The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-28

TulR RST CON GRESS :.
SECOND SESSION.
IN Sc N A t E,

MONDAY, Jan. 81, 1851.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate several
executive documents.
Petitions were presented by Messrs Ewing,
COOPER, WALKER, SEWARD, HAmLIN, BRAD
BURY, CAss, ATcHIsoN, BRIGHT and others.
Mr.. MASON pres nted the resolutions Of the
Virginia General Assembly, in reference to
some further land bounties to virginia soldiers
of the revolutionary war. Laid on the table.
Mr.. DICKINSON presented the resolutions
IF the New York Legislature, in favor Of two
.nts postage pre-p'd, and three nts if NOT
prepaid on half ounce letters, for any distance
Referred to Post Office Committee.
Mr. WEIT'rCOMB presented the credentials
Of Mr.. BRIGHT. reelected to the Senate for six
wears. from and after the 4th March next, from
the Stnte of Indiana.
Various reports on local or private cases We're
made from committees.
CANADIAN PRODUCE.
On motion of Mr.. WALKER. the Secretary
Of the reasury was requested to furnish tn,
Senate with statement Of the value respec
lively of the various agricultural products, mi
mails, grain of all kinds, -four, &C., butter
cheese, timber. shingler slaves, &C., brought
over into the United States, from Canada, dur
ing the last fiscal year.
House were read and referred.
The bill to pay the expenses of the Cuyuse
war in Oregon, and an act TO create additional
collection districts in the territory of Oregon.
and for other purposes, were read thi time
and passed.
MISSOURI TWO PER CENT. FUND.
On motion of Mr.. BENTON, the Senate took
up the bill to refund to the State of Missouri
the two per cent from the sales Of the public
lands within her borders.
Mr.. SHIELDS explained the bill Missouri
was the only State that had not received this
fund.- of all those entitled to it.
Mr. CLAY said he cou'd show that Missouri
was not entitled to one cent of this fund bui
that the United States were rather the creditors
Of Missouri in this respect
At the instance of Mr.. BENTON, the bill was
laid aside till to morrow.
UNION GAs-LTGHr COMPANY
On motion of Mr. MASON, the bill to ncor
porate the Uniou light Company of WASH
ington city was taken up.
After debate bv Mcs sra. MASON, WALKER
UNDERWOOD, EWING, and others, the amendment
of Mr.. WALKER was adopted, making the stock
holders individually liable to the amount of their
stock, at the time debt to be paid may have
been incurred. Ordered to third reading
STEAMBOAT LAW.
On motion of Mr. BORLAND. the Senate
took up the bill establishing Little Rock, in Ar
kansas, as a port of entry and delivery. De
bate by Messrs. BoRLASD, UNDERWOOD, Downs
CHASE, DoUGLAs, DAVIS Of Massachusetts, and
HAMLIN, and finally ordered to third reading.
CALIFORNIA LAND TITLES.
On motion of Mr.. GWlN, the Senate pro
ceedcd to the special order of the day, to wi,
q Al
Element of land titles and land claims in the
State of California, ms reported from the Judi
cary Committee, in lieu of the several bills re |
terred TO said committee on the same subject
The bill provides for board Of three Com |
mis-ioners, to examine and settle all private
Lam c ins ia California, and for trial before |
the District Court, and m appeal to the Supreme
Court, in contested eases; and authorizes all
contestants to file their claims and their evil
lences Of title for trial, &c.
Mr.. BER.RIEN explained the bill to the Sen
vt, and the intent and object Of its several pro-
visions.
Mr.. BENTON most earnestly denounced the
bill He had spoken Of one of the bills referred
10 the COMMITTEE on the Judiciary, as bill for
The con6scation of all the landed property IN
CALIFORNIA;. This bill which the committee had
reported in place Of tie original was even worse
the bad they had made worse, the good they
nave struck out and where il is neither good
nor bad, they have made il worst of ALL He
was not aware of such law in the history Of
lhe civilized world. Heinteuded deliberately TO
strike the bill TO pieces, and to put the knife to
{ in every provision. Here were the old Cali
ornia settlers, not to be subjected TO one suit
,ut to snits upon suits, snts within suits, every
imaginable expedient of rejecting them from
heir property is encouraged, the door is opened
md they are to be worried, suit upon suit, ont
# their property. Why sir, the thing is worse
han barbarious. If manly hearted man sees
wen two men upon one, he will be very apt,
Without inquiry to knock one of the two do vn;
is natur;d impulse to see fair play even in
log fight; but here we have no generosity, but
he door is cast wide open to all the world To
ONE forward and pounce upon the property OF
hcse poor Spanish and American settlers. Mr..
BENTON moved to strike out the proviso Of the
ourth section, which opens the door to contes-
ants Of landed titles to put in their cl1iuIs.
ir. BENTON for hnlf mn hour continued to de
ounce the bill with unusual energy and empha-
is
Mr.. BERRIEN sid that with regard to the
eneral and immeasurcd dcnunciation OF this
i'll by the senator from Missouri, he wond
cave the bill TO speak for itself and for the Ju-
iciary Committee One great object Of such
i'll, is to give peace to California. After deter