The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-05
IN CONGRESS- OF THE D. STATES.



SENATE.
The VICE PRESIDENT announced from The Chair
the following senator's the committee on the part Of
the Senate TO attend the remains OF the Hon JOHN G.
CALHouN to his native State Messrs Mason. BERRIEs
Iowa
Also, that Mr. ArcHsoS fill the place on the Commit.
zee on Foreign Relations, made vacant BY Mr. BENTON
having been excused from further service the same
MEMORIALS AND PETITIONS.
Mr.. SEWARD presented the memorial Of Eliza Kirby,
OF Brownsville, in the State OF New York. asking to Be
allowed pension; which was referred to the Commit
In presenting the petition Mr. s. said perform duty
which awakens mingled emotions of pleasure and Of
sorrow n recalling here the memory Of the late Edmund
Kirby, OF the army OF the United States. Maj Kirby
entered the army Of the United States in the year 1872 in
the with Great Britain, an ensign and continued
Ves as sn aIny " rendering oss effective and
peace establishment and in the year 1919 joined the staff
Of Maj. Gen Brown. After remaining in that capacity
ior some time ne was appointed in the army Of
the United States and remained in that post under
missions frequently renewed. until his death. He was
the Black Hawk war, and on the breaking out Of the
war with Mexico, he joined General Taylor, and per-
formed services emineniy meritoous and brilliant, until
he was ordered to join General Scott Vera Cruz He
was engaged and honoraby distinguished in all the bat
capture Of the city OF Mexico In that campaign he con-
tracted the disease of which he aaguished and died in
August OF last year His widow, Eliza Kirby, daughter
OF Major General Brown brings these facts the consd-
Grafton OF the legislature OF his country in memorial
which is as modest il is affecting. But even this me-
mortal was unnecessary The chiyarous vaor and con-
duct OF Edward Kirby part OF the national fame She
asks that such allowance, by way of pension be made
her as has been made in such have heretofore
been acted on.
Mr.. s. also presented memorial from James Holford.
subject OF Great Britain, and holder OF certain State
bonds and securities, invoking the adoption OF
ures by the general government for their payments which
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. s. also presented petition from citizens of West
field New York, asking reduction OF the OF post
age; which was referred to the Committee on the Post
Office and Post Roads
Mr. s. also presented a memorial from citizens OF
Cayuga county, New York..n behalf of the widow and
heirs q Robert Morris an officer in the late war with
Great Britain, asking that they may be allowed PEN
sion; which was referred to the Committee on Pen
sions.
county, New York, and petition Of citizens of Oswego
county, New York; asking the adoption OF for
the adjustment OF international controversies by arbra
ton instead OF war which were referred to the Commit
Mr.. MASON presented the memorial Of the president
and directors OF the Orange and Alexandria Railroad
the
the United States, by resolution OF the Goth December
1870, and transferred the petitioner asking its repay
ment with interest, to aid in the construction OF their
said road.
In presenting the above petition,
Mr. M. said: This claim, sir being in fact the property
OF the State OF Virginia. although transferred to
OF its companies Tor internal Improvement requires
think, that should make very brief statement of the
facts upon which il rests shall occupy the time of the
Senate but a moment II appears that so early as the
year 1884, before the adoption OF the present constitution
the States then federated thought il necessary es.
tablsh what was called, at that day, federal city
federal town. resolution adopted by the old Con-
gess December 49, 1854, declaring that the location of
this federal town should be made the lower falls of
the Delaware. Propositions were subsequently intro
for the purpose of raising the appropriate public build
ings; but they failed 1t required the concurrence OF
nine States in order TO make the appropriation The
ords OF that day show, further that they failed from
the actual inability Of that Congress obtain money for
their federal purposes, and for the erection OF those
buildings
After the adoption Of the federal constitution the
Legislature OF Virginia. by resolution passed in 1852
rendered TO Congress ten miles square OF the territory
OF Virginia. to be selected at their pleasure, within the limits
buildings to accommodate the federal government and
IN the same year resolution was passed proposing upon
the part OF the State Of Virginia that il Congress should
locate those ten miles square within the limits OF that
Sate the government OF Virginia would advance Of
money for the purpose OF aiding IN the erection OF public
buildings That resolution OF the State OF Virginia, il
seems did not meet the appreciation OF the Congress OF
the United States for the first act that passed loca
ting the ten miles square, for the purposes OF the federal
government the act of July 10, 1890, by which the
location OF the seat OF government fixed upon the
eastern side OF the Potomac river in the State OF Mary
land altogether, and commissioners appointed to
ect site on the eastern side OF the Potomac river any
point between the Eastern Branch mot far from the Capt.
to and the Connegocheque rivera small river in the
State OF Maryland 40 miles the river The 4th
OF the ffeSiuent oil
ted States to accept grants OF moneys TO dey the purchase
and the expense Of erecting the public buildings On the
9th OF December. 1870, the same year, resolution
passed the general assembly OF Virginia authorizing
advance OF Sl200o0 10 the general government to aid in
erecting public buildings within the ten miles square thus
to be located upon the Maryland side On the Sd OF
March, 1884, an act passed by the Congress Of the
United States, requiring that part OF the District should
be located upon the Virginia side of the river 10
embrace the town OF Alexandria, and thus il under
the two acts OF 1890 and 1871 that the District of Coum
lOratpd pmbrace "A m
the territory upon both sides. The resolution Of the gen.
era assembly of Virginia Of 1870 complied with, and
the OF $4,000 advanced 10 the government,
TO aid in erecting the public buildings
II Is part OF the history OF the transaction, which il
is proper TO present here that when this resolution
upon its passage in the general assembly, the Journal
shows that reported, and before the general
United States $4,000 for erecting public buildings
agreeaby TO the resolution OF the last assembly And the
journals show that while that resolution progress
a proposition made that the resolution itself should
be amended. and that il should be called grant; that
the money should be granted gratuity donation
10 the government of the United States, for the purpose
oil erecting those buildings; but that proposition re-
fused, and II remained upon the statute adj
vance 10 the general government Eventually. after the
resolution had passed, the title changed and il was
called An act concerning advance OF money to the
government OF the United States for public buildings"
think II right to state this, because IL is still claim
due TO the State OF Virginia. although il has been trans
feIred TO the Orange Railroad Company for their use
feel authorized to say, therefore, that II stands nov
debt due from the government OF the United States
to the State Of Virginia The prayer OF the petitioners it,
that II shall be refunded with the proper interest under
the assignment that has been made by the resolution of
NJ he laaf ~