The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-26
IN CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES,
ENATE.
CREDENTIALS,

The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate the ere
denlals of the Hon. Vs. H. SEWARD, elected
from the State of New York for years from and after
The 4h day of March which read and ordered be
entered the journal.
MEMORIALS
Mr. JONES presented memorial Of the trustees of the
Branch University of Fairfield Iowa. asking grant of land
for the of that institution which referred the
Committee Public Lands.
Mr. ArCHS0N presented the petition of the chiefs of
the Kickapoo and Pottawatomie tribes of Indians asking
tina, the due the latter tribe may be paid and that
hsy may be required emigrate from their present
homes; which referred to the Committee Indian At
fairs
Also the petition Of Paterson Hooker, a volunteer in
the Seminole war, asking be allowed pension; which
was referred to the Committee Pensions.
Mr. CORWl IN presented the petition of citizens of Penn
syvana asking that slavery and the slave trade may be abo
hed in the District of Columbia, and that slavery may be
prohibited in the Territories ofhe United States.
Also petition of citizens of Bucks county Pennsylva-
MA asking that the ordinance of 1887 may be adopted in
the organization of the Territorial by the Uni
ted States.
The motion to receive the above petitions was ordered
to lie the table.
Also from citizens Of Iowa. asking the establishment
Of land office at Red Rock, that State; which
fened to the Committee Public Lands.
Mr. KING presented the memorial of James G. WATSON,
asking losses sustained in Of the failure OF
officers of the to surrender certain negroes
purchased by him from the Creek Indians; which was
referred the Committee Indian Affairs.
Mr. X also submitted additional documents relating
TO the memorial Of John c. Riddle, A. Carter and E.
shmus of Tehuanpec which were referred to the Com
mtee Military Affairs.
Mr.. X. also presented memorial from members Of the
Mobile and other citizens of Alabama asking that
the State of Alabama may be divided into two judicial DIS
uicts.
In presenting the petition
Mr.. KING said he had received from member of
the bar residing in Mobile, South Alabama, and from
great number of highly respectable citizens of the same
dividing the State OF Alabama Judicial districts
present. consisted of three districts While he presented
the memorial submitted him from those gentlemen, he
would occasion say that he decidedly opposed to
any change being made He thought it would be unjust
North Alabama, which off by mountain ranges
from the middle and southern portions. He Thought the
arrangement existing would be more convenient lie
would therefore that without reading the memorial
be referred to the Judiciary Committee.
The memorial referred to the Committee on the Judi
CARY
HOUSE REFERRED
The bill from the House of Representatives declaring
Fort Covington in the State of New York, be port of
delivery and for other purposes read first and second
time by it's tle and referred to the Committee on Com
merce.
The bill from the House of Representatives exempting
Spanish vessels from discriminating duties
read first and second time by its title, and referred to
the Committee on Finance.
MIDsHIrMAN
Mr. RUSK. l notice. Mr. President, in the report Of
yesterdays proceedings, word of explanation by the
from Illinois, Mr.. BREEsE,l in relation to bill
which under discussion the day BEFORE for the relief
Of Midshipman Rodgers, in which regret to
marks calculated to nure the young genemans character
From what could learn Of that young mans character
from the petition which referred the Committee
Military Affairs, impressed with the firm conviction
that he of gallanry great modesy, and entirely
unassumlng in his lie occupied office IN the
navy Of the United Statesan office sought after by many
young and but for the of his friends who
duced him apply Congress for relief he would have de-
voted himself his profession for the purpose of raising
money for the expenses incurred during his Imprisonment
Mexico, add relieving his father from embarrassment
Whether he be related to Com. John Rodgers anybody
Oh,
concerned He lived for years under laws and institutions
where every man, great small, DO judged not by
his relations but by conduct which itself to the
community regretted also that was present when
these explanatory remarks made by the senator
terday morning. that might have replied them at the
time think due to the character of the young man, and
his gaantry and good conduct in the Mexican that
the remarks made by the honorable from Delaware
Mr. CLAYTON, when he presented Mr. Rodgerss petition
during the last of Congress should be read Mr. H.
then sent the Chair the remarks alluded and they
were read by the Secretary, as follows:
Mr. CLAYTON said | have the honor to present the
memorial of Passed Midshpman Rogers, asking compen
Tor and received in the OF his
country HIS memorial is couched in terms modest and
aasu%nt a; lucy are fespecn :" ana sances
terprse and heroic forimde in captivity and Distress to
When there can scarcely De found parallel IN the Annals
be printed in order that he may have the full benefit oil
marks in relation the claim which he presents Tor the
purpose OF drawing the attention OF the chairman OF the
the the case because suppose that commit
Tee to whom the memorial most appropriately be re-
ieued This young oficer was one OF the daring lew
who, IN the month of November 1876, distinguished
ior cutting and destroying the Mexican baqne Gre
o Thea moored under the guns and fastened TO the walls
OF the fortress of San Juan dUoa. Subsequently TO the
obstruction OF that vessel the naval commander under
whom MI Rogers served, DESTROYS that reconuols
ssnce should be made of the localities in The vicinity
vera Cruz as well Tor the purpose oil aiding land ATTACK
as OF destroying the enemys depot OF ammunition ahG
nus young sailor volunteered with few ohers-a sihai
boars crewto perform this dangerous service On thfee
successive nights this small party penetrated the dense
chapParel in the negbborhood OF the ciy OF Vera CRUZ
made complete reconnaissance OF all the objects oil I'm
ponahce which they sent to examine and afterwards
reported complete drawings OF the localities around the
CITY, which were held by General Worth 10 be OF gea
Vaue he occupied, the OF the city, The
particular spot which the subject of this investigate
twas during this reconnaissance, the last night Oh IL
mat Mr. Rogers was captured by band OF Mexican
own generous impulse in saving brother officer On tina
occasion he narrowly escaped death the moment OF m
capture, IN consequences OF the exasperated feelings oil ht
exlcans consequent on The destruction OF the Creole.
ne was carried that night prison in Vera Cruz, whert
he remained four days and nights without susenace in
cen swarnng with vermn aud where the only nte'igenc.
ha' reached hun was that he had BEEN condemned to deatl
spy, by civil tribunal, the sole evidence offered be
,ote II being 10 the effect that he the eaderoi the
iy engaged in cutting out and destroying the Creole
nc then remained IN constant expectation OF death 10
hy weeks and when as he thought his ath-sum mon
was coming, his only request that h,
,hgh avoid the Mexican mode Of killing man behind hi
and meet death American, who could look It ~
VIC 'ace lie remained in that OF suspense Tor onl
period his imprisonment Vera Cruz lasting for thre'
months For some the bloody sentence which hae
go, recorded against him executed, and mil
y commission was ordered upon his Whei
zen scott was advancing Vera Cruz Mr.. Roger
wa marched on loot from that city Peroe and confined
'he hoxious cells OF that fortress As the American arm
advanced into Mexico, he and
roepa All his property had been lost In the wreck O
me Soner aud that which conferred upon him by tn
hand oil friendship or charity taken from him by the rob