Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-02-22
PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS.
In SENATE.

Mr. FOSTER from the Committee of Claims reported,
without amendment act for the relief OF the heirs OF Alex
ander Mitchell
Mr. JARNAGIN, from the Committee on Revolutionary
Claims made unvorabe report the petition Of Francis
Sumter
Mr. BATES from the Committee Pensions, made an
adverse the granting Susannah SCOT,
widow Of William Scott.
Mr.. CRTrTENDEN, from the Committee Military AT
lrs, reported with amendments ACT providing payment
for certain military services in Florida
Mr.. ARCHER, from the Committee Foreign Affairs
reported for indefinite posponemenl the bull provide for
the adjustment and settlement Of claims Of citizens OF the Uni
ted States upon the Republic of Mexico
| On motion Of Mr. ARCHER, the same committee were
discharged from the further consideration OF the petition Of John
Srohecker claiming indemnity for loss Of insurance.
Mr. FOSTER from the Committee Of Claims, reported
with amendments act for the relief OF Daniel Romans
Also, bill authorizing the payment Of sum OF money to
Robert Purks
Mr. EVANS, from the Committee Finance, reported an
authorize the importation Of railroad iron free duty
certain
Also an act to remit the duties which accrued been
paid upon importation of railroad iron in certain cases
Mr.. CHOATE from the Committee on the Library, re-
ported joint resolution for the distribution OF certain printed
documents among the several statistical associations
Mr. SIMMONS, from the Committee on Printing reported
the resolution from the Committee Foreign Affairs to PRINT
5000 copies extra OF the chinese eay ana
which concurred in.
Mr.. WOODBRIDGE, from the Committee on the Public
Lands reported ufavoraby the petition Of sundy citizens
Of Missouri asking the consolidation OF the land dlsicts Oh
| Fayette and Palmyra, in that State
| Mr. FOSTER from the Committee Of Claims, reported
without amendment the following House bills
For the relief of the President and Directors OF the Dismal
Swamp Canal Company.
For the relief Of Jacob S. Vance, OF Ohio.
| For the relief of Charles r. Allen.
| For the relief Of John r. Converse.
Mr. EVANS, from the Committee on Finance, reported
back without amendment, act making appropriations tor
payment Of navy pensions for the ending the 3oh Of
June, ls46.
Also an act for the relief Of Harvey Sagg accompanied
| by report
Mr.. CRTTTENDEN, from the Committee on Military AZ
fairs reported for the relief Of John H Mcintosh
Aso for the relief of Captain j. b. Crozlers COM
pany of mounted volunteers.
On motion Of Mr. CRIrTENDEN, the same committee
were discharged from the further consideration of the resou
tons Of the Alabama Legislature for the establishment OF
national foundry at the South.
Also from the documents relating to an increase OF pay for
military storekeepers.
Also from the memorial of the Common Council Of Roches
ter, New York. praying aHaPpropaon for the construction
of fertilization al the mouth Of the Genesee river
The committee wished be discharged from these subjects
Mr. CRTTTENDEN said, chiefly from the want OF time to
act upon them before the close of this session. but had
iected them
/ Mr. BATES, from the Committee on Pensions, made an
unfavorabc report the claims Of w. W. Buchanan, which
was ordered to be printed
Mr.. WOODBRIDGE, from the Committee on Public
Lands reported the extend the time Of locating Virginia
land warrants and returning surveys to the General Land
Office
j Mr.. ATHERTON, from the Committee on Pensions, made
an unavoable report the petition of Ellison Williams
! Mr.. WHITE, from the Committee Indian Affairs,
ported bill for the relief Of William Henson.
Also, bill for the relief of Catlin, Peoples & Co.
| Also bill for the relief of W. III. Thomas.
Mr. BAYARD, from the Committee Naval Affairs,
ported bill for the relief of Commodore Jesse ID. Elliot
| ATMOSPHERIC RAILROAD.
The bill for authorizing the South Carolina Railroad Com
10 import certain pipes and machinery Tree OF duty be-
ing under consideration
Mr. STURGEON said that he wished for information upon
the subject The mechanics and artisans Of the United
i IL
quito equal the production Of any machinery which could
be wanted He did the necessity for exoneraion
from the payment Of duty in aid Of the Importation Of
chnery from England.
Mr. EVANS replied that he could perhaps supply the in
formation sought for by the Senator from Pennsylvania This
bill had relation late invention in England for the app
cation Of atmospheric pressure as Propeng power ON rail-
roads The pipes and machinery could not be made here and,
probably by any body else besides the inventor in Eng
land The invention had been proved to be well adapted
short distances but had not yet been sufficiently tested
long II introduced into this country, il might lead to
an extension knowledge, and prove Of service only
mechanics and artisans but TO the propretors of iron
works. and all who interested in the consumption of that
material There was part Of the South Carolina railroad
which was well adapted for giving trial Of this prn
cpIc The machinery to be imported only for mile
in length The Of duty in question, nationalpoint
He trusted the bill would not be opposed in its passage.
The bill then ordered to be engrossed for third read
ing, and was subsequently passed.
FRENCH sPoLIATIoNs.
The bill to provide for the ascertanment and payment of
the claims Of American citizens for French spoiaons coming
up its passage
Mr.. McDUFFIE commenced speech in opposition TO the
BILL He detailed briefly the history Of these claims and argued
that The various adverse reports which had been made against
them afforded ground Of presumption that they very
strong Twenty years quiet possession Of real
afforded presumpve evidence Of good title but in this
the Government called recognise claims which had
rested had been regarded unounded nearly fifty
years. And now, when all who part and parcel and
witnesses of the transactions had passed away, the Claimants
were again before the Senate, asking for the passage of
Of condemnation upon General Washington and his
Cabinet for such would be- in fact the passage of bill do
ing that which, by implication, win be held they ought
have done.
He objected also to the power given 10 the board Of
commissioners appointed by the bh before whom and by
whom those claims be decided he objected the
evidence which they required to take he would leave
claim of 500 to the settlement Of commission
uted and with such powers He viewed the before them
void Of any original principle Of justceas voded by its
antiquity, and, referred to- Objectionable mode ofse
Element He denied that the Government had rendered itself
liable to the claimants by having in fact appropriated the
property Of individuals purposes He had no idea
Of any Spectator who had given $40 for claim Of 81 900
being benefited by the passage Of this bill that Spectator
might have purchased this claim Of poor widow and told her
that il worth
Mr. CHoATE replied that the bill provided that holder
OF claim should receive than he had paid for it. Nearly
all the claims in the hands Of the original claimants or
their descendants There nothing in his opinion in the
argument against the claimants arising from the antiquity Of