The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-05-09
CONGRESS-.
THIRTY-PIRST CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.

Among~the petitions presented, were two by
MIR. Seward, from colored residents Of Boston.
Mass; one praying that colored people may be
employed in transporting the mail and be enrolled
in the militia another against the enactment Of
any law for the recovery Of fugtives read and
laid upon the table
bill was passed, authorizing the President
to make transfers of the public moneys the state
Of the treasury admitting to the minis and branch
mints of the United States, for the purpose Of en-
abling them to make returns to depositors of bull
lion with as little delay as possible.
Mr.. Chase gave notice of bill TO reduce the
price of the public lands in Ohio TO a rate not ex-
ceeding one dollar and a quarter an acre, and to
conhne the sale of such lands to actual settlers
A bill to regulate appeals from the Courts of
the District of Columbia to the Supreme Court
was discussed, and then laid over.
The Senate took up the unfinished business of
yesterday-the bill of Mr.. Douglas to grant the
right of way and portion of the public lands for
the construction of a central railway through Hi
nois. protracted discussion took place, in which
the policy Of land distribution was debated and
during which Mr. Douglas proposed an amend.
ment to the effect that after the donation of lands
provided for in the BILL the proceeds of the sales
Of the public lands should be distributed among
the several States
Without taking any vote, the Senate adjourned,
WEDNESDAY, MAY /, 1880
bill to increase the rank and file of the army.
and to encourage enlistments, was read a third
time and passed.
The joint resolution from the House in relation
to the Sir John Franklin expedition was passed,
after long discussion, by the following vote
YEAS -Messrs. Badger, Baldwin, Bell, Benton,
Bradbury, Butler, Chase, Clay Cooper, Corwin,
Dawson Dayton, Dodge of Iowa, Dodge of Wis.
ton, Pearce Phelps, Pratt, Seward, Shields Stur.
geon, Wales, Whitcomb, Yulee-2s.
NAYs.-Messrs Atchison, BOrland, Bright,
Cass, Davis of Mississippi Douglas Downs,
Felob FOoie, Hunter Jones. King. Norris, Rusk.
Sebastian, Turney-i6.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of
Executive business,
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1850.
A hill to provide for holding the Courts of the
United States in case of sickness or other disabi-
ity of the Judges of the District Courts, was read
a third time and passed.
The railroad bill of Mr.. Douglas was again
taken up, and, after some discussion the vote be-
ing taken on the amendment of Mr.. Dayton, it
was lost-yeas l6, nays 26.
Mr.. Bells motion to recommit was rejected
After a long debate and few amendments the
bill was passed by the following vote
YEAs-Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Bell, Benton,
Boraud, Bright, Cass, Corwin, Davis of Missis-
sippi, Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge of Iowa, Doug
las, Downs, Foote Houston, Jones' King, Man
gum Morton, Sebastian, Seward Shields Smith,
Sturgeon, Underwood, and Walker-26
NAYS - Messrs. Bradbury, Butler Chase,
Clarke, Dawson, Dayton Hunter, Miller, Norris,
Phelps, Pratt, Turney, Wales and Yuee-l4.
The Senate, after some time spent in Executive
session, adjourned till Monday
MONDAY, May 6, 1850.
Vice President Fillmore absent Hon. w. r.
King, President pro tenn
Numerous memorials and petitions were pre-
sentcd, and among them, one from some twenty
eight officers and soldiers of the war of 1912, pre-
scented by Mr.. Borland, asking to be allowed a
grant of land.
Also, a report from the Committee on Printing,
recommending that five thousand copies of the
geography and geology of California be printed,
which was adopted after short debate.
Mr.. Borlsnd, from the Committee on Printing
recommended the printing Of 10000 copies of the
second part of the Report of the Commissioner OF
Patents, relating to agriculture and the establish
ment of an agricultural bureau, and which ELECTED
quite lengthy debate, in which Messrs Borland
Berrien, Badger Foote and others, participated
Mr. Borland was opposed to the printing of 80
u
conformed to the previous practice of the Senate.
He said they had ordered 600 copies of the first
part (which related to inventions and the me-
chanic arts and the House had also ordered
so 600 copies of the first, and 100 600 of the Sec
ond part, and that the public printers would now
| have to send in to Congress some 5000 copies
per week, until the next session, to supply the
| number already ordered the work would proba-
bly, cost about 81 25 per volume.
Mr. Davis was opposed to the printing of so
large a number and moved to amend the report
80 as to restrict the number TO that of the ordina
ry documents printed by the Senate; was of the
opinion that it was not the duty of Congress to
publish matter of this sort, as IL was rather phi
losophcal work, q treatise upon agriculture, and
not connected at all with legislation.
MIR. Turney hoped the Senate would not adopt
the amendment proposed by the Senator from
Mississippi, Mr.. Davis, as the Patent Office
Report was regarded by the people as more useful
and valuable than almost any other the abuse
was not in printing too large number Of the
really valuable documents, hut in the publication
of others of but very little Importance.
Messrs. Berrien and Badger were in favor of
printing the number recommended by the Com
mittee; there was no other document printed by
Congress 30 generally sought after by their con-
stituents, and 80 universally read, as the Patept
Office Report
Mr.. Foote spoke at considerable length in OPP
position to the report The first part he consid-
as ridiculous production but the second part
why, the very titlepage Mortified him. He read
several extracts from the introduction, which he
said was from none other than the chief Of So
cialism, Horace Greeley Of New York, and that
alone would be Of sufficient consideration to in-
duce him to vote against it,
The following is the titlepage to the report
Report of the Commissioner Of Patents, for
the year lS49 Part |. Arts and Manufactures.
Embracing the Commissioners views Of the ORR
gin and progress of Invention. The Motors
Chief Levers Of Civilization. Proposed Applica.
tions Of the Patent Fund |. Publication Of Spe-
ciRcations; 2. Preparation of a General Analyti
cal and Descriptive Index Of Inventions; 4. In
stituton Of National Prizes. And on the Pro-
pulsion of Steamers With an Introduction. BY
Horace Greeley"
The vote was taken upon Mr.. Downss amend.
ment, which was rejected-yeas Ia, nays SO. Re-
port agreed TO. -----,--
Mr.. Hunter occupied the remainder Of the day
in speech upon the bill to establish board OF
accounts for the settlement of all claims against
Government We shall make more particular
reference to this bill hereafter
TUESDAY, May 7, 1850.
The Senate were engaged In debate upon the es-
tablishment of a " Board OF Accounts" or Commits
sioners for the settlement Of all claims against the
Government, The number OF members, their sal
aries and the length Of their terms Of Office were
under consideration.
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATiVEs.
TUESDAY, APRIL 3O 1850.
The following gentlemen constitute the COM
mittee called for by the resolution Of Mr. Went
worth, passed yesterday to make certain inquiries
In regard to the public printing Mr' went
worth Of Illinois, Mr.. Ashmun Of Massachu.
setts Mr. Green Of Missouri. Mr. MattesoR OF