The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-17
T Y-FIRST CON RESS.
IN SENATE.
Nnyp,,y n,o 10

IN SENATE.
MONDAY, Dec. l6, 1850.
Mcssrs CLAY, ATCHIsoN, and DOUGLAS APP
peared in their seats to-day.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate a conlmu-
nicution from the Treasurer of the United
States, covering a statement of the receipts and
expenditures Of the Post Office Department for
the last fiscal year.
Petitions were presented by Messrs. BELL,
JEFFERSON DAVIS, DODGE Of Wisconsin, UP
HAM, BoRLAND, and Mason.
Mr.. WINTHROP presented petition from
the Peace Society of Massachusetts, recous-
mcnding measures for the preservation of peace
among the nations Of the earth. Referred to
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
MISSOURI RAILROAD.
Mr. SHIELDS introduced bill granting the
right of way, and a portion of the public lands
along the line, to aid in the constructions of a
rail road from Hannibal to st. Joscphs, in the
State of Missouri.
DISTRICT LJNATICS.
Mr.. WIIITCOMD Offered resolution calling
upon the Secretary Of the Interior for the num-
Der of insane persons sent out of this District,
to be supported elsewhere and the expense Of
the same. Lies over.
AUSTRIA AND HUNGARY.
Mr. CASS offered resolution calling upon
the President for the correspondence, if any,
between the United States Government and the
Austrian Minister i'll reference to the special
agent, sent out Ivy the late Administration to
Hungary, pending the war between Austria and
the Hungarian people. The resolution lies over
one day.
CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILROAD, AND NATIONAL
HIGHWAY.
Mr. RTNTt2H, DIrsr;ut q notice rtro1unrI
bill providing for the construction Of Il central
national RAILROAD from St Louis, across Che
country to San Francisco and also for the con-
struction of national central common highway
alongside the rail road throughout its whole OK
tent aud for branches from the main line to
Oregon aud Santa Fe, Of similar improvements
Mr. BENTON explained his BILL 1t proposed
the erection Of n great national central railroad
from St. Louis to the Pacific ocean; to BE- built
by the Government for the benefit Of the people
The bill also provides for common Highway
along the same route, for ordinary travel Of all
kinds 1t proposes one straight line from st
Louis to San Francisco, for q railroad and pub
lie highWay--and drvotcs 4 strip Of land ore
hundred miles wide, to the uses of the rosd. 1t
also proposes u branch from the main line Of lh,.
railroad and common highway, southwark to
Santa Fe, and another branch from the main
trunk, northward TO Oregon, and appropratcs to
eacn branch, n strip Of land 50 miles wide
The main road would be about 1000 miles long
the southern branch to Santa Fe, about 26O,
the northern branch TO Oregon 800. The whole
bill covers d direct appropriation to these several
roads Of l50,0000OO Of acres. III addition to
this, the available revenue from all the public
Ilrtds, is to be appropriated to the construction
of these roads and after the construction Of the
roads, no higher tolls are to be charged upon
these railroads and their parallel common high
! Ways, than may be necessary to keep them in re-
pair. Mr.. Benton spoke at some length with
much animation and cloqucnce upon The i'm.
melse advantages which must accrue to the
country and mankind in the construction of these
magnificent roads upon the plan proposed. The
bill was reported to the committee Oh road; and
canals.
INDIVIDUAL LIABILITY.
The Senate took up the bill to exte,d the
charter Of the Georgetown d. g. Potomac Insu-
rance Company; the question being upon al
amendment by the House making the storkhold
ers individually liable for the debts of the cor
poration.
Mr.. MASON proposed to amend this amend
meht by limiting the liability Of each stockhold-
err to the amount Of stock which he holds in the
corporation.
An animated dcOAtc cnsued on tne question
involved, in which Mcssrs. Mason, BoELAND
BADGER, CAss, BERRIEN, CLEMENS, and MAN
GUM, took part.
The amendment Of Mr.. MASON was finally
agreed to-23 to 90.
ACCEPTANCE OF THE TEN MILLIONS.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate COM
munication from the President Of the United
States, embracing the official information of the
acceptance by Texas of the indemnity of ten
millions for the surrender ola large tract of ter
ritory, ordered to be printed.
ANNUAL TREASURY REPORT.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate the an.
nual report of the Secretary Of the Treasury, or.
dered to be printed
Mr.. MANGUM moved the printing Of 10000
extra copies for the use of the Senate Referred
10 the Committee on Printing.
And the Senate went into Executive session