Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-02-11
CONGRESS-.
MoNpAv, February Z, 1881
I'M CEN ATTY


Mo>DAY, February Z, 1881.
IN SENATE.
A message was received from tho President OF the
United States by A. J. Done,son Esq. his Secretary
Posr .OrrtcE DEPARTNESr.
Tho Vice President communicated letter from
the Postmaster General, which, with the nccompa- |
nyiug documents, was referred TO the COMMITTEE ON
the Post Office and Post Roads, by vote OF 10 to ID
rThe documents CON listed of copies of all con-
tracts made by him or his predecessor, on wncn al
irioual allowances had been made for additional
services; copies of oil contracts eXh'sng when Ms
immediate predecessor came into Office, on which SIM
liar allowances had been made. The letter adds
athnt tho labor required for the investigation OF
cnch case, on more than 100 routes, and making
the statements besides preparing copies of about ldOo
contracts, compr sing together nearly 5000 large to-
Ito pages, has required the constant aud digcnt ser
vice of several clerks for about SIX months The
cnrrent business Of the department has bern delayed
Sd far could be done without producing permanent
ioss and together with the new arrangements rem.
,Hered necessary in answering the several calls Tor m
formation from the committee Instituted by tho Sen
ute the 18th of Decent "r, 1t has not been prac-
tcabe with all the force that could be applied fin
ish the report at earlier period."l
Mr. Bell presented the petition of the inhabitants
of Oxford. New Hampshire. praying for the sup
preston of Sunday mails. It was referred to the
COMMITTEE on the Post Office and Post Roads.
Mr. Clayton presented the memorial of the inhabi
tants of Milford, Delaware, praying for appropra
ton to Improve tho navigation OF Mlspil!Ion Creek
seriously INSTRUCTED by the late storms. 1t
ferred to the Committee ON Commerce, and ordered
to be printed.
Mr. Hendricks submitted the following resolution,
which was twice read and agreed to:
Resolved. That the Committee on the Public Lands
be nsructed to inquire into the cxpedsncy of sane
tloning The selections already made, far rs the
same may remain unsolI, of the Michigan road lands,
and of permitting her selections to be made in lieu
Of those sold at the land Offices at Charlottesville and
Fort Wayne.
Navy OrFIcERs.
Mr. Barnard. suhme ed the following resolution:
Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be
ing the pay und emoluments of Master Commandments
IT, the Navy Of the United Statcs and, also, of allow
ing additional compensation TO LeHtcnans when &C
ting fist Leuendats of ship of the llnc frgate,
or sloop Of war; according to the rate of the vessel
The Vice President requested the Senator from
Maryland General Smith, 10 take the chair, as he
had to meet the Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund
this day.
DUTIES on SUGAR
Mr. Brown, of North Carolina, introduced a bill
to reduce the duty on imported Sugar.
Mr. Brown moved to refer the bill to the Commit
- fee on Commerce. The motion was rejected; yeas
16; nays %.
On motion of Dir Johnston, of Louisiana, it
then referred to the Committee on Manufactures.
Twenty or thirty private bills were received from
the House Of Representatives.
Duty ON SALT.
Mr. Benton gave notice, that tomorrow he should
ask leave to bring in bill TO abrogate the duty OF
salt.
JAMES MONROE.
The bill for the adjustment of the claim Of James
Monroe,
'innu, and laid IN the table until tomorrow, at the
prepare an amendment to 1t.
1he bill to repeal the charges on passports ana
cTcarances was ordered to a third reading
The bill to credit the Treasurer OF the United
States with the amount of unavaiiahfe fnnds' hnd
tbe bill 10 direct the OF issuRg patents Oh
csn6rrned land claims IN Florida, were read Sc
cpnd tme and referred to the appropriate Commit
tees
The bill respecting the jurisdiction Of ce5Iaip R(jEsd
ri
Posr OrFIcE INvEsrIG ATOMS
The resolution OF MIR Grundy, declaring that TIE
Select Committee. appointed to examine into the
present condition of The Post Office Department. are.
not authorized 10 cali witnesses who have been re-
moved before them for the parpose OF asccrtaning
the cause of their removal, again taken up.
Mr. Holmes concluded his speech against the reso-
lntion.
SIR Grundy commenced reply in support Of the
resolution, but before he had concluded, the Senate,
On motion of Mr. Heync,
Adjourned until to morrow.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
ISDIAN AFFAIRS.
\ large number Of ttiUnS were presented to-day;
amongst them the following by Mr. Davis, of Mas
sachusets, from large number Of the inha bants Of
the township ofSPcncer, in the State Of Massachu-
sells:
THAT your memor!aIists feel constrained to come
before the National Legislature with earnest re.
quest that the public faith may be preserved nvioate
in all the transactions of the Government with the
Indians: that these dependent allies some of whom
have been models of good faith and good neigbborhood
may be treated with kindness and generosity, well
with justice: that encroachRent be made upon
their right of territory right of self government
guaranteed by numerous treaties; and that they may
I've in the pcssnssons which they derived from
their ancestors, OF which they the peacca
bic enjoyment, and for the continued occupancy Of
which they have, in the language Of the Chief jus
lice of the United States, legal and just clam, IN
dependent Of any guarantee from our General Go
yernTnent. Your mcmoralists would respectfully and
hunbly entreat, that nothing may be done. permit
ted To- be done relation the Indians that shall be
inconsistent with the great principles of morality and
the obligations Of good faith"
Mr. y. also presented petitions the same subject
from The Inhabitants Of Leicester, and the nhabonis
Of Worcester. The latter beng signed by more tina n
600 persons.
Mr. Everett, of Massachusetts,, presented a memoir
al Of inhabitants Of the town Of Soubatnton in the
county of Hampshire, and State Of Massachusetts,
praying that the act OF the lAst session Of Congress-
providing for exchange oflands with certain indian
rlbes. and for their removal and netmannnf snlln