The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-03
THIRTY-FIRST CONGR ESS.
IN SEN A TIE
THURSDAY. Jan. 9, 1851.

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 1851.
Petitions were presented by Messrs CLAY,
BELL, SHIELDS, FooTE, and others. Several re-
ports were made from several committees
Mr.. JEFFERSON DAVIS made report from
the Military Committee, upon the subject of the
recent Court Martial at Fort Constitution, New
Hampshire, under which certain altered cruel
punishments We're inflicted upon private of
the Army. The report, together with the pro-
ceedings of the court were ordered to be
printed
Mr. GWlN introduced bill providing for the
survey of the public lands in California, and for
granting donation and other privileges, to actual
settlers, and for other purposes
SHIP ISLAND.
bill reported from the Military Committee,
appropriating $4,000 for the fertilization of
Ship Island on the gulf coast of Mississippi,
was taken up, and ordered to third reading.
REMOVALS FROM OFFICE.
Mr.. BRIGHT moved to suspend the other
orders of the day, and to take up the resolu-
ton OF Mr.. BRADBURY, nqniring of the Presi-
dent the number of removals from office under
the late administration of General TAYLOR, &c.
Mr.. BRIGHT, in a lengthy and elaborate ar
guinent, addressed the Senate upon the general
subject Of prescription, but more particularly in
from certain charges made against him in the
course Of the preceding debates upon this reso-
luton. After an argument, going to show that
Gen. Lane was superseded in Office because he
was Democrat and from no other cause, Mr.
BRIGHT replied to the statement of. Mr. MAN
GUM, that Gen. Lane, having been guilty Of
breach of decorum towards Gen. Taylor, his gu
perior in command, in reference to the battle of
Buena Vista, he, Gen. Taylor, was authorized
to dismiss him. Upon this branch of the SUBJ
Ject, MIR. BRIGHT went into minute examine
ton of the conduct of the I'd Indiana regiment
at the battle of Buena Vista, exonerating it
from the responsibility of its fight; and com
planning that after Gen. Taylor knew that they
had retreated under ORDERS he should have cor
rected his official report, which he never did, 1t
was true that Gen. Lane had complained Of this
but this was not the ground Of his dismissal
from Office. He was dismissed because he was
a Democrat, and in violation of the pledges
under which the late administration came into
power.
Mr.. EWING said that he thought he could
prove it to the satisfaction of the Senate, from
documents which he would be able to produce,
that Gen. Lane and Col. Weller were properly
discharged from the offices which they respec-
lively held, as Governor of Oregon and Mexican
Boundary Commissioner In order to have time
III
moved the subject be postponed till Monday
next, which was agreed to.
CALIFORNIA LAND TITLES
On motion af Mr.. GWIN, the bill was taken
up, providing for board of Commissioners for
the adjudication of land titles and land claims in
the State OF California. The bill provides also
for regular judicial examination, and for an ap-
peal to the Supreme Court All private titles
and claims to land in California to be examined.
Mr.. GWIN moved an amendment, extending
over these California cases, the benefits to tho
claimants of the net of 1928, providing for the
settlement ofland titles and claims in the Terri
tory of Florida.
Mr.. BENTON proposed substitute for the
bill, which substitute provides that there shall
be recorder Of land titles in California, who
with the District Attorney shall have authority
to decide upon all land titles and land claims Of
Spanish and Mexican descent, except the claims
OF J. c. FREMONT, with regard to which there
may be an appeal taken to the Supreme Court
Mr. BENTON considered the original bill As tan
lamont to n confiscation of all the real estate of
the resident inhabitants of California, holding all
their titles to be invalid till proved to be valid
He recited the history of the Spanish grant to
actual settlers in California, n system followed
upby Mexico; and while he considered titles thus
descended to be good, he urged that it would be
equivalent to confiscation to run them through
the guautlot of our Courts He wished there
fore, to see these titles respected but he excepted
from the general provisions of his substitute the
claims Of Col. FREMONT, because he desired to
stand in his true light as perfectly disinterested
in behalf ofthe people of California.
Mr.. GWIN defended his bill, and contended
that it would be acceptable to the people of Cal
ifornia-that one of the largest land holders in
that State, now in this city, and a warm advocate
of the bill and that Colonel FREMONT had ex-
pressed himself perfectly willing to submit to
its provisions.
The debate was continued for an hour be-
tween MIR. BENTON and Mr.. GwrN, in behalf Of
their respective measures, when
On motion the subject was laid aside till TO-
morrow, and the Senate adjourned