The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-04
In CONGkESS OF THE U. STATES.



expenses OF the national aTmores, and oil the aud
appendages made and repaired heIeal during the year
ending June &c. $780, which was read and on motion BY
Ar. DAVIS, OF Mississippi, was ordered TO be printed
PETITION.
Mr.. DAVIS. Of Mississippi. presented the petition OF
A. williamson lieutenant in the army praying In
demny lor his baggage and eaupage lost by the destrue
lion OF transport vessel board OF which he was EN-
bafked In charge oil detachment OF recruits for the
army which was referred to the Committee Of claims
REPORT FROM COMMITTEE
Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi, from the Committee on
Military Affairs whom the subject was referred sub
mitted report accompanied by bill, lsenate 1922 10
found military asylum Tor the relief and support o. IN,
valid and disabled soldiers OF the army OF The United
States which read and passed TO secohd ieaahgi
and the report was ordered to be printed
aes4E H. .s 81. BILL INTRODUCED ON LEAVE.
Mr. DOWNS. by unanimous consent. obtained leave
TO bring in a bill (Senaie 303) granting the right OF way
And making grant OF ands TO the States OF Louisiana
and Mississippi in aid of the construction OF railroad
from vile. 10 the STATE OF Louisiana, Jacks
in the State Of Mississippi; which was read the first
and second times by unanimous consent, and referred 10
the Committee on Public Lands.
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.
The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution sub
mtted by Mr.. COOPER on the 9th ut. respecting the
quantity and value OF certain imports and exports, the
amount OF shipping and number OF en'graG's from
foreign countries during the last fiscal year, and,
ton by MIR. COOPER. IL was laid upon The table.
COMPILATION OF LAWS. ETC
The Senate proceeded to the consideration Of the fol-
lowing resolution, which was reported from the Commit
tee on Public Lands:
Rsoptd That The Secretary of the Interior be
prepared collection OF the general public Congress
and collection digest OF the official instructions which
have been issued from time TO time by the Secretary Of the
Treasury, the Secretary OF the Interior, and the Commits
soneI of the General Land Office, relative the public
pie and application 10 particular and individual cases.
ge,her with collection dses. of the official opinions OF
laws with reference to 10 e decisions d the soa s an sp
such laws; ana Of Tue laws ORDINANCES and regulations Of
phpp,t the Hmm bapa
CURED territory by seso SO lar as the same apply to the
Rssolued, That Secretary cause the gen
oral public acts OF Congress respecting the sale and
sition of the public lands together with The collection
digest prepared under the foregoing resolution TO be printed
Tor the use OF the Senate.
Mr.. WALKER. would inquire oil the of that
resolution We have moi already had publication
tanning most OF what is proposed 10 be prepared BY the
resolution Among the books that have received under
resolution OF Congress volume entitled " Land
Laws, and another containing instructions OF the Com
missoneis OF the General Land Office, together with
opinions OF the Attorneys General, coming down to late
period. What else 1t may be tue object OF the to
be can inform u.s. il il be necessary obtain anything IN
addition whether 1t is necessary 10 adopt resolution
% general terms as This now contains Il nigh be well,
perhaps call for compilation OF what referred 10 by
the resolution, from the time down which the publica-
ton that we already have comes.
4. Mr.. FELCH. Mr.. President, this resolution comes
from the Committee on Public Lands. in accordance with
9 resolution OF instruction passed by the Senate
tune since. In 10 the inquiry of the senator
from Wisconsin,, will inform him that The publication
10 which he refers IS publication made len years
ago, or htle more. Oh course, therefore, il made
before the passage OF many OF the important laws
bearing upon the subject OF the disposition OF the public
lands Ii also found that il is not convenient work
10 its arrangement embraces the laws, and also The in
srucons from the Land Department, together with some
opinions OF The Attorney General but that form
which was necessary for convenience OF reference and
tof proper understanding OF the which re
fers The importance OF this matter will be when
gentlemen reflect that In the decisions of the Supreme
Courta large portion OF their time has been consumed
upon examinations OF questions growing Of subject
OF the titles 10 The public lands and that they are under
the constant necessity OF reference to The department
ascertain the true foundation OF these TILES They have
10 ascertain IN the first place the laws the instruc
tlons oil the department. who have very full power upon
that subject; and then the opinions OF the Attorneys
General upon many OF the matters which have been pre-
sened to Them aid which have undergone their revis-
Ion 10 impossible, with the compilation which is
had, to accomplish this work and the consequence IT,
that members OF the Supreme Court are under the ne
cessiiy OF referring 10 the head OF the department. as
Ieer TO our committees tor similar purpose gel nor
manon. That information, | admit might be contained
in volumes which could bring down the decisions and
lished in the volumes which have already before u
but II is certain that these volumes are now out of print
o! nearly 60, and It is impossible to obtain them II
also equally certain that the compilation which we pro
pose will be much more convenient than that we now
have II il was deemed important ten years ago 10 make
compilation OF this kind-and it to have been
provided Tor in this same manner by the action of the
Senae-it is certainly much important obtain this
compilation at the present time The attention of one OF
tne committees OF The Senate called BY the Supreme
Court TO this matter as very important one and which
needed the attention OF Congress
me effect OF ms resolution will be this The Secretary
OF the Interior, who has charge OF the Land Department
Will provide such compilation is necessary TO accom-
pish the objects contemplated by the resolution and
having obtained those objects, the work will then he
printed Tor the OF the Senate II anything further
required, will OF course be subject TO the further order
OF The Senate. hope the Senate will adopt The resou
oon for think be devised to accomplish The
object 40 well as this.
There Is another consideration TO which wish 10 call
me attention OF the Senate since inquiry has been made
ABOUT H. which deserves consideration now, but which
dld not exist when the other publication was compiled
refer TO the case oil land titles California New Mex
lco, and Oregon Some time before the last session. the
Senate provided by resolution for compilation and publ.
cation OF the laws ordinances. regulations &c of the
Spansh and Mexican laws so far as they perained 10
the grants OF land in California That subject underwent
some discussion in the Senate. Ii deemed very
portsnt to obtain that compilation Indeed the question
s asked every day. What do know in relation TO the
titles in California THAT is, from an examination OF
their laws, and from practical knowledge of their sys-
tenn, Of their constructions, of their ordinances They
may be al the command of gentlemen who understand
the language in which they written and have pecu-
liar facilities OF them but, general thing,
we have nothing to which to apply TO obtain accurate
knowledge on this subject To meet this difficulty,
Ieeolnen was passed authorizing the Committee Pub
nc Lands 10 appoint an individual who should prepare
compilation That individual was accordingly appointed
and made progress in the preparation OF the work He
had nearly prepared his report to be presented to The SEN
ate when business called him else and before the