Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-16
In SENATE.

IN SENATE.
Mr.. WEBSTER, of Massachusetts, appeared in his seat
to-day.
The VICE PRESIDENT laid before The Senate a COM
muncaon from The Treasury Department, transmitting the
annual report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office
and accompanying papers, submitted with letter from the
Secretary OF the Treasury of the 18th December, ls4s
On motion Of Mr.. BREESE the documents ordered
to be printed and referred the Committee Public Lands
RAILROAD ACROSS THE IsTHMUs OF PANAMA
Mr.. BENTON, from the Committee on Military Affairs
to whom referred the memorial Of William H. Aspin-
wall and Others relative the construction of railroad
the lshmus Of Panama, reported the following BILL which
was read:
bill make Compensation for the transportation of troops
and supplies for limited time, the shmus OF Pa
BE il enacted &C. That the Secretary of the Navy be and
he is hereby authorized and directed into
behalf OF the Government of the United States for period
not exceeding twenty years. with William Aspinwa John
L. Stevens and Henry Chauncey, all OF the city OF New York.
Tor the transportation by steam OF naval and army supplies, IN
GLIDING troops, munitions Of army naval and public stores
the mails OF the United States and all persons its employ
men TO and fro railroad to be constructed by them and
their associates the sthmus OF Panama from the At
antie to the Pacific Provded That the annual
be paid for such transportation shall not exceed
Of the amount stipulated by law be paid for the
Portaon o. The mails alone from New York 70 Liverpool
be made until said said railroad shall be far advanced
permit said transportation the lsthmd Of Panama
wholly by steam power ind provided further, That the
contract be made pursuance Of this shall require the
said railroad be within year from
Of said contract and be completed within three from the
first day Of June, in the year eighteen hundreds and
The bill having been twice read
Mr. BENTON said, il the work contemplated by these
men TO be done at ALL il must be done during the dry
at the isthmus, which terminates with the spring
months and it desirable If the bill was u pass that
should I've considered Immediately. He therefore moved to
make il the special order for Monday next.
Mr. CAMERON said, as the bill had been read through
but once he would rather have It's consideration postponed
later day. He would like know whether there were
other individuals in this country who would also be ready
to undertake this enterprise which must be productive Of
mense profits He felt satisfied that there many others
besides these petitioners who would be glad appear
petitors for this work.
Mr. DAVIS, Of Mississippi suggested thai, these men
had the night Of way already secured 10 them by charter
grant from the Government Of New Grenada that, they
claim have charter for ninety years the exclusive
night 70 make and control this road the shmus il
plain that competition could arise in The For the
reason stated by the Senator from Missouri the Senate ac
at all upon this BILL il should early, for the mouths OF
dry weather that region would expire time in juno
July and, taking into consideration the delay which must
in the proceedings OF the other House upon the BILL
should by all means receive prompt action
Mr. CAMERON would discuss the merits of the sub
ct but he nmated that although for this road had
been given TO these particular individuals for niDety-nne
years, yet seemed that the enterprise could not be carried
out without an appropriation from the United States. The
Navy Department other Department of this Govern
the road would be opened. He would not 60 into
this discussion but thought the matter could bear little de-
lay, say till Monday week
Mr. BENTON said the Senator from Pennsylvania asked
for delay in the consideration Of hs bill, that they might
learn something about it. But they all knew that here they
learned nothing Of subject long laid the table
and only after il taken Up and opened that they
could go into It's examination in all Us extent Il was not
oil likely that the consideration Of the bill would be finished
Monday Tuesday He had not the least expectation
that the Senate going 10 precPae action upon this bill
But important the subject should be opened an,
brought forward soon convenient Without any desgr
Of completing the business at once, he still hoped would b
begun on Monday.
Mr.. CAMERON expressed bis acquiescence, and the bill
was made the special order for Monday next.
| Mr.. UNDERWOOD said he believed the Senator from
Missouri did couple with his motion proposition TO print
He should like to see the bill, well as the document OF
which was fondeI and therefore he would that tb
bill and the memorial be printed II il be the pleasure Of tn
Senate, be should like TO see them both.
Tne motion TO print was agreed 10.
THE SEVENTH CENSUS.
Mr.. CAMERON, in pursuance Of notice. asked and Oh
tanned leave introduce bill for taking the seventh census