The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-03-31

Mr. DE GRAFT presented memorial from Eli
Beecher and 200 others, inhabitants of Saratoga
county, New York, in reference 10 the late duel
which was referred 10 the select committee on that
subject.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
Reports from committees being called for, the fol-
lowing were presented in succession
Mr. COLES, from the Committee on Military
Affairs, reported bill to authorize for limited
time. two additional clerks in the office Of the Com
missary General of Subsistence and against the
solution Of the House Of the 9Th instant, relative
to assimilaled pay Of officers of the Army and
Navy
Mr. MILLIGAN, from the Committee on Naval
Affairs reported without amendment Senate bill for
the relief Of Irvine Shubrick
Mr. INGHAM from the same committee, report
ed against the petitions of Hopest Roberts, Isaac
T. Linnell, and Thomas Scantling, and bill for ex-
tending ard improving the navy yard at Brooklyn,
and for constructing dry dock al the same.
Mr. DROMGOOLE, from the Committee on Fo-
reign Affairs, reported against the petition Of Mary
Martin.
"The committee are of opinion that this case had
it been presented at the proper time and in due tom
would not have been unheard in the provision Of the
LIST article of the treaty ofGhent as expounded by the
Emperor Of Russia, 10 whose award il was submitted;
and that no equitable claim is made out for portion
Of the surplus remaining unapplied under the said
treaty" .."":
Mr.. S. WILLIAMS, from the Committee on In
valid Pensions, reported against the petition OF Geo.
Lynch
Mr., SIBLEY from the Committee on Revolutions
AIRY Pensions, reported bill granting pension to
Israel Parsons, and against the petition Of Jonathan
Chandler.
Mr.. BOND, from the same committee reported
against the petitions of George Miller and Ebenezer
Mr.. TAYLOR, from the same committee, re-
ported against the petition of William McGnness
and a bill granting pension to Neil Shannon.
Mr.. HEROD from the same committee, reported
against the petition of Nathaniel Hull.
On motion of MIR. TAYLOR,
Resolred That the Committee on Revolutionary
Pensions be instructed onquire into the expediency
of granting pension to Samuel Hutchinson
Mr.. LINCOLN from the Committee on the Pub
lie Buildings reported bill providing for the
moval of the walls Of the Treasury building and for
the erection of fre-proof building for the Post Of
| fee Department
Mr.. YELL, from the Committee on Public Lands,
reported bill to extend the further term of twelve
months for the location Of Lovely Donations, in Ar
kansas, and against the petition of citizens of Bates
vile, in Arkansas praying the privilege OF vacating
the 10th section in said township and entering ano-
Their in lieu thereof.
On motion Of Mr.. CRAIG,
Resolved That the Committee on Revolutionary
Claims be instructed to inquire into the expediency
of placing the officers ofthe United States Navy,
gagged in the war of the Revolution, on the same
footing in respect TO Communication, bounty land and
haf-pay, with the officers of the Army Of the Revo-
luton.
Mr., MONOTONE from the Committee on
the Post Office and Pos, Roads, reported against the
petition from Halifax county, n c.. for compensa-
lion to postmasters in certain cases
Mr.. HOPKINS, from the Committee on the Post
Office and Post Roads, reported against the petition
of inhabitants of st. Charles in Missouri, for COM
pensation to The postmaster at that place.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD, from the Committee on
Revolutionary Claims reported against the petitions
of John Conner and George Mccormick.
Mr.. HOWARD, from the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, moved the following resolution
Resolved, That the bill " to provide for the salts
faction of claims due TO certain American citizens
for spoliations committed on their commerce prior
to the 3ls of JULY 1901" be taken up for conside
ration at the hour of one o'clock Friday and Sa-
turday, the 18th and 18th days of April next
Mr.. CAMBRELENG opposed the resolution, and
After remark or two from Messrs. MERCER
and WILLIAMS, of North Carolina, the question
was put, and the resolution was rejected by yeas
and nays, as follows, viz yeas rs, nays GO, (no
Mr. LINCOLN moved that the bill providing for
the removal of the walls ofthe new Treasury build
ing, and for the erection Of freproof building for
the Post Office Department on the site of that re-
Gently destroyed by fire, be made the order OF the
day for Tuesday next (The bill proposes an APP
preparation of Sl50000, and directs the use of the
old materials in the construction of the new build
ing2r caMppr1 ENC demonstrated and Mr.
LINCOLN modified his motion so as 10 refer The
bill TO the Committee the Whole on the State OF
the Union in which form it was agreed to.
On motion made by Mr. HOPKINS, of Va, to
reconsider the adoption Of MIR. SHADES resolution
calling on the Land Office for certain information
touching the preemptionlaws and the sales lands
in the different States and Territories, brief dis
cussion arose in which Messrs. Slade, Hopkins, of
Va. Lyon, of Ala, Boon, of Indiana, and Williams,
Of North Carolina took part. In the course of this
discussion .a w.,
MIR LYON, of Alabama, said the motion 10 re-
consider the vote of the House on the adoption of
the resolution under consideration was made at his
instance and he would state the reasons why, in his
opinion the resolution in its present form ought hot
to be adopted. IL the mover would modify 1t so as
to call for the aggregate quantity OF land disposed
Of. under the several pre-einption laws, he would
willingly vote for it, But if the call is made
10 require report of The particular quantity dis
posed of in each State and Territory under each one
of the several presumption laws heretofore passed It
would, in his Judgment impose unnecessary labor
upon the Land Office and interfere with The diSpo-
son Of other more important matters OF business
II had no obleci n whatever 10 full report upon
each and all the branches of inquiry embraced IN
the resolution; but he could see reason Tor re-
curing information to the particular quantty Oh
land disposed Of under each OF The several laws e-
bracng period Of fifteen or twenty years lie sup
posed the object of the mover would be ATTAINED by
report showing The aggregate quantity soid uhaer
the preemptiou system since it was commenced, but
If the repor Is TO designate the particular quantity
under each law an examination would have TO be
gone into of the returns made by Registers and Re.
ceyers for many years past and he was convinced
thai this examination would require much time and
occupy large number OF the clerks Of the ofhce,
to the exclusion ofolher necessary business All the
prc-emplicn laws, he believed, granted to settlers
the same quantity Of land, l60 acres, and he saw no
particular benefit to result from the labor and delay
necessary TO ascertain the quantity sold ander each