The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-24
OF WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY MORNING, APRIL a. 1850.

such was the conclusion to which the committee arrived
He did not deem necessary TO SO INTO 'he ue'as VI tne
matter for the present purpose
Mr. BUTLER would not undertake to make any state
%sat with regard 70 $ 1s es caareson ne soulb caona
aad the ship James Mitchell was the vessel IN when ne
or his heirs were interested A member from South Car
ona in the other House told him that the matter was be-
fore committee there aud he made the request 10 have
the papers Withdrawn from the files OF the Senate, without
any explanation to what had been done in relation to
stated BY the senator from Forda Mr. YuLEE 10 post
pone the notion In order 10 make areexamlnaon OF the
matter
Mr. YULEE rose to state that he had been under the
impression that the Committee on Naval Affairs at the
present session had recommended comnittal Of the
papers to the Committee Of Claims He had found, how
Cured in BY the Senate He did not know any Particu
lar reason why the papers might or might not be with
drawn; but his impression was, that was done for the
purpose OF presenting the under different name,
BY which the Senate would be liable TO BE- misled.
The question being Then taken upon the motion for.
saxae iihdraW ts rapess WIS deriued IN the mega
tive.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Mr.. SEWARD Mr.. President, beg leave to make
single remark for the purpose OF correcting an error 70
misapprehended by the reporter OF the Union, In re-
laon TO what said on the occasion Of presenting seve.
raj anti slavery petitions Twas understood to say that
supposed the number Of such petitions given 10 me for
presentation upon that day was reduced, owing to
the circumstances that persons who take deep interest
in that subject have thought i desirable not 70 send such
petitions to me, and that in this view concurred with
them. have no doubt that it was on account Of my
speaking so low thatI was misunderstood What said
was, that the number Of such petitions given to
reduced owing to the circumstance, supposed, that
those who had an interest in that subject had thought
proper to enlist the sympathes and support of the disn
gushed senator from Kentucky, [Mr CLAY,l in which
concurred
LANDS TO ACTUAL. SETTLERS
Mr.. WEBSTER ! will take this opportunity to ad-
vert to resolution which presented 70 the Senate two
tho tof lanba
Some time afterwards the resolution was called up and
made the order Of the day for last Monday week. Il
was crowded out however BY the pendency Of the ques
now wish to say that during next week shall not be
able to call ur but after the close Of the next week
propose ask the Senate take up that resolution the
very earliest opportunity that may offer which will not
interfere with the bill Tor the admission Of California
MIR. WALKER. desire, in connexion with this sub.
ject. to make inquiry OF the Committee Public
Lands It will be remembered thai al an early period Of
the session introduced bill imbodying somewhat mi
mute details upon the subject spoken OF by the honorable
senator from Massachusetts, That bill was referred
long time ago 10 the Committee Public Lands. know
not what progress the committee have made With ii but
am very anxious to know, and would ask If there is
matter and making a report on the bill; and il not
whether they will not report it back 10 the Senate with
out any recommendation, 80 that il may be before the
body in order thai the senator from Massachusetts may
address himself to that bill well as to his resolution,
when it is taken up for discussion receive great
many letters on this subject making inquiries as TO the
prospects OF this and unless other senators
celve letters OF similar kind, they can be little aware Of
the degree of feeling which there throughout the
try on tins subject should be much pleased to see
something done the part OF the Senate and OF Con-
gress to respond to this general feeling in the country
Mr. FELCH would state. for the information Of the
honorable senator from that there Is not only
others and several resolutions from State legislatures and
numerous petitions from different parts Of the country
reference to change in the system Of dsposng OF the
public lands The committee have not yet acted upon
this class of petitions and applications They have not
done because the resolution OF the honorable senator
from Massachusetts, mr. WEBsrERl proposes not only
to institute inquiry before the committee. but to
press the opinion of the Senate upon the which
ought 10 be pursued in dsposing OF this subject There
are, aso several other petitions and resolutions which
have been submitted, and not acted upon by the COM
mee for the same reasonthat the subject matter. IN
other FORMS is before the Senate and not yet referred
There are two or three OF that sort, If am not
mistaken. Ave thought il would be better for the COM
mee not to act upon these questions unt the express
sought for had been given We have deferred action
the disposition OF the public lands until all the matters re-
lang to the subject could come before at and the
time, and until we could take up the whole subject
and make such report would be likely to meet the
views Of the Senate and the country, II Il is thought
advisable, however, that we should not pursue The
coufse indicated and that before are in condition 10
take up the whee subject we should report upon par
ticular proposition which has been referred 10 us, we
are ready to do So would simply add, that the com
mtiee have not been any degree remiss n attention to
their duties Our time has been fully occupied BY other
matters which have claimed our attention. Although,
for the stated, have postponed action upon
the general question OF the disposition Of the public
lands, we have in respect neglected our duties.
Mr.. WALKER. Mr. President, j is the furthest thing
in the world from my intention TO charge the committee
with negligence know very we'll that they have bad
before them great deal OF labor OF importance, which
they have been industriousy engaged in performing
but take the occasion, while am up, 10 say that
cannot concur in the idea that bill drawn for paricu
lar purpose should be delayed and kept back until res
oution imbodyng abstract opinion shall have been
acted upon. What is the resolution OF the honorable
senator from Massachusetts II is resolution that
there ought to be cesson OF the public lands to The
cupanis Of the soil The bill proposes TO enact the law
itself think, therefore, Mr. President, that the CON-
mtee ought report the bin back 10 the Senate in some
way or other order that may be before us when the
senator from Massachusetts addresses upon the subject
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
Mr. HAMLIN, from the Committee on Commerce, to
when was referred the memorial OF j. II. Pute, pro.
posing plan for extending the magnetic telegraph around
w n snbmna the report, Mr. H. said that he did not
know but the memorial would have properly gone to the
Committee on Foreign Relations as II proposed 70 con,
meet us with foreign nations was question nat naa
attracted notices and the committee thought
that for the pury6se OF showing what may De the views
OF the memoralst il would be well to have the petition
lie on the table and be printed.
The report was concurred in.
MILITARY RESERVE AT ST. PETERS RIVER
Mr. DOUGLAS, from the Committee on Territories, to
whom was referred the bill TO reduce and dehne the
boundaries OF the military at the st. Peters rver
in the Territory OF Minnesota, and to secure the rights
OF the actual settlers thereon reported back the same
with amendments, and asked its immediate consdem
ton