The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-26

IN SENATE.

A variety of private bills, resolutions, &C., were
considered.
The House bill providing pensions for wounded
and disabled soldiers, according TO the extent of
their wounds or disabled condition, was read a
third time and passed.
THE eALPHIN CLAIM.
The House bill authorizing the Attorney Gen
eral to institute suit against George W. Craw-
ford, late Secretary of War for the recovery of
the interest paid out of the Treasury on the Gal
phin claim.
After discussion by Messrs BADGER, CLAY,
FooTE and Others
Mr.. BUTLER declared his opposition to the
BILL
The act would bring the Executive Government
into conflict with the Supreme Court, and no man
had the right by his mere consent, to bring one
branch OF the Government into collision with
the other. He moved to lay the bill upon the la
bic. Agreed to, by the following vote;
AYEs--Messrs. Benton, Bright, Butler, Chase,
Cass, Clay, Davis of Mississippi Dickinson
Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge of Iowa, Fremont,
tech, Foote, Greene Gwin, Hale, Hamlin
Houston, Jones, Norris, Pearce, Rusk, Sebas-
tain, Soule, Sturgeon, Turney, Whitcomb---27.
NAYs-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Baldwin,
Barnwell, Bell, Berrien, Clarke, Cooper, Davis of
Massachusetts, Dawson, Dayton, Ewing, Hun
ter, Mason, Morton Pratt, Seward, Smith, Spru-
ence, Underwood, Wales, Walker, Winthrop,
Yulee-25.
CALIFORNIA COLLECTION DISTRICT.
On motion of Mr.. GWIN, the bill was taken
up providing certain collection districts in Cafor-
MA. The question upon the engrossment was
reconsidered, and the bill was brought again be-
| fore the Senate.
Mr., HAMLIN offered an amendment confer
ring upon the Secretary of the Treasury the power
to remit or modify certain fines, forfeures, and
penalties for violations of revenue laws. Agreed
| Mr.. GWIN moved a reconsideration of the
| vote by which the cities of Stockton on the San
Joaquin, and Sacramento the river of that
name were reduced from ports Of enty to mere
ports of delivery Agreed to-
And Stockton and Sacramento were restored to
ports of entry provided for in the original bill
--27 to "a.
| And the bill was read third time and passed
Several bills from the House were read and re-
ferred.
GOLD PLACER AND GOLD NINE BILL.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill
! providing superintendent and six agents for the
supervision of the gold lands of California, and
| providing for the distrb ition of permits to indi-
yiduals and companies for the working Of the
said gold lands, and prescribing the terms of such
permits, and the limitations and restrictions upon
| the same.
| Mr.. FELCH proposed an amendment as sub
stitute bill, which, understood, provided for the
granting OF the permits proposed; but dlspenses
with the agents, and turns over disputes of title
to permits OF witnesses. Mr.. FELcH spoke at
| some length in explanation OF his amendment, his
object being to get rid of the cumbrous machinery
of the original bill. /,
! Mr.. FREMONT exhibited the effect of this
| proposed substitute 1t could only operate to
throw the whole country into the utmost confu-
sion. They who had the difficulty with
which something like order had been procured
| in the mines, would appreciate the effect of an
arrangement leaving the regulations of the mines
and placers TO the miners themselves.
| MIR. EWING objected to the amendment. The
miners had now no authority to make their own
| laws The creation Of the State and the extension
of our laws over it superseded them. He also
hoped that the bill would be so modified to Sc
cure revenue from the gold lands. We had ma
tonal debt to pay, of such an amount that neither
nor our children might live to see it settled Ii
was therefore duty of the Government not to
waste this source of revenue, but to appropriate
| it to some extent to the relief of the Treasury.
MIR. CASS inquired if the senator from Ohio
had expressed the opinion that we were encum-
| bered with an inextinguishable national debit
| Mr.. EWING. We are pretty well involved in
debt, and no progress is making towards the pay
| ment.
| Mr.. CASS. have heard that apprehension
expressed before, and have lived to see the debt
all paid
| Mr. EWING. That was at a time when our
receipts were comparatively heavy, and our eX-
penditures were scarcely the half of fifty millions a
| year
The amendment of Mr.. FELCH was rejected.
| The amendment Of Mr.. Dodge of Iowa, was fl
| nally agreed to, as follows: That the privilege of
entering the mines to work them shall extend to
citizens Of the United States, foreigners from Eu-
rope, and from the British North American pos
sessions, except such shall have been convicted
| of crime.
| MIR. PRATT thought as the bill stood, the per-
nit enured to the perpetual occupation of it, to
the exclusion Of the United States, and suggested
an amendment securing the possessory authority
Of the Government
Debated by Messrs. PRATT, JEFFERSON DAVIS,
| WALKER, and BENTON, and modified us to give
the right to the holder Of lot Of ground to work
the during the continuance of his permit
and no longer.
And, after an incidental discussion between
Messrs. FREMoNT, JEFFERSON DAVIS, GwIN, and
EWING, the bill was read third time and passed
INDIAN APPROPRIATIONS.
The Senate next took up the regular bill max
ing appropriations for the support and manage
ment of the various Indian tribes and fragments of
tribes under the care of the Federal Government.
The amendments proposed by several senators
led to a discussion Of several hours, and without
any decision upon the bill, the Senate at four
o o'clock took recess till six.
And at six o'clock, they went into Executive
session.