The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-11
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FaIpAy, JASUARY 10, 1851.
SENATE.

contingent expenses of that Department during
the year ending June 30th 1850.
Mr.. HAMLIN, from the Committee on Printing,
To whom had been referred the following resolu-
ton reported the same back, and it was agreed To-
Resolred, That three thousand additional copies
of the appendix to the report OF the Regents OF the
Smithsonian Institution be printed; two thousand
copies for the of the Senate, and one thousand
copies for the of the Smithsonian Institution.
BENJAMIN RUSH.
MIR. CASS submitted the following resolution,
which considered by unanimous consent and
agreed to:
Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Rela
tons be instructed to inquire into the proprety Of
allowing compensation 10 Benjamin Rush for his
services charge datiaires of the United States at
London.
Mr. HALE moved, and it was ordered. that when
the Senate adjourn, 1t adjourn until Monday
cAyusr WAR IN OREGON.
Mr.. DOUGLAS, from the Committee on Terri
tories to whom had been referred the memorial of
the Legislature of the Territory OF Oregon reported
a bill 10 pay the expenses of the Cayuse war in the
Territory Of Oregon, in the years lsiI and lsis.
SURVEY OF THE PUBLIC LANDS IN UTAH.
Mr. DOUGLAS, from the same committee,
ported bill TO extend the provisions of San act 10
create the Office of surveyor general OF the public
lands in Oregon and to provide Tor the survey and
TO make donations to the settlers of said public
lands," approved September u, 1850, and TO make
the same applicable to the Territory of Utah
PASSAGE OF EsoRossEp FILLS.
The engrossed bill, to change the places for hold
ing the u. S. circuit and district courts of Yer.
mont was read third time and passed
The Joint resolution relinquishing 10 the State Of
MARYLAND two of the cannon captured by the brig
ade under the command of Bngadier General Ri
ley at the battle of Contreras, Mexico, was also
read third time, and passed
The bill 10 renew for five years the pension of
Mrs. Sarah D. Mackay, widow of Captain Mackay,
late OF the army, which was yesterday ordered to
be engrossed read n third time. And the
question being its passage
Mr. YULEE opposed the bill, and urged that it
be laid over.
Mr. PEARCE replied and supported the passage
OF the bill.
Mr.. YULEE moved that the bill be postpS ned;
which motion was not agreed to.
The bill was then passed-yeas 3D. nays IL.
POWERS OF NoTARIEs PUBLIC.
The bill TO amend the act authorizing notares
public to take and certify oaths, afiirmations and
nowled gments In certain cases, having been
read third time
Mr.. CHASE moved, and the vote by which its
third reading had been ordered was reconsidered
He then moved to amend the blu, by adding
thereto the following;
''And notarics public, duly appointed in any
State, or Territory or in the District OF Columbia
shall have the same power and authority in taking
dispositions and affidavits to be read in causes de-
pending in any court the United States,
ferred by the threth section OF the act to establish
the judicial courts of the United States. approved
September twenty fourth, 1889, upon the magis-
trates and officers therein named, by the act for
the more convenient taking OF attldavits and bail
in civil causes depending in the courts of the United
States. approved February 20 1872, upon the COM
Inissoners therein named.
And the amendment was agreed to; and the bill,
as amended, ordered to be engrossed for third
reading.
GRANT OF LAND TO WISCONSIN.
Mr.. SHIELDS, from s&he Committee on Public
Lands, reported a bill "To authorize the State of
Wisconsin select the residue of the land to which
this State is entitled under the act of the Sth of Au
gust, 1876, to aid in the Improvement OF the Fox
and Wisconsin rivers"
Mr. S. explained the BILL Congress, by the act
of 1916, made grant to the State Of Wisconsin OF
certain sections of public lands; previous to the pas
sage of the act of Congress- about acres OF the
land thus appropriated had been sold by the Gen
eral Government. This bill was to supply this de-
fciency.
nation to the policy which these grants of land in
dictated. Congress made grants of alternate sec
tons of land along the line of the proposed i'm.
provement to the States, and wherever the land
could not be all obtained there, then the State was
to be allowed to select the deficiency from some
other portion of the State. This act would be pre-
cedent under which other States would make the
same request. He urged that this mode Of giving
away the public domain for purposes OF internal
improvement in the new States was unjust and I'M
equal regarded the old States, who were entitled
to an equal share of their proceeds.
Mr.. FOOTE protested against the agitation OF
any of the old party issues at this time, and par
ticularly by the Senator from Georgia, who stood
on the Union platform Of Georgia. The Union
wac not yet cafe from agitation on sectional ques-
tons, and till it was he was opposed to the revival
of any of the old party issues.
Mr. WALKER advocated the passage of the bill.
Mr.. DODGE, of Wisconsin, alluded TO the ma.
of the bill, maintained its justice and its pro-
priety. He also pointed out the value OF the pro-
posed improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin riv-
ers and the importance OF this grant for that pur-
pose.
Mr. DAWSON renewed his objections to thebill,
and the policy Of giving away the public lands in
this mode. The public lands were the property of
the nation they were purchased or the indian
title extinguished, by means Of the money raised
by taxation of the whole people. Ii was unjust to
give that to the new States alone which was the
property Of the whole, and which would be
means of revenue to the whole.
He thought the legislation of Congress OF late
years in regard the public lands was based upon
an unjust discrimination in favor OF the new States
and against the old States. Every new State re-
ceived large grants Of the public lands. The old
States received nothing.
1t very well for those who represented new
States to seek to avoid the agitation OF old party
issues or of such issues related to the public
lands, until such time az harmony and peace had
finally and permanently taken the place of agita-
ton and dscord. The new States well knew that
before that period arrived they could have swal-
lowed up the whole Of the public lands
The old States had uses for the proceeds of the
lands belonging TO them equally with the new
States: They bad their internal Improvements,
their lunatics their poor, and all those objects for
which grants of land in the new States were 30
freely granted. They receive nothing, however
Mr.. FooTE repeated his protest against the
agitation of the old party issues, especially the one
revived by the Senator from Georgia. The Sens-
tor made the question of sectional character;
not between the North and the South, but between
the old States and the new States. He remonstra-
ted seriously against such by the Senator,
who stood prominently and 80 honorably con.
spcuous upon the noble platform recently adopted
by the State of Georgia. Old party issues were to
slunber until the great and national question Of
the day was settled The Republic was not yet out
of danger; agitation not yet completely
sllenced. There were in certain quarters attempts
being made by bargaining and corruption to keep
alive spirit disastrous TO the peace and harmony
of the Union. Until such corrupt practices were
forever put down, he desired to see old party
lines drawn, nor old party issues revived.
Mr.. HALE said that he in favor of the bill,
for several reasons 1t said by an eulogist OF
General jackson that he could hear the footsteps Of
future generations. He thought that, to n certain
extent, the Senator from Georgia could hear the
footsteps of future generations. He for giving
these lands away TO the States just when and
they were asked for. He would vote for this bill,
because he thought il likely that this would be the
last opportunity for giving them away. After the
census returns were in, and the western States