The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-12-18
TWENTY NINTH CONGRESS,
FIRST SESSION.
THURSDAY, December 10, ls45.
IN SENATE.

LEGATION OF AN edluon oil the deciatuuon oil inucpenu-
ence; which was referred to the Joint Committee on
the Library
Mr S. also presented the memorial of Henry
Simpson, asking to be allowed certain commissions
alleged 20 be due his father for procuring loan IN
favor the United States during the late war which
was referred 10 the committee on Finance q .-51
Mr. s. further presented the pstition Of Charles +,
Sibbod, praying indemnity for loss sustained in
consequence Of Icing kepirom the possession OF his
property in Florida by the illegal interference Of the
government through its agents. which was referred
to the Committee on Claims.
Mr. s, further presented the petition Of a large
number of citizens of Eas,on, Pennsylvania frierds
of the colony at Liberia, stating that the rights of
said colony had been invaded; and praying that the
independence of the colony of Liberia may be recog
Missed by the United States; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations.
MINERAL LANDS.
MIR. BREESE presented memorial of citizen
of Illinois, and the Territories of Iowa and Wiscon
sin, praying that the mineral lands of the United
States may be subject to sale other public lands
which was referred to the Committee on Public
Lands.
Mr.. DICKINSON presented remonstrances of
as ladies of Jefferson county New York, against
the admission of Texas into the Union slave
State, also, similar remonstrance from citizens of
New York; both Of which were laid upon the table.
Mr.. ID. also gave notice of his intention to ask
leave of the Senate introduce bill for the relief
VIM b, Cheever.
Mr.. TURNEY presented the petition of Robert
Armstrong, praying pension for wound received
III engagement with the Creek Indians in the
year 1914; which was referred to the Committee on
Pensions
- Mr.. CAMERON presented remonstrance of cit
zens of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, against the adms-
sion Of Texas into the Union with constitution
tolcratng slavery; which was laid on the table.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Louisiana, presented the PEI
ton of E. l.. A. Ripley, only surviving child and
legal representative Of Eleazer w. Ripley, praying
the payment of sum of money awarded to her late
father by verdict Of Jury In suit instituted
against him by the United States; which was refer
red to the Committee the Judiciary.
Mt. J. also presented the petition of Samuel --,
praying the confirmation Of certain land claims in
the State of louisiana which was referred to the
Committee on Private Land Claims.
Mr. DIX presented four remonstrances from citi-
zens of New York against the admission Of Texas
into the Union with constitution tolerating slavery;
which were laid on the table.
j Mr. WEBSTER presented similar document
from citizens of Massachusetts, which took simila
course. 3s
Mr. DIX presented the memorial Of convention
of claimants, citizens of the United States praying
indemnity for French spoiations prior to the year
$780, which was referred to the Committee on For
eign Relations. a ttSr
Mr. FAIRFIELD presented the petition Of
Thomas Mcclellan and 25 others, asking rmu-
neraton for French spoliations prior to 1900.
Mr.. F. said he believed it had been usually,
though not uniformly the case refer similar petit
tons to the Committee Foreign Relations, In
this instance, however, and under the circumstances
he felt constraned by Of duty to the petit
TONERS, and in obedience to the spirit Of thrcere
peaicd instructions from the legislature Of Maine, to
move reference to a select committee. He did not
do this land he knew his friend from Ohio the dis
tingushed chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Relations, would so understand it) from any want
of respect for that committee, or any member Of il
On most questions, he would rely with great conf
dence on the opinions of that committee In this
case, however il is well understood that the opn-
ions Of majority Of the committee are adverse to
these claims. To refer this petition, then, to this
committee, would be to bury the whole subject for
the present session. at least This, he apprehended
would not be in accordance with the general course
of the Senate. Without any definite rule upon the
subject, 1t has always been regarded proper to
place proposition in the hands of its friends, with
a view to the initiatory proceedings Unless
such course be pursued here, the subject can
not be presented to the Senate for its consdera-
ton and judgment. Even the opponents Of the
claims, those who had made up their minds TO go
against them at all events, he hoped would not OPP
pose the reference TO select committee, inasmuch
as they would not otherwise be fairly presented for
consideration. In this nitiatory step there is
nothing binding. No senator commits himself
The claims are merely put in position for discus
son-and Of this, surely no one, either friends or
opponents of the claims, should be afraid.
1t appearedto him, (Mr. F. also, that consider
alton for the reference Of these claims to select
committee might be found in their magnitude ard
importance, well as in their history. II will be
remembered Also that no less than fourteen reports
have emanatcd from respectable committees of both
branches of Congress in favor of these claims and
that eight nine of the legislatures of the sovereign
States of the Union have instructed their senator's to
support them Under all the circumstances he en-
tertained the hope that there would be no OPPOSE
ton to the reference asked.
Mr.. F. said he had delayed many days making
this motion, in the hope that it would be made by
some older and more distinguished member of the
Senate But knowing how often the favorable ac-
ton Of Congress had been prevented by delay, he
had concluded to make the motion hmself-at the
same time expressing the hope that in the compost
ton Of the committee, should the Senate be kind
enough to grant one, his (Mr. F.'s) name would be
omitted. This he would esteem as a favor
Mr.. CLAYTON was in favor of the motion of
the senator from Maine, and stated that he
had been directed by the Legislature OF Delaware to
press the claims in question upon the attention of
Congress- lie had presented petition praying in
demnity for French spoations; but finding thar the
Committee on Foreign Relations were opposed to
such, he had moved no reference, and the petition
sti laid upon the table, from which he had intended
TO take II at future day, and its reference to
select committee.
Mr.. DIX rose merely for the purpose Of stating
that when he received the similar petition present.
ed by him this morning, he referred to the journal
of the Senate and found that the usual reference for
years past had been to the Committee on Foreign
Relations; and therefore it that he, not know
ing the opinions Of the gentlemen composing said
committee, had moved its reference to them. Il
Mr.. ]. NJ CLAYTON inquired Of Mr.. d.
whether the gentlemen composing the committees to
whom he referred as having in former years been.
intrusted with the consideration Of the claims in
question, were not in favor Of the claims.
Mr.. DIX replied that he did not know their in
divdua opinions, bu, that the committee had in
all instances reported ayorably.
Mr.. MILLER was in favor Of the reference 10 a
special committees he did not consider the Commit
econ Foreign Relations the appropriate one the
not claims upon foreign nation but against The
United States government itself he thought il i'm
porant that these claims should he met, and favor
ably considered