The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-10
PENSION CLAIMS.


next session.
PENSION CLAIMS.
Mr.. JONES, from the Committee on Pensions, to
whom had been referred the memorials of Messrs.
Blake. Boos, and James II. Robertson, asking pen
sions reported the back, and asked 10 be dis
charged from the further consideration of the same;
which was agreed 10.
Mr.. PHELPS, from the same committee, made
adverse reports on the petitions OF p. A. 5. Dear
born, Phube Morris, and others.
MRS. SARAH D, MACKAY.
Mr.. HALE, from the same committee, reported
back bill renewing for five years the pension OF
fifteen dollars month 10 Mrs. Sarah ID Mackay,
widow of Lieut. Mackay, OF the army.
Mr. H. said that Mrs. Mackay had received
pension for five years under the general law, but
that pension expired in lS4l. Since that period she
has mainly supported herself by her needle, but
lately this means OF support, owing TO her nearly
total blindness. had failed her, and she was to
be forced TO go to como poorhouse in Maryland,
unless this bill was passed
MIR. PEARCE said that the statement made by
The Senator from New Hampshire was, to his own
knowledge, perfectly correct. He earnestly hoped
the bill would be passed.
MIR. YULEE opposed the principle involved in
dent.
Mr. PEARCE rejoined; and the bill was then or
dered to be engrossed for third reading.
NAVIGATION OF THE LAwRENcE.
MIR. DOUGLAS moved, and, after some debate,
the Senate proceeded to the consideration of the
bill providing for the free navigation OF the st.
Lawrence river.
And then, on motion, the bill was postponed to,
and made the special order for, Tuesday, January
2oth.
BILL INTRODUCED.
Mr.. DODGE of Wisconsin, introduced bill to
amend the act entitled Gan act TO provide for the
punishment of offences committed in cutting, de-
stroying, or removing live oak or other timber or
trees reserved for naval purposes" approved
March I'd, 1881.
Mr.. BELL submitted the following resolution,
which was considered and agreed to:
Resolued, That the Committee on Finance be di-
rected 10 inquire into the expedency OF providing
by law for refunding the duties charged and paid
all merchandise, machinery, or other product
of the industry of citizens of the United States ship
ped from any port of the United States for Califor
MA and from any necessary cause reshipped on
board foreign vessel.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi, submitted the follow
ing resolution, which was considered and agreed to:
Resolved, That the Committee on Printing be in
structed to inquire into the propriety OF printing
three thousand extra copies of the appendix to the
report of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution,
thousand of which TO be for the benefit Of the
Smithsonian Institution.
Mr.. SOULE submitted the following resolution,
which was, on motion, referred to the Committee
the Judiciary
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior be,
and he is hereby, authorized and directed to settle
the claim for professional services set up against
the Government by Thomas J. Durant, late dis
trict attorney of the United States for the district
OF louisiana, upon the footing Of and in conformi
ty TO- the rule heretofore applied to the settlement
OF similar claims when presented by his predeces
sors in office for similar services.
Mr. PEARCE, by unanimous consent, intro
duced Joint resolution relinquishing to the State |
OF Maryland two OF the cannon captured by the |
brigade under the command of Brlgadier General |
Bennett Riley, at the battle of Contreras, in |
Mexico.
Mr.. P. said that unless some Senator desired a
reference of the joint resolution he would ask for
its consideration at this time. He had introduced
1t at the instance of General Riley who desired to
present 10 his State some present OF the kind. 1t
was we'll known that these cannon were captured
in of the most and gallant actions of the
war with Mexico. Congress had granted a similar
request in the of Col. Donlphan, who had pre-
scented to Missouri several cannon captured by
force under his command.
The Joint resolution was then read twice, and
was ordered to be engrossed for third reading.
UNITED STATES COURTS IN PENNSYLVANIA.
The bill to change the terms of the circuit courts
for the eastern and western districts of Pennsylva-
mia, yesterday ordered to be engrossed, was read
third time and passed.
NoTARlEs PUBLIC.
The bill to amend the act entitled "An act to
authorize noaries public to take and certify certain
oaths, aftlrmatiops, and Acknowledgements IN GER
tain cases," being put on its passage
Mr.. BERRIEN moved, and the further consid-
Grafton of the bill was postponed.
AccouSTs OF JOSEPH k. MANSFIELD.
The bill to authorize the settlement Of the
counts Of Joseph X. Mansfield, which was ordered
70 be engrossed for third reading at the last
sion, was read third time and passed
PRIVATE LAND CLAIMS IL CALIFORNIA.
The Senate resumed the consideration of the
bill to ascertain and settle private land claims in
California.
The question pending the following
amendment proposed by Mr. BENTON:
Strike out all after the word That, at the begin
ming of the frat line, and insert:
For the purpose Of ascertaining and settling the
private land claims in the State of California, re-
corder of land titles, learned in the law and skill
ed in the Spanish and English languages, shall be
appointed by the President, by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate, who shall collect and
keep all the public archives of California IN relation
TO land grants and also shall call in for record all
the evidences Of land titles in California and after
recording the same shall return the origDas to the
parties, except where forgery or stimulation shall
be suspected by the recorder and where there may
be written evidence extant of the original grant,
a written statement may be made OF the claim and
received for record stating all the circumstances in
relation thereto, and especially all that relates to
the fact of &C tual possession.
SEC 2. Ard be II further enacted That it shall be
the duty of all towns cities, villages, and puebos
and of all missions which have not been secularized
and of all individuals claiming lands in California
by virtue of any claim whatever, whether derived
from the Spanish, the Mexican, or the California
authorities before the conquest of California or by
any American officer since the conquest to present
due and public notification to that effect by the re-
corder.
SEC g. And be il further enacted, That on receiv
ing such evidences Of title the said recorder shall
cause the same TO be recorded in bound books, and
shall make out duplicate abstracts Of all claims,
classified according TO the authority from which
they Issued and retaining one abstract in his
office, shall transmit the. other 10 the Commis-
sioner Of the General Land Office, at Washington;
and il shall be the duty Of the recorder, in con-
junction with the district attorney of the United
States for the district in which the claim may lie,
20 examine the same, and If believed by them, or
either Of them, to be invalid for any cause il
shall be the duty Of the district attorney Issue
scue fdcids, stating the cause against the party in
possession, or claimant, requiring him TO appear in
the district court, and show cause why his claim
should not be held to be invalid, and his grant
cancelled and report Of all such decisions by the
recorder and district attorney, whether tor or
against the validity Of the claim. shall be made to
the Commissioner Of the General Land Office, to be
by him laid before the Secretary Of the Interior, to
be submitted 10 the Attorney General, who may
order a Scire fqcids in any Gaze in which he deems