must, upon the principles of strictest equity, grant their request. I need not dwell upon this point, in consequence of the proposed amendment of the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. CAMPBELL] obviating the difficulties which have, heretofore, been urged. I know this is a very delicate question, and proposes to withdraw money from the public Treasury, and on which gentlemen, who pause, reflect, and look about them, and like all bills connected with the expenditure of public moneys, require mature consideration. No appropriation should be made, no authority should be given to draw money from the public Treasury, unless there is good ground for so doing, and unless the interest of the country demand that such appropriation should be made. The difficulty, then, being obviated by the amendment proposed by the gentleman from Illinois, [Mr. CAMPBELL,] as regards | this second section, it is not necessary for me to consume time in directing the attention of the committee to it.

If this is a correct conclusion, then the policy of the Government, in reference to cash sales, is all wrong, and has been. And I submit to the House that there is no more trouble in selling one hundred and sixty acres of land for cash, than there is in selling forty acres. Therefore, according to his argument, you should pay no more in the one case than the other. But has the principle been heretofore recognized by the Government? By no means. Since 1818, the Government has paid for selling forty acres of land, at $1 25 per acre, fifty cents; and for selling one hundred and sixty acres, at the same price, $2. Is not this equitable?

I must now briefly notice some objections urged against paying land officers for services already rendered; but this question has been so fully, forcibly, and ably discussed by other gentlemen, that I do not feel authorized to say much in reference to it. The justness of this claim has been, to some extent, admitted by my colleague in reference to most of these claimants. He says: "It may be possible that in some of the offices labor has been done for which their fees and salary have not been an adequate compensation." He says further: "If their cases are meritorious, undoubt

Of this amount $12,839,550 are for the cash value of Mexican warrants located up to the close of the third quarter of 1851.

Having, myself, been connected with the Land Office for a number of years, when I speak upon the subject, in regard to facts connected with it, I speak from my own personal knowledge.

There have been issued under the act of 1847up to the 1st of November, 1851-80,781 Mexican warrants of this number 66,618 up to that date.

I wish to call the attention of the committee to

two or three additional facts: 1st, Of the whole

number located, 33,502, or more than one half of the whole number, were located prior to the close of the third quarter of 1849, and consequently by the former officers; while less than one half, or 33,116, were located by the present officers. 2d, About one fourth of the whole were located prior to the passage of the act of May, 1848, authorizing a charge of twenty-five cents on forty acre warrants, and fifty cents on one hundred and sixty acre warrants, where they were located by assignees.

I might appeal to my Democratic friends, as did the gentleman from Illinois, [Mr. BISSELL,] and ask them to give their support to this bill, in favor of their Democratic brethren who are now out of office.

Again: there have been already issued up to the 1st of November, 1851, 54,201 warrants under the act of 1850; and this number will be increased during the next year to near 150,000. For the compensation of officers, who are required to locate these, no provision is made.

But, Mr. Chairman, in reference to the question of compensation, I hope I shall be excused if I detain the committee a little longer, in order to notice some of the objections against it. My colleague, who reported the amendment from the select committee, says:

"We provide for the future claims of officers for locating these warrants, that the register and receiver is to receive each fifty cents."

That is the fee which they are now entitled to for locating forty acres of land, at one per cent. upon the money received by each officer. He then says:

"I submit to the House, that there is no more trouble in the location of one hundred and sixty acres, than there is in locating forty acres of land. We, therefore, ought not to pay any more in the one case than the other."

disposed to grant relief." Now, if it can be shown that all these cases are meritorious, I am confident that my colleague, as a part of the Congress of the United States, will be ready and willing to vote now for this relief and in the form proposed. And in order to secure his vote, I shall undertake to show that they are all meritorious.

Let me, however, notice, before going further, the exception of the gentleman to a few of these claims. He says: “In many of these offices they are not entitled to" this relief. Why? Because "they have in many instances received almost the maximum the law allow them to receive." To this it is sufficient answer to say, that in all such cases the amount to be paid out of the Treasury will of course be trifling.

But now for the meritorious character of these claims: It will be remembered that in the commencement of these remarks I gave an exhibit of the cash sales and the cash value of the warrants which had been located during the past five years, amounting to $24,256,407. Now, sir, if the per cent. on the whole amount had been equally divided among all the officers in the United States, it would have given to each officer only the sum of $713; this, added to their salaries, would have made $1,213 each. But when we deduct the value of the warrants from the actual cash re

ceipts, how does the matter then stand? The value of the warrants was $12,839,550, leaving the cash receipts $11,416,857. The per cent. on this amount, equally divided, would be $335; add to this, their salary, and it gives to each $835. But when we come to look at the actual receipts at the different offices the true state of the case presents itself without disguise.

I shall not trouble the committee with an ex

hibit of the actual receipts at the different offices for the past five years, but will select 1850 as an average year, the cash receipts being $1,818,829. There are sixty-eight offices in the United States, and the highest commission received at any office was $1,235; the next was $561; while at eight offices they received less than $500; at twelve, $400; at thirteen, $300; at six, $200; and at eighteen, $100-so that the receipts for that year range from $561 down to $20, exclusive of their salary. With this sum they must support themselves, pay their office-rent, and clerk-hire. Will we compel them to do it, and require them at the same time to locate these warrants for nothing?

I did not know that it had entered into the policy of this Government, in fixing the compensation of its officers, to enter into an examination for the purpose of ascertaining what it would cost a man to live. The question is, Shall the services rendered receive a proper equivalent? But I know in the portion of the country where I reside, and where it is probable living can be had as cheap as anywhere else, that no man can get exceedingly rich upon $500 per annum-that no man can get tremely wealthy who receives annually $1,000, very rich upon $800-that no man can get exout of which he is compelled to support himself and family. The registers and receivers are compelled to furnish their own clerk-hire, to supply their fuel, and to pay for their office-rent out of

the salary they receive. If the Government would meet these contingent expenses, the nature of the case would be changed. It is a matter of impossibility, supposing all their office expenses were defrayed, and their family supplied with bread and meat gratuitously, for them to become rich receiving $500 a year. It is perfectly idle to talk about the vast amount of money these men receive for the services rendered by them from the Government. The day has passed by at most of the places where these offices are located when more than a liberal compensation can be obtained. The lands are being rapidly exhausted in many of the States, and soon these offices will be abolished.

I differ with the gentleman from Illinois, [Mr. CAMPBELL,] however, in regard to the amount it will take to liquidate these claims out of the Treasury of the United States. I cannot, by any examination I have made, and I have made the most critical examination of the reports from 1847 to the third quarter of 1851-supposing all these warrants were located without receiving anything -make the amount as large as that stated by my friend.

Mr. CAMPBELL. If the gentleman will permit me just one word. I made this calculation, intending it should cover all the expenses, all the compensation, and put it at the very highest figure. I stated that it might not be positively correct; but I knew it was large enough to cover the entire sum that would be required to be paid out of the Treasury as compensation for these services.

Mr. BRENTON. I am aware the gentleman has placed it at the highest possible amount; but I did not allude to his statement for the purpose of having a controversy upon that question with him or any other gentleman. If he will take the amount of public lands disposed of from the time these warrants were issued up to the preserttime, fixing their cash value at the minimum price, he can ascertain, to the fraction of a cent, the precise value of all these lands; and then it can be ascertained precisely what amount should be paid to these land officers for the labor they have performed. There is no question more susceptible of demonstration. It is as plain as figures can make it, and each individual, by examining, can be satisfied as to this point.

Mr. DUNHAM. I ask the gentleman whether he is not aware that for the last year the cash sales at these land offices have increased in a greater ratio than the entry of lands by land warrants?

Mr. BRENTON. I believe I stated in my remarks before that which would answer the gentleman's inquiry. I will say here, that just in proportion as the Mexican warrants have been consumed, the cash sales have increased, and, during the past year, there being but few warrants to be located, and very few issued under the act of 1851, the cash sales naturally would increase. Just as these warrants are diminishing, the cash sales will increase. I am fully aware of this fact, and have stated it before. These officers are necessary to the execution of the law of the United States for the disposition of the public domain; and I ask, upon what principle of justice can any man, or this Government, say to them that these laws shall be faithfully executed, but you shall not receive anything for your labor and trouble, and the necessary expense attending the disposition of the public land? If the gentlemen who represent the Southwestern States will take the pains to examine the receipts of their various offices for the past five years, they will find that many of their officers-their own constituents, have received less than $600 for their services. It has been equally the case in the West. In my own State, during the past year, the compensation at no office reached $1,000. There is, in my mind, an objection to the form of the third section of the Senate bill, which objection was suggested by the remarks of my colleague, the chairman of the select committee. It may be, I suppose, so amended as to meet his views upon the question. I have, therefore, an amendment which I intend proposing to the third section of this bill, in reference to the compensation for the past officers. I intend moving to strike out all previous to the first proviso, and to insert the following provision:

And be it further enacted, That the Commissioner of the General Land Office is hereby authorized and directed to investigate and allow the claims of the former and present registers and receivers of the several land offices in the United States, for their services rendered prior to the passage of this act, in locating military bounty land warrants,

jeaned under the acts of Congress approved February 11, 1817, and September 28, 1850; the rates of compensation to be the same as now allowed by law on the sales of pablic lands for cash, at the minimum price, after deducting the amount they may have received from persons who have located assigned warrants. And the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and directed to pay out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to the claimants or their legal representatives, the amounts so allowed by the Commissioner of the General Land Office. Mr. BRENTON yielded the floor to

Mr. CARTTER, who moved the committee rise; which motion was agreed to.

By Mr. MILLER: The memorial of sundry citizens of Adair, Shelby, and Knox counties, Missouri, praying the establishment of a mail route from Shelbyville to Kirksville, Missouri.

By Mr. McDONALD: The petition of the heirs of Captain Joshua Frost, for commutation pay.

Also, the petition of David Fowler, for pay for injuries received while in the employment of the United States. By Mr. ASHE: The memorial of R. B. Smith and D. N. Brice, deputy marshals, praying additional compensation for taking the census.

On motion by Mr. CARTTER, The House then adjourned.

NOTICES OF BILLS.

By Mr. St. MARTIN: A bill entitled "An act to establish a navy-yard and depôt at New Orleans, in the State of Louisiana."

Also, a bill entitled "An act making an appropriation for the removal of the bar at the mouth of the Mississippi river, by means of dredge-boats, so as to allow the passage of the largest ships."

By Mr. ALLEN, of Illinois: A bill for the establishment of a national foundry and armory on the site of old Fort Massac, in illinois.

Also, a bill to grant the right of way and a donation of public lands to aid in the construction of a railroad from Shawneetown, Illinois, to a point on the Mississippi river, opposite the city of St. Louis.

Also, the proceedings of a mass meeting of the citizens of Marion county, in the State of Illinois, asking Congress to grant to the actual settlers upon the public lands on the line of the Central Railroad in said State the right of preemption.

By Mr. CHANDLER: A bill granting public lands to the Sunbury and Eric Railroad Company of Pennsylvania, to aid in the construction of their works, and connect the Jake trade more directly with the Atlantic.

PETITIONS, &c.

The following memorials, petitions, &c., were presented under the rule, and referred to the appropriate committees: By Mr. FAULKNER: The petition of Henry Bedinger, of Virginia, and other heirs of Daniel Bedinger, deceased, praying for the half pay and land due to them for the services of the said Daniel Bedinger, in the war of the Revolu tion.

Also, the petition of John Littlejohn, praying to have allowed him certain items of his account rejected by the accounting officers of the Government, for work done at Harper's Ferry.

By Mr. CHASTAIN: The petition of sundry citizens of Cass county, Georgia, and the accompanying testimony, praying remuneration for property destroyed by the troops of the United States while stationed at New Echota, in said county.

By THOMAS M. HOWE: The memorial of B. Crawford, A. Watson, and 51 other practical engineers, engaged chiefly in running steamboats on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, on the subject of steam boiler explosions.

Also, the petition of George Weyman, Jacob McCollister, and others, manufacturers and journeyinen cigar makers of the city of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, praying for a modification of the tariff so as to afford a fair remuneration for their labor.

Also, the memorial of the Rev. John Douglass and others, of the city of Pittsburg, praying that postingsters, and all others in the employment of the Government, may be relieved from duty on the Christian Sabbath.

Also, sundry memorials from citizens of Alleghany county, Pennsylvania, representing the advantages of a speedy construction of a canal at the Falls of the river Ste. Marie, Michigan.

By Mr. McLANAHAN: The petition of citizens of Perry county, praying for a mail route from Millerstown to Ickesburg, in Perry county, aforesaid, by the way of Donnelly's MEL

Also, the memorial of the Hon. Frederick Watts, President, and Robert C. Walker, Secretary, of the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society, praying for the establishment of an Agricultural Bureau by the General Government.

Also, the petition of R. Porter, John Herron, Thomas Rowley, and William Quail, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, praying for additional compensation for their attendance as witnesses in the United States court at Washington.

By Mr. SCUDDER: The petition or John Jenkins and others, citizens of Massachusetts, asking an appropriation for the preservation of Wood's Hole harbor.

By Mr. HENN: The petition of Orson Hyde, asking compensation for certain horses and mules stolen from him by the Cheyenne Indians, and for other property stolen by the Pawnee Indians in the fall of the year 1851.

Also, the proceedings of a meeting of the stockholders of the Keokuck and Dubuque Railroad North, held at Anamosa, on the 19th day of January, 1852.

Also, the proceedings of a meeting of the stockholders of the Keokuck and Dubuque Railroad North, held at Marion, on the 17th day of January, 1852.

By Mr. BROWN, of Mississippi: The petition of Samuel Davis, for himself and others, for the establishment of amhail route from Jackson court-house to Pascagoula, in the State of Mississippi.

By Mr. PHELPS: The petition of Francis Wohlseh!ager, Joseph Sehmidt, Carl Miller, and others, citizens of St. Louis county, Missouri, praying that a portion of the public domain lying south of the river Des Peres, and adjacent to Jellerson Barracks, Missouri, be surveyed and sold as public land.

Also, the petition of Wm. H. Russell, surviving partner of late frein of Brown, Russell & Co., for indemnity for losses sustained, and pay for services performed, in executing a contract for the transportation of military supplies to New Mexico.

Also, the petition of J. M. Williams, for correction of location of land warrant and entry of land.

Also, the petition of Jesse R Falkner, for a pension. By Mr. MOORE, of Louisiana: The memorial of the people of North Louisiana and Northeastern Texas, asking Congress to order a survey of and make a grant of land, to aid in the construction of a railroad from the Mississippi river, at a point near Vicksburg, to the Texas line.

The PRESIDENT pro tem. laid before the Senate a report of the Secretary of the Treasury, communicating the report of the Light-House Board, appointed under the eighth section of the act of March 3, 1851; which was read, and ordered to be referred to the Committee on Commerce and printed.

The PRESIDENT pro tem. laid before the Senate a report of the Secretary of War, communicating the proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Military Asylum, under the act of March 3, 1851, to found a Military Asylum for the relief and support of invalid and disabled soldiers of the Army of the United States; which was read and ordered to be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and printed.

Mr. HAMLIN, in connection with the above report, submitted the following resolution for consideration; which was referred to the Committee on Printing:

Resolved, That three thousand copies of the report submitted by the Light-House Board, and communicated to the Senate by the Secretary of the Treasury, be printed, and that one thousand of the same be for the use of the said Light-House Board.

PETITIONS.

States, for the purpose of prosecuting the revolu tionary war, $1,000 in specie; that they were af terwards paid the sum of $1,000 in Continental money, which was so depreciated that they never received for it but $168. They pray Congress to pass an act authorizing the Treasury Department to pay them the balance. I move that it be referred to the Committee of Claims.

The motion was agreed to.

Mr. SEWARD also presented a petition of inhabitants of Buffalo, New York, praying that the bill giving further remedies to patentees may become a law; which was referred to the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office.

Also, three petitions of inhabitants of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, praying the adoption of measures for the amicable adjust ment of international controversies; which were referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Mr. STOCKTON presented the memorial of the widow of Henry Sevely, Captain of the pri vateer "Nonsuch" during the last war with Great Britain, praying the payment of certain arrearages of pension; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Also, a petition of the inhabitants of Bordentown, New Jersey, praying that the law abolishing logging in the Navy may not be repealed;

which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. SHIELDS presented the proceedings of a favor of the enactment of a law granting a reameeting of citizens of Marion county, Illinois, in sonable preemption to actual settlers along the line of the Illinois Central Railroad; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. ATCHISON presented the memorial of the Commissioners of the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb at Fulton, Missouri, praying a donation of land; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. UNDERWOOD presented the memorial of John C. Jones, praying to be allowed the full amount of his claims against Mexico, and not a pro rata allowance of the amount appropriated to satisfy the claims of citizens of the United States against Mexico; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

mittee, appointed at a meeting of the people of Mr. DOWNS presented the memorial of a com

North Louisiana and of Northeastern Texas, praying the right of way and a grant of land to the State of Louisiana, to aid in the construction of a railroad from the Mississippi river, in that State, to the Texas line; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. PEARCE presented the memorial of Robert M. Hamilton, United States Consul at Montevideo, praying compensation for diplomatic services; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Mr. DAVIS presented the petition of citizens of the United States, praying for such alteration of the present tariff as will promote the honest and practical efforts of the importing merchants, the best interests of the farmers, of the manfacturing

Mr. GWIN presented four petitions of citizens of California, praying the establishment of a Branch Mint at San Francisco, in that State;

which was ordered to lie on the table.

Also, the memorial of Benjamin Chapman, praying the reimbursement of moneys expended by him for subsistence and transportation to citizens of the United States, emigrants to California; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. FISH presented the petition of Thomas A. Napier, praying that a new register may be issued for the American-built ship Obed Mitchell, under the name of Kate Napier; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

the laboring people of all classes of the United States; which was referred to the Committee on Manufactures.

The PRESIDENT pro tem. laid before the Senate a memorial of the Legislature of Alabama, praying a grant of public land to enable that State to make a geological survey of that State; which was referred to the Corimittee on Public Lands and ordered to be printed.

WORKMEN ON THE CAPITOL.

Mr. CASS. I hold in my hand a petition of mechanics and laborers lately employed on the extension of the wings of the Capitol, praying that they may be allowed to proceed with the work. They desire to be employed on the work during the winter, but to wait for their remuneration until

an appropriation shall be made for that purpose. I have also a letter from the Secretary of the Interior, and a letter from the principal architect, recommending this course. Very strong reasons are given why this course should be pursued, as well on account of the public interest as from a regard to the condition of these people. I desire that the petition may be read.

The Secretary read it accordingly. The memorialists represent that they came to Washington for the purpose of being employed on the extension of the wings of the United States Capitol, and many of them, relying with confidence on the Government, brought with them their families. They are mechanics and laboring men, upon whom the responsibility of a family depends. They look to Congress alone for relief, by allowing them on their own responsibility to continue at work during the winter, with a view to the future action of Congress.

The letter from the Secretary of the Interior, the Hon. A. H. H. Stuart, and the letter of the Architect, Mr. T. U. Walter, were also read.

Mr. CASS. I hold in my hand a joint resolution in relation to this subject, which I hope the

Senate will consider at this time.

Mr. HUNTER. Let it be read. The Secretary read it, as follows: Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives, &c., That the Architect of the Capitol, under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, be and he hereby is authorized to continue in employment so many of the mechanics, laborers, and others employed in the construction of the wings of the Capitol, as may be necessary, provided such persons as may be employed under the authority of this resolution consent to wait for their pay any appropriation which may be hereafter made by Congress for that purpose.

Mr. CASS. I will merely remark, that that resolution was prepared by the Committee on Publie Buildings of the other House. A similar one is pending in Committee of the Whole in that House; but it is doubtful when it will come up. They therefore wished me to introduce it in the Senate. I hope there will be no objection to it.

The PRESIDENT. It requires the unanimous

consent of the Senate to introduce the resolution at this time, notice not having been given.

Mr. HUNTER. I do not object to the object of the resolution, because I concur with the Senator from Michigan in regard to it; but I would suggest to him whether it would not be better to refer it to the Committee on Public Buildings.

Mr. CASS. I suggested that course, but the chairman of the committee of the other House thought it unnecessary.

Mr. HUNTER. If that is the opinion of the chairman I will not press it.

Mr. CASS. I so understood him. The Sena

ers.

Mr. SOULE, from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, to which was referred the memorial of William C. Templeton, submitted a report, accompanied by a bill to provide for a trimonthly mail from New Orleans to Vera Cruz, via Tampico, and back, in steam vessels.

The bill was read and passed to the second reading. The report was ordered to be printed.

PLANK ROADS-MAIL ROUTES.

Mr. RUSK, from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, to which was referred the

The motion was agreed to, and the Senate procecded to its consideration as in Committee of the Whole.

I will state its object briefly. This man has to the several States of the Union for the relief and devoted about twenty years of his life to this sub-support of indigent insane persons, reported it ject. He is a man of a strong, practical, and without amendment. scientific mind; and he presents a treatise and a scheme by which he hopes to relieve, in some measure, the public from those disasters which are so common. I have examined his scheme, and I confess I have been struck with astonishment at it. It has been submitted also to the honorable Senator from Massachusetts, [Mr. DAVIS,] and some of the most scientific men in this city. This man does not come forward to ask for any appropriation; but his object is to lay the result of a life of labor, upon this all-important subject, before the public. He has begged me to present this memorial, and also his treatise, which imbodies the re-joint resolution to establish certain mail routes, result of the experiments of a life of one of the ported it with an amendment, and asked for its immediate consideration. most remarkable men perhaps now in our country, so far as this subject is concerned. He has been employed in my own State, and the honorable Senator from Massachusetts can bear me witness, that at a time when we hardly knew what to do in relation to our canals, when we depended upon the rivers for a sufficient supply of water, this man, then comparatively unknown, stepped in and proposed that water should be supplied from the lake. At first he was laughed at, but the proposition has been carried out, and has been eminently successful. I hold in my hand his treatise. It has been submitted to the most scientific gentlemen in Washington-Colonel Abert and others-and, as far as I can learn, they pronounce it to be a most remarkable result of a life of labor and experiment in this matter, and as calculated to relieve us, in a great measure, from those disasters which have been of such frequent occurrence in the country. All that I ask, and I hope and trust that it will be granted, is, that the Committee on Printing will direct that this will be printed, and laid on the tables of the Senate, that each Senator may examine it, and ject as may be deemed necessary. afterwards such action may be taken on the sub

diately connected with this subject, what struck I would remark, though it is not perhaps imme me when I heard of its being examined by scienwhich is related in history, occurred to my mind. tific officers in this city. A remarkable thing, When Napoleon was preparing his great expedition at Bolongne-when he was preparing his flotilla for the invasion of England, an American, unknown at the time, called upon him and presented a project by which he could invade England in spite of her fleet. Napoleon himself said that he examined it, and was struck with the project, but he had not time to give it a thorough investigation, and he referred it to the scientific men of France.

ness to it.

Mr. SHIELDS. I was spoken to this morning by the Architect, and also by the chairman of the Committee on Public Buildings of the other House in regard to the subject. They were extremely anxious that this resolution should be passed this morning; and I hope that, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, there will be no objection to it.

Mr. BORLAND. I wish to say a word why I shall object at this time. If I understand this matter, a committee has been appointed by the other House to investigate the subject, and see whether it is proper that the work should go on at all. Therefore, I think it is improper at this time to pass a resolution requiring the work to be continued.

Mr. CASS. The honorable Senator from Arkansas is under a misapprehension. There has been no committee appointed by the other House to investigate the subject. It is under the charge of the Committee on Public Buildings, and the chairman of that committee was here this morning and expressed a hope that this resolution would be passed.

The PRESIDENT. It cannot be received as objection has been made. Is any motion made with regard to the memorial?

Mr. SHIELDS. I move that the memorial and papers be referred to the Committee on Public Buildings.

The motion was agreed to.

EXPLOSION OF STEAM-BOILERS. Mr. SHIELDS. I am requested to present the Memorial of Alfred Guthrie. The memorial is one which treats of the explosion of steam boil

ought to be sent to a mad-house. Yet that man was Fulton, and Napoleon lost the world by neglecting that opportunity. Here is the case of a man who has given a whole life to a subject quite as important as the invasion of England was at that time. I trust that the memorial and treatise will receive consideration and respect. I move that they be referred to the Committee on Printing.

They were so referred.

PAPERS WITHDRAWN AND REFERRED. On motion by Mr. BUTLER, it was Ordered, That the petition of Guier and McLaughlin, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

On motion by Mr. PEARCE, it was Ordered, That the memorial of the Regents of the Smithsonion Institution, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Finance.

On motion by Mr. BELL, it was

relating to the claim of R. S. Blair, be referred to the Com

Ordered, That the documents on the files of the Senate,

mittee on Military Affairs.

On motion by Mr. BELL, it was

Ordered, That the petition of William B. Hart, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Additional documents were also presented by Mr. BELL, and referred to the same committee.

REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES. Mr. GWIN, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to which was referred the memorial of the widow of Marvin W. Fisher, reported a bill for her relief; which was read and passed to the second reading.

Mr. SHIELDS, from the select committee to which was referred the bill making a grant of land

Mr. RUSK. The original resolution referred to the committee was to constitute a plank road in the State of New York a post road; and to enable the Postmaster General to have the mail carried thereon. As the general law now stands, all canals and railroads are post roads, and the Postmaster General has a right to contract for the transportation of the mail thereon. I suppose Plank roads would then have been made post roads if any had existed. There is no reason why plank roads should not be post roads. The ainendments which the committee propose to the resolution is, to invest the Postmaster General with power to contract, whenever it shall be deemed proper, for the carrying of the mails on plank roads, and to constitute them by law post roads of the United States.

The amendment was agreed to, the resolution was reported to the Senate, the amendment was concurred in, and the resolution was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

REPORTS OF SURVEYORS GENERAL. On motion by Mr. FELCH, it was

Ordered, That the report of the Secretary of the Interior, with the reports of the Surveyors General of Illinois, and Missouri, and Oregon, communicated to the Senate the 24 instant, be printed, in connection with the annual report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, which accompanied the President's message at the commencement of the session.

Mr. FELCH also submitted the following resolution; which was read and referred to the Committee on Printing:

Resolved, That one thousond extra copies of the report of the Commissioner of the General Laud Office, transmitted to the Senate with the annual message of the President, together with the reports of the Surveyors General of Illinois, and Missouri, and Oregon, transmitted to the Senate by the Secretary of the Interior, on the 2d instant, be printed for the use of the General Land Office.

BILL REFERRED.

The bill from the House of Representatives for the relief of Hiram Moore and John Hascall, was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office.

BILL PASSED.

The engrossed bill to relinquish the reversionary interest of the United States to a certain reservation therein mentioned, and to confirm the title of Charles G. Gunter thereto, was read a third time and passed.

REPORT OF CAPTAIN H. STANSBURY. Mr. DOUGLAS submitted the following resolution for consideration; which was read, and referred to the Committee on Printing:

Resolved, That five thousand five hundred additional copies of the report of Captain H. Stansbury, of his explo ration of the Valley of the Great Salt Lake, which was ordered to be printed by a resolution of the Senate of the 12th March last, be printed for the use of the Senate, and that five hundred copies thereof be furnished to the Topograph. ical Bureau, three hundred to the Smithsonian Institution, and two hundred copies to Captain Stansbury. DIPLOMATIC INTERCOURSE WITH SWITZERLAND.

Mr. BRODHEAD. Mr. President, a few days since I laid before the Senate a resolution upon the subject of our diplomatic relations with Switzerland, which I desire now to have considered and disposed of.

The resolution was read as follows:

Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Relations be requested to inquire into the expediency of making provision

by law for the usual outfit and salary of a chargé d'affaires to Switzerland.

Mr. BRODHEAD. There are many considerations of a political as well as commercial character, which should induce this Government no longer to be neglectful of diplomatic intercourse with the Swiss Republic, or rather with the Government of the Swiss Confederation. It is now the only republic in Europe; and notwithstanding it is surrounded with despotisms, and has often been threatened with an extinguishment of its nationality, it has always resolutely maintained an altar to freedom. It has been a kind of nursery of free principles, and a place where political refugees have always found an asylum. It now has a population of over two millions and a half, with a large and increasing commerce. In 1848 and 1849 they reorganized the Government and adopted a constitution similar in many of its provisions to our own. They adopted a system more national in its character, and now have the same powers to negotiate treaties of amity and commerce that we have,-a power which could not be exercised before without the consent of all the Cantons. All other Governments of any importance have diplomatic representatives in Switzerland-France, England, Austria, Prussia, Russia, Spain, &c., and we, a sister Republic, have none. In diplomatic circles we have no person to represent this Government or defend our institutions or protect our citizens. In the event of a war in Europe it would be peculiarly necessary for us to have a representative in Switzerland, with whom the friends of liberal and republican principles could have communion without fear. A representative from this country would aid in maintaining constitutional government, and be more likely to enjoy confidence in Switzerland than the representative of any other nation, and hence would be enabled to obtain information which would be valuable.

tection; and so imminent was the danger of an attack upon that place, that martial law was proclaimed, and every citizen capable of bearing them was under arms. If there should be a general rising of the Indian tribes in south California, as is still apprehended, (although the intelligence by the last steamer is more favorable for the preservation of peace,) Los Angeles and Santa Barbara will be as much exposed to depredations as San Diego, and the loss of life and the sacrifice of property will be immense. Within this great extent of country, comprising several hundred miles of sea-coast, with an equal extent of back country, we have no governmental protection against these Indian hostilities. There are some troops at San Diego, and a post at the mouth of the Gila, but it is a mockery to say they are any protection to the country. In fact, they can scarcely protect their own scalps from the tomahawk of the Indians; and if we give credit to the intelligence that has reached us, the post at the mouth of the Gila was surrounded for days by hostile Indians, and only saved from massacre by a piece of artillery, that dealt terror, as well as death, among the savages. It is by no means certain that the inadequate force of that station can continue successfully to resist the hostile attacks of the Indian tribes that surround it. Nor can the Government extend adequate protection to the Pacific coast under the existing organization of the army. We must have an entirely new system, adapted to the peculiar situation of the country; and it is to accomplish this purpose that I have prepared the bill that I propose before I take my seat to bring before the Senate. Sir, the citizens of California and Oregon have appealed to their Government for protection, as will appear from the resolutions of the Legislature of California, and the letter of the distinguished Delegate from Oregon, [Mr. LANE,] both of which I will read :

Joint Resolutions in relation to establishing forts on our borders.

Whereas a large portion of our State is unprotected from the different tribes of Indians that live upon our borders, and that these tribes are frequently engaged, and are now at war with the citizens of this State; and in consequence of our present unprotected condition there is no security for either life or property, and this State not having the means of extending that protection to its citizens which their present necessities require: and whereas it is the duty of the Federal Government to protect its citizens from the incursions of either internal or external enemies; therefore,

Resolved, (the Senate concurring,) That our Senators be instructed and our Representatives be requested to use their best efforts to have a portion of the United States troops established on our borders, and also to have a line of forts erected along the same for the purpose of protecting our citizens.

Independent of political inducements, our commercial interests and industrial pursuits, I think, demand the establishment of a permanent mission in Switzerland. The annual amount of international exchange may safely be estimated at ten millions of dollars, and is larger than our commerce with Naples, Sardinia, Denmark, Holland, or Belgium, at all of which places we have diplomatic representatives. Our commercial intercourse with Switzerland is important. She consumes annually from 100,000 to 150,000 bales of our cotton, about 500 hogsheads of our tobacco, and a considerable quantity of rice and other products. We receive in return her silks, laces, finer cotton goods, jewelry and watches. By a provision in the present Swiss constitution, raw materials required by manufacturers, as well as the necessaries of life, are admitted at the lowest possible rate of duty. This liberal commercial policy requires some notice and encouragement at our hands. It is well known that efforts have been made to draw her into a commercial league with the Zoll Verein and other powers, on terms injurious to our interests. For these, and other reasons which I might|izens there, and can say to you, that for their protection and urge, I hope the resolution will be adopted, and that the Committee on Foreign Affairs will give the subject that consideration which I think its importance demands.

The resolution was agreed to. PROTECTION TO CITIZENS OF CALIFORNIA.

Mr. GWIN. Mr. President, in accordance with previous notice, I now ask leave to introduce a bill providing additional protection to the citizens of California and Oregon, from aggressions by the Indian tribes and from foreign invasion. Recent intelligence from California informs us that there was imminent danger of a general rising of the Indian tribes in the southern section of the State, for the avowed object of plundering and massacring the whites. This portion of the State is sparsedly populated; so much so, that it is impossible to collect such bodies of men, at short notice, as are required to keep the Indians in check. Many of the inhabitants of that State at points remote from the coast are at the mercy of the Indians, and have already been attacked, plundered, and forced to fly for their lives. I will only introduce the case of the Hon. Mr. Warner, Senator from the district of San Diego, who, in defending his property from an attack of the Indians, lost one of his men, all of his stock, and was compelled to fly to the town of San Diego for pro

Resolved, That the Governor be requested to forward a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolutions to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress.

WASHINGTON CITY, December 12, 1851. To his Excellency the President of the United States: SIR: A sense of duty prompts me to call your early attention to the peculiar condition of things in Oregon. I have been a citizen of that Territory for near three years, have traveled the settled portion of it all over; had much to do with the Indians, and know them, perhaps, as well as any other man, and understand the wants of the American cit

for the protection of others emigrating there, that troops to be garrisoned on the great road from St. Joseph via Fort Hall to the Dalls of the Columbia, and also on the road from Oregon to California, are absolutely indispensable for the protection of life and property. I know that I need but call your attention to the condition of things there, and present the facts within my knowledge, to secure your aid and prompt action in the premises. The suffering this season for the want of troops to protect emigrants and others en route to Oregon, and from Oregon to California, has been terrible, and certainly this Government ought, and will, I have no doubt, afford protection to her citizens in a country so remote and exposed as are all persons traveling either on the emigrant road to Oregon or on the road from Oregon to California. There are but these two roads south of the CoJumbia on which troubles are to be apprehended. The shape of the country, with its stupendous mountains, are insurmountable barriers to the location of roads of importance. A garrison of two or three companies of horse-one of infantry, if a mounted force cannot be had-on each of these roads, at the grand round for instance, on the emigrant or northern road, and in the Rogue River Valley, on the California or southern road. The moral influence that the establishment of the posts would produce upon the minds of them, and afford the protection to American citizens that the Indians would do much towards keeping peace with they are so justly entitled to.

It may be well here to mention, that the road from Oregon to California forks in the Rogue River Valley; the main road passes south of the great Shasti Mountain to the source of the Sacramento, thence down that river to its great valley, and to Sacramento City; the north branch passes by Clamath Lake to Fort Hall. A small party of emigrants have gone that route this season and got in safely. This route was opened by Jesse Applegate Scott and others, in the year 1846, for the purpose of affording to emigrants a

pass into the southern portion of Oregon; but such was the suffering of the first emigrants on this route that it has been but little traveled since, but will, I have no doubt, be much traveled if a garrison should be established in Rogue River Valley, as above suggested.

I have been thus explicit in order that you may understand the condition and wants of the country which I have the honor to represent, with the full belief that you will take such steps as may be necessary to give protection to the citizens there, and emigrants and others traveling to and from Oregon.

Herewith I inclose two communications from Oregon for your perusal, which you will please return to me. One of the writers I am well acquainted with, (Mr. Applegate, one of the early settlers of Oregon.) He has done much to bring the country into requisition, by exploring, opening roads, &c., &c.; a sensible, reliable man. With Mr. Si mons I have no acquaintance, but have no doubt of the truth of his narrative.

With great respect I am, sir, your obedient servant,
JOSEPH LANE.

What is the response? It will be found in the letter addressed to me by the Secretary of War, which these documents called forth:

WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON,
December 27, 1851.

SIR: I have received a copy of the joint resolutions of the Legislature of California, instructing her Senators and requesting her Representatives to use their best efforts to have a portion of the United States troops established on her borders, and also to have a line of forts erected along the same for the purpose of protecting her citizens.

By referring to my annual report (a copy of which is herewith inclosed) you will perceive that I therein allude to the defenceless state of California and Oregon, and the President in his annual message also invites the attention of Congress to the same subject. The military force now at the disposal of the Department will not permit it to increase the number of troops on the Pacific except by filling up the companies already stationed there to their complement, which will shortly be done.

I herewith inclose the copy of a letter recently addressed to the President, by the late Governor of Oregon, on the same subject.

As regards the establishment of forts,-wherever troops are stationed, such works as may be required for their protection and accommodation will, of course, be constructed, but it would be worse than useless to construct them until they can be garrisoned.

I will add that General Hitchcock (who now commands the Pacific division) has been directed to take early and prompt measures, as far as the means at his disposal will enable him to do so, to establish forts at such points on the borders of California and Oregon where they are most needed for the protection of the inhabitants and of emigrant parties. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. M. CONRAD, Secretary of War. Hon. Wм. M. GWIN, United States Senate.

Sir, here is an honest confession of the inability of the Department to afford us adequate protection under existing laws, and the Secretary deserves credit for it, and equal credit is due to him for the suggestions made in his annual report, from which I will also read extracts:

"In the first place, I would suggest that every facility and encouragement should be afforded to the formation of a local militia, in which our new possessions, like all the Mexican States, are very deficient. As the first step towards the accomplishment of this object, I would recommend that the Executive be authorized to distribute arms among the inhabitants. I am fully persuaded that the advantages that would result from the adoption of this measure, in familiarizing the people with the use of arms, in inspiring them with confidence, and in encouraging the formation of militia companies, would more than compensate for the trifling expense that would attend it. The very fact that the inhabitants were known to be armed, would tend to intimidate the Indians. The distribution should, of course, be made with such precautions as would prevent their being sold or converted to an improper use.

"The quantity of arms to which the new States and Territories are respectively entitled under the act of 1808 is so small as to be of no practical advantage, and, as they have not participated in the issues heretofore made, it would seem to be but just that they should now receive more than their distributive share. At all events they might be permitted to receive their quota for several years in advance. As the arms are lying idle in the depôts, no loss to the Government would result from this course, and they will probably be never more needed than they are at present.

"In the next place, policy and humanity both require that we should employ some other means of putting a stop to these depredations than the terror of our arms. We should try the effect of conciliatory measures. There is no doubt that the Indians are frequently impelled to commit depredations by despair and hunger. As the white population has advanced upon them, they have been compelled to recede before it. The lands that afford nourishment to cattle and game are also the best adapted to cultivation, and consequently the first to tempt the settler; so that the Indians are compelled to take refuge in arid plains and mountains that afford little sustenance to animal life; and even there the circle of white population seems rapidly closing around them."

"I would also recommend that measures be taken to furnish, for a series of years, food and other necessaries to such Indians as will abandon their predatory habits and cultivate the soil. Authentic information, recently received at this Department, leads to the belief that these tribes are far less numerous than they are generally supposed to be, and I have no doubt (laying aside considerations of humanity) that it would be far less expensive to feed than to fight them."

I will not detain the Senate longer in giving the reasons that have induced me to bring forward this bill. It is in part based upon the report of the Secretary of War, and from my own personal observations of the wants of the people of my State. We must be protected by this Government from the enormous expenses of Indian wars within our limits. Already we have an Indian war debt of nearly a million dollars, for which our people will be taxed, unless Congress make provision for its payment, and if we are to judge from the past, we cannot anticipate immediate relief. We have in our State the picked men of the nation, and they only wish the Government to call for their services, and pay for them, to be ready at a moment's warning to march to the utmost extent of our limits to protect its citizens from Indian depredations. Give us arms, and pay us for our services when you need them, and we will protect ourselves from a foreign or domestic foe.

I do not wish to be understood as proposing to dispense with the services of the army on our coast, nor to advance the opinion that we do not ask for the most ample preparations against the approach of a foreign enemy, for which we should have an extensive system of fortifications and naval defence. We need the army to man our forts and 'to form the nucleus around which the force this bill proposes to call into the field could rally when an emergency required their services. Without going into the subject further at present, I propose that the bill be printed, and read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

The provisions of the bill are as follows: A Bill to provide for the better protection of the people of California and Oregon.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That whenever the State of California or the Territory of Oregon shall be invaded, or be in imminent danger of invasion, by any foreign nation, or when hostilities shall be threatened or commenced by any Indian tribe, in or adjacent to said State or Territory, it shall be lawful for the commanding general or officer in command of the United States military forces on the Pacific coast, to make a requisition upon the Governors of said State and Territory, or either of them, for volunteers, or to call forth such number of the militia of the State and Territory aforesaid as he may judge necessary, to repel such invasion or to suppress such hostilities, who shall serve for a time specified by the commanding general, or officer in command, provided such term of service does not exceed months.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That said volunteers or militia shall be commanded by officers elected or appointed, or to be elected or appointed, in the manner prescribed by the law of the State or Territory in which they reside, and shall be received in companies, battalions, squadrons or regiments, and when so received and mustered into the service of the United States, shall be armed at the expense of the United States, and shall be subject to the rules and articles of war.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That said volunteers or militia, during the time they may be in service, shall receive the usual rations of the Army of the United States, and pay equal to three times the amount now provided by law for the pay of the officers and soldiers, respectively, of the United States army on the Pacific coast.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That the volunteers or militia who may be received into the service of the United States by virtue of the provisions of this act, and who shall be wounded, or otherwise disabled in the service, shall be entitled to all the benefits which may be conferred on wounded persons belonging to the Army of the United States.

TENURE OF ARMY APPOINTMENTS.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution submitted by Mr. HALE the 3d instant, in relation to the tenure of appointments in the Army, and the resolution was agreed to, as follows:

Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing that all commissions in the Army of the United States shall be for a limited time, which shall be expressed in the commission.

IRISH EXILED PATRIOTS.

The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the resolution expressive of the sympathy of Congress for the exiled Irish patriots, Smith O'Brien, Thomas F. Meagher, and their associates; and,

On motion by Mr. SHIELDS, it was Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to, and be the order of the day for Saturday, the 7th instant.

PRINTING THE SEVENTH CENSUS. On the motion of Mr. GWIN, the Senate resumed the consideration of the following joint resolution:

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.

Which Mr. SMITH had moved to amend by substituting the following:

"It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Interior, in conformity with the provision of the act entitled 'An act making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of the Government for the year 1842,' approved on the 18th

May of said year, to contract for the composition and presswork of copies of the returns of the Seventh Census, as the same are classified and arranged by said Secretary, and in like manner to contract for so much paper and of such quality as he shall deem proper for said work; and in like manner to contract for binding said returns as printed in such style as he may judge expedient; provided the party to each of said contracts shall give such surety, and said paper and work shall be subject to such inspection, as said Secretary shall require to insure a faithful performance of the same."

The PRESIDENT. Since the resolution was

under consideration, the Senator from North Carolina [Mr. BADGER] has moved an amendment to the amendment. It is to strike out all after the words "it shall be the duty of," and insert the following:

The Joint Committee on Printing to contract with

So far from being any compromise of the differences that have been expressed here between different members of the Senate, I regard it as a great deal worse than the original resolution; and

prefer voting, most decidedly, for the original resolution to giving my assent to the amendment which has been proposed by my honorable friend from North Carolina. In the first place, Mr. President, I have to say, that if the resolution shall be amended as is proposed by my honorable friend, it will be open to every one of the objections which I urged against the original resolution, and it is open to some other objections which cannot be urged against the original resolution.

I am not about to consume the time of the Senate by reiterating the objections which I made at some length, and which have been put into print, and, I dare say, have attracted the notice of the honorable members of this body, so far as they might be deemed worthy of notice. But one of the principal objections I recur to here, is, that as the resolution originally stood, and as the matter is to be presented by the amendment of the honorable Senator from North Carolina, it is totally impossible for the Committee on Printing to make any safe, judicious, and proper contract on the subject, for the reason that the Senator does not propose in his amendment to determine what number of copies of this work is to be printed. But I think it is a little remarkable that the Senator, in drawing up this amendment, should not have turned his attention to the difficulties and embarrassments in which the committee will be involved in being required to make a contract with Donelson & Armstrong for printing the census returns, while the committee are not to know how many copies of the work are to be ordered by the two Houses of Congress.

I shall content myself, sir, with stating this objection in these very brief terms. I shall not now repeat what I said in opposition to the original resolution, and which is equally applicable to this amendment, to wit, that this not being Congressional printing, it is, in my judgment, a usurpation of power on the part of Congress. This is one branch of the alternative which I present to the Senate; and the other is, that if it is Congressional printing, it comes within the contract of A.

the Census, on such terms as the committee may think reasonable and proper: the work to be executed under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, and to be paid for from time to tine, during the progress of the work, by the head of the Census Bureau, under the direction of the Secretary, with power in the Secretary to abate from the amount stipulated if the work, when executed, shall prove deficient or below the standard which may be agreed upon." Mr. PEARCE. Before the question is taken on that amendment, I desire to submit an amendment. If the Senate is disposed to depart from the former practice of letting out the printing on contract, and to leave the matter to the discretion of a committee, it seems to me that it would be proper to have some limitation to which the committee should go. I think that their discretion ought to be guided by some rule, to be prescribed by the Senate; and I know of nothing which requires limitation so much as this matter of public of the committee by an amendment which I offer

of War be required to place at the disposal of the Governors of California and Oregon, fifty thousand stand of arms, to be distributed rateably to the citizens of said State and Territory, under such restrictions as to insure their safe keeping and return when required.

Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of War shall place at the disposal of the Governors of said State and Territory such number of mountain howitzers as may be deemed sufficient to meet the exigencies of the publie service, in the event of an Indian war; also, a field battesy or "field batteries" of light artillery, of the usual composition; also, a park of flying artillery in the event of a foreign war.

SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of War forthwith cause to be established on the Pacific coast, at such point or points as may be deemed most advisable, an arsenal and magazine, well supplied with powder, shot and shells, for the use of ths military in the event of a foreign or Indian war; also, to place in depôt, in the neighborhood of San Diego and San Francisco, one hundred seacoast guns of suitable calibres, to defend the entrance to those harbors: those guns to be mounted in open batteries, should the emergency of a foreign war arise before permanent fortifications shall be constructed to receive them.

SEC. 8. And be it further enacted, That any person who shall be convicted of disposing of any of the public arms or ammunition herein provided for the public service of the aforesaid State and Territory, to any Indian or Indian tribe, shall be subject to a penalty of dollars, and imprisonment for a period of not less than six, nor more than months. The bill was read twice, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

to the amendment.

The PRESIDENT. The amendment of the Senator from Maryland is not in order. The question is on an amendment offered by the Senator from North Carolina [Mr. BADGER] to an amendment offered by the Senator from Connecticut, [Mr. SMITH.]

Mr. PEARCE. I was not aware of that. I will ask, then, that my amendment may be read for the information of the Senate, and, if occasion should require it, I will offer it at the proper time.

The amendment was read, as follows:

"Provided, That the prices to be allowed for the execution of the work shall in no case exceed the average rate of the proposals of the several bidders for the printing of the Thirty-second Congress for the respective classes, or for any class of printing to be executed under this resolution."

The PRESIDENT. The question is on the amendment offered by the Senator from North Carolina to the amendment of the Senator from Connecticut.

Mr. SMITH. I very much regret that I cannot accede to the proposition which is submitted by the honorable Senator from North Carolina, [Mr. BADGER,] upon the idea of a compromise. I

contract. But, as I have already remarked, I am not about to indulge myself in a reiteration of the considerations which I have heretofore presented, and which seem to have produced very little effect on the mind of the Senator from North Carolina, and which, perhaps, are not worthy of much consideration. But I have to say that this amendment is obnoxious to objections which did not obtain, so far as the original resolution is concerned. The honorable Senator from Indiana, [Mr. BRIGHT,] whose absence from his seat by reason of indisposition I certainly very much regret, was content with handing over to Donelson & Armstrong the printing of the census returns. He was content with giving them whatever profits they might make by supplying the paper and by executing the composition and press-work, the effect of which, as I remarked the other day, unless the Committee on Printing are remarkably astute in making the contract, will be to hand over to the proprietors of this press, as I verily believe, a very large amount of the public money. The honorable Senator from Indiana was content to deliver over into the hands of these gentlemen whatever profits they might make out of the composition and press-work, but the honorable Senator from North Carolina is not content with that margin of profits. He seems to have the same anxiety about the prosperity of this "Union" office that my honorable friend from Indiana had, as I humbly conceive, when he offered this proposition to the consideration of the Senate. He is not content that these gentlemen shall make all they possibly can out of the composition and press-work, but he proposes to hand over to them also the binding of this work. They are not practical printers; they are the proprietors of a political press in this city. They have no bindery. But the Senator from North Carolina says by his amendment, "I want to have them receive a larger margin of profits, and therefore I want to hand over the binding to them, and they may job it out to the proprietors of the different bindery establishments in this city, and thus make a larger profit." That we know will be the effect of the operation.