The republic., 1851-01-28


compensation from the commencement of the ses.
sion.
PROCEEDINGS OF COURT MARTIAL.
Mr.. BORLAND submitted the following resolu-
ton, which was agreed to-
Resolved, That the Secretary Of War be direct
ed TO furnish the Senate with the proceedings of
the court martial convened at Little Rock, IN looo
for the trial of David Butler, military storekeeper,
together with the correspondence In possession oil
the War Department, prior to and subsequent
to said court martial,in relation to the same
IMPORTS FROM CANADA.
MIR. WALKER submitted the following resolu-
ton, which was agreed TO;
Resolped That the Secretary of the Treasury be
directed to inform the Senate what quantity and
value OF the following articles were imported from
Canada into the United States in the years loaS
and 1850 either for sale bond for expectation
TO foreign ports distinguishing the amount and
value of each period, viz grain and breadstuiis OF
all kinds, vegetables fruits, animals, hides, wool,
tallow, horns, salt and fresh meats, ores OF all
kinds of metals timber, stayes, wood, and lumber
auL TO MAKE GOOD TO MISSOURI THE TWO PER
FUND.
Mr. BENTON moved, and the Senate proceeded
to the consideration of the bill to make good 10 the
State of Missouri the two per cent. fund accruing
upon the net proceeds of sales Of public lands, and
heretofore withheld from that State
Messrs. BENTON and SHIELDS briefly
planned the bill
Mr.. CLAY said that, at proper time, he would
undertake to prove, to the satisfaction OF the SEN
ate, that Missouri not creditor OF the United
States the amount of one farthng, on account OF
this two per cent fund His health was not such as
to enable him TO address the Senate to- day on this
subject; he was too feeble at present; He would be
glad if the bill postponed for a short time
Mr.. BENTON said that he WAS willing that the
bill should be postponed till o-morrow and on his
motion the bill was laid on the table.
THE UNION GAS LIGHT COMPANY.
Mr. MASON moved, and the Senate proceeded to
the consideration of the bill to incorporate the
Union Gas Light Company OF the District OF Co
lumbia.
MIR. WALKER moved to amend the bill by pro-
viding that the stockholders in said company
should be Individually liable for the debts of the
company, TO the amount of the stock which they
shall hold at the time when the debts shall be con-
tracted.
Mr.. CHASE moved to amend the amendment by
prefxing thereto the following:
"And every director of said company shall be
individually liable for allde contracted while he
may be IN office, to be recovered by any appropri
ate action either joint or several"
Messrs. UNDERWOOD, HALE, and EWING
opposed the amendments; and Messrs. WALKER
and CHASE supported them.
The question being taken on the amendment of
Mr.. CHASE, it was rejected-yeas %, nays 27-as
follows:
YEAS.-Messrs. Atchison, Benton, Borland,
Bradbury, Bright, Cass, Chase, Clemens Davis of
Mississippi, Dickinson, Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge
of Iowa, Felch, Gwin, Jones, Norris Rhett, Rusk,
Soule, Sturgeon, Turncy, Walker, and Whitcomb
| NAYS.-Messrs. Badger, Baldwin, Bell Ber-
| rien, Clarke, Clay, Cooper, Davis of Massachu-
| sets, Dawson, Downs, Ewing, Greene Hale King,
Mangum. Mason, Miller, Morton, Pearce, Phelps,
| Pratt Seward, Spruance, Underwood, Upham,
| Wales and Winthrop-N.
| The other amendment was then agreed to with
| out count; and the bill ordered to be en-
crossed and read a third time.
PASSAGE ENGRossEp BILLS.
The following bills, which ON Saturday were or
dered to be engrossed, were taken up, read third
time, and passed:
Bill to reimburse the people of Oregon for ex-
penses incurred in the war by the Cayuse Indians
| in that Territory in lS47-4S
Bill TO create additional collection districts in
| Oregon and for other purposes
STEAMBOAT INSPECTORS IN ARKANSAS.
Mr.. BORLAND moved, and, after debate, the
Senate proceeded to the consideration OF the bill to
! make Little Rock a port of entry and delivery.
The bill had been amended in committee and was
bill to authorize the United States district
Judge of Arkansas to appoint inspectors of steam
boats in that State.
MIR. UNDERWOOD moved an amendment au-
thorizing the appointment of like inspectors at Pa
ducah, Kentucky, which was agreed to.
And then, after considerable debate, the bill was
ordered to be engrossed for third reading.
PRIVATE LAND CLAIMS IN CALIFORNIA.
Mr.. GWiN moved that the Senate proceed to the
consideration Of the bill TO ascertain and settle the
private land claims in California.
MIR. DOWNS opposed the motion, and urged
that the special orders be taken up in the order in
which they stood on the calendar.
The motion OF Mr. CwIN preyailed-ayes n,
noes l3.
The position OF this bill is as follows
During the last session MIR. FREMoNT introduced
the bill. which was referred 10 the Committee ON
Public Lands, and reported back; final action
was had on it at the last session Early this
sion the bill was taken up and considered In Com
mttee of the Whole. M GwIN submitted sub
stitutc for the whole bill, which was adopted. The
g..
submitted an amendment in the nature of a substi-
tute for the bill as. il had been amended by the
adoption Of Mr. GwINs substitute. Pending the
question on this amendment, the bill amended,
aud the proposed amendment of Mr.. BENTON, were
referred to the Committee ON the Judiciary. That
committee have since reported back the amended
bill with an amendment; the amendment OF the Ju-
dietary Committee being new bill which they
recommend may be adopted in lieu of the original
bill and of the amended bill.
The question pending was on the adoption of the
amendment reported by the Committee on the Ju-
dietary
Mr. BERRIEN explained the different provisions
o! the bill reported from the committee and urged
their propriety and fairness.
Mr. BENTON said that he had already pointed
out the defects and Injustice of the bill as II etood
alter having been amended on the motion Of the
Senator from California, (Mr. GwIS,) and the
effect of what he had then pointed was that the
author Of the bill himself moved its reference to
the Judiciary Committee. For forty six years the
practice had been refer all such matters to the
Committee Public Lands; in this case that
practice had been deviated from The bill reported
by the Committee on the Judiciary amounted in
effect act Of conscaion OF all the lands of the
old settlers in California
He considered that the committee had been most
deplorably and calamitousy unfortunate. Wher-
the provisions of the bill referred to them
bad, they have made them worse; whatever III that
bill was good, they have struck out; and wherever
the bill neither good nor bad, they have orgi-
mated something which is than anything
ever before proposed to be enacted. He gave no
tice that he would demonstrate in detail the pari
cuar provisions OF the bill which he considered
wrong; and he would do this by way Of amend
ments, by moving TO strike out and insert. He
then pointed out several provisions in the bill par
ticularly those regulating and providing for the
mode of proceeding in the investigation of the
claims before the United States courts.
Mr.. BERRIEN replied, explaining and defend
ing the bill he had reported. He pointed out also,
that some of the provisions of it similar in
principle TO those contained in the bill originally
introduced by the absent Senator from California,
(Mr FREMoNT.)
yCf ..,J ln