Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1837-02-04
U'edncsday, ttbrunry !, 1857.
La IL,

day.
The Chair presented Il communication from The Navy
Department, in conformity 10 the I'd section OF The law
Of May, 1870, giving a statement, with various distinc.
tons. Of the appropriations for the navy establishment
in 1886. Referred.
Petitions and memorials we're presented
by M!. Robinson From The Legislature o! Illinois,
requesting Congress 10 permit the State to exchange
sci.ool. lands Che 10th srclions) for better lands. Laid
on the table, aud ordered to he printed.
ly Mr.. ToinIinson From Lydia Andrews, for arrears
Of PENSION.
BY Mr.. King of A!abaa,a: From William Brent. sci.
ling lurth thai four OF the votes given in Virginia, for
President and Vice President of tie United States, were
cast by individuals not corst,tu.ionuIly qualified.
Also, (from 4 quarter unknown to the Reportcr) a
statement that the votes of South Carolina, for President
and Vice President Of the United States, were cast by
individuals chosen by the Legislature cf the State, who
were therefore not cUns.tuti"naily qualified electors
Both laid on the table, on motion ct Mr.. Grundy, 10 be
referred hereafter, 1T lie proper time, to the JOINT commit
tee Of the two Houses.
MIR. Wall, from the Committee on the judiciary, re-
ported Il b:!! fixing the compensation Of various United
States District Judges. Read. and ordered 10 a second
reading.
Mr.. Davis, from the Committee on Commerce, reported
a bill authorizing The President o! the United States 10
appoint il commission Of three prrsnns, 10 examine IN
vrnllnns for the purpose Of securing steam boilers from
bursting; aud 10 report the results to Congress. Read:
ordered 10 Il second rcadimg, and the accompanying re-
port ordered to be printed.
On motion OF AIR. Hubbard, it was
hcsoirrd, That after Saturday next, the daily meeting
Of lhe Senate be fixed at II o'clock, instead of II, until
ether wis. ordered.
The following resolution was offered BY MIR. Rugglcs,
and, b. CrnsCnt, ad pied:
RcS0leed, That the Committee on Commerce be in
structed 10 inquire into the expectancy oil revising the
llws regulating the trade OH the frontiers between the
United States and the British Provinces, and abrlIshing
the duties on lumber the growth Of the United States,
sawed in the said Provinces and brought into the United
States; and also upon produce the growth ot the Fro
vlnccs brought into The United States.
LAND FRAUDS.
The resolution, formerly offered by Mr.. Nicholas, call
ing on the Secretary OF the Treasury for information OBJ
tanned by special agents in relation to alleged frauds on
the public lands in the Stale of Louisiana, being under
consideration,
MIR. Clay proposed to amend the resolution by striking
ont Louisiana and extending the inquiry to all inc States
and Territories.
Mr.. Nicholas had no objection to 4 general inquiry
but, as a particular charge of fraud had been made IN
relation 10 his own Slate, and as lie was DESTROYS to pro-
tect It's citizens against all unjust and injurious charges,
he would prefer that his resolution remain distinct from
any resolution for i general inquiry.
Mr.. Ewing, of OHIO. said ne hoped the Senator would
at least PERM! his resolution to be SO far amended as TO
cal! Tor a return of the papers on which charges in rela-
tioa ID citizens Of Louisiana had been made at the last
session, which papers had been returned from the Senate
to the Department.
Mr. Nicholas iniimatcG his belief that those charges
were, to q considerable extent, founded OIL anonymous
letters.
Dir. Ewing said he had not depended on such letters.
Thr principal letter on which The charges were founded
was from Inc District Attorney for the Western District
of Louisiana; and he claimed it as an ACT OF justice to
all, that the same papers IN which charges were inadc At
the lasl session should again be brought before the Sc
nate, that the report on the subject might contain the IN
formation on which charges were founded.
MIR. Linn inquired whether individuals who might DC
implicated would have an opportunity 10 rc5uL the char
res of fraud which might be brought against them.
Mr.. Sewer spike at some length against scnding out
special agents at all 10 inquire into cases when mao oc'h
lUnp considered as settled II hindcGcd The ISSUING 81
Land patents, and was highly injurious to innocent per
sons. lie was opposed u every Hind oi fc-iH'esnsaioh
OH This sutj"ct.
Mr.. Clay offered his amendment, which was adopted,
for ,nstiiuung Il general investigation, as AL addition 10
Mr.. NIcliu!lss resolution.
On molten Of Mr.. Ewing, the resolution Of Mr.. 81.
ciioIas was amended so as TO call on the Secretary of the
Treasury for information otherwise obtained, as we'll as
by srcci'l agents.
Tie resolution, as amended, was then adopted.
1.-THE Senate were il session when this paper was put
to press.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Ar. Morgan: from the Committee OIL Revolutionary
Pensions, reported Il bill for the relief Of Samuel Edge
comb.
MIR. Bealc, from the Committee on Invalid Pensions,
reported a I'LL for the relief oil James Hunter.
Mr.. Fry, from The Committee OH Revolutionary Pen.
sions, made i report on the case Of Thomas West, of
Alabama, accompanied by a bill tor his relief.
sir. Everett, from The Committee on Indian Affairs.
reported i bill to provide for the security and protection
Of tie cInigrant umd other lndlans west of the States of
Missouri ana Arkansas.
The said bills were sevcrally twice read and commit
ted.
FREEDOM OF ELECTIONS.
The unfinished business ct the morning hour was the
motion, submitted heretofore by Mr.. Bell, for leave 10
bring i'll il bill TO secure the freedom of elections.
MIR. Graves, who was entitled 10 the floor, addressed
the House in reference 10 the general principles Of the
bill, aud on the necessity of legislative action for the
application of proper remedies 10 the evils complained
OF in the preamble, aud the existence OF which, he con-
tended had hppn moSt fully Ipuonstrot,d
MIR. &. had not concluded when, the hour having
elapsed, the House, on motion OF MIR. Camb'rlcng, pass.
ed to the Orders of the Day.
a message from the President Of the United States
was received, transmitting a copy OF 4 letter addressed
to him by the Governor of the State of Maine, on the
3Oth June last, communicating sundfy resolutions of the
Legislature Of that State, ana claiming the reimburse
mrnt OF certain moneys paid to John and Phineas Il.
Hartford, for losses and expenses incurred by them under
certain circumstances.
The bill to establish an additional land Office in the
State Of Louisiana, which was reported on Yesterday,
from the Committee of the Whole on the state of The
Union without amendment, was, on motion of MIR. Gar.
land Of Louisiana, ordered to be engrossed for q third
reading t0'mo fly I,y,,, yny.rrurxr
The bill making appropriations for the current c1-
penses of the Indian Department, and for fulfilling trca.
ly stipnlations with the various Indian tribes, for The
year 1897, coming up; and the question being on concur.
MIR. Gushing addressed the House at length in refer. |
ence TO the general policy OF the Government, Of the
United States towards the Indian tribes.
After some remarks from Mr.. Everett in relation 70
the manner IN which the emigra:ing tribes had been re-
moved: the failure on the part of the United States 10
comply with lis treaty, and the frauds which had been
committed upon them,
MIR. +. asked for the reading of 4 letter which had
come under his knowledge, subsequent to the adjourn.
lnent OF the House last evening; and which was publish.
ed IN 4 paper that lie had asccriaincd 10 be very respec.
table.
The letter is an extract from a 1eutle man in The IVcs,
and appears in an Arkansas paper. IL refers to the re.
moVal of the Creeks by the contractors, 10 their des,i.
tutc condition., their want Of proper food and clothing;
in consequence OF which, many If them fall behind the
main body: and perish; and represents The scene as one
to which no portion Of American history can furnish d
parallel.