Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-03-21
UNITED STATES SENATE.
(Ffom Wednesday N,sdt's Glo5e.j
~ SENATE.

tion, which was adopted:
Rssolrcd, That the Vice President be request.
ed TO inform The Executive olihe STATE l Massa-
cbuse,ls OF the death OF the Hon. Isaac G. BATES,
late Senator oil the Unied Slates from thal
State.
MIR. Speight ubmitted the following resolu-
lion, which was also adopted:
Rsolred, That the SecrelarSo the Treasury
be directed TO communicate 10 the Senate al as
early a day as practicable, al its next session, the
quantity Of public lands now vacant upon each
side oil Pearl river, and within S miles OF the
same, within the States Of Mississippi and Loul-
siana.
Mr.. Breese inquired OF the Chair, 1.-THE report
OF John Stockton, called for by the Senates reSo-
lp,ion of,he 18Th inst, had not been received from
the Secretary Of War. He was anxious i, should
be ordered 10 be printed.
The Chair. in reply, laid before the Senate the
communication alluded 10.
Nr. Benton remarked, that i: must be quite ap.
parent IL the older members OF The Senate, whose
experience extended back 10 many special Exc
cuiive sessions ike the present, tina; il was not in
order 10 entertain matter OF a legislative charac-
ter. The Senate would have 10 consider how
Ear i. could go in relation 10 these cases, now
brought forward, without infringing upon he rules
or practice heretofore observed.
Fir. Breese concurred in opinion with The Sc
major from Missouri, that ii would not be IN or
der 10 transact legislative business but having
seen that a resolution Just submitted ~ the Sena-
Ior from Massachusetts, (Nr. Websler,) par
taking as much al the nature Of legislative bust
ness as his motion 10 print these documents, had
passed, he took ii for granted, tina, his own motion
would no, be considered Objectionable. he was
free 10 admit, that ii was not competent for the Sc
nate 10 do anything OF a legislative character IN
special Executive session.
u'ka communication Of the Secretary OF Wal
was then read. II states that, in compliance with
The Senate's resolution Of the 18th instant, the
Secretary of War transmits the original report OF
MIR. Stockton, superintendent ofthe mineral lands
on Lake Superior, with the maps and papers ac-
companying The same, not having time 10 copy
The documents, but with the understanding, that
they should be returned TO the department as soon
as copies could be made out and authenticated Tor
the files OF the Senate. ].
Mr.. Breese urged the necessity there was OF
having this report, maps. and papers printed. and
ready for The consideration OF Congress al lis
mex, session, as strong grounds in favor Of adopt
ing his motion TO print.
The question was then taken on the motion 20
print and decided in The aliirinative-ayes l6,
noes 6. So The report, maps, and papers were
ordered TO be printed.
MIR. Woodbridge submitted the following reso-
luton, which it was. he said, OF The utmost I'M
porlauce to Inc Committee on Public Lanes
should be adopted now, in view OF being furnish
ed in Time next session with the information call
ed for
Resolrsd, Tha, the Secretary Of The Treasury
be directed 50 to complete the manuscript maps
now remaining in the room o.! the
Commiuee on Public Lands, as that the tracts OF
public lands actually sold, or Otherwise disposed
OF, nav be designated thereon, By being %colored,
or otherwise, according 10 the plan upon which
those maps were originally commenced. And
that he cause TO be prepared, tor The use otihe same
committee, diagrams of all The States (not already
prepared) in which the public lands are situated,
showing the dates al which the various tracts
were offered at public sale, and have been in
market. And that The same be completed, and
returned TO the committee room at the COM
mencement Of the next session, or as soon as prac-
iicable.
Rsulrsd, That the said Secretary do also cause
70 be continued the work necessary Tor, ana pre-
paratory 10 a continuation of The compilation OF
The lani laws, instructions and regulations OF the
land Office, and such other matter as may more
fully illustrate the system and policy pursued
by the General Government relative TO the public
ianis.
Mr.. Alien eailod tho attention Of tho Senate TO
the 4oh rule, which IS:
".Nhen acting on confidential or executive
business, the Senate shall be cleared OF all per-
sons sxce 1.-THE secretary, the principal or e1ecu-
live CLERK, the sergeanl-a, arms and door-keepsr,
az 1.-THE assistant doof-keeper."
w The question was, in point OF fact, what
business was the Senate now convened 10 trans
acl Was il legislative or executive business}
Il could mol be legislative business, because the
Constitution requires the concurrent session OF
The o;hsr branch Of Congress for that. II the
Senate we're 10 do i, now, il would be leSisIaIing
with one body, contrary 10 The Constitution
The motion now pending, nobody could doubt,
belonged to the legislative action Of Congress-
To test The question whether the Senate would
authorize he departure from the obvious pTopri'
CIV Of a~unfning lis &c ion u the legitimate sphere
oil executive business, while in special executive
session, lie now moved the Senate proceed 10 the
consideration Of executive business.
Mr.. Woodbury. remarked that the opinions of
The gentlemen on his left Mr.. Benton and MI.
Allenl were undoubtedly correct, with one ex-
cep,ion in relation 10 The organization of the body,
as a preliminary step 10 executive business. In
this respect, for instance, four years ago, on an
occasion similar 10 that Of The present special
executive session, one officer OF the Senate Che
ce-gsan,-a;-arms) was elected, and another dis
missed. lie apprehended, therefore, that such a
motion as that submitted hy the Senator from
Massachusetts mir. Webs:ell was perfectly pro-
per. But beyond the organization OF The BODY,
and circumstances u The character involved in the
resolution OF The Senator from Massachusetts, he
considered ii was not Competent Tor The Senate TO
20, independent Of lis executive action, while in
special executive session.
The motion was put b. The Chair, and concur
red in without dissent.
Sothe Senate wen, into Executive session, and
:emained with closed doors ill half past three o.
clock.
Il was exnec,ed that the Senate would be able
{, n rloSc ,tS yaSciDn to-day. luf ne a fpv, rpfpctionS
were maie, which, might be desirable for The Pre-
siden, 10 Supply ~ fresh nominations, ii is under
stood another DAY will he required. The Senate
consequently stands adjourned till tomorrow At
IL O'Clock. Several nominations were confirmed;
the most important were, Gen. Thomas CaTpen-
Ter, as collector Of Providence. Rhode Island, and
Mi. Huntington as collector Of Sag fIarbor. New
York.
The Senate was in session nearly four hours
Yesterday, the most Of which lime was with closed
doors, on Executive business. a large number ot
nominations, chiefly Of revenue officers, &c. and
those reported on from The Committee an Cum
rner-e. yer. confirmed. The Gully nominations re-
,cctsl, a.r. those Of John II. Prentlss as Marshal
ofthe Northern District OF New Y~ork-(his ap-
r%ointmenl had been Photographed as t%onhrmed)-
and the nomination Of VIM. Shaler 10 be Consul
AT Hong Kong, China. Previous TO the adjourn
mtntOD yesterday, tut ccudt !eLupseN ihluhe-
lion Of secrecy from The vote on the resolution Of
fered BY Mr.. Berrien in secre, session, on The llth
instant, which is here appended.
The Senate, i, is generally understood, will adj
Journ today, sine de- IanrsdGy's ~IateA;geaces.
OFFICIAL.
APPOINTMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT
BIZ and ,clh the odriec aud consent Of Hc Senate.
James Buchanan of PENNSYLVANIA TO be Secre-
iary OF State, in The place OF John c. Calhoun, re-
signed.