Mr. SMART objected, and called for the regular order of business.

the state of the Union.

The question was then taken upon the motion go into committee, and it was not agreed to.

SEATS FOR THE REPORTERS. Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia, by unanimous consent, from the select committee appointed on Wednesday last to inquire into the practicability rocuring, within the bar of the House, suitable seats for the Reporters of the Congressional Gabe, reported the following resolution, viz:

Revolved, That the Doorkeeper be and he is hereby auDanzed and directed to provide three chairs for the Reporters for the Congressional Globe, to be placed in front of the Clerk's desk, similar to the chairs occupied by the Reporters on the floor of the Senate.

The resolution having been read,

Mr. STEPHENS said: I will barely remark, that upon investigation we have found that three chairs may be placed directly in front of the Clerk's desk for the Reporters of the Globe without at all incommoding the House. If they should, they can be removed. I move the previous question on the adoption of the resolution.

The previous question was seconded, and the main question ordered; which question being put, the resolution was adopted.

Mr. JONES, of Tennessee, moved that the vote just taken be reconsidered, and that that motion be laid upon the table; which latter motion was agreed to.

ADVANCES BY NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Mr. PEASLEE, by unanimous consent of the House, and in pursuance of previous notice, introduced a bill authorizing the payment of interest to the state of New Hampshire for advances made for the use and benefit of the United States, in repelling invasion and suppressing insurrection at Indian Stream, in said State; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. TUCK. I believe there is a rule of this House which authorizes the presentation of petitions without detaining the House; and believing that we shall do nothing else that will be useful, I move that the House do now resolve itself into Committee of the Whole on the state of the

Union.

The question was put, and the motion was not agreed to.

Mr. WALBRIDGE presented the petition of Lemuel Hudson and Ephraim Sharp, which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. MINT OF THE UNITED STATES AT NEW YORK. Mr. BRIGGS, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill, of which previous notice had been Even, to establish a Mint of the United States in the city of New York; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

REFERENCE OF PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. Mr. JONES, of Tennessee. The House have already heard that petitions may be presented here under the rule of the House without wasting its time. It is important that the standing committees should have some basis upon which to commence their work; and preparatory to that, it is necessary to dispose of and refer the various subjects treated of in the President's annual message to the proper committees. That message has been referred to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union. Now, I think the proper course for us to pursue, is to go into committee, and refer it to the appropriate standing committees, and let those committees meet and report when they may think proper. It is right that they should have jurisdiction over the subjects to be referred to

Mr. HOUSTON. The House is aware that the message has not yet been printed. I had intended myself to make a motion similar to that just made by the gentleman from Tennessee, [Mr. JONES,] but until the message is printed, I can hardly see the utility of the motion. I think, therefore, the gentleman had better withdraw his motion for the present.

Mr. JONES. The message has been printed in the papers. It has not, to be sure, been printed by our public printer and laid upon our tables. When that will be done, the Lord only knows. [Laughter.] If we have to wait until we receive it from the public printer, with the documents which accompany it, we shall be obliged to wait for three months, at least.

Several MEMBERS. Five months.

Mr. JONES continued. My experience is, that it is not common to wait for these documents to be officially printed and laid upon our tables before referring it; but if it is the pleasure of the House to wait that time, I have no objection. The SPEAKER. Does the gentleman withdraw his motion?

Mr. JONES. No, sir, I do not. The House may vote it down if they wish.

Mr. GORMAN. I hope the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. JONES] will withdraw his motion. I doubt not, there are other gentlemen in the House in the same situation with myself, in relation to this matter. Papers have been referred to committees during the last Congress; they are now upon file in the Clerk's office, and cannot be withdrawn, except upon motion. But I hope the motion will be withdrawn for another reason. The rules of the House require that previous notice shall be given of intention to introduce a bill. Now, when the States are called for petitions, members are also allowed to give notice of their intention to introduce bills, as well as present petitions. I hope, therefore, it will be the pleasure of the gentleman from Tennessee to withdraw, for the present, his motion to go into committee. Mr. JONES then withdrew his motion. Petitions were then called for from the State of New York; and

Mr. JENKINS presented several.

On motion by Mr. HAVEN, by unanimous consent, it was ordered that the petition of Silas Champion for a pension, and the accompanying papers, be withdrawn from the files, and referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

INSOLVENT DEBTORS.

Mr. HAVEN gave notice that he would tomorrow, or on the earliest day practicable, ask leave to introduce a bill to reenact and continue in operation certain acts for the relief of insolvent debtors of the United States.

On motion by Mr. SACKETT, it was

Ordered, That the petitions and papers of Jacob Kerr and Adam Garlock, be taken from the files of the House, and that the former be referred to the Committee on Privaté Land Claims, and the latter to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions.

Mr. HART presented a petition from Samuel F. Butterworth; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. McNAIR presented a petition of sundry citizens of Delaware county, Pennsylvania, relative to a modification of the bounty land act of 28th September, 1850; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

On motion by Mr. CHANDLER, leave was granted to withdraw from the files, for the purpose of reference to the War Department, the memorial and papers of Mary Ann Beecher.

On motion by Mr. CLINGMAN, it was Ordered, That the petition and papers of Fielding G. Brown be withdrawn from the files of the House, and referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensjons.

Mr. RIDDLE presented a petition from Dela

ware.

THE PRINTERS' MEMORIAL.

Mr. WALSH presented the memorial of the Congress of Printers upon the subject of the mode of giving out the Congress printing, and suggesting that a committee of three practical printers be authorized to act with a committee of Congress to fix the proper rates of compensation for the publie printing, and praying a discrimination in favor of practical printers in awarding a contract for printing.

Mr. W. said that the respectable source from which it came commended it to the attention of the House.

The memorial having been read,

Mr. WALSH moved that it be referred to a select committee.

Mr. JONES, of Tennessee, moved that it be referred to the Committee on Printing; which motion was agreed to.

On motion by Mr. WALSH, it was

Ordered, That the petition and papers of John Gallagher be taken from the files of the House, and referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. BOWIE presented sundry petitions; which were appropriately referred.

On motion by Mr. FAULKNER, it was Ordered, That the petition and papers of Jacob Thody be taken from the files of the House, and referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Mr. F. also presented several petitions.
Mr. McMULLIN presented a petition.

ORANGE AND ALEXANDRIA RAILROAD. Mr. STROTHER. I desire to introduce a bill, under leave of the House, of which previous notice has already been given, for the relief of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad Company.

Mr. JONES, of Tennessee, objected.

Mr. STROTHER. I presume the gentleman will not object when I tell him that I only desire to introduce the bill and have it referred to the appropriate committee. I ask that it be reported for information.

The bill was then read.

was

Ordered, That the petitions and papers of Ira Baldwin and Daniel R. Granger, be taken from the files of the House, and that the former be referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims, and the latter to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Mr. PRICE presented the petition of Jesse D. Brown, for balance of claim; which was referred

to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. ROBBINS presented the resolution of the grand inquest for the eastern district of Pennsylvania, for the extension of the buildings occupied by the Philadelphia post-office; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. MOORE, of Pennsylvania, asked the unanimous consent of the House to introduce a resolution providing for per diem and mileage to John S. Littell, as contestant of the seat of John Robbins, jr., in the Thirty-first Congress.

Mr. JONES, of Tennessee, objected; and the resolution was not received.

discussion of the question now. If the gentleman from Tennessee will not withdraw his objection, I will move that the rules be suspended, in order to afford me an opportunity to introduce the bill.

The SPEAKER said it was not in order to move a suspension of the rules for any such purpose except on Mondays.

On motion by Mr. McMULLIN, it was

Ordered, That the petition and papers of George W. Hopkins, of Virginia, be withdrawn from the files of the House, and referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

On motion by Mr. THOMPSON, of Virginia, it was

Ordered, That the petition and papers of Daniel Steenrod be withdrawn from the files of the House, and referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. McMULLIN gave notice that at some future time he would ask leave to introduce a bill appropriating five hundred thousand acres of land to the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad. Mr. JACKSON presented a memorial from

Thomas M. Newell, a captain in the Navy, asking for full pay during the period he was suspended from command; which, with the papers on the files of the House on the same subject, was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. COBB asked leave to introduce a bill, of which previous notice had been given, for the relief of William J. Price.

Mr. RICHARDSON. I dislike very much to object to the motion of the gentleman from Alabam, [Mr. COBB;] but if these things are allowed to go on in this way, we shall never reach the State of Illinois.

Mr. COBB then presented the petition of William J. Price; which, with the papers on the files of the House in support of the claim, were referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

COMMITTEE OF CLAIMS.

Mr. SMITH. I have been appointed upon the Committee of Claims, and I desire respectfully to ask the House to excuse me from serving on that committee.

Mr. BOCOCK. Mr. Speaker

Mr. SMITH. I hope the gentleman is not about to interpose any objection. I have reasons which, in my opinion, are ample. I do not ask it out of any disrespect to the source of appointment, nor from any disposition, on my part, to shrink from the labor it imposes; but, as I have remarked, I have ample reasons for the request, and I hope the House will grant it.

Mr. BOCOCK. I rise simply to say that the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Ross] asked this morning to be discharged from service on one of the committees of the House. He gave no reason for the request, but merely stated that his reasons were such as were satisfactory to himself; and upon that statement he was excused. Another gentleman now, under similar circumstances, makes the same request, but gives no reasons upon which the House is to base its action. Now, I desire to propound this question to the House: If we go on to grant every request of this nature which is presented, without any reasons being given for granting such requests, what will become of the business of this House, or of the country? That is the suggestion I wish to make.

Mr. SMITH. I have no doubt the committees will remain full; there are a plenty of gentlemen who are willing to serve upon them. I trust, after one gentleman has this morning been excused, without giving his reasons, specially, the same courtesy will be extended to me.

The question was then taken, and Mr. SMITH

was excused.

NOTICE TO LOUIS KOSSUTH.

Mr. SMITH. I give notice that on to-morrow, or some subsequent day, I will ask leave to introduce a joint resolution requiring the Secretary of State to furnish Louis Kossuth with copies of the acts of Congress which define treason and misdemeanors against the United States. The resolution also further contemplates that if, after the reading of these laws, he should continue to make such speeches as he has made since his arrival in New York, inciting the young men of the country to take up arms against a nation with which the United States is at peace, it shall be the solemn duty of the President to have him arrested, (laughter,) and detained until satisfactory assurances be given that he will cease his efforts to enlist the cooperative aid and armed interference of the people of these States in favor of Hungary. Mr. GIDDINGS objected.

THE RULE IN POINT.

Mr. RICHARDSON. I rise to a question of order. I desire to propound this question to the Chair. I wish to know whether any gentleman has not the right to give notice of his intention to introduce a bill? If I understand the rules correctly, when the question is presented by the introduction of a bill, if objection be made, the question arises, "Will the House receive it?" and upon that question there is something upon which they can act definitely. I only desire that we may understand these rules correctly, so that we may start right. My information is, that when the proper time arrives, any gentleman may give any notice he pleases, and no one has the right to object.

Mr. JONES, of Tennessee. I think the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. RICHARDSON] will, upon reflection, see he is in error. The practice of the

House has been, that when a member asks the unanimous consent of the House to give notice of the introduction of a bill, if objection be made, he cannot give such notice. If it be on Monday he may move a suspension of the rules, and the difficulty may be avoided. But in order to afford every one an opportunity of giving notice preparatory to the introduction of a bill, a rule has been adopted providing that notice may be given by the filing of it with the Clerk.

The SPEAKER. The Chair is not aware of any express rule with reference to giving notice of the introduction of bills, except that referred to by the gentleman from Tennessee, [Mr. JONES.] The Chair will remark, however, that it has been the usual practice of this body to give such notice by general consent.

Mr. STANTON, of Kentucky. I desire to ask my honorable friend from Alabama [Mr. SMITH] whether it is his intention in offering this joint resolution to reenact the "Alien and Sedition "law? Several MEMBERS. "Order! order!"

The SPEAKER. No discussion is in order. Mr. STANTON, of Tennessee. I call for the regular order of business.

66

Mr. SMITH. I will answer the interrogatory of the gentleman from Kentucky, [Mr. STANTON.] I do not desire to reenact the Alien and Sedition" law, but we want no more Pampero expeditions. The object of this resolution is to warn Kossuth of the ground on which he stands, and to remind the public officers of their duty. The SPEAKER. The gentleman is not in order.

Mr. SMITH. Well, but I do not understand the decision of the Chair as to whether I have the

right to give this notice.

The SPEAKER. The Chair decides that the gentleman has the right, under the rule, to give the notice, by filing it with the Clerk at any time. On motion by Mr. MOORE, of Louisiana, it

Mr. TAYLOR, by unanimous consent, and in pursuance of previous notice, asked leave to introduce a bill further to extend the time of locating Virginia military land warrants, and for returning surveys thereon to the General Land Office; which was read a first and second time by its title and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. GIDDINGS presented a petition.

Mr. BARRERE presented a memorial from Daniel Slack, of Batavia, in relation to the Mexican indemnity.

Mr. JOHNSON, of Ohio, presented a petition. Mr. MARSHALL, of Kentucky, presented a petition from B. B. Bennett, of Kentucky, which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

NEWSPAPERS TO MEMBERS.

Mr. STANTON, of Kentucky, asked the unanimous consent of the House to introduce a resoolution; which was read for information as follows, viz:

Resolved, That the Clerk of the House furnish to each member such newspapers as he may desire, not exceeding in amount that allowed to members of the Senate.

Mr. JONES, of Tennessee, objected to the introduction of the resolution.

Mr. GIDDINGS inquired of the Chair whether the resolution was not in order under the rules as a part of the organization of the House? The SPEAKER responded in the negative.

HOMESTEADS.

Mr. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill, of which previous notice had been given, to encourage agriculture, commerce, and manufactures, and other branches of industry, by granting to any man who is the head of a family and a citizen of the United States, a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres of land out of the public domain, upon condition of occupancy and cultivation of the same for a period therein specified; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Com"mittee on Agriculture.

COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ExpendiTURES, Mr. JOHNSON, of Tennessee. I rise for the purpose of asking of the House to be discharged from service on the Committee on Public Expenditures. As the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Bocock] thinks it incumbent upon gentlemen to do so, I will assign the reasons why I wish to be discharged from serving on the committee, if the House will indulge me two or three minutes in explanation. In the first instance, I will state that I do not ask to be excused from serving on this committee out of any disrespect to the Speaker, as, I think, he will bear me witness. If there is honor or emolument flowing from serving as chairman of said committee, I desire no longer to enjoy such honor or emolument, having enjoyed them heretofore. I will assign another reason, and a very good one, it seems to me, and that is, when you come to examine the rules of the House, which define the jurisdiction of this committee, you will find that the Committee of Ways and Means, by the same language in which it is conferred upon the Committee on Public Expenditures, have charge of every subject that could possibly come within the range and jurisdiction of the Committee on Public Expenditures. addition to this, there are six other committees that have jurisdiction of all that could reasonably come within the range of the duties of the Committee on Public Expenditures, producing such a conflict of jurisdiction that it makes the Committee on Public Expenditures a perfect nullity, and in fact does away with the necessity of the committee altogether.

In

I will say, in this connection, that, humble as I am, I have no desire to occupy a position as chairman of a committee which has no duties to perform. I will repeat, if there are emoluments or honor to be derived as chairman of this committee, I have enjoyed them as long as I desire. There is one other reason I would name: I am a member of one other committee, which, in all probability, will have much labor to perform. I hope, therefore, that the House will have no hesitancy in excusing me from service upon this committee. The question was then taken, and Mr. JOHNSON was excused.

Mr. GORMAN, by unanimous consent, introgiven, to supply the State of Indiana with the duced a bill, of which previous notice had been deficiency in former grants of lands for the use of the State University; which was read a first and second time by its title, and, with certain memorials upon the files of the House, referred to the

Committee on Public Lands.

KOSSUTH AGAIN.

Mr. ROBINSON asked the unanimous consent of the House to introduce a joint resolution providing that the Congress of the United States, in the name and behalf of the people of the United States, give Louis Kossuth a cordial welcome to the capital of the country; and that a copy of the resolution be transmitted to him by the President of the United States.

Objection was made by several, and the resolution was not introduced.

Mr. BRECKENRIDGE presented the memorial of the widow of G. H. McKee, which was referred to the Committee of Claims; the petition of E. H. Taylor, which was referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals; the petition of Thomas L. Judge, which was referred to the Committee of Claims; the petition and papers of Thomas P. Dudley, which were referred to the Committee on Pensions; and the petition and papeas of Josiah P. Pilcher, which were referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. FICKLIN presented the petition of Rezin C. Martin and eighty-seven others, protesting against the employment of Chaplains by Congress at the expense of the Government, on constitutional grounds; which was referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. BISSELL presented the petition of Mary Prettyman for allowance of a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Mr. BISSELL. I also present the petition of Dr. W. T. G. Morton, for remuneration as discoverer of etherization. I wish to state to the House, that in this case the petitioner represents himself to have been the first person who demonstrated by actual experiment the fact, that the

nhalation of sulphurie ether rendered the human body insensible to pain during surgical operations. I would state to the House that it is a matter of considerable importance; and I ask that a select committee of five be appointed to take it in charge. The motion was agreed to, and the Chair was thorized to appoint the committee.

On motion by Mr. RICHARDSON it was Ordered, That the petition and papers of Nicholas Bolibe withdrawn froin the files and referred to the Comake on Public Lands.

Mr. CAMPBELL of Illinois, and Mr. YATES of Illinois, presented petitions of certain registers Ed receivers, asking compensation for locating nitary land warrants; which were referred to the Committee on Public lands.

Os motion by Mr. THOMPSON, of Massachusetts, it was

Ordered, That the petition of Daniel Sampson, praying lefon account of blindness, brought on by exposure wat in the service of the United States, as a caulker in the Navy, be taken from the files, and referred to the Comnee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. HALL and Mr. MILLER presented several memorials from the State of Missouri; which were appropriately referred.

Mr. JOHNSON, of Arkansas, moved that the House adjourn; which motion was disagreed to. On motion by Mr. CABLE, of Ohio, it was Ordered, That certain papers in relation to James McKland Charles Fouman, be taken from the files of the Hase, and referred to the Committee of Claims. On motion by Mr. STUART, it was Ordered, That the petition and papers of Moore and Hasbe taken from the files of the House, and referred to The Committee on Patents.

Mr. STUART, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill, of which previous notice had been ren, granting to the State of Michigan the right way and a donation of public lands, for the estruction of a ship canal around the Falls of St. Mary, in said State; which was read a first nd second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. PENNIMAN presented a memorial from cerain registers and receivers, asking for compenson for services in locating bounty land warts; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr.CABELL, of Florida, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill, of which previous notice had been given, granting the right of way and making a grant of land to the States of Florida and Alabama, in aid of the construction of a railroad from the waters of the Pensacola Bay, in Florida, to Montgomery, in the State of Alabama, and for other purposes; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

CESSION OF THE PUBLIC LANDS. Mr. CABELL, of Florida, asked the unanimous consent of the House to introduce a resolution; which was read for information, as follows, viz:

Resolved, That the Committee on Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of granting to the States in which they lie, alternate sections of the public lands along the line of all railroads, to construct which companies have been chartered by the Legislatures of such States, to aid in the construction of said railroads.

Mr. SWEETSER objected, and the resolution was not received.

On motion by Mr. HOWARD, it was Ordered, That the following petitions be taken from the es of the House, and referred as indicated below, viz: the petition of Harris and McCulloch to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads; the petition of Maurice R. Strons to the Committee on Invalid Pensions; the petitos of Captain A. Buchel, John Huff, and G. W. Davis, the Committee on Military Affairs; the petitions of Wilham Alexander and Charles Pin to the Committee on the Judiciary.

a bill, of which previous notice had been given, to provide for the correction of errors in the location of military bounty land warrants, and the entry of lands; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

On motion by Mr. HENN, the following joint resolutions of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Iowa, were ordered to be taken from the files of the House, and referred to the respective committees to which they were heretofore referred: A joint resolution for an appropriation for the improvement of the Des Moines and Rock River Rapids, on the Mississippi river,

A joint resolution asking a donation of lands to

actual settlers;

A joint resolution for establishing a land office at Fort Des Moines; and

A joint resolution respecting saline lands; and a preamble and resolutions on the subject of procuring from the United States a compensation for services and expenses, in defending a portion of the territory of the United States against the unlawful claim to the exercise of authority by the State of Missouri.

On motion by Mr. HENN, it was

Ordered, That document No. 200, of the House of Representatives, (Treasury Department,) of the first session 29th Congress, together with the accompanying papers, be taken from the files, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

received, directly or indirectly, the first cent of compensation for such services. Now, this is a question which requires some investigation, perhaps legislation, and I will go as far as that gentleman or any other gentleman, to prescribe penalties of the severest character against members of Congress who may or shall prosecute claims against the Government for pay. But a bill should be so guarded as not to prevent others from attending to the legitimate demands of their constituents against the Government. I think that we cannot here, at this time, properly guard and frame a bill to effect these objects. I hope, therefore, that the matter will be referred to some appropriate committee-perhaps that of the Judiciary would be the most proper one.

Mr. SMART. I wish to say that there is a similar rule of this House in relation to one officer of the House at least, providing that he shall not prosecute any claim against the Government; and there is a penalty affixed to that rule. That officer, it is true, is a subordinate officer of the House; but for one, I have no idea of permitting men high in station to go unpunished, and visit penalties upon the acts of subordinate officers. I think the country calls for such a law as this. I have no objection to the proposition of the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. JONES] to refer, and I think he will concur with me in the opinion that such an act should be passed by Congress as this bill contem

Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reoccupying Fort Kearny, near the mouth of Platte river; or of establishing a new military post at some point on the Missouri river, for the protection of the western frontier of the State of Iowa from Indian depredations.

Mr. HENN asked the unanimous consent of the House to introduce a resolution instructing the Committee on Military Affairs to inquire into the expediency of establishing a military post at the source of the Humboldt river.

Mr. SWEETSER objected, and the resolution was not received.

Petitions and memorials were then presented by Messrs. MARSHALL of California, and McCorkle. Mr. MARSHALL, of California, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill, of which previous notice had been given, to create a board of commissioners for the examination and payment of claims against the United States arising out of the conquest of California; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

On motion by Mr. FAULKNER, it was

Ordered, That sundry petitions of citizens of Virginia, asking that the military system now in force in the armories may be abolished, and that the said armories may be placed under civil superintendence, be taken from the files of the House, and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. VENABLE presented a petition from citizens of North Carolina against the employment of Chaplains; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

THE LAWS AND PUBLIC ADVERTISEMENTS.

Mr. SMART, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill, of which previous notice had been given, to regulate the publication of the laws of the United States, and of the public advertisements; which was read a first and second time by its title; when

Mr. S. moved that the bill be referred to a select committee of five, to be appointed by the Chair. Mr. JONES, of Tennessee, moved that it be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary; which motion was agreed to.

PROSECUTION OF CLAIMS.

Mr. SMART, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill, of which previous notice had been

equal to the original claims; and I think it is a matter that requires legislation. Why, you have upon your statute-book a prohibition that no member of Congress shall make a contract with this Government, and yet you see Senators and Repsentatives taking here $75,000 as contingent fees to obtain a claim against this Government. I have nothing more to say upon this subject now, and move the reference of the subject to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. BOCOCK. I wish to ask the gentleman from Maine [Mr. SMART] one question: Does he mean to say that any member of the last Congress has received a fee for prosecuting claims?

Mr. SMART. Not at all. I did not mean to apply my remarks to any member of this House, but rumor and the press of the country say that Senators have received the enormous amount of $75,000 for a single fee. I hope that the matter may be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, with instructions to report, a bill.

The bill was so referred.

PUBLIC EXPENDITURES. Mr. SMART.

I ask the indulgence of the House to present a resolution for obtaining some information, and I would like to have the unanimous consent of the House upon its passage.

Mr. JONES. I would inquire if the call for petitions has been gone through with?

The SPEAKER. Not yet.

Mr. JONES. Then I object, and call for the regular business.

Mr. SMART. The information which I call for is very important, and needs to be before Congress at an early hour.

Several MEMBERS. Read it; read it. The resolution was then read for the information of the House, and is as follows:

Resolved, That the President be requested to cause to be communicated to this House, the whole amount expended by the General Government in each State and Territory since the year 1789, for forts, arsenals, armories, navyyards, docks, light-houses, beacons, buoys, piers, and all

duced the following bills, of which previous notice had been given; which were read a first and second me by their titles, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands, viz:

A bill to grant a certain quantity of land to the State of Iowa, for the purpose of aiding said State in the construction of railroads from Dubuque to Keokuck, and from Davenport to the Missouri fiver; and

A bill for the relief of the preemption claimants of the land upon which the towns of Fort Madison and Burlington, in Iowa, are situated.

Mr. HENN, by unanimous consent, introduced

the United States by heads of Departments, Senators, and Representatives in Congress, during the term of their respective offices; which having been read a first and second time by its title,

Mr. S. asked that it might be put upon its pas

be shown, the amount expended, including grants of land, in each State, for all works of internal improvement, and the probable amount that it will cost in each State and Territory to complete such forts, arsenals, armories, navyyards, docks, light-houses, beacons, buoys, piers, public buildings and works of internal improvements as are authorized by law, and now remain unfinished. Also, the whole expenditures already incurred, or by law contemplated, for all public buildings and all local objects in the District of Columbia. Also, the whole amount expended by the Government, including the probable amount to be expended in virtue of existing laws for all the objects abovenamed. Also, the amount expended in each State and Territory in the removal of the Indians, including the amount paid to said Indians for vacating lands in each State and Territory aforesaid; and the cost of each Indian war since 1798, designating the tribes or nations with which

we have been at war, and the State or Territory to which said tribes or nations belonged while at war with the United States; and also, the whole expenditures of the General Government since the year 1789 among the Indians for all other purposes, designating the amount of expense in each State and Territory. Also, the amount of money furnished for sick and disabled seamen in each State since 1789, and the amount of pensions and land warrants granted to citizens of each State since the year 1789 aforesaid.

Mr. JONES. The departments, with the aid of fifty clerks, could not furnish that information by the end of this session. He therefore objected, and

The resolution was not received.

KOSSUTH AGAIN.

Mr. DOTY asked the unanimous consent of the House to introduce a joint resolution, of which previous notice had been given, tendering a welcome to Louis Kossuth, and making an appropriation to defray the expenses, under the direction of the President of the United States.

Mr. ORR objected; and the resolution was not introduced.

Mr. DURKEE presented a petition; which was appropriately referred.

Mr. PRICE, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill, of which previous notice had been given, entitled "A bill amendatory of the act entitled An act to provide for the holding of the courts of the United States in cases of sickness or other disability of the judges of the district courts,' approved July 29, 1850;" which was read a first and second time by its title.

Mr. RICHARDSON moved to refer it to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. JONES. I insist upon the enforcement of the rule, and that is to call through the States for petitions. Gentlemen whose States have been passed, cannot go back and bring up their cases again.

The SPEAKER. The bill just read was received by unanimous consent.

Mr. JONES. It was objected to over here. The SPEAKER. The Chair did not hear any objections.

The bill was then referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. SIBLEY asked the unanimous consent of the House to introduce a resolution calling upon the Secretary of War for information of a local character.

Objection was made, and the resolution was not received.

Mr, JONES. I move that the House now adjourn.

Mr. RICHARDSON. I ask the gentleman to withdraw his motion, in order that the message upon the Speaker's table may be taken up.

Mr. JONES. That would not be in order. The call of the States for resolutions would be the next business in order.

The question was taken, and the House then adjourned.

NOTICES OF BILLS.

By Mr. HENN: A bill to revive and continue in force the provisions of an act entitled "An act granting five years' half pay to certain widows and orphans of officers, non commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, both regulars and volunteers," approved February 22, 1849.

By Mr. BISSELL: A bill making a grant of land to the several States of the Union, for the benefit of the insane. By Mr. EVANS: A bill to amend an act entitled "An act for the punishment of crimes in the District of Columbia."

PETITIONS, &c.

The following petitions, memorials, &c., were presented under the rule, and referred to the appropriate committees: By Mr. BRIGGS: The petition of Mathews, Wood & Hall, for compensation for losses incurred in building the custom-house at New York, owing to the failure of the Government to comply with their part of the contract, &c. By Mr. AIKEN: A petition to change the name of the Swedish brig Ulrica to that of Etiwan, and for a register. On motion of Mr. AIKEN, it was

Ordered, That the petition and papers of Capt. John Baker Rogers be taken from the files, and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

By Mr. CHANDLER: The memorial of James B. Moore, Israel Lawrence, Henry D. Goodman of Ohio, and John H. Diehl of Pennsylvania, and their associates, asking the Government to enable them to establish a regular line of mail steamers from California, or Oregon, to China.

By Mr. TUCK: The petition of W. H. Y. Hacket, Robert Rice, and others, praying for the erection of beacons and buoys in the harbor of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. By HENRY D. MOORE: The memorial of Horatio N. Crabb, praying for allowances withheld by the accounting officers of the Treasury.

Also, the memorial of Bernard Henry, praying for the payment of a balance due him from the Government of the United States.

By Mr. BRAGG: The petition of Hugh W. Wormley, praying for a pension.

Also, the petition of Gilbert C. Russell, praying for the payment of damages for the breach of a contract by the Government, and seizure of property.

By Mr. RIDDLE: The memorial of sundry citizens of Delaware, praying for an appropriation to establish certain buoys in the Delaware Bay.

By Mr. ALLISON: The petition of Robert Milligan, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, a soldier of the war of 1812, for an increase of pension.

By Mr. WILLIAMS: The petition of Robert L. Ganis; also, the petition of James S. Mitchell, one of the volunteers, praying Congress to so change the late Bounty Land law, that a meritorious class of volunteers may be provided

for.

Also, the petition of Hugh W. Wormley, praying for a pension; also, the petition of the heirs of Robert Henry Dyer, praying for a pension on account of his services during the war with Great Britain; also, the petition of John H. B. Rolls, praying compensation for a horse and saddle converted to the public service in the Florida war.

By Mr. SCHERMERHORN: The petition of Amos Knapp, praying for a pension; also, the petition of George S. Claflin, praying for a pension; also, the petition of David Bell, praying for the payment of his share of the pension granted to the heirs of Jesse Bell, deceased.

By Mr. FLORENCE: The petition of William H. Topping, for services as Secretary to the Commission appointed to investigate the affairs of the New York Custom-House. By Mr. MEACHAM: The petition of Henry McLaughlin; also, of Harry Halgate, of Milton, Vermont.

By Mr. WALSH: The memorial of Samuel Collins, of Baltimore, in relation to Mexican indemnity; also, the memorial of Dawson Phenix, a passed midshipman in the United States Navy, praying the reimbursement of certain traveling expenses incurred by him.

By Mr. WASHBURN: The petition of Araham Pettingill for pension from September, 1834, to December, 1850. Also, the petition of Eliza Merril, widow of James Merril, for arrears of pension.

By Mr. SCUDDER: The petition of Seth Crowell, and others, for a breakwater at Dennis, Massachusetts. On motion by Mr. Briggs, it was

Ordered, That the papers relating to the establishment of a Mint in the city of New York be withdrawn from the files of the House, and referred to the Committee of Ways and Means.

Mr. BROOKS presented a memorial from the Industrial Congress of New York, remonstrating against proposed amendments to the bounty land bill, the reading of which was as follows: To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled:

The undersigned respectfully represent: That they were appointed a committee of the Industrial Congress of New York, to memorialize your honorable bodies against any amendment of the most recent bounty land act, passed at the session of '49-'50, giving to the soldiers of the wars of our country certain quantities of land, upon conditions of a personal and bona fide entry of their claims, unless so to amend such act as to make more stringent its provisions and render absolute settlement and improvement of their grants a condition precedent to a title from Government; or, in the event such conditions might become onerous to some fairly entitled to the consideration of the people and the beneficence of Government, the substitution of a money bounty in lieu of land, would, in the estimation of your memorialists, meet both the approbation of the people and the merits of the case, and furnish no cause of censure except to that class of men that in every country speculate upon the necessities of the race, and deliberately forecast the increase of population and the demand for land likely to accrue from such increase within a given period, and then, as deliberately antedate its possession, with a view to enrich themselves at the expense of the people, while scattering them over tenfold the area of ground they can profitably improve, either for their individual benefit or the welfare of the community in which they may reside, or of the country at large; while they at the same time withhold from sale all choice locations, all mines, streams, the best land, the forests, coal-beds, and every spotlikely to become the future sites of commercial marts, with a view still further to render tributary to them those whom necessity drives to the outskirts of civilization for bread and employment, or for the means to attain that independence of position which constitutes the aim and the worthiness of the Democratic citizen and the progress of the age.

Your memorialists conceive the rights of every citizen are infringed upon, where the lands of a country are im providently sold to those who seek them not for personal use and occupation, and that the duty of all Governments to the people which they represent, is to prevent the accumulation of soil in the hands of a few, by any and all means in their power, and much more may they claim at the hands of their Government that wise and humane forethoughtedness, that shall leave no excuse to the citizen for holding in contempt the laws and institutions he is presumed to understand, and to have himself created or consented to.

The parent or trustee of an estate that should so manage his trust as to give to, or permit a few of its heirs to monopolize its benefits, to the exclusion of the vastly larger body of those entitled to the inheritance, or that would blindly encumber such estate by anticipating its revenues to squander upon favorites, or in illusory speculations and expectations of the future, law, justice, and common sense would equally condemn and subject to punishment or public censure, and your memorialists conceiving the relation your honorable bodies bear to the people and to them, the same in essence as that which constitutes the parent and trustee, would claim at your hands, for the benefit of the race, and of the American people especially, such laws in relation to the future disposal of the public lands of our country as shall most tend to compact settlements of the people upon them and facilitate the establishment of common schools, canals, roads, and every other desirable improvement of the ages present and prospective-a result that cannot be

No

Your memorialists, in conclusion, would observe that the public mind is ripe for the occasion and opportunity to settle the unsold lands of the Union. That the spirit which animated our fathers of the Revolution has revived from the exhaustion of that and the later wars of the Republic, and under the better educational auspices of the times, is deter mined to conquer its liberties anew, and wrest from the grasp of monopoly and money, (which should at all times be the servant, not master of the people,) that which our fathers denied to the laws of primogeniture and entail. would your memorialists omit to observe, that the convie tion of the public mind is against the principle of granting bounty lands alone to the soldiers, not because they are no the soldier's due, but because he seldom reaps but a moiety of the benefit intended by such grants, and because the mar of honest toil, upon whom the burdens and expenses of a! wars mainly fall, is denied an equal claim to reward and the world's esteem, by the distinction raised in the prefer ence given to the men bearing arms only. The public lands acquired as they are by imposts upon, and by the toils o the people, should cease to be the sport of chance and the property of those who make the soldier's merits the pre tence for their avarice and predetermined intention to hold in subjection to their aggrandizement the labors and increase of the population of the country; and the Government that tolerates and the people that submit to that invasion of their rights, and that neglect of duty which springs from a mo nopoly of land, however produced, can have neither a jus claim to the title of democratic, nor be entitled to the ap plause of history or of mankind. Your memorialists, therefore, solicit that no change be made in our existing bounty land laws, tending to increase speculation in the public lands. WM. J. YOUNG, BENJ. PRICE, JAS. HIBSON,

Com. Ind. Congress.

INDUSTRIAL CONGRESS, NEW YORK, Dec. 6, 1851.

IN SENATE. THURSDAY, December 11, 1851. Prayer by Rev. C. M. BUTLER. Mr. BRADBURY, of Maine, appeared in his sent.

PETITIONS.

Mr. SEWARD submitted additional documents in relation to the petition of Hugh W. Dobbin; which were referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. JONES, of Iowa, presented the memorial of Richard M. Johnson, praying remuneration for losses sustained by him in consequence of his impressment into the service of the United States, as a pilot, in the late war with Mexico; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. MILLER presented the memorial of William A. Duer, administrator of William Duer, deceased, praying the payment of a balance due to the estate of the deceased, on a contract for supplying rations to the army under General St Clair, in the year 1791; which was referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. FISH presented the memorial of George Talcott, late of the Army of the United States, complaining that injustice has been done him in the sentence of a court-martial, by which he was dismissed the service, and praying that the Senate will investigate the proceedings of the court before acting on the nomination of the person appointed in his place.

Mr. F. said that he doubted whether the memorial should be presented in executive or open session, but on consultation with older Senators, he was advised that the latter was probably the best mode of presentation. He asked that it be laid on the table, without reference for the present; which was agreed to.

Mr. WALKER presented a petition of inhabitants of Fort Winnebago, Wisconsin, praying a grant to the State of Wisconsin of the military reservation at Fort Winnebago, to aid in the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. HALE presented a petition of citizens of New Hampshire, praying the establishment of a mail route from Pittsfield to Farmington Dock, in that State; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

The PRESIDENT pro tempore laid before the Senate a communication of Aaron H. Palmer, accompanied by a description of the colonial dependencies of Japan, with a plan for opening that empire to the commerce of the United States.

Mr. DODGE, of Iowa, moved that the communication be referred to the Committee on Printing. The PRESIDENT. If a motion to print is made, it goes to the Committee on Printing. Mr. GWIN said it was a matter of considerable

importance, and therefore he moved to refer it to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Mr. DAVIS. I do not know what the wishes of the memorialist are; but it is evident, from the eral tenor of the letter, that if the memorial ght to go to any committee, it should be to the Committee on Commerce. I move to refer it to that committee.

Mr. GWIN remarked that he had desired to fer it to the Committee on Commerce, but after having had a conference with its chairman, he thought it was not the proper reference. He withdrew the motion.

Mr. HAMLIN. I had a conference with the bonorable Senator from California, in relation to this matter. So far as I understand it, it is a questo which properly belongs to the Committee on Foreign Relations, and not to the Committee on Commerce. I understand the object of the communication to be to make certain suggestions as to the best method of opening relations with the Japanese Government, the ports of which are now closed against us. While the matter is one of a somewhat commercial character, yet in all the incipient and subsequent steps which may be taken, it is one eminently connected with the foreign relations. I therefore think the motion made by the Senator from California was the proper one.

Mr. DAVIS. I certainly have no disposition to give any particular direction to this paper. I hardly know what it contains. But, as far as I was able to understand from the reading of the letter, it seemed to me to treat entirely of the means of enlarging the commerce of the country. I take it that it belongs to commercial affairs. But if the gentleman himself, or any one else, desires it to go to a particular committee, I have no objection.

Mr. DODGE, of Iowa. I suppose this is the document, or a part of the document, on which we had once "the battle of the books," between the Senator from Mississippi [Mr. FooTE] and a Senator from Missouri, now no longer a member of this body, [Mr. BENTON.] I supposed it was that; and I supposed that it would be a proper inquiry for the Committee on Printing to determine whether it should be printed or not. I am against the printing of these documents without the examination of a committee; I therefore moved its reference to the Committee on Printing. Mr.GWIN. I would suggest to the Senator from lowa that the question be divided.

Mr. DODGE, of Iowa. I agree to it at once. I know what it is. Let it be referred to the Committee on Commerce, and the question of printing go to the Committee on Printing.

Mr. HAMLIN. I hope the Senator from Iowa will withdraw the latter part of the motion, for this simple reason, if the communication goes to any standing committee, that committee will investigate the matter, and will be better able to judge of the propriety of printing it than the Committee on Printing. Iapprehend it is not expected that the Committee on Printing should investigate the merits of every question presented. If obliged to do that, they certainly could discharge no other duty. I think, therefore, the simple question of reference should be made, and let the question of printing be determined subsequently.

Mr. DODGE, of Iowa. I yield to the sugges

tion of the Senator.

The communication was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. GWIN presented the memorial of William A. Christian, a purser in the Navy, praying to be allowed, in the statement of his accounts, certain payments made to officers on board the United States steamer Princeton, holding acting appointments; which was referred, with the papers on file, to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. GWIN presented the memorial of Daniel Anderson, son and heir of Thomas O. Anderson, deceased, late of the Navy, praying payment of the prize money due his father as one of the captors of the frigate Philadelphia; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. SMITH presented the memorial of Thos. Pember, praying compensation for services rendered as a Purser in the Navy; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

PAPERS WITHDRAWN ANd referred. On motion by Mr. PEARCE, it was Ordered, That the memorial of Robert M. Hamilton, on

the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

On motion by Mr. PEARCE, it was Ordered, That the petition of T. P. McBlair, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

On motion by Mr. BRIGHT, it was Ordered, That the widow of George R. C. Floyd have leave to withdraw her petition and papers.

On motion by Mr. SEWARD, it was Ordered, That the petition of Abraham L. Knickerbocker, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Pensions.

On motion by Mr. JONES, of Iowa, it was Ordered, That the memorial of Thomson Hutchinson, and the petition of Barbara Reily, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Pensions.

On motion by Mr. HAMLIN, it was Ordered, That the petition of Daniel Winslow, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee of Claims. On motion by Mr. MILLER, it was

Ordered, That the papers relative to the claim of Thomas M. Taylor, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

On motion by Mr. SEWARD, it was Ordered, That the papers on file relating to the claim of Francis P. Stockton, a Purser in the Navy, be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

On motion by Mr. BERRIEN, it was

Ordered, That the documents on file relating to the claim of F. P. Stockton, be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. PRATT submitted an additional document relating to the claim of Mary Williams; which, with her petition on the files of the Senate, was referred to the Committee of Claims.

On motion by Mr. PRATT, it was

Ordered, That the petition of Richard Mackall, the petition of Bryan Callaghan, and the petition of the heirs of Robert Sewall, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee of Claims; that the memorial of the legal representatives of Rinaldo Johnson and Ann E. Johnson, the petition of the legal representatives of John G. Mackall, the inemorial of Benedict J. Heard, the petition of the heirs and legal representatives of William Somerville, and the memorial of Hodges & Landsdale, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

On motion by Mr. DAWSON, it was Ordered, That the memorial of Elizabeth Monroe, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Pensions.

NOTICES OF BILLS.

Mr. MILLER gave notice of his intention to ask leave to introduce a bill giving further remedies to patentees.

Mr. HUNTER gave notice of his intention to ask leave to introduce a bill to establish a Board of Accounts.

Mr. BORLAND gave notice of his intention to ask leave to introduce a bill to amend the act of 1831 in relation to cutting timber on the public lands.

Mr. BRIGHT gave notice of his intention to ask leave to introduce a joint resolution repealing a joint resolution approved March 3, 1845, directing the Secretary of the Treasury, whenever any interest or principal on investment in its stocks or State shall or may be in default of the payment of bonds held by the United States in trust, to retain certain moneys to which said State is entitled, for the purposes there in named.

BILLS INTRODUCED.

Mr. DODGE, of Wisconsin, agreeably to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill granting to the State of Wisconsin a donation of public lands to aid in the construction of a railroad from the city of Milwaukie to the Mississippi river; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. BADGER, agreeably to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill for the relief of M. K. Warrington and C. W. J. Shubb, executors of Capt. Lewis Warrington and others; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. HUNTER, agreeably to previous notice by his colleague, [Mr. MASON,] asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill to authorize the payment of invalid pensions in certain cases; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions.

Mr. FISH, agreeably to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill to establish a Mint of the United States in the city of New York; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. WALKER, agreeably to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill to grant to the State of Wisconsin the military reservation at Fort Winnebago, in that State, to aid in improving the navigation of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. JONES, of Iowa, agreeably to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to bring in the following bills; which were read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands:

A bill for the relief of Richard Cheyney and others; and

A bill for the relief of Charles Melrose.

Mr. PEARCE, agreeably to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill in addition to and amendatory of an act entitled "An act to provide for the settlement of the accounts of public officers, and others, who may have received moneys arising from military contributions or otherwise, in Mexico," approved March 3, 1849; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. UNDERWOOD, agreeably to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill to procure a revision of the acts of Congress, and also of the statutory laws in force in the District of Columbia; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Also, a bill granting a pension to Sally T. Floyd, widow of George C. Floyd, late lieutenant colonel in the Army of the United States; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. U. also obtained leave to have the papers on file in relation to this case referred to the same committee.

Mr. BORLAND, agreeably to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill to revive a portion of the act for the relief of widows of deceased soldiers; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. WHITCOMB, agreeably to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill for the relief of John Devlin; which was read a first and second time by its title, and referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. MALLORY, agreeably to previous notice, asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill for the relief of William Richardson and others; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

ADJOURNMENT.

Mr. HALE. As the Senator from North Carolina [Mr. BADGER] is not in his seat, I move that when the Senate adjourns to-day, it adjourn to meet on Monday next.

The motion was not agreed to, there being on a division-ayes 16, noes 17.

Mr. BADGER. I hope it will be entered on the Journal by whom the motion was made. I should not like it to go out to the country that I made it and that it failed.

RESOLUTIONS.

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

Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the expediency of amending the laws in relation to alien and other passengers on board of vessels, so as to secure more effectually the penalties for the violation of such laws.

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

Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to communicate to the Senate the report of the survey, estimates, &c., of a route from St. Louis to the Big Bend of Red river, made under the direction of the Topographical Bureau by Captain Joshua Barney.

Mr. UNDERWOOD submitted the following resolution for consideration:

Resolved, That the Committee for the District of Columbia be, and they are hereby, instructed to inquire into the expediency, and probable cost, of straightening, grading, and paving Pennsylvania avenue from Seventeenth street west to Georgetown; the erection of a permanent bridge across Rock Creek, from the termination of Pennsylvania avenue, to intersect with Georgetown; the building of a sewer of suitable dimensions for draining Pennsylvania avenue from Seventeenth to Twentieth streets west; the extension of gas lights along the line of Pennsylvania avenue from