The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-28
FIRST SESSION.
WEDNESDAY,, Jan. %, 1886.
IN SENATE.

The journal OF yesterday having oeen Teaa,
PETITIONS.
Mr.. WOODBRIDGE presented the petition Of
citizens of Michigan praying the erection OF light
house at the mouth Of the White river; which was
referred 10 the Committee on Commerce.
SENECA INDIANS.
Mr.. DIX presented the petition Of 200 citizens Of
Cayuga county, New York, in relation to certain
treaties made with the Seneca Indians IN 1885 ana
1872 praying the abrogation Of said treaties wheh
was referred To the Committee on Indian AhairS'
Mr. DAVIS presented the memorial OF Charles
Stearns, asking to be reimbursed for expenses M
CURED by him, in consequence OF legal proceedings
In which he was involved, on complaint OF an of
fcer Of the United States, growing out OF contest
as 20 the ownership or title 10 certain lands, OF
which he was a cotermnous proprietor with the
United States; which was referred TO the Committee
on the Judiciary
Mr.. d. also presented the petition of citizens OF
marlborough, Massachusetts,, who, representing
war as a great evil, pray Congress TO adopt meas.
ures for an smiesble adjustment Of all international
difficulties; which was referred 10 the Committee on
Foreign Relations.
zens Of Oneida county, New York, demonstrating
against the treaties Of 1888 and l642, between the
United States and the Seneca Indians, and praying
their abrogation; which was referred TO the Com
mittee on Indian Affairs.
THE JUDICIARY.
Mr. JOHNSON, Of Louisiana, rose and stated,
that some time since he had offered resolution in.
structing the Committee the Judiciary TO inquire
into the expedency Of modifying the judiciary sys
TEN of the Uned States, as 10 relieve the judges
of the Supreme Court from circuit dutiss and 10 re-
duce the number of the JUICES Of said COURT or into
the ex pediency Of forming new circuit TO be com
posed Of the States Of Louisiana and Texas, which
was adopted by the Senate, and is now before the
said committee. He was Of the opinion that the
time had arrived, when the public interest required
that the Supreme Court should be relieved from CIR
cult duties; that from the vast accumulation OF bu.
siness before that court within the last few years,
a large portion Of the suits have been continued
from time TO time the court not being enabled TO
decide half OF the number Of suits pending. Such a
postponement Of the business Of the court, from
time TO time amounts almost to a denial Of justice
He had obtained from the clerk Of the Supreme
Court statement in writing, showing the state OF
business before the Supreme Court for a series OF
years-the number of cases on each docket, the
humber Of cases disposed Of annually, and the num-
Der left on the docket annuay-from which II APP
pears that the adjournment Of the last term Of the
Supreme Court, there remained on the docket, I'M
decided, 100 cases. Mr.. J. argued to show, that In
consequence of the admission Of new States into the
Union, the business would continue to accumulate
in the Supreme Court to such an extent as TO render
il utterly mpracticable for the court to dispose OF
il. He said that two new States had been
already admitted into the Union, to which the judi
tended; that the Territories Of Iowa and Wisconsin
would soon be admitted into the Union as States
that il the system should not be modified, as pro-
posed, il would be necessary, during the present
session, to form a new circuit composed OF the
States Of Louisiana and Texas and probably, at the
next session, another circuit in consequence Of the
admission Of Iowa and Wisconsin. Thus the Su-
preme court, already too numerous, will be increas-
ed by the appointment oftwo additional judges, ma
king eleven in ALL Ii appears 10 be the general impress
IL IL. : IN
be relieved from the performance of circuit duties,
the number Of Judges Of the court should be reduced
TO seven. The vacancy now existing in the court,
therefore, should not be filled, in his opinion, until
the question of modifying the system, as proposed
shall have been acted on by Congress.
He called the attention of the Committee on the
Judiciary particularly to the question, and urged
the importance of prompt action upon the subject.
On motion of MIR. J., the statement Of the clerk Of
the Supreme Court, TO which he had alluded, wa,
referred to the Committee the Judiciary, and or
dered to be printed.
REPoRTr OF COMMITTEES.
Mr.. LEWIS, from the Committee on Finance
10 whom referred the petitions Of citizens Of ST
Clair county, Michigan, asking that a law may be
passed by Congress to prevent American steamers
from purchasing fuel for their use in Canada, and
thus avoiding the payment of duty thereon, asked
to be discharged from its further consideration
which, by the unanimous vote of the Senate, wal
granted
Mr. PEARCE, from the Committee on Pensions
10 whom was referred the petition Of Lydia Rush
made an adverse report thereon; which was ordered
10 be printed.
Mr. BARROW presented the following resou-
ton; which was agreed to:
Rssspsd That the Committee the Post Office and Post
Roads he instructed to inquire into the expediency of
tablshng post from the town of Paquemine parish
OF Ibervile In the State OF Louisiana to central point
in the settlement on Bayou Gross Tete'
Mr.. BREESE submitted the following rcsolu.
ton; which was agreed TO:
Resopsd That the Secretary the Treasury directed
to inform the Senate whether any and any what amount
proceeds Of the sales of public lands situate
and south Of the base line and west of the second principal
MERIDIAN to which that State is entitled, has been paid
the State Of Indiana what disposition has been
made Of the same
NOTICE OF PRIVATE BILL
Mr.. DIX gave notice Of his intention by leave oil
the Senate, introduce bill for the relief of Sally
Lockwood.
Mr. SIMMONS, pursuant to notice, asked and
obtained leave, and introduced bill authorizing the
payment of sum of money to Robert Perkins; which
read first and second time, and referred to the
Committee of Claims.
MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES.
Several messages in writing were received from
the President of the United States by Mr.. WALKER
CLAIMS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AGAINST THE UNIrEI
STATES.
Mr.. ATHERTON moved that the previous or
ders of the day be suspended, and that the Senate
take up for consideration the "bl providing fo
the settlement of the claims of the State of New
Hampshire, against the United States;' which mo-
ton was agreed to.
The bill was then considered in committee Of
the WHOLE and no amendments being offered, it was
reported back to the Senate without amendment
when
Mr.. CRITTENDEN said that, as to the am oun
in the BILL il matter Of small moment, but the
principle involved of infinite magnitude, and
worthy of consideration. If he understood the OBJ
iect Of the measure, twas to reimburse New Hamp
shire for the ordinary expenses which might be in
CURED by any State occasionally for maintaining
its own jurisdiction and enforcing its own laws. II
seemed, as far as he could learn from the senator
from New Hampshire, Mr.. ArHERroN,l that, on a
little point Of territory adjoining the Canadian bor-
der, parcel of lawlcss men had collected together
for refuge or ASYLUM claiming to belong to one j,l-