Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-05-10
ThIrty-First Cangress--FIrst sessIon.
TUESDAY, April 3O.SErATl


trbution of the proceeds of the public lands among
the States Some of the Western Senators conten-
ded for the cesson of the public lands to the States
in (which they lie. Wing Senators contended for a
division of the proceeds of the sales of the lands
mong the States Mr. Hunter and other Democrat
ic Senators opposed the distribution policy. With
out coming to any question, the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The following gentlemen were appointed to consti-
tutetheeommittee upon tho public printing Messrs,
Wentworth, Ashmun, Greene, Matteson, Holiday,
Thompson of Ky, Orr, Chandler, and Cable. .s
resolution passed to close the debate in COM
mttee of the whole the census bill, at O'Clock
tomorrow. The House resolved itself into commit
tee Of the whole the state of the Union and resu-
med the consideration of the census bill.
Mr. Vinton gave notice of his intention to intro
duce as an additional section to the BILL provision
that this act shall continue in force as an organic
law until repealed by Congress- so to lodge the
power with the Executive branch of the government
to have thecensus taken should Congress fail to pass
law for that purpose at the proper time. Also,
tice of an amendment, to be intended an organic
law for that purpose, to fix the number of represen
tatyes at two hundred until otherwise provided for
and to prescribe the mode of apportionment.
After some conversation the Committee rose, and
the House adjourned.
WEDNESDAY,, May 1.--SENArE. IS
The bill to increase the rank and file of the army,
and to encourage enlistments, passed.
After considerable debate, the joint resolution
from the House to aid the expedition set on foot by
Mr. Grinnel for the recovery and relief of Sir John
Franklin, passed The vote on its passage stood
yeas %, nays l6.
Mr.. Douglas called for the Illinois Central Rail-
road bill
Mr.. Butler moved that the Senate go into Execu-
tive session, which agreed to, and after some
time spent, the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. Thompson, of KY, was excused from service
the committee to investigate the condition of the
public printing; and another gentleman appoint
ed in his place.
Mr. McLane, of Md, asked the unanimous consent
of the House to allow the Senate bill the Speakers
table, anendatory of the act establishing the mint
to be taken up and passed. The act, he said, mere
y allows the Secretary of the Treasuryto dispose of
the money in the various repositories by transferring
it to the mint where it was greatly wanted for the
purpose of purchasing the bullion arriving from Cal
ifornia, which was now being carried to England,
because there was not sufficient money in the mint
under the existing laws, to make purchases.
Mr.. Toombs, of Ga, objected.
On motion of Mr.. P. King, of New York, the rules
were suspended, and the House resolved itself into
committee of the whole on the state of the Union,
(Mr. Thompson, of Miss, in the Chair,) and resu-
med the consideration of the census bill.
Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, spoke an hour in denial
of the constitutional power of the federal government
to gather the statistics such provided for by
this bill.
Mr. Thompson, of Pa, followed in reply, and de-
Tended the bill, when, after word or two from MIR
JONES' of Tenn, the committee of the whole refused
to strike from the bill that portion relating to the au
thorizng of statistics by vote of 40 in the afrma-
tive and 90 in the negative.
Mr. Morse spoke in favor of rejecting the bill IN
less amended, by dispensing with the statistics.
Numerous unimportant propositions to amend
were made and voted down Then the House, at 81
o'clock, adjourned.
THURSDAY, May 2d.-SENATE.
On Thursday the Senate heard reports from com
mttees chiefly in regard to private claims, many 0
which were disposed of and then took up the bill TO
granting the right of way, and making donation o
public land to aid in the construction of the Illnoi
Central Ra1IfOadT WHICH OIL was nHdy ptSSSoo CIV
the Senate adjourned over until Monday.
HOUSE OF REPR EsENTAT1vEs,
The only subject Of any Importance before tn
House, were the census BILL and the following resc
luton, reported by Mr.. Buell. from the committee o
Foreign affairs:
RcsolUcd By the Senate and House of REPRESENTATIVES Of
United States of Aneica Congress assembled That th
free navigation St. Lawrence river demands the
attention of the American government, and that it
highly desirable that be secured American commerce
anacarly day.
B1r@Buel made some remarks sustaining the resC
luton and moved the previous question upon its
dopton, bat the morning hour having expired, o
motion of Mr.. Thompson of Penn, the House wer
into Committee of the Whole the census bill, blu
without disposing of the subject, the committee
and the House adjourned.
: FRIDAY, May 3.-SENArE.-Not in session
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The House took up the census bill In Committe
of the Whole and discussed for four hours but will
out coming to any conclusion laid it informall,
and took up the California message, to enable Nj
Wilmot, of Pa. to make his speech upon the SLAYER
question. He occupied the floor one hour.
Mr. Wilmot argued that the crisis had arrived an
presented upon thei of the admission of Ca
ifornia whether the slave power although in a m
nority shall dictate to and control the whole Unio
in all time TO come California, he said, was to
compromised into the Union, and the price of her az
mission was to be the extension of slavery tt
rest of the countries belonging to the United State
He trusted in God that it would not be done.
n ats