, 1842-03-19
CONGRESSIONAL L
SENATE, March 2.


Mr.. LINN submitted the following resoulu-
tons, which were read and adopted, viz:
RESOLVED, That the Commissioner OF the
General Land office be directed to send to
the Senate Il statement, showing the con-
struction given by him in practice to the act
of July 4th, 1886, confirming the reports OF
the Board OF Commissioners, appointed 10
investigate private land claims in Mississippi
under the acts of July 9th, 1882, and March
3D., 1888; and wether, in his opinion, any
further legislation is necessary to enable him
to carry out effectively and justly said act
of 4th Of July, 1886.
Resolved, That the Postmaster General
be requested to communicate 10 the Senate
4 statement, showing the number Of post
routes on which the mails are suspended on
the Sabbath day; the amount that is saved
TO the Department by such suspension, with
the name of the State or States in which
such routes exists.
ORDERS OF THE DAY.
The orders OF The day brought up as the
unfinished business OF yesterday, Mr.. Clay's
retrenchment and reform resolutions, submit
ted to the Senate on the 18th ullimo, the
question pending being on the adoption Of
Mr.. Wrigtt's proposed amendments.
Mr.. Wright, who was entitled to the floor,
addressed the Senate for about two hours.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. Cooper of Georgia introduced his COL
league, Mr.. Black, who wa, qualified and
took his seat.
The order Of the day was the report Of
the Retrenchment Committee. the considera-
ton OF which the House resumed. The first
question was on the resolution proposing Il
reduction in the number of messengers. 1t
was in the following terms:
Resolved, That, in addition 10 the mes
senger now authorized by law TO be employ
ed by the Clerk, he be authorized TO employ
two assistant messengers, at the same com
pensation allowed to the other messengers
in the service of the House, and one laborer,
in lieu of the six messengers now employed
in said office.
After q few words from tIr. Briggs and
Mr.. Summers, the resolution was agreed to
without amendment.
The next resolution was as follows:
Resolved. That the office OF draughtsman
of the House be, and the same is hereby,
abolished.
Mr.. J. G. Floyd offered an amendment
to and TO the draughtsman the Postmaster to
the House, and all officers connected there
with. He said he believed the post office
attached TO the House was an incumbrance,
for he had no doubt they should get their let
tiers one hour sooner, direct from the pos,
office.
Mr.. Hopkins took the same view of the
subject, which was further discussed by
Messrs. Bovine, Briggs, Everett, Smith, of
Va, Cushing, Cave, Johnson, Gordon and
Morgan, who moved the previous question.
Mr.. Fillmore said as the morning hour had
expired, he moved that the House resolve
itself INTO a committee of the Whole on the
state of the Union.
The Speaker took occasion to present
several Executive communications; and also
a letter from Mr.. Morrow, requesting to be
excused from further service on the Com
mittee on Public Lands; which was agreed
to. Likewise, a copy of resolutions from
Iowa, respecting the boundaries of that Ter
ritory.
lie next presented a letter from Mr.. Al
len, IN reply to a resolution Of the House
requiring him to desist from printing the
Compendium of the Census, in which he de-.
MED the authority of the House to interfere,
After some debate. in which Mr.. Garrett
Davis, Mr.. Gushing; and others took part.
the letter was referred to the COMMITTEE Of
claims, to which the communication of
Messrs. Blair & Rives had been referred.
MARCH, 8.
The time of the Senate was principally &C.
cupied in hearing a speech from Mr.. Smith
of Indiana on the tariff, retrencbment. and
kIn1rpd moftorc op,h.,-. =. ~