The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-16

Inc journal OF yesterday was real ana approved
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT.
message in writing was received from the President
OF the United States by the hands of his private secretary
NATIONAL ARMoRlEs.
The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate re-
port of the Secretary OF War; made agreeaby to law, ac
account OF the national armoes, and the number of
manufactured at the during the fiscal year ending the
3oh June, 1916
PETITIONS
Mr. FAIRFIELD presented the petition of Ichabod Jor
dan collector at the port of Saco Maine, praying
crease of his compensation which was referred TO the
Committee on Finance.
Mr. WEBSTER presented the memorial of William
IT, Prentiss praying compensation Tor services rendered
messenger in the Department of State which was refer
red to the Committee on Finance.
Also, the memorial Of the president and fellows OF
Harvard College, praying that the duties on books and
philosophical apparatus imported for the use of colleges
and other scientific or literary institutions may be aboi-
ished; which referred to the Committee on Finance.
deceased and Others citizens of Nantucket Massachu
sets; of Charlotte Dorr, widow OF Andrew G. Dor OF
the heirs of Philip Hammond, deceased; and OF the heirs
and legal representatives of Thomas Brown and Gilman
White severally praying indemnity for French spoia-
tons prior to 1905 which were referred TO the select
committee on that subject;
Also the petition of citizens of Oxford county Name,
PRAYING the adoption of for the speedy temi-
nation OF the war with Mexico; which was laid upon the
table.
land widow of deceased revolutionary soldier, praying
a pensions which referred to the Committee on Pen
SONS.
praying that portion OF public land may be appropriated
Tor the purpose Of aiding in the construction OF rail-
road from Lake Michigan to the Pacific ocean; which
was referred to the Committee ON Public Lands.
Mr. ID, also presented the memorial OF Elizabeth Benz
ner praying indemnity for French spolatons prior TO
1900; which was referred to the select committee on
Mr. PHELPS presented the memorial of John +. Null
lony, late United States consul at Tanger, Morocco,
PRAYING be unidentified for losses sustained by him.
consequence of the refusal OF an officer commanding
United States vessel to convey him TO his destinations
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Rela-
tons.
Mr. CRITTENDEN, from the Committee on Military
Affairs to which referred the bill from the House
for the relief OF Joshua Shaw reported the same back
Mr. BRIGHT, from the Committee on Revolutionary
Claims to which was referred the bill from the House
for the relief Of the heirs OF Sergeant Major john
Champe, reported the same back without amendment
Mr. RUSK, from the Committee OF CLAIMS, reported
bill for the relief of Thomas H. Noble; which was read
and passed to the second reading.
Mr. r. from the committee, reported adversely
upon the petition of the representatives OF Geo Mayo
deceased and made similar report upon the petition OF
On motion by Mr. RUSK, the Committee Claims
was discharged from the consideration OF the petition OF
Oscar F. Pitman and it was referred to the Committee on
the Post Office and Post Roads.
NATIONAL ROAD
Mr.. HANNEGAN, from the Committee on Roads and
Canals reported bill extend the national road to the
city of Alton, the Mississippi rivers which was read
and passed to the second reading.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Mr.. BREESE stated that there vacancy in the
regency of the Smithsonian institution occasoned BY the
death Of Senator pn S and said that was I'M
be meeting OF the board OF regents on the goth OF this
month The law applicable to the case stated that the
vacancy should be filled in the manner as vacan
cies in the standing committees Of the Senate vacan-
cies of the latter description could be filled either by cleo
ton by the Vice President He, therefore, moved that
the Vice President be authorized to I'LL the vacancy re-
Mr.. CRITTENDEN said that he haa no objections to
make to the appointments which were made to the board
of regency He was satisfied with the appointments
Yet as they were made after the adjournment OF Con-
gress. and wholly without his knowledge, ne really
wished to have vote on the appointment OF this soil
ary regent He desired especially because he had IN
mind a gentleman who had distinguished himself III
writing upon this subject who he thought desired place
Mr. EVANS He Must Be member Of the Senate nate h
is Mr. President alluded to Dr. Robert M Ri Bird
Mr. BREESE renewed his motion that the Vice Presi-
cent be authorized to fill the vacancy.
Mr. WESTCOTT said, when the Smithsonian bill was
before Congress the last session. he was opposed to it,
and believed he voted against throughout when present
in the Senate while it was under consideration. He had
many objections to the bill. An insuperabe one was,
that he objected to those provisions by which senators ana
representatives TO be appointed "regents an Office
created by the law passed by themselves. lie had no
idea that il constitutional or in any wise proper Tor
members OF Congress TO make OnCeS IOr themselves "
this character The Office of regent civa oce-and
the constitution prohibited members OF Congress IRON beng
appointed to any office created durng the term Tor which
they were elected" It was office OF trust and honor
and, in some respects OF emoumen WIN THIS beieI ne
should not vote upon this motion, t0>whIch he had no
other objection If he voted against 1t, ms vote would
be subject to MISREPRESENTATION he knew majority Oh
the Senate differed with him the constitutional ques-
ton he had advered to, but such question ne must
obey the dictates of his own conscience.
The motion of Mr.. BREEsE was then agreed to-
VACANCIES IN COMMITTEES
On notion the Vice President authorized to make
appointments to fill the vacancies in the Committee
Private Land Claims and the Committee OF Claims oc-
casoned by the deceasc of Mr. Pennybacker.
BOUNTY LAND TO SOLDIERS.
Mr. BENTON, in pursuance of the notice given by
him Yesterday, asked and obtained leave to bring in bill
TO make grants of land to the n-commssioned officers,
musicians and privates of the army serving in Mexico
The bill having been read first and second times, by
unanimous consent Mr. BENTON asked that it might be
taken up al once.
No objection being made, the bill taken up in
committee of the whole.
| Mr. BENTON thought there occasion for hav-
the subject had already been discussed As the bill was
now before the Senate in committee OF the whole, ne
hoped that some order would be taken upon H. ne had
postponed the bill for the purpose OF ulsPosng OF
| this and he thought he yielded a good deal when ne
gave this the preference over the army bill ,
! MIR. JOHNSON, OF louisiana, was uhder ue inipIes
sion that all the propositions and amendments which had
been brought before them this subject as well as that
of the gentleman from Missouri, were yesterday laid on
The table 10 be printed and called up this morning. and
acted upon together If they took up this bill alone and
acted upon it. they certainly would not have the whole
subec, before them He in favor of the honorable
qentemans proposition; but at the same time, he was
- all the nj