pension to tion to dispose of an important work, which inthe guardian of Artemus Conant.

Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee on Pensions.

FIRE AT THE CAPITOL.

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

Mr. PRESIDENT: The House of Representatives concur in the amendment of the Senate to the bill making appropriation to meet the expenses incurred in consequence of the late fire at the Capitol.

Mr. BADGER subsequently reported the bill duly enrolled.

PRINTING OF THE SEVENTH CENSUS. Mr. BRIGHT. I desire to make a motion. I believe it will be necessary to move to suspend the present order of business, for the purpose of taking up the joint resolution to provide for the printing of the returns of the Seventh Census. I move, therefore, to suspend all the previous orders, both special and general, with the view of taking up that resolution.

Mr. DAVIS. Is not the unfinished business of Saturday the order of the day?

The PRESIDENT. It is the first special order; but the Senator from Indiana [Mr. BRIGHT] moves to postpone all the orders of the day, both special and general, to take up this joint resolution. Mr. DAVIS. I have no particular objection to that. I think that as my friend from Connecticut [Mr. SMITH] has been kept in a state of painful suspense for some time, with all these papers before him, it is but fair that he should have an opportunity of expressing his sentiments. I hope, however, if this measure is taken up this morning, it will be with the understanding that the unfinished business shall follow it.

The PRESIDENT. It will follow as a matter of course, being the unfinished business.

The question was then taken on the motion to postpone the previous orders, and it was agreed to. The PRESIDENT. This is a joint resolution, and is now before the Senate as in Committee of the Whole. The resolution is as follows:

Be it resolved, &c., That the Joint Committee on Printing be directed to contract with Donelson & Armstrong for printing the Census returns, upon such terms as the committee may deem reasonable.

Mr. SMITH. I desire to submit an amendment to the resolution. It is to strike out all after the enacting words and insert:

conformity with the provisions of the act entitled “An act It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Interior, in making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of the Government for the year 1842," approved on the 18th day of May in the said year, to contract for the composition and press-work of — - copies of the returns of the Seventh Census, as the same are classified and arranged by the said Secretary; and in like manner to contract for so much paper and of such quality as he shall deem proper for the said work; and in like manner to contract for the binding said returns as printed in such style as he may judge expedient: Provided, The parties to each of said contracts shall give such guaranty, and said paper and work shall be subject to such inspection as said Secretary shall require to insure the faithful performance of the same.

Mr. S. Mr. President, I regret that I should have the ill fortune of being a member of the Committee on Printing, the duties of which are perhaps more irksome and unpleasant than those of any other committee in this honorable body. But the Senate having been pleased to assign me to a position as a member of that committee, it has become my duty to turn my attention to the subject that is now before the Senate-a subject of very considerable importance in its practical results, and still more important in reference to the principle or rule of conduct in regard to this subject which is involved in the resolution now before us.

At the outset, Mr. President, of my remarks upon this subject, I desire it may be understood that I have no other purpose in addressing the Senate upon the present occasion than to promote such a disposition of the subject as shall conform to the public interest. I desire also to disclaim entertaining any sentiment of antipathy, either

volves the expenditure of a very large sum of money, upon the principle of favoritism; a principle to which I utterly object, and which I conceive to be inadmissible on the present occasion. What is the character of the resolution that is now submitted to the consideration of the Senate? It is proposed by my honorable friend from Indiana [Mr. BRIGHT] that the two Houses of Congress shall make a peremptory order on the Committee on Printing, to make a contract with a certain firm in this city denominated Donelson & Armstrong, for the execution of this work, upon such terms as this committee shall judge to be reasonable. We are not, sir, to inquire whether Messrs. Donelson & Armstrong are competent to perform this work. We are not to inquire whether they have the requisite machinery and the requisite material, or the requisite capital to enable them to perform the work in a manner that shall comport with the public interest. We are not to inquire whether they are as competent, or more competent than the proprietors of other printing establishments in the country. We are not to inquire whether they would be willing to do this important work on terms as favorable to the public as those on which other individuals might be willing to do it. But we are to make a contract with them at all events.

There is to be no qualification except what is involved in that clause of the resolution which provides that it is to be done "upon such terms as the committee may deem resonable." Nothing can be further from my thoughts than to cast any imputation upon my honorable friend from Indiana who has submitted this proposition to the consideration of the Senate; and I certainly would not express, as I do not entertain, the slightest want of confidence in the rectitude of my honorable friends who constitute a majority of the Committee on Printing. But, I ask, what is the character of this resolution? It is, that a committee of this body, or rather of the two Houses of Congress, organized, and properly organized I admit, upon political considerations, a majority of which, in the proportion of four to two, sympathize in feeling and opinion, and properly so, with the majority of the two Houses of Congress, shall make a contract, not with any of the citizens of the country who are prepared to do this work on terms most favorable to the public, but with the proprietors of a political organ-a, highly-respectable organ I admit-to do this work on such terms as the majority of the committee shall deem to be reasonable. Now, what does that mean, Mr. President? It is proposed that a majority of the two Houses of Congress should confer this work upon the proprietors of this political establishment, as a matter of favoritism, and as a job, to be done, to be sure, "upon such terms as the committee may judge reasonable."

Now, sir, we are not among those who would, for one moment, harbor the thought that the honorable chairman of the Committee on Printing, [Mr. BORLAND,] or my other honorable friend, [Mr. HAMLIN,] would enter into any stipulation, under this resolution, and make any arrangement with Donelson & Armstrong, or any other individuals on earth, which they believed to be unjust, or inconsistent with the public interest. But the very character of this transaction--the fact that this work is not to be open to the public generally, the fact that the drawing up of this contract, and the settlement of its terms, is to be committed-to whom?— not to the Executive, not to the Secretary of the Interior, not to any officer connected with the executive department of the Government, but is to be put into the hands of a committee, organized, and properly organized, and composed of highly respectable gentlemen, I admit-saying nothing of the minority-who are to make a contract with the proprietors of a political organ in this city, who sympathize with a majority of the committee, on such terms as the committee may deem reasonable. I am not at all surprised that my honorable

friend, the chairman of the Committee on Printing, of whose rectitude, and whose fidelity to his duties as a member of this committee, I shall ever speak with the highest respect, has manifested the utmost repugnance to having this duty devolved upon

him.

I contend, then, that the very character and essence of this resolution involves the idea that a contract is to be made which is to confer pecuniary advantages upon a particular party; and I do not hesitate to say-I care not what efforts may be made by honorable members constituting a majority of this committee-that it will involve the expenditure of a very large sum of money over and above what should be required for the execution of the work which is now under consideration.

But, Mr. President, there are some objections, which should be urged in detail, to the measure now before the Senate, and to which I wish to invite the particular attention of the members of this body. In the first place, I have to remark that in the present state or condition of this subject, the resolution, in the form in which it is presented to the Senate by my honorable friend from Indiana, is utterly impracticable, or in other words, it is impossible for the Committee on Printing to determine what terms would be "just and reasonable," or what terms they should require. of Donelson & Armstrong, for the reason, that Congress has not yet made any order specifying the number of copies of these returns which they intend to have printed. My friend from Indiana does not propose to settle, by his resolution, what number of copies are to be ordered by the two Houses of Congress; and yet it would seem to me that this is a question to which he should have addressed himself at once when he proposed to print the Census returns. Are we to enter into a contract for the printing of these returns without knowing how many copies are to be ordered by the two Houses of Congress? How can the Committee on Printing determine what terms are just and reasonable unless they know what is to be the number of copies and the magnitude and extent of the work? If my honorable friend from Indiana will reflect on this subject for a single moment, he will see that it is utterly impossible for us to form any opinion in regard to what shall be the terms. And why is it so? Because the cost of composition for one hundred copies, or even one copy, is exactly the same that it would be for ten thousand copies. If you order five hundred copies, you are then to pay per copy a comparatively high price, because the expense of composition is only spread over five hundred copies. But if you order the printing of five thousand copies, the cost of composition is divided among the five thousand copies, and the price becomes comparatively low per copy; and if you print ten thousand, then the expense of composition is distributed over a greater number of copies, and the cost per copy becomes still lower than if five thousand copies are printed. I say again, then, that the first thing to be done, before we make any contract for this printing, is to determine what number of copies we are to print. If my friend from Indiana will refer to the act of Congress which was passed in regard to the Sixth Census, he will find that the law which provided for the printing, fixed also the number of copies to be printed. It provides:

"That when the aforesaid enumeration shall be completed and returned to the office of the Secretary of State, by the marshals of the several States, he shall direct the printers to Congress to print for the use of Congress ten thousand copies of the aforesaid returns received from the marshals."

Now, then, Mr. President, I object entirely to the passage of that resolution, even in the form in which it has been presented by my friend from Indiana, until the Senate is prepared to decide as to the number of copies of these returns which shall be printed; for there is no possibility of the Committee on Printing deciding what terms would be just and reasonable until they know what number of copies they are to order.

But, Mr. President, what is more than that, the price per copy will not only depend upon the number of copies to be printed, and also on account of the distribution of the cost of composition over the entire number of copies, but there comes in another element which is material to be taken into consideration, and it is, that if it be a large number of copies, the parties who under

take the printing can afford to make a proportionate reduction, not only in consequence of the distribution of the cost of composition over a large number of copies, but they can afford to make deductions in consideration of the magnitude of the work itself-I mean the magnitude of the number of copies ordered. If it be a large job-if there be ten thousand, or fifteen thousand, or twenty thousand copies ordered-the magnitude in reference to the number becomes an important element to be taken into consideration, in order to enable us to decide judiciously and prop-respective doings complete at the times herein erly what terms are "just and reasonable.' And, sir, besides all this, not only will the committee be involved in inextricable difficulty, unless the number of copies is fixed, but I desire also to inquire how Donelson & Armstrong can themselves decide whether they will accept such terms as the committee may see fit to prescribe or dictate, unless they know what is to be the number of copies printed?

propounded by order of the two Houses of Congress? But the Blue Book will tell the story, and my honorable friend can refer to it.

The provisions of the Census act, as I insist, shows conclusively that Congress could not have contemplated the printing of these returns until they had been made out and submitted to the two Houses of Congress. This act provides that "the Secretary of the Interior shall see that all 'due diligence is employed by the marshals and 'assistant marshals to make the returns of their

Thus there is another difficulty in the way of the resolution of my friend from Indiana. It would seem to be equally necessary that both the committee and the proposed contractors should know the magnitude or extent of the work to be done; and, Mr. President, what do we know about it? The work is not completed; no report of this work has been submitted to the two Houses of Congress. What the work is to be the Senate does not know, neither is there any human being in the country who does know, or can know at present. We know or rather we have every reason to believe-that it is to be a work of very great magnitude. From the number of persons employed on the work at the present time, and from the length of time in which they have been engaged, and are still likely to be engaged, we may conclude that it is to be a document of an unusual size. I have understood that in making up the census returns of 1840, there were only seventeen clerks employed in all. That, we know, was a large work; and I believe it was laid before Congress and published as early in the session as this time, in 1841 or 1842. But instead of seventeen clerks employed, I understand that they have now in the Census Office a hundred and sixtyone clerks and messengers. I do not know how many messengers there are, or how many clerks; but I understand the roll of the present employees runs up to a hundred and sixty-one, and I suppose the services of all these clerks are rendered necessary by the great number of interrogatories and the vast amount and variety of statistics brought into the returns of the marshals by the act of Congress on this subject. What is to be the magnitude of this work I have no means of knowing; and how can the committee, without that knowledge, decide what terms would be “just and reasonable?" Sir, if Messrs. Donelson & Armstrong, in consequence of the vast magnitude of the work, have to get a vast deal of new machinery, and presses, and a vast quantity of type, which would be of very little use to them after the work is completed, and upon which, when they come to make a disposition of the machinery and presses and type, and other materials, they must sustain a great loss, then the committee ought to accord one set of terms. If, on the other hand, it is comparatively a small work, coming within the capacity of their present machinery, they could afford to do it on another set of terms. And how can we judge of the ability of Donelson & Armstrong to do the work, unless something is known of what this work is to be?

But again, who ever heard of the two Houses of Congress ordering a document of this importance to be published before it had been communicated to them? I have never heard of such a thing.

Mr. BORLAND. Will the Senator from Connecticut allow me to ask him a question?

Mr. SMITH. Certainly. Mr. BORLAND. Did I understand the Senator to say that the Census Board had a hundred and sixty-one persons employed in the preparation

of the returns of the census?

Mr. SMITH. I understand that there are one hundred and sixty-one clerks and messengers employed.

Mr. BORLAND. I asked the question simply for information.

Mr. SMITH. I suppose the employment of these persons is rendered necessary by the extent and complexity of the interrogatories that were

[ocr errors]

'prescribed. And further: as the returns are so 'made, to cause the same to be so classified and arranged in the best and most convenient manner 'for use, and to lay the same before Congress at 'the next session thereof."

Why lay them before Congress? Not for the purpose of founding any legislation upon them. Formerly the census returns were laid before Congress to enable Congress to apportion the members of the House of Representatives among the various States of the Union. But that labor has been taken off our hands. These returns were to be made out and laid before Congress, not for the purpose of becoming the foundation of legislation, but solely to enable Congress to make a suitable and proper order in regard to their printing. I can conceive of no reason for communicating the census returns to the two Houses of Congress, except simply that we might have them before us in order to form an opinion in regard to their character and in regard to their value: to see whether they are properly arranged-whether we have reason to believe they are accurate, and then, in reference to the magnitude of the work, to decide how it shall be printed, and what number of copies shall be printed.

But the honorable Senator from Indiana, before these returns came in from the Secretary of the Interior, who was to complete and submit them to the two Houses of Congress, proposes that we should take a leap in the dark; that without knowing anything as to the magnitude of the work, or as to its accuracy; or whether it comes before us in a form in which it ought to be printed; without knowing anything in regard to the number of copies-he proposes what? Ah! a job is wanted for the proprietors of the Union office in this city. Such seem to be the indications of the case, and therefore we are to take time by the forelock, and seize hold of the first page that happens to be completed; or perhaps the committee are to go up to the Census Office, (for my honorable friend does not propose to make an order on the Secretary of the Interior to hand over any portion of these returns,) and, for aught I know, to break into the office, and capture a portion of this document and hand it over to the proprietors of the Union. From all the circumstances of this case, we may be led to infer that that office is pretty hard pushed for supplies. Why cannot the Senator wait till the document comes here? The Secretary of the Interior is not ordered to hand the document over to them; he is only ordered by the law to lay it before Congress. Surely the worthy and highlyrespectable gentlemen, who are the proprietors of the Union, are not in a state of starvation. Why, then, should there be such monstrous haste to get hold of some portion of the public Treasury to sustain the organ of the Democratic party, for which, as I have said, I have a very great respect? It is an excellent organ-it supports the principles and doctrines and views of a very patriotic party; though, as I believe, a party which is monstrously mistaken with regard to some very important questions of public policy. Still I admit that it is necessary and proper that they should have an organ; and I am perfectly willing and desirous that it should prosper. I do not know but that I may be persuaded, by and by, to come into this measure myself, and hand over to them the job of printing the Census returns; for I believe I am a very accommodating gentleman. I am disposed to oblige my Democratic friends, and particularly my honorable friend from Indiana, the author of this resolution. I have received a great many favors from him since I have been a member of this body, and if he should put it on the footing of reciprocation of favors, I might go a great way to oblige him, and do something for this Union office, which seems now to be so severely pressed that it cannot wait for this document, but must catch hold of its head or tail, and print it before we know

« AnteriorContinuar »