Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-12-07
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1850.
IN SENATE.

Mr. USpERwoop, Of Kentucky, Mr. DAYTON, of New
jersey and Mr. GREENE, of Rhode Island, appeared in their
seats This morning. .....+ * .N
.. NOTICE OF BILLS. -.....@.
Mr. BENTON gave notice Of his intention to ask leave
to introduce bills of the following titles ..
bill to grant to the State of Missouri certain quantity
Of public land for objects Of internal improvement which,
added the quantity heretofore granted to that State for that
purpose shall make equal TO the quantity heretofore granted
to any State for the purpose
bill pay the State of Missouri to be applied to rail
roads within the State the amount of the two per centum
fund accrung on the sales Of public lands within the state
and reserved to make road sto the State, and not yet
applied to that purpose.
bill to provide for the location and construction of
trail national highway consisting OF railroad and common
road, from the Mississippi river at ST. Louis to the Bay OF
San Francisco and the Pacific ocean, and to exnguish the
Indian title the lands along the said highway and to estab
sh military posts and grant lands to settlers thereon
bill to relinqush the collection Of tolls the United
States stock in the Louisville and Portland Canal and to
NIT the the boats which they accrue and to pro-
vide for the exngushmen Of private interests in the said
stock, and to make the navigation Of said canal free.
bill accelerate the sales Of the public lands and pay
the public debt and to exnguish the federal title lands
within the States and grant donations and emp
ton rights actual settlers and to cede the refuse lands to
the States in which they lie. ......
bill to amend the act Of the last session Of Congress
granting the Avamp lands the States in which they e
bill to authorize the President to select site for
western armory and procure the and commence
the construction of the armory.
A bill TO suppress the salt tax.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
Mr.. MANGUM. Mr.. President we did more business
Yesterday than usually done the opening of session
Of Congress- think desirable that committees should be
appointed at an early day. that may proceed to Legislative
business The usage has been believe, to announce the
committees on the Monday following the meeting OF Congress
think it very desirable that they should now be made earlier
By standing rule Of the Senate the Senate appoints all IL
own committees and believe invariably adheres to tina
practice when Vice President elected by the people, pre-
sides the body But when President Is elected oJ IN
Senate who is always regarded responsible to the body
think the nvaabe practice for many years past has oee
that he should appoint the committees. With view OF hav
ing the committees appointed at early and convenient sea
son. offer the following resolution, which hope will mee
with unanimous concurrence:
,nnont The standing committees OF the Senate for this session
and also the members of joint committees.
The resolution was considered by unanimous consent an
agreed to. ..."
i PROMOTIONS IN THE NAVY.
, Mr.. HALE On the l4th Of September last submitte
n The Senate resolution calling the Secretary Of tn
NAVY for the proceedings of board of officers, called al
suggestion the purpose Of devsng some mode OF aware
ing promotion in the navy aside from mere seniority WI
Of the precise nature OF those Proceedng
they had not been made public. Upon the motion oil u
ID honorable Senator from North Carolina, (Mr BADeER,)
the 9Th Of September the resolution was laid on the 'ao
and lies there STILL now find that the Secretary OF u
Navy in his annual report actually proposes to Congress
BY establish rule for promotion 10 the navy upon merit ds
gardng the rule by which promotions have heretofore pee
awarded tina, is, seniority The Secretary says;
therefore proposed that in all future promotions
al captsipcy higher rank, IL such shall be estabshe
he seniority shall regarded merit shall be
L. the only criterion OF selection"
II will be perceived that by the action Of the Secretary
nd the Navy, this subject before Congress for consideration
a. and it seems that is highly proper, il there has be
n court holden upon the suggestion Of the Secretary Of
10 NAVY to take this subject into consideration, that Congr
ought to know what has been done 10 relation to IT,