Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-12
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 0, 1850.
IN SENATE.
THE STEAMER UNITED STATES.

THE STEAMER UNITED STATES.
! Mr. SEWARD presented the memorial Of Conrad Fabcr
and Leopold Bierwh, merchants New York. asking be
relieved from bonds required Of them by Government under
the act Of Goth April 1925 in the case Of the United
States, built by them for the German Empire.
Circumstances stated in this petition, said the honorable
gentleman recall the fact that during the last agent
of Central Germany, called the German Empire, under in
sructons from that Government purchased for the purpose
of commencing the foundation Of navy the United
tdfe and that Power being at at that time with Dem
mark, the Government Of the United States nterposed for the
purpose Of preventing The sailing of the steamer, and requr
ing that bonds should be executed the compliance OF
the OF the vessel with the neutrality laws OF the Uni
ted States The memorasts executed these bonds 10 The
600 the vessel discharged and proceeded
to Europe The memoasts claim that the facts in the case
show that the bonds ought to be discharged and the Execu-
tive of the Government Of the United States understood TO
prefer that the subject be referred the decision Of Congress
will move that, without reading, the petition be received
and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
The motion was agreed to.
Mr.. DICKINSON pre- ssned the petition Of Wendell g.
Van Benhuysen late contractors for the public printing OF
Congress- claiming additional compensation which was re-
ferrel to the Committee on Printing.
Aso the memorial Of sundy citizens OF the United States
without respect party considerations asking that all further
intercourse between the United States and the Austrian En-
pire be suspended which referred to the Committee
on Foreign Relations ".
PANAMA RAILROAD COMPANY.
Mr.. DICKINSON also presented the memorial of the Pa
mama Railroad Company, asking that the Secretary Of the
Navy may be authorized to contract with it for the anspor
taon of army and navy supplies including troops and mails
That company said the honorable gentleman, proposes
they lave already surveyed the route construct railroad
across the shmus of Panama In their language they
say: ,,.... F.
" They will seek compensation until it shall have been
Earned On the contrary, they will their part
their services without payment aud will defer all claim for
compensation until large portion OF the work shall be
pleed The fact is but too notorious that the mail
vice the lsmus for the want OF communication and the
OF transportation customary more populous regions
is exposed great disorders They have collected the
thmus the large force of aborers and animals needed for
their work. which they think lessen, not entirely remedy
the disorders alluded And in this view they distinctly
and offer that if Congress its session shall
pass bill securing such just and satisfactory of compen
aton for the necessary services they hereafter render to
the Government shall enable them to obtain subscriptions
for the residue of their capital of FIVE millions of dollars,
they will within sixty days after its passage organize op the
hmus force adequate to the prompt and regular transport
that service grauitousy until they shall finished the said
road from the Chagres river to the Pacific"
FRENCH sPoLIATIoNs.
Mr. SMITH presented the memorial of Joseph Sims and
others, of the heirs Of Moses Gaylord and the memorial of
Prudence Doane, widow of Nathaniel Doane, asking ndem
nifty for French spoliaions prior to 1900
In presenting these memorials the honorable gentleman sad
hold in my hand several petitions praying for appropria
ton to indemnify citizens for spoiaons by the French
anterior to the year 1900 and PROPOSE with the approba
ton of the Senate bring up the question Of the reference
of these petitions. present the Senate also, the
rial of Charles H. Baker and Others the purport which
have indicated and in conformity with ntmaton made to
the Senate by the honorable Senator from Alabama, move
reference Of these memorials to select committee OF five
members will state for the information of the Senate
what is known all the members of the Senate who
members Of the body during the wenynnth Congress- that
these memorials referred select committee, which
conceive be appropriate. And desire further say that
having been member of the Committee Foreign Affairs
in the House Of Representatives during the 29h Congress-
the bill originated in the Senate at that time and passed the
body, and referred to the committee have named and
by that committee put into my hands, and had the ho-
report it TO the House. had agency in carry
ing through that body and is subject in which take
some interest but have desire to obude myself upon
the attention of the Senate upon this any other subject
have particular desire to be member of the committee
IL do any thing facilitate the proper considerations
Of these claims, shall be willing to be the committee
do desire be at the head Oft but would prefer having
gentleman older and experienced in the Senate
who would be able to contribute to full and proper
investigation Of the than will be in my power to do
Mr. HUNTER. hope these papers will not be referred
select committee The usual course is to refer such pa
pers the Committee Foreign Affairs, and hope they
will be sent to that committee believe It Is bad practice
to commit claims select committee Isee no good reason
why we should depart from the usual move that
they be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair is of the opinion
that the motion of the Senator from Virginia takes precedence
Mr. KING only wish to say that these claims for in
demny for poaons have frequently been before this body
and recoect that fifteen twenty years ago they were re-
erred select committee think that has been the general
course. presents the supect IN tue Simplest ott nese
claims Of such require that they should UNI
dego the examination of committee particularly selected Tor
that purpose and having other business before them
believe that has the usual course and it is certainly the
course which would prefer
Mr. CALHOUN. The very assigned by the chair
man Of the Committee on Foreign Relations is in my opin-
on the why they should not to select committee
Similar memorials have been often and eaboaeiy reported
upon and no claim can better understood There can be
further inquiry for the consideration of the committee
cept there be new matter and that is from the long time
that has elapsed quite impossible hope will not go to
select committee unless very strong and good reasons are
given for it,
Mr. SMITH. will call the attention Of the Senate to the
Journal the first session Of the twenty Congress On
pages SIS and Sc members will find the record OF the action Of
the Senate on an when there motion made, as
in this case for reference the Committee Foreign AT
fairs which failed and then there motion tor refer
ence to select committee which prevailed
The VICE PRESIDENT. There being two motions for
reference one to standing and the other to select commit
tee the question will be first the reference to the Com
mtee on Foreign Affairs.
Zee on Foreign Affairs and division being called for, there
were ayes ls, noes 25.
So the motion not agreed to-
The VICE PRESIDENT. The question recurs on the
motion to refer 10 a select committee
The question being TAKEN agreed to and the me-
MORALS were referred to select committee
THE SALE AND FARMING OUT OF OFFICES.
Mr.. SEWARD In pursuance Of previous notice. now
ask leave introduce bill entitled An acts to prevent the
sale and farming out of Offices" will barely state, in rea-
ton this BILL that it is taken from English statute on the
subject ard that in the examination of it, found that 1t ap-
pears to be entirely applicable in this country will ask the
reference Of the bill the Judiciary Committee and that 1t
may printed and will send to the committee at the same
time some papers relating TO case sale of Office, that