The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-14
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
MoxpAY, JANuARy -, 1881
SENATE.

SENATE.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate a communica-
ton from the War Department, enclosing state
ment Of the number of persons other than those De-
longing 10 the military service IN the employment
of that Department.
THE PATENT LAWS.
Messrs. TURNEY and DAVIS, of Massachusetts,
presented petitions from American inventors, pray
ing amendments to the Patent laws of the United
States
THE PUBLIC LANDS.
Mr. SEWARD presented a petition from some
five hundred citizens of the United States in favor
OF the bill granting the freedom of the public lands
u actual settlers.
THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
Mr. COOPER presented three petitions-two OF
them signed by citizens of Delaware and Chester
counties, Pennsylvania praying repeal of the Flu
gitive Slave law.
In presenting these memorials Mr.. C. said that
whenever d petition respectful in its terms, and
asking that which Congress has the power to grant,
it was an nvariablc rule with him 10 present il to
the body to which il was addressed. He had shown
these memorials TO gentlemen acquainted in levi
oinity from which they came, and the memorial
lists we're represented 10 him highly respectable
people. But said MIR. C., | must say that in pre-
seuIing their petition the petitioners asking that
which the great OF their fellow citizens OF Penn
sylvania do not desire TO be granted. The great
body OF the citizens Of Pennsylvania satisfied
with the settlement of the subject Of slavery, the
last session. and do not desire that that settlement
EhaII be changed. lney LGani 50 lar aS Know,
and far these public acts, connected with the
measures adopted at the last session. go to prove,
stand by those measures and To carry them out, in
good faith. They desire peace and harmony, and as
long agitation continues to excite they know they
cannot have that peace and harmony at home, and
that people of other States cannot have them. As
he deemed reference TO the committee, properly
having charge of the subject but proper, he moved
the reference OF the memorials to the Committee
the judiciary.
AREA OF SLAVERY.
Mr.. COOPER presented the petitions OF sundry
citizens Of the same State asking that Congress
may resist by legislation the further extension OF
the area OF slavery. Laid on the table.
Also, from citizens of the same State, in favor Of
the abolition of slavery in the District Of Columbia,
and that no slave State may be admitted into
the Union. Laid on the table
NOTIFICATION OF REVENUE LAWS.
Mr.. COOPER presented eleven petitions of 'cil-
zeus of Pennsylvania, praying modification OF
the tariff of 1876. lie accompanied the presentation
of these petitions with some remarks upon the de-
pressed condition of the manufactures OF the coun-
try, particularly of those engaged in Pennsylvania
in the woollen, iron, and coal trades.
The petitions were referred 10 the Committee on
Finance.
MIR. COOPER gave notice of an act TO amend an
act entitled an act to change the mode OF collect
ing duties on imports from foreign countries
JAMES ROBERTSON.
Mr.. HOUSTON presented the memorial of James
Robertson, praying compensation for certain al
legged in uries inflicted him b. the officers OF the
Senate
After debate the petition was laid on the table
MONUMENT TO GESERAL wARREN.
Mr. WINTHROP presented the memorial Of n
committee of the Bunker Hill Monument Associa-
ton praying an appropriation by Congress to aid
in the erection of monument to General Jose ph
Warren.
AssIG SMEST OF MILITARY LAND wARRANTe.
Mr. UNDERWOOD moved that the Senate pro-
coed TO the consideration OF the joint resolution
from the House Of Representatives, authorizing the
assignment of the land warrants issued under the
act Of September 2S, 1850, granting bounty lands
officers and soldiers engaged IN the military
vice Of the United States
Mr. WALKER opposed the motion. He argued
against the propriety oil making these land war
rants assignable, contending that in such case
nearly the whole benefits of the act would fall to
the capitalist and broker who purchased them.
Moreover the bill to cede the public lands to the
States in which they situated was the special
order for to- day, and the Senator from Michigan
(Mr FELcH) was prepared, as he had been sew
eral previous occasions, TO address the Senate.
Mr.. SMITH said that he would oppose the
ton of the Senator from Kentucky at this time
The bill providing for the clains account Of
French spoliations confded to his charge, and
had been set down for this day. But the Senator
from Michigan was to speak on the Land bill,
and the Senator from Wisconsin was TO reply, and
as both of these would probably get through to-
day, he would suffer the bill, Of which he had the
charge, to lay over till to- morrow, when be would
certainly insist its being taken up. Those caims
had been delayed for half a century, and Congress
should do something for them When this bill was
out OF the way, he would aid the Senator from en-
lucky in getting this joint resolution taken up and
passed.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD replied; and, the question
being taken, the Senate refused to take up the
joint resolution-ayes II, noes 25.
PASSAGE or EseRossEp BILLS.
The bill "to authorize the State Of Wisconsin to
select the residue of the land TO which that State is
entitled under the of the Sth of August Is 10,
20 aid in the improvement Of the Fox and Wis
consin rivers - and the bill to amend the act emit
tied an authorize notares public 10 take and
certify oaths, affirmations and Acknowledgements
in certain CAGES. which Friday were ordered
% be engrossed for third reading, were taken up,
read third time, and passed.
cEssIoS or THE PUBLIC LANDS.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
of the bill to cede the public lands of the United
States respectively 10 the States in which they are
situated condition that the said States shall
orally grant and convey the said lands 70 actual
occupants only in limited quantities. for cost OF
survey, transfer, and title muniments merely.
Mr.. FETCH addressed the Senate for nearly two
hours in opposition 10 The bill. He examined in
detail the whole system OF the sale of public lands
by the United States, and the extent TO which the
sales had been or likely to be, affected by the
various grants made by Congress to the States and
the several acts granting bounties He read many
tabular statements of the amount Of land sold in
each State; the gross and net proceeds of such
sales; the balance remaining unsold; the estimated
value of these unsold lands 70 the Government;
and the effect Of this bill on the came.
Without concluding. Mr.. f. yielded the floor tc
MIR. BALDWIN on whose notion
The Senate adjourned.