The Arkansas advocate., 1836-02-19
.IANuARY 1. 1856.

10 make compensation to Benjamin Murphy of Arkansas, was read second time as III committee of the whole, and ordered 10 be engrossed for thirdJoading.
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
 JANUARY '.
 Mir. Johnson of La. submitted the fol- lowing resolutions:
 Resoiued, i'iiai tue committee or tho public lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of modifying the different acts of Congress granting pre-emption rights 10 the settlers on the public lands, so as 10 protect the rights of the settlers and prevent fraud against the United States.
 Mr. Davis made some remarks on the subject, and offered the following amend men: to the resolution:
 And also into the expediency of cxtend- ing to the actual settler OF all lands that have heen in market for five years, which pre-emption privilege shall extend for four years from aud after the 18th day of June next.
 The resolution was agreed 10.
 lnir. Vviinion moved to reconsider ihe vote whereby the resolution offered by Mr. Jones, of Michigan, granting the right of pre=emption to the miners in tho Territory of Michigan, was adopted.
 MT. " was opposed 10 sending even resolution of inquiry of the character to a committee, and adveried to tic frauds which had been committed upon .he Gov ernment, in consequence of the passage Of the pre-enption act of 1890.
 M. Ionar of hI,cb;f,, to the remarks of the gentleman from Ohio, and advocated the peculiar proprieiy of granting pre-emptions to that class of cii- zens embraced in his resolution. As his proposition was one of mere enquiry, he ho- ped tho gentleman would permit t to go to the committee, where he could resist #.
 Mr Ripley protested against the princi- pie which had prevailed for the last few years, in reference to nre-emptions. He referred to case in his own district. where, the Government had sustained a loss of $l0,0o0,000, by the location of these aopt- ing pre-emptLon claims, upon valuable, tract of country, through which railroad had been recently surveyed and laid out This was the work of the speculatoEs and capitalists of New Orleans, New York !, Natchez, &c. who had in this way become possessed of millions of the most valuable portion of the public domain. He was not opposed to the honest yeoman, who actual y settled and cultivated the public lands under pre-emption claim. H. would ev- en go further, and give the lands to the hon est citttIvator of the soil, but he was oppos- ed 10 their going into the hands of capital ists and spectators. He was in favor of the motion to reconsider. Mir Johnson of Louisiana submitted the following resolution:
 Resolved, That the Committee O.. the Public Lands be intructed to inquire into the expediency of modifying the different acts of Congress, granting pre-emption rights to settlers on the public lands. so as to protect the rights of settlers, and prevent fraud against the United States.
 IN SENATE,
 Thursday, Jan. 2f.
 Mir Southard, from the Committee on Ma val affairs, reported a bill to regulate the pay of the Marine Corps, which was order ed to a second reading.
 Mir Benton, from the Committee on Mill itary Ahalss, reported bill making appro- pration tor the construction of steam bat teres, which, was ordered to second read- ing. The hill appropriates s66o,o00.
 Anda bill to construct a military road from Fort Leavenworth to tho right bank of tho Mississippi river, also ordered to a second reading.
 Mir Clayton, on leave, introduced bill to establish Territorial Government in the Territory of 0usconsin, winch was read twice, and referred to the committee on the Judiciary. The Senate then proceeded to consider the resolutions offered by Mir. Benton.
 On motion of Mr. Grundy, the resolu- tons were so amended us 10 make it read "so much of the surplus revenue as may be necessary"
 Inc resolutions as amended were order- ed to be printed, and the Senate adiourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
 Mir. Johnson, o! Ky. from the committee on Military Affairs reported bilk making appropriations for collecting information respecting aad commencing the consruc- ton of, certain Notifications and for other purposes, read twice and committed This is a substitute for the fertilization bill heretofore reported from tie same com mlltee. It makes appropriations for com menclng or completing different forlifca- tons, and also appropriates the sum of S6oo'oo0 for bnildng Sisam daiie,Iss The House resumed the consideration