Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-04-13
PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE.
T Extracts from our Daily Reports


Extracts from our Daily Reports.
Mr. CLAY. have been requested to present petition
Of Ralph Buckley, Of the city Of New York. de states mat
he has made discovery, and reduced to SYSTEM which,
in its practical uses will only be interesting to the people
of the United States but to the whole civilized world, being
effective method of extnguishng fire steamers vessels,
buildings by process hitherto unknown. lis effect 10
that of almost instantaneous decomposition of the within
space however large thereby reducing the oxygen
Of the air into water that the fire Immediately yields for
want of oxygen to support combustion. And is said to be
equally rapid its effects coal fame The petit
ton accompanied by tn certificates Of number Of persons
who presume to be very respectable, connected with the
with insurance companies in the city Of New
York. They certify that they have witnessed experiments
made by the inventor not large SCALE but sufficient
demonstrate that the invention effects TO extent least
what the inventor proposes to accomplish lie asks from
Congress appropriation Of small of money try the
experiment. under The supervision of officers of the navy
upon larger scale than his limited means will allow him to
do and the event of he proposes to sell to Con-
gre for public and the Of the people Of the United
States the benefits of the invention. need not say that
supposng this invention to be capable OF ecng the objects
which the inventor imagnes il will accomplish, there is
scarcely any thing that has been made by the ingenuity Of
that will exceed il in the benefits will confer through
the world There always doubts attending the
Of any enterprise Of this kind the Introduction
of any and important invention. This know the
the introduction of the invention Of the immortal
Fulton 1t seems TO that this commends itself TO the feel
ngs of every one and trust it will commend itself to
Congress that they will authorize the small appropriation
rise the purchase Of the invention at rate its use for
the benefit Of the Government and vessels
that it be referred to the Committee Naval Affairs, and
that il be printed.
The motion to refer agreed to- and the motion print
referred TO the Committee on Printing.
SEARCH FOR SIR JOHN FRANKLIN
Mr.. CLAY am also requested to present the memorial
of Henry Grinne merchant who is fitting out in the
port New York three vessels which ne purposes to
send in search of Sir John Franklin and his companions
he to
that he should have the services OF certain seamen
belonging the United States, and also the command OF
subordinate officers in the employment of the Unit
ed States give the vessels something like naval and m
tary discipline, which is essential to due subordination
Mr. Presidents take pleasure in saying that am proud OF
the in which the mercantile classes OF od country ad
minister in s great enterprises the wealth which .y have
acquired in the pursuit Of their business ctedtaSIe 10
them and to the country and amongst aost euirsn Of
these merchants stands the gentleman WI petition pre-
sent Mr. Henry Grnnel, of the city OF New York, who 10
personally known II to that in an enter
prise credabe, and in which the expenditure on his
part great is but small matter to ask the authority
the Government grant the small number OF seamen asked
for by him in carrying these vessels through their
peTilous voyage.
am very much afraid sir that the unfortunate individual
and his companions whose fate Mr. Grnne and all the world
ascertan will be found to be more But
if the enterprise should fail discover their existence If It
should fail discover their fate the attempt to do will
be gratifying to the whole world and nothing whatever y
discovered respect hem useful discoveries may be
made which will add to the amount Of information we already
possess and amply expenditure that may be incur
red BY granting the prayer Of the petition move tina. the
reading of the petition be dispensed with, and that be
ferred 10 the Committee Naval Affairs.
The petition accordingly SO referred.
THE CASE OF JAMES ROBERTSON.
| Mr.. DICKINSON. move TO take up for consideration
| the resolution for the relief Of James Robertson
The motion agreed to.
Mr. DICKINSON. i move that the Secretary OF the Sc
nate be directed pay him forty dollars of the conin
gent fund.- compensation to him for the injury he suffered
| by his imprisonment by order Of the Senate
Mr., HALE. No, sir; think he was not imprisoned BY
| order Of the Senate.
Mr.. DICKINSON. Then by the order of the Presiding
Officer Of the Senate. These the facts, believe de
directed be imprisoned what deemed sufficient
cause. He imprisoned for some time He is poor and
unfortunate and considers himself deeply aggeved BY this
imprisonment. He has been waiting here for length
me unable get away He has been attending the Sc
from day day in the hope of getting some compensa-
ton He alleges that he taken into custody for the pur-
pose Of getting rid of him political rival laugbter that
he about to establish newspaper which would have
very crcuaon and would thereby possess great
influence. would suggest too another natter which may
be worthy of the serious consideration Of the Senate and
which possibly convince them that this resolution ought
10 pass He says he has in his power control the
Presidential election daughter be perfectly satisfied that
be controlled the elections OF s44 and s4s ard alleges mat
the determination Of the Presidential election OF the year 1852
is in his hands. Renewed laughter
Mr.. CASS. shall not vote for this resolution.
Mr. BUTLER rise to second the notion and | will
say that if the Senate will pass this resolution shall be
willing pay share toward making him reparalon
for the injury he sustained by his imprisonment
Mr. DICKINSON having reduced his resolution to writing,
presented il follows
Resolved That Secretary of the Senate be directed to
pay Robertson the contingent fund OF the Senate,
500 full compensation for the matter set forth IN his pc
tition TO the Senate Es
> Mr. HALE. ] am perfectly willing TO vote a hundred
dollars this but the ground that the Senate had
any agency his imprisonment. understand that IN conse
quence of something he had said, he arrested that m
formation given before magistrate and that without any
agency the part OF the Senate he was imprisoned Tor
protest against this matter going forth to the
country in which the Senate had any agency nj
all particularly, far am individually concerned, when
remember the which pursued when the Senate
undertook mprison man from New York on charge OF
having auduleny illegally obtained possession OF copy
the Mexican treaty should like TO know, before the re-
solution passes what ground is to Re passed upon II
this money be paid the ground that the Senate has
been blame in this matter shall oppose it. The memorial
which pest nted here FORTH recoect right that
the individual imprisoned by the Senate and think
would be unjust the Senate let go out to the country
that they had paid hundred dollars they bad been to
blame this NATTER when they really bad nothing to do with
it. Ii really ought be put upon that ground, and be-
! leve that is the ground set forth in the memorial
! The VICE PRESIDENT. According to my recolIec-
ton of this matter informed by the Sergeant Arms
that person here who had he believed design
upon life Of Mr. CLAY, and he wished to know what
should be done viii him. told him by all means 10 pre-
his doing any injury to Mr.. CtAY, whatever might be
Necessary 10 do to effect tina, purpose
! Mr. MANGUM. have doubt that the conduct Of the
President and the Ssgeanat Arms correct, but will
take occasion reierae what the Senator from Iowa has