The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-13
THIRTY-FIRsT CoNGR EsS.
SECOND SESSION.
IN s E N A + E.
TuIrRsDAy. Dee. I.

! N 5 L A i b.
THURSDAY, Dec. IL, 1850.
Mr. DICKINSON presented a petition from
cItlzens OF New York, praying indemnity for
French spoliations.. Laid on the table, there be-
ing bill upon the calendar the subject.
CAPTAIN ROBERT GRAY AND THE COLUMBIA RIVER.
MIR. WINTHROP presented petition from
Mrs. Gray, widow of the late Captain Robert
Gray, the discoverer of the Columbia river; and
after whose ship the river bears it's name. The
petitioner presents testimonials of this service rem
dered the country by her late husband, Of the
most interesting character. A creditabe letter,
signed by George Washington, and countersigned
by Thomas Jefferson. Another Of the ships pa
pers is presented, signed by Benjamin Lincoln,
then collector OF the port Of Boston, 1871, and for
merly distinguished leader Of the American ar.
mics. Mrs. Gray is now widow with four chill
dren; all daughters, who, with their mother, sus-
tain themselves by their own industry. The pc
utoner submits her claim to the liberality and JUS
tice Of Congress. Mr.. WINTHROP remarked that
some years ago, report had been made TO the
House, recommending pension Of $500 year
to Mrs. Gray, and also, if the title to Oregon,
(Which was then in dispute,) was confirmed to
the United States grant Of land in that territory
as proper acknowledgment Of the important
services Of Captain Gray, upon whose discovery
our title to Oregon originated, was defended, and
successfully maintained. The memorial was re-
ferred to the Committee on Public Lands.
MIR. BADGER introduced bill for the relief
Of the Wilmington, N. c. and Manchester Rail-
road Company. Referred to the Finance Com
mittee.
PORTSMOUTH COURT MARTIAL.
Mr.. BORLAND, from the Committee on Print
late Court Martial at Fort Constitution, New
| Hampshire, which resulted in certain unusual cor
poral punishments upon William HAMMER, u pr
vate, for certain alleged trivial offence, or Of
| fences.
Mr.. JEFFERSON DAVIS hoped the printing
would be deferred till the Committee on Military
Affairs should have examined and made report
on the subject. He moved to lay the motion to
print on the table in the meantime.
Mr.. HALE preferred the record OF the trial by
itself, and hoped the printing would be allowed
upon the naked record OF the Court.
The question of printing, in advance of the re-
port from the Military Committee, was discussed
by Messrs JEFFERSON DAVIS, HALE, and Ew-
ING, when the motion to print the record was laid
upon the table.
Mir. WALKER presented several reports.
MISSOURI RAILROAD.
Mr.. SHIELDS introduced a bill granting to
the State of Missouri, the right Of way through
the public lands, and grant of land in aid Of the
construction OF railroad from Hannibal to St.
Joseph y on the Missouri river Read and referred.
| MEETING OF CONGRESS.
| Mr.. JONES gave notice of bill appointing q
day for the annual meeting of Congress, as UNI
derstood
CREEK INDIAN VOLUNTEERS.
Mr.. BELL introduced bill providing extra
pay to certain Creek Indians, who served with the
United States army in the late Florida war; and at
his instance the bill was taken up for considera-
| ton
Debated by Messrs. BELL and YuLEE, and on
motion Of Mr.. FELcH set aside for the day.
Several private bills were passed.
OVER TO MONDAY.
| Mr.. BADGER, in pursuance Of the established
usage Of the Senate before the Christmas holidays,
moved that when the Senate adjourns, it adjourn
over to Monday.
Mr.. WALKER appealed for business. An
amusing debate followed between Messrs. BADGER
and WALKER, when the latter moved TO lay the
motion on the table.
| Mr.. DODGE, of Iowa, called for the ayes and
noes, and the result was 81 to 81.
The motion to lay on the table was thus lost
and the motion to adjourn over to Monday was
| carried pipa roce.
Mr.. WALKER. There are good many more
ayes this time than we had before. Laughter
DIPLOMATIC sUsPEN ION.
The CHAIR proceeded to read the bills and res
olutions as they occurred on the unfinished caen-
dar Of the last session.
He announced resolution for the suspension
Of di plomal,c relations with Austria. General
laughter. Let that Coy
On motion Of Mr.. CASS, the resolution wa.
laid on the table.
REMOVALS FROM OFFICE.
The PRESIDEN + pro tenn, announced as be
fore the Senate, the resolutions OF last session, OF
| Mr.. Bradbury, asking of the President of the
United States, the list Of removals from Office by
the late Administration since the 4th Of March
last U949) and the reasons for such removals
in every case ; and specification Of the charges
against the officers removed.
Mr. BRADBURY moved a sut stute for the
resolution, combining il simply to call for the
number Of officers removed from the public ser
vice under the administration of Gen. Taylor
and urged upon the Senate the propriety of ask
ing for this information.
Mr.. EWING could not exactly understand why
this res oluton which had been suffered to lay upor
the table during the late long session, when the
administration directly interested in pow
err, should now be urged upon the body, wher
that administration had ceased to exist Why
was it not acted upon during the existence Of that
administration? Itlooked as if gentlemen did mol
really desire the information which they sought.
Mr.. BRADBURY explained the circumstances
: under which the resolution was put OIL from time
to time Till the deuth of Gen. Taylor, and i'm
portant public measures which had subsequently
occupied tie Senate.
Mr.. EWING con,ended that if there had beer
any very great anxiety to pass the resolution
while the late Administration was in power, i
might have been passed and that the Admins
trarion would have heen ready to give the reason,
for every removal that had been made.
Mr.. MANGUM advered to the long discus
sions upon the subject at the las, session, in which
he thought the whole merits of the question hat
been slfted very thoroughly; and moved to la,
the resolution on the table, but withdrew i, upo
request Of
Mr.. BRADBURY, who replied to Mr.. EWING
MIR. SEWARD thought the information asket
was proper to be known by the country Of any
administration, and he therefore ready to vot
for the resolution.
Mr.. EWING, in explanation of the removals
under Gen. Taylor, said that some Of them were
made because Of the unitness of the late incum
bents for the Offices they held; and others were
made Of men who had been appointed solely be
cause Of their partisan services.
Mr.. DODGE, Of Iowa, defended the senator
from Maine Mr. RR AnRnRYl from the chnrye O