Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1851-02-20
CONGRESS-.

presented a petition VI .'e oo'po."'e au"io'i-
lies of Washington, 10 favor OF the colonial
tion of free negroes by line OF steamships
10 Africa.
Mr.. Seward presented resolution direc.
ting inquiry into the propriety OF reducing
the standard weight Of silver coin. Adopted.
The deficiency appropriation bill was then
taken up.
The bill was passed, and the senate took
upthe bill granting 10 the states ten millions
acres Of public lands, 10 be apportioned BY
the president in compound rates Of geograph-
cal area and representation Of said states,
according to the census of 1850; provided
that no STATE shall he computed at more than
fifty thousand square miles for the benefit OF
the INDECENT insane. The bill, after making
the grant, declares said land shall be surveyed
and apportioned in sections and subdivisions,
and where sufficient land be in state, shall
SO select; and any state having no public
lands, shall sell their share in the territories.
When the apporlionment is completed, pa
tents for the land to be issued 10 the seS eral
states. The states to bear respectively all
expenses Of sale and management of land,
and said expenses not TO be taken from the
proceeds of sales The bill further provides
thar the proceeds from s,les OF these lands
shall be held by the states respectively, and
he invested in stock as a permanent fund,
the capital of which forever to remain un.
touched. and the interest shall be involabIy
appropriaied to the comfortable maintenance
and support of durable and incurable insane,
who are to be placed in organized state
institutions. No portion of the proceeds TO
be applied to the purchase of site or the
erection ola building or its repair.
The bill was than ordered to be engrossed
yeas 80, nays not counted.
House-Mr. Evans, of Maryland, asked
leave TO introduce bill 10 repeal so much
of the act of last year as appropriates 100000
for the extension of the capitol Objections
were made.
The question now REQUIRED on agreeing
to the bill as originally sent from the senate
providing for the board Of three commission
ers.
The question again recurring on the pass
age of the bill, Mr.. Inge moved TO lay il on
the table. Carried-yeas no, nays &c. Mr.
Inge then moved to reconsider the vote,
and, on his motion, the motion was laid on
the table So the bill was killed. Adj.
In the Senate, OH Wednesd; y. Mr.. Cooper
presented ten petitions from Pennsylvania
for a modification OF the tariff.
The bill granting ten millions ofacres of
land for the relief and support OF the INDECENT
insane was put OH its passage, and passed
yeas 35, nays l6.
MIR. Shields moved and the senate took
up the joint resolution authorizing the presi-
dent to confer the rank of lieutenant general
by brevel only for merrorous services.
MIR. Atchison, as a test VOTE moved that
it be laid on the table. Lost-yeas @, nays
%.
On the question Of ngrossment-yeas 80,
nays 90. Adjourned.
House-Mr. Melville rose to make report
from the committee on printing for the relief
of MIR. Richie in relation 10 the public prin-
ting.
Mir. Burt raised point of order tina
under the rules the gentleman could not
make the report as privileged question.
The speaker overruled the point on the
ground that the 2lst rule explicitly provides
that il shall he IN order for the committee to
report at any time.
Mr.. Burt asked it it was not for the house
to decide whether it was question of priv
lege.
The speaker replied that it was the privi-
lege of the committee TO report on any
subject which was legitnarely before il.
Mr.. Burt appealed from the decision of
the speaker.
Mr. McLane moved TO lay Mr.. Burt's ap-
peal on the table-yeas los, nays a. The
speaker. was thus sustained, and the resolu-
ton was read twice.
In the Senate, on Thursday, numerous
petitions and reports on private cases were
presented.
Mr. nale's resolution to place chapains
on the same footing as 10 compensation as
surgeons, was adopted.
The Joint resolution author lzing the pres
i,ent to confer the rank oflieutenant general
by brcvct, was put on its passage and passed
yeas 81, nays 10.
Mr.. Rusk laid OIL the table, TO be printed,
numerous amendments intended to be offered
TO the postage hill.
Mr. Berrien moved 10 take up the bill for
regulating fees and costs TO be allowed
clerks, narshas and attorneys of the U. S.
courts. Barious verbal Amendments were
made in detail to the bill.
House.-Mr. Bayly, from the committee
on ways and means, reported bill making
appropriations for the army for the year en-
ding June, 1852. Referred to the committee
of the whole. The house resumed the consid-
Grafton of the resolution reported yesterday
for the relief of Thomas Richie, for losses
sustained on account of executing the con-
gressional printing.
Question taken and resolution for relief
was recomnitted 10 the committee on prin-
ting, with instructions to inquire and report
wheihe. Mr. Richie has executed the work
according to the contract, and what he has
lost-yeas 100, nays 81.
The house then went into committee Of
the whole OIL the state of the Union, Mr..
Meade in the chair.
Motions that the committee rise were
made and voted down, and the river and
harbor bill taken up-ayes 100, nays 9.
In the Senate. on Friday, the chair laid
before the senate message from the Presi
dent, called for by the corre spontence be-
tween Spain and the United States, relative
to the Amstad claims, which was ordered to
be printed.
MIR. Soule reported bill for monthly
steamers deJween Norfolk and New Orleans.
House.-Mr. Daniel moved that the house
go into committee on the private calendar,
and asked for the yeas and nays, which,
being taken resulted in ten majority against
the motion.
Mr.. McLane, of Nd, offered resolution
to close the debate on the river and harbor
bill tomorrow al o'clock-passed.
The house then went into committee on
that subject. Mr.. McLane resumed his re-
marks from yesterday.
T., Tho Sen1fe on SATURDAY. Mr. DorgIas