The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1845-02-18
Twenty-Eighth Congress.
SECOND SESSION.
SENATE.
TUESDAY, Feb. Is, l845.

SENATE.
TUESDAY, Feb. l6, lS45.
The reading of the minutes were dispensed with.
communication was received from the Treasury
Department the subject Of the lighthouse
Chrlstiana river, enclosing letter from 3. Peason
ton.
A communication was received from the War De-
partment.
Mr.. MERRICK said he wished TO offer additional
testimony In behalf of the petition Of - Buchanan,
which he wished referred to the COMMITTEES on
Claims.
Mr.. WHITE presented petition from the State
OF Indiana for a reduction of the rates of postage
The petition was laid on the table.
Mr. d. presented petition from 100 citizens Of
Newport for the reduction of the rates of postage
Laid on the table.
Mr.. STURGEON presented the petition of Thos
Hall for pension.
Mr. WHITE, from the Committee on Indian Al
fairs was Instructed report the petition of John
DILLON, recommending that it be recommitted TO the
Committee Of Finance.
Mr. BAYARD, from the Committee on Naval At
fairs, reported bill for the relief of Jesse p Elliott
which was read, and ordered TO 10 printed.
Mr.. DAYTON offered resolution that the Com
mittee the Library be instructed forth with to in
quire as to whether not of books had been
forwarded by the French Government for the use of
the Government Of the United States, and if so, that
the secretary of the library be required accomplish
which he understood had been suffered to
remain nine months in New York, 70. the
mere expenses of storage. If this be so, he
said it was disgrace to the Government. He said
we were not regardless of all those civties which
due nations and to overlook those matters. 1t
seemed to him as well as to The French Government
that something should be done on the subject
Mr. TAPPAN said that it struck HIM that the col
Iector at New York, or at any other port of the coun
try, had right to dcain the property of the gov
eminent of the United States for duties.
Mr.. McDUFFIE said that this seemed to him a
very extraordinary case He should be highly graft
fed to learn something about it. To what function
airy of the government was this of books sent
They not sent TO any functionary that he knew
but were sent to the custom-house al New York and
sold under the rules of The custom-house for the
payment of duties.
Mr.. DAYTON said they were sent from the Cham
Der of Deputies to this Government, and ought to
have been addressed to officer of this Govern
ment.
Mr.. HENDERSON said it would be better to
strike out the Secretary of the Library from the
mittee and insert the Committee the Library in its
place; which agreed to.
Mr.. ARCHER rose and said that he held in his
hand memorial from ST. Louis Missouri, signed by
200 citizens Of that place. asking for change in the
naturalization laws. The memorial was referred TO
the Committee on the Judiciary
Mr.. ALLEN desired to ask the Chairman the
Judiciary Committee, if it was his intention of calling
up and pressing upon the Senate the Till upon this
subject. He would like to what progress was
made by the commission Instituted to take evidence
upon this subject Philadelphia and other cities
He did not know by what authority this commission
was Instituted. He did not know more about it than
what he saw in the newspapers. He would like to
know something about it before the bill up for
consideration.
Mr.. BERRIEN said, in answer to the Senator
from Ohio, that when these petitions for change
~ lam thoo no
committee was invested with power to send for per-
and papers in order to inquire into the subject.
Another resolution was afterwards submitted to the
Senate authorizing the committee to issue these COM
missions He had this, them TO say in answer to the
gentleman from Ohio The commissions were is
sued for Philadelphia, New York, Boston and New
Orleans The commission for Philadelphia has been
returned; the commission for New York has been he
believed closed that of Boston was not yet finished.
He had not yet heard from that which was sent to N.
Orleans 1t was his intentions so soon as the commits
sions before the Senate finished to call up the
question. fthe returns be mnde in the course OF the
present week, il his intention TO submit the sub
ject to the Senate.
The bill for the payment of the 4h regiment in the
Cd brigade Of the 80 division of the Vermont militia,
for services at the battle Of Patburg, then read
q third time and passed.
Mr.. MERRICK presented the memorial of sundry
merchants of Baltimore, for remission of duties on
Guano manure Also thought il would be well to call
up the bill for the relief of - Burns Not agreed
Mr.. WOODBRIDGE said he was directed by the
Committee on Commerce to report joint resolution
for the relief Of Sllas MITCHELL for certain expenses
incurred in furnishing light houses.
Mr.. WHITE, from the Committee on Indian AT
fairs, to whom referred the memorial Of William
Housen, praying compensation for services rendered
the Government was directed to report bill in bis
favor.
Mr.. WOODBRIDGE offered resolution, asking
that an extra number of copies Of The report Of the
geological exploration be printed for the of
the Senate. He said it most vaua-
bic work, and he thought il was well deserving of
the attention of the Senate He thought that at least
1900 copies OF the work ought to be printed. The
resolution by general consent was then read and
agreed to.
MIR. HANNEG AN from the Committee on Militia
ry Affairs wished the report for the relief Of David
Ashley be taken up and acted upon, which was not
agreed 10.
Mr.. ARCHER asked that the bill making compen-
saton for French spoliatoDs prior TO the year 1900
be taken up, which agreed to; but subse-
quenty laid upon the table without further considera
lion.
Mr.. WHITE from the Committee on Indian Affairs
to whom referred the petition of David Ashley
for relief, reported bill for that purpose; also,
another bill from the same committee TO whom was
referred he petition of William Thomas for relief
read twice and REFERRED.
Bill No. III, vestng in the county commissioner,
of the county of Wyandot the right to certain town
lots and out lots in the town of Upper Sandusky in
the State Of Ohio, after being amended, was read a
third time and passed.
Mr. ARCHER then moved that the Senate pro-
coed to the consideration Of the order of the DAY
which the joint resolution Of the House OF Re-
representatives. Tor the annexation of Texas-which
was agreed to, and
Mr. CHOA re then proceeded to discuss the ques-
ton, and had not finished when our reporter left.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
TUESDAY, February Is, lSa5.
After our paper was put to press yesterday, TN
bin 10 regulate the pay OF the army, and for other pu
poses, was read a third time and passed
Mr.. w. C., McCAUSLIN presented The petition o.
sundry citizens of Carroll and Coumbiana coun les
in the State of Ohio, praying for mail route fiou
Steubenve, by the way of Somerset and Mncbell's