Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-01-17

TUESDAY. Jan. 7th, 1851


| MIR. Felch, from the Committee on the Pnhl;,
Lands, to which was referred the Joint resolution
from the House of Representatives explanatory O
the act approved 28th September, 1850, entitled
An act granting bounty land to certain officers and
soldlers VINO have been engaged in the military ser
wee OF the United States" reported back the same
without amendment, and was instructed by the COM
mlttee to say that the opinion of the committee was
adverse to its passage.
On motion of MIR. Gwin, the Senate proceeded to
the consideration of the resolution in relation to re-
movals from Office. Mr.. Ewing addressed the Sen.
ate at some length in defence of the removals made
under Gen. Taylors administration and was follow
ed by Messrs. Cass, Bradbury and Downs, in reply.
The further consideration of the subject was postpo-
ned and the Senate took up the bill to ascertain and
settle the private Land Claims in the State of Cali
fornia.
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIvEs-Anothe attempt,
made by Mr.. Julian the freesoer to bring the sla
very question again before the House. by moving to
amend the record of Mondays proceedings in regard
to the fugitive slave law quietly killed off For
the present, that is at rest An Intellectual attempt
was made to take up the cheap postage bill
WEDNESDAY, Jan 9Th
SEEATE.-Mr. Pratt, of Maryland presented pe-
tltlon for the establishment of line of mail steam
ers between Baltimore, by way of Norfolk, and some
port in England.
A motion to take up tho joint resolution from the
House authorizing assignments of military bounty
landsw warrants was made but not agreed to-
HOUSE OF REPREsENTAT1vEs.-Mr Bayly; from the
committee of Ways and Means, reported five of the
general appropriation bills which were referred to
the committee of the whole the state of the Union
and ordered to be printed.
The business before the House was announced to
be the New Hampshire contested election case
Mr.. Stanton, of Kentucky, moved to adjourn, as
this was the anniversary of the battle of New Or
leans and it would be dissertation of the day to re-
main in session
The motion prevailcd-yeas "a, nays SS and the
House adjourned at twenty minutes before o'clock
THURSDAY, Jan. 9th.
SENATE-We are unable to find anything of gen.
eral interest in the proceedings of the Senate The
day was chiefly occupied with private claims and
mere matters of routine, which, although useful and
proper, are Of sort of interest to our readers
Some little progress made in the debate upon the
different bills to ascertain and settle the private land
claims in the State of California. Messrs Benton
and Gwin addressed the Senate in support of their
respective measures, and that body adjourned
House OF REPRESENTATIVES. Chandler asked
cave to introduce resolution, as follows:
Whereas in consequence of the large supply of gold from
california and other parts of the world the proportion be-
"een that metal and silver rapidly changing thereby af
Getting their relative value and rendering the metal
article of merchandise rather than currency causing its
REGULATION as to at its nominal value and
hereas under these circumstances the silver of the
ountry being largely exported and consequence of
he premiums offered for them by dealers bullion they are
ens rapidly withdrawn from crculaton thereby subject
ng the banks and business community great growing
from the scarcity of those
making change:
Resolved That the Committee on Commerce be directed
inquire into the ezpedency of reducing the value of the
liver COINS of the United States by diminishing their weight
OF increasing the proportion of alloy in the same
as to prevent their expectation and that they leave
o report by bill or otherwise.
Mr.. Sweetser Directing, leave was not granted
The balance of the session spent in the discus
ion of contested election case from N Hampshire
FRIDAY, Jan. 10th.
SENATE.-Again the Senate was occupied chiefly
With private claims. Mr. Douglas, from the COM
nittee Territories reported bill to refund GER
ain expenses incurred by Oregon Territory in the
Cayuse Indian war and bill to make the bill crea
ing the Office of Surveyor General for Oregon and
or other purposes applicable to Utah Territory.
Mr. Cass submitted resolution directing an in
JURY by the committee Foreign Relations into the
9xpediency of compromising Benjamin Rusk for his
services as charge de afaires at London. Adopted
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIvEs.-TheH House was &C.
cupied with the contested election case from New
Hampshire, to the exclusion Of everything else.
SATURDAY, Jan. 18th.
Senate not in session.
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIvEs.--On motion of Mr.
Potter the House resolved itself into Committee of
the Whole on the State of the Union, and resumed
the consideration of the bill to reduce and modify the
rates of postage.
Mr.. Phelps spoke in favor of a postage of three
cents prepaid and five cents when not prepaid, on
single letter.
Mr.. Matteson advocated the circulation of papers
within forty miles of their place of publication free
ton of the franking privilege and would go for the
cheapest postage which he could obtain.
MIR. Durham was willing to vote for uniform I've
cent rate letters If this should succeed, still
further modification could be made. He, too, OPP
posed to the franking privilege.
Without voting on any of the numerous PROPOSE
tons pending, the committee rose and the House ad-
journed.
MONDAY, Jan 18th
SENATE.-Mr Cooper presented three petitions in
favor Of the repeal of the fugitive slave law. He
said the petitions did not represent the opinions of
the people of Pennsylvania. The great body of the
people of that State were in favor of sustaining the
compromise acts of the last session, and would stand
by them and carry them out in good faith.
Also petitions against the extension of the area of
slavery, and in favor of the modification of the tariff
of 1916.
After other petitions, &C.. the Senate took up the