Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-01-19
TnIRTlETH CuNGREss--2d session
MONDAY, January Is, lS49.
SENATE


MONDAY, January Is, lS49.
SENATE.
M. Borland presented resolutions OF the Ar
kansas Legislature, in favor OF placing voiun-
teefs who have served 10 preceding wars upon
me same footing ia regard 10 bounty lands as
those who served in the war with Mexico.
Mr.. Dayton, from The committee on the Judi.
ciary, 10 which had been referred The pei Ion OF
William Green, reported a bill authorizing The
granting TO him Of patent Tor The manufacture
u sheet iron, similar 10 the Russia sheet non, the
secTe, OF which manufacture he processes to nave
discovered.
Mr. Metcalie introduced a resolution request
ing he Secretary OF The Navy to inform the Sen
ale what has been done under the act OF last ses-
sion authorizing the purchase OF American water.
r,ed hemp Adopted
Mr.. Downs, from The Judiciary committee,
submitted his minority report. IL opposition 70
the views OF the majority on MI Douglass bill
for The admission of California and New Mexico
as one STATE into the Union He moved that The
report, win The amendments which ne proposed
should be printed tor the Use OF Inc Senate.
Mr.. Dayton thought ,nat the minority report
should first have been submitted 10 the committee,
whose views i! might have Influenced.
Mr.. KING objected 10 minority reports, as Of
modern origin. The minority Ut committee
had formerly been permitted 10 express their
views ami 10 fer amendments 10 any bill repUf-
ted when II came up tor consideration, but they
we're required 10 con6ne their views 10 remarks
on the reporl, and we're 40, permitted 10 present
bills OF counter character. This later practice
had been, in an evil hour, permitted by The House
and should not be encouraged.
Mr. Davis, Of Massachusetts, concurred with
Inc Senator from Alabama, as 10 the Practice
But il had been adopted for many years. fe
minority report was really no report al ali-I
was simply an expression OF The views OF The
minority, presented By the indulgence o! The Sen
ate-and there was no reason why II Should be
submitted 10 The committee, Tor il would not De
open 10 amendment.
Mr. Clayton said the usual practice had been
10 print The reports OF the minority OF commit
ice. The Senate were no doubt very dcslrous 10
near the views CT The Senator from Louisiana
ard he should therefore vote tor the printing Of
his report.
Mr.. Foote denied that the practice OF making
minority reports was OF recent origin. He recoi-
lecied minority report on The United States
Bank Charter. He desired that the report might
be read, when he though! that there would be no
opposition 10 the printing
Mr. Dayton thought that as 70 the proprciy Of
the printing there could be no duub. II was only
as 10 the improprieiy OF the general Practice.
Mr.. Fooe hope! then, il The ollec, was
merely disquis.ion on the abstract question,
hey would now advance one step further AMI Teat
he report, bu, he would not press lie reading al
this time.
Without reading, the report was ordered 10 be
printed III embodies The views expressed by
Mr.. Downs during The debate On the relor q The
majority II the committee, aai which have al.
ready been given and is 10 favor .. Stale 60
yeirmeu iCi California;
Mr.. Hunter renewed he molten, made the 9TH
er day. 10 prin, 10 900 additional copies OF Inc
port 81 the majority OF me committee on me same
>utjsct and The printing OF me extra number was
ordered.
Ga motion of Mr.. Ben,on, the consideration OF
he bill for ascerlainins The claims and title OF
land within The territories OF California ami New
Mexico, 10 grant donation rigats and 10 provide
FOR the survey of the lands therein, was resumed
and Mr.. Bs counter project was read. |, proposes
10 Iecnmmi, the bill with instructions 10 iGquiIe
lato The eSpediency OF taking steps 10 a.cerai,.
The quantity OF unapTTopria;ed ian.s in Cdiicrnid
alone, The extent o.. the gold mines, the p'cptieiy
II granting pre- emptioC rights, the bss. mode ~
iisposing OF or working tie gold mines, The Pc
priely ot granting permits e.
Mr.. Benton expressed his views in opposition
10 the bill as reported by the committee; hrs,
Tor the reason that both territories are included
though the DILL does no! pretend 10 settle the
question OF Texan boundary. ln New Mexico
lie said. here were no public lands ! bit not SC
in regard to California The plan proposed b,
the BILL he insisted, was unconstitutional. IN VIC
lation of the law Of nations, OF tie treaty with
Mexico, and would work, il carried out con
fi,caton of all the land ii les in California. Il
was assumed By The bill that every iaud-tiii,
there is Invalid, and should not be considered
valid until the Congress Of the United State.
has passed upon them. The injustice aud lille
gallty of this, he argued at great length, goiu{
very particularly into an investigation Of III,
origin OF the titles by which lands are now helc
in both Of the newly acquired territories. II,
spoke frcm about oao until hali.past ihrec o.
clock When he had concluded.
MIR Breese rose and said thst. as the Senator
from Missouri had not only gone into conside
ration Of the bill, but Of the amendments pro
posed, and many other topics, he deemed il hi:
duty to reply, particularly as he had entirely
mistaken some of its most important features
But be would not be able TO do so at this late
hour. He, therefore, asked an adjournment =
Adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The report OF the committee on elections, de
CIdftnS that t1enfy Ii. SlUcV Is e0lltitu ~ sea
on The foor OF The House OF Representatives, as
delegate from the territory OF Wisconsin, was TN
| fist business in order, AMI the question being ia
ken by yeas and NAYS the report OF the commit
tee was adopted, ia 70 63. Mr.. Sibley then 100
the us'omary oath and his sea, in the Houe
! fHe Iep. escnts what is commonly knowa as h
| Terri ory OF Minnesota, embracing Minnesota an
mat part oil The territory OF Wisconsin not inc|u
ded within The boundaries OF the new State Q
| Wisconsin.
On motion OF Mr.. Vinton, the committee
the whole On the Stale Of the Union was cischar
| sed from The further consideration OF me resoin
| li-ns referring The several portions OF Inc riesl
dents annual message TO appropriate coHuli
| tees. and The resolutions were then agreed 10 o
large majority. So the message has been re
| ferred.
On motion OF MIR. Rockwell, Of Massachusetts
| The hills 10 establish the territorial government
| ofCalitornia and New Mexico, were made IL
snpcial order for Monday nex'. ia to 81.
Mr.. Hubbard Of Connecticut, on leave, intro
duced bill granting donation OF land 10 al
in The construction OF The New York and Bosto
Air line RAILROAD, which was read twice and re
ferred 10 the committee on public lands
| Mr.. Dickson, on leave, introduced a bill I
abolish the Thanking privilege, requiring tina
postage shall be paid, at the present rates, upo
all letters, newspapers, pamphlets, documents
SC and that all laws inconsistent with the PR
visions of this bill are hereby repealed.
tko