The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-28

READ and passed to the second reading.
On motion by Mr. PEARCE. the Committee on the
Library discharged from the further consideration Of
the memorial OF Robert Owen and the same was referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary
STEAMSHIPS NAVY.
MIR FAIRFIELD, from the Committee on Naval At
fairs reported bill providing for the building and equip
ment of four naval steamships which was read and
passed to the second reading.
PRIVATE BILLS.
Mr.. FAIRFIELD, from the Committee on Naval At
fairs TO which had been referred the following bills from
the House, reported the same without amendment an
An act for the relief OF james II. Conley.
An act for the relief of Thomas N Newell
An act for the relief of Henry La Rentree.
An act for the relief of Susan Brum.
An act for the relief of the legal representatives OF
Thomas Shields, deceased.
An act for the relief of Elizabeth Adams
Joint resolution for the settlement OF the accounts of
Purser G.. II. Barry.
The joint resolution from the House authorizing and
requesting the President of the United States cause
suitable gold and silver medals TO be prepared and pre-
scented to the officers and belonging or attached to
the French British, and Spanish ships Of in the har
Dor OF Vera Cruz. who so calamity and at the imminent
peril OF their lives, aided IN resculng from watery grave
many of the officers and of the United States brig
Somers read twice, and referred to the Committee
on Naval Affairs @ ~ p
INCREASED PAY AND BOUNTY LAND TO SOLDIERS
The bill from the House to increase the pay of the
commissioned officers, musicians, and prvaes of the
my of the United States, and the militia and volunteers
in the service OF the same, and allowing them bounty
land in certain read twice, and referred to the
Committee on Military Affairs.
ADDITIONAL REVENUE,
Mr. NILES submitted the following resolution for con-
slderation:
Resored That to meet the of the existing
with Mexico, - sustain the public credit and give Elf
cheney the operations of IN. treasury demand add
ton to the revenue which may reasonably be expected from
the existing laws OF from five TO ten millions of dollars per
annim.
Rcsotped That in the opinion of the Senate such add
onal revenue may be raised from mposts. by increasing
the rates Of duties on iporations subject duty and
mod,rae duty upon a % Pa OF d free u.s., ", h such
ousy burden to portion OF the people but would
Judgment of tn, Ssnute it highly necessary that such a
dtona be raised during the continuance of the
nnd % the the o Of I Ma ae s
or may be- authorized iof the prosecution OF the in
which the country is engaged.
FREMoNT's MAPS
Mr.. BENTON submitted the following resolution for
consideration
Rs,pcd, That the Secretary of the Senate be directed
with Mr.. Charles Preuss for constructing topo-
grahica map of the great central section of the Rocky
mountains, with the lateral and rib mountains each side
down the edge of the Great Plains the and
Great Salt Lake the west and showing head waters
of all the great rivers rising in that section of the Rocky
mountains, and flowing TO the Pacific and to the
Mississippi; be compiled from the field notes, jour
nails, and sketches Of Lieutenant Colonel Fremont and
his assistant, Charles Preuss the said MAP, besides
asronomical barometrical, meteorological, botanical
geological, and other scientific observations Of Lieut. Col
marable places, the elevation OF the country tempera
of the air. and OF the weather. also characteristic
fossils. earh, and rocks with remarks show the wood
land and praes, Indian tribes, game, &c with additions
which the present expedition Of Lieut.. Col Fremont may
contribute 10 the work. Also map of Oregon and Calf
forni in the style, from the materials of the
explorer, and other authentic
THE wAREHoUsNG SYSTEM.
Mr. HUNTINGTON submitted the following resou-
ton; which was considered by unanimous consent and
Resolvsd, That the Committee on Finance be instructed
inquire into the expediency of nvokng modifying
the power of the Secretary of the Treasury authorize the
issuing ofcertfcaes of the depose goods in the public
stores to the owners or importers thereof.
PUBLIC LANDS OREGON.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill ION
its third readng) to create the Office OF Surveyor Gene
raj of the public lands in the territory of Oregon and to
grant donation rights to settlers thereon, and for other
Mr. PEARCE said he had not an opportunity of read
ing the bill when il was under consideration in commit
tee He thought it hasty and premature. 1t directed the
surveyor general to survey large portion OF the lands of
Oregon infinitely, and to lay the territory cut in town
ships, sections, half and quarter sections This measure
he repeated, was premature was departure from the
practice OF this government from the earl times; be-
cause the United States did not foot of land in
that territory yet The Indian claims had not yet been
extinguished They still owned the soil It had hap.
pened that the Indians had settlements at the mouth Of
the Columbia and the whites had consequently settled
there without molesaton; yet he did not believe that
the Indians had abandoned their claims. They must
have possessory right to the SOIL although was not
so clearly defined right in fee simple was
theess substantial right, and one which had always
been recognised by this government This bill then
Objectionable, it made no recognition of those rights,
authorized the surveyor general to lay out the terrific
nv into sections, &C. &c. Although amty existed be-
tween the settlers and the Indians now, might not
tinue long Whskey and gunpowicr might get in
among them and create disturbance They were dis
possessing the red man of his forest home, and how
could he tell but that the next move would
drive him beyond the mountains or into the waves
of the Pacific. Attempts to lines and survey terri
occasions had occasioned trouble The fourth section,
also granting donations of public lands to settlers,
departure from the established practice of the govern
ment He believed that the only case of such grant
were in a state of hostility towards the whites. But
there such reason for giving donations of this
kind to settlers Oregon for the Indians there, he
was informed, amicabe towards the whites This
bill proposed to give away very large portion, and
the very best portion Of the lands in Oregon Byand-
by they would give away the whole of those lands
without having previously extingushed the Indian title
He could not consent 10 such Again the bill
Objectionable il proposed to appropriate six
or eight thousand dollars compensation to the
veyor general That sum was too large. For these and
other reasons, therefore, he would recommit-
ment of the bill.
Mr. BREESE remarked that all the objections which
the gentleman hal raised TO this bill were duly consd-
cred by the COMMITTEES. As TO the title OF the Indians,
they were nomalc tribes and, SO far the commit
could ascertain had title al all TO the land They
were ignorant and wholly unacquained with the nature
of titles As TO the reference of the gentleman to the
grants made to the settlers in Florida he believed there
was the same reason for giving lands to settlers in Ore
gon as in Florida That donation, then, afforded fair
precedent But there were other presidents. Similar
grants had been made TO settlers on Illinois lands
As to the danger of giving away all the public
lands, there was no such danger; they had an