The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-27
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
MONDAY, AUGUST 20, 1850.
SENATE

SENATE.
THE JUDICIARY or THE DISTRICT or COLUMBIA
Mr. DODGE of Iowa presented petition from
citizens of the District of Columbia, praying re-
ORGANIZATION of the Judiciary of the District OF Co
lumbia.
SWAMP LANDS IN LOUISIANA.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate communi-
cation from the Department of the Interior, in re-
Spouse to a resolution OF the Senate, calling Tor IN
formation in respect to the swamp and other over
flowed lands in louisiana Ordered to be printed
FELIcIANA RAILROAD.
Mr. DAVIS, of Mississippi, moved and the Dill
for the relief of the West Feliciana Railroad Com
many was then taken up, and was ordered 10 DC en-
crossed for a third reading.
THE PATENT LAWS.
Mr. TURNEY moved, and the bill TO amend the
act to promote the progress OF the useiui ar' was
taken up, and made the speciai oruei Vi 'i' '"J i
Wednesday neat
ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS.
Mr. YULEE moved to take up the resolution
submitted by him some time since providing ior the
adjournment of Congress on the first OF August,
with a view to amend the time proposed by the
resolution, and the motion was rejected-ayes II,
noes not counted.
COST OF PUBLISHING BOOKS, &c, by THE SENATE
Mr. ATCHIsON moved, and resolution calling
upon the Secretary of the Senate TO communicate TO
the Senate statement of the money paid out oil the
contingent fund, for the purchase OF books maps,
&c, since December Is, 1874, was taken up Tor
consideration.
After various suggestions, the resolution was
modified to read follows, and was then adopted:
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate as,
certain and report to the Senate the amount paid
out of the contingent fund of the Senate, or other
Wlse, since the first of May, 1882, for documents,
books, and maps, designating the same,D printed
or purchase for distribution, including such docu
ments the extra numbers ordered indicate to
have been intended for distribution distinguishing
between the amount paid out of the contingent
md and he M
FUGITIVE SLAVES.
The bill to provide for the more eiTectua execu-
ton of the third clause of the second section OF the
fourth article of the Constitution Of the United
States, which was ordered to be cngrossed ior a
third reading OH Friday last, was read third
time. The question being on the passage Of the
bill
Mr.. DICKINSON addressed the Senate, stating
the reasons why he had been IN favor OF the bill
The question was then stated, and the bill was
passed.
cANrIELD AvERETT.
Mr. DICKINSON moved and the bill for the re-
lief OF Campbell Averett granting him pension
was taken up, read third time, and passed
WALTER ooLTos.
Mr. BRADBURY moved, and the bill for the re-
lief Of Walter Colton-appropriating for his use
s7,s65, " full payment of his services while de-
tailed from the public service as civil magistrate
in California-was taken up. Messrs BRADBURY
and BuTLER supported the resolution, and MIR.
NNSH''N5
ject was postponed.
GEORGE BERRY.
Mr. JONES submitted the following resolution,
which was considered by unanimous consent and
agreed to-
Re,oyred, That the Committee on Indian Affairs
be instructed TO inquire into the expediency OF re-
munerating George Berry, of Lea county, Iowa,
for the loss Of horse stolen from him by the In
dams in Iowa, whilst executing district survey
Of the public lands.
Mr. DODGE, of Wisconsin, submitted the fol-
lowing resolution which was considered by unani-
nous consent and agreed to:
Resolved That the Committee Pensions be
instructed to examine and report on the propriety
Of allowing pension to Emile Hooe, OF Prairie du
Chen, widow Of Brevet Major Alexander Seymour
Hooe, in consideration of the entire lose Of his right
arm by 4 cannon shot in the battle OF Resaca dc la
Palma, at the commencement OF the late war with
Mexico, and of his consequent melancholy death in
December, lSiI, while he was IN command at Ba-
ton Rouge, in Louisiana; and az is generally be-
heved, a result occasioned by the effect OF that
wound.
PALaER's COMMERCE OF THE EAST.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
of the special order being the following resolution
which, on Wednesday last, was ordered TO be en-
crossed for third reading:
"Resolrsd, That Mr.. Palmer have leave TO with
draw, take out copyright for, and print on hi;
own account, the documents entitled "A compre
hensive view OF the principal independent mari
time countries Of the East illustrated by a chart
which accompanied the report Of the Secretary Of
State 10 the Senate under date Of the 23d Of April
last, and referred TO the Committee on Foreign Re
lAtions; and that the Secretary OF the Senate b,
and he 10 hereby, authorized 20 subscribe for three
thousand copies Of the work, together with the
chart under the above title, for the use Of the Sen
ate; provided the same shall be delivered by Mr.
Palmer at price not exceeding two dollars per
copy Of not less than i've hundred pages octave,
printed on fine paper, and neatly bound in mus
lin"
IN ,..;S lin On ,ba ras.. o,e ~ thc resoln.
Mr.. BENTON said that lac regretted very much
that the Senator from North Carolina, Mr.. MAN'
oun,) whs had called this resolution up few days
ago was not present. He (Mr. b. objected 10 ID,
psssage Of this resolution, and would state The
grounds Of his objections. In doing 30, he would
not conhne his remarks TO this resolution, but would
examine tho whole system Of supplying member
OF Congress with books at tho public expense. liz
thought this was proper time 10 try that system
and all the abuses which have grown up with IL
The abuse commenced seventeen years ago, ant
has gone on increasing from that day to this Their
have been enormities and abuses practised unde
that system.
But this resolution comprises within itself all th,
sbuses and all the enormities which have been con
sequent and attendant upon the book publishing BY
tho Senate. Upon this resolution he wished 20 try
the whole business; be wished 10 test the sense o
the Senate upon these abuses If the Senate sane.
toned this resolution, then all the abuses and enor
nites which have grown out Of the system, and
which may hereafter grow out Of II, will be sane
toned. when be bad concluded his remarks ~
would move the indefinite postponemcnt Of the re.
solution; and, by way Of giving point 10 this Las
effort 10 break down this abuse II that motion failed
he would move 10 recOmmit the resolution will
various motions in the shape Of instructions 20 th,
committee Ifthese failed he would give up all #
forts 20 arrest this business.
The abuse commenced in 1872 ,. His attention
vas fret called 10 IL by the Senator from NOrti
Carolins, who, though he noS supports this fesolu
ton, might, when the question wa put 10 him On
Trial OF this whole system Of abuses on this resO
luton, oppose IL. In 1892 act pace,
subscribing for work called the Documentary
History Of che American Revolution. Although sr
attentive observer Of the Legislation Of the body he
did not know II for some time after; and II vas
while walking in the Capitol grounds. one year al
ter IT. passage that the Senator from North Carolina
told him Of sbuses Of that act
After being infor rlcd thus Of the act by the Sem
tor. he examined into IT, and found, by the loose
terms in which il coucbed that tho work
would probably cost over million Of dollars. The
war ,then was commenced, and, after struggle
they succeeded in limiting the number Of copies,
and reduced the cost To something about half mil
lion.
This work wns 20 contain the documentary his
tory Of the American revolutiou vet tho debates In