The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-29
THIRTY -FIR ST G. O n @ n r 8
SECOND SESSION
IN SENATE.


TUESDAY, Jan. %, 1851.
THE TARIFF OF 1876.
| Mr. HUNTER from the Finance Committee
reported bill to carry out the tariff net OF as
providing four general appraisers OF imports
and that goods imported shall be valued accord
| ing to their value at the port from which last
exported at the time Of such expectation
THE PATENT OFFICE.
| Mr.. WALKER during the business OF the
morning hour moved to inquire OF the Commits
sioner Of the Patent Office, il the whole of the
Patent Office building is not required for the
uses of the office, including the spacious room
ow occupied as a museum.
The resolution WIS adopted but reconsdered
at the instance Of Mr.. HUNTER, md amended so
as TO be addressed to the Secretary of the Inte-
ror.
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
Mr.. WALKER offered resolution, which
lies over one day, asking Of the Smithsonian
Regents why the act establishing the Smithson-
ian Institution has not been complied with, in
suitable provisions for the collection Of curosi-
ties and works of art.
A CASE OF SEIZURE.
Mr.. GWIN offered resolution asking Of the
President for the correspondence, IL any. be-
tween the United States and British authorities
sci in the waters OF Oregon, for violation of the
revenue Jaws. Adopted.
smSPLAsTERs.
Mr. HALL submitted a resolution, instruct
ing the Committee on the District Of Columbia
to inquire and report whether any persons or
| corporations in this District are exercising the
power OF issuing bank notes and whether such
| notes are payable in anything else than gold and
silver; and by what authority 10 law such notes
may be issued in this District
MR.. EWING moved to strike out the word
persons, so as to contine the inquiry to corpo-
rations.
MR. HALE explained that a gentleman from
Boston had shown him some paper money in
one dollar bills, promising redemption in Vir-
| ginia bank paper, where five dollars worth of
these dollar bills are presented. His object was
to inquire into the fact and the law for such
paper circulation
| The resolution was adopted
| THE U. s. NAVY.
| MR.. BADGER, from the Committee on Ma
val Affairs, to which had been referred the report
of the Secretary Of the Navy, and the proceed
ings Of the Naval Board OF Inquiry. appointed
by him, to consider upon such regulations for
the service as may be required to better its dis
cipline, and especi lily in reference to some sub.
stitute for nogging, which has been abolished
! by law, reported a bill entitled =
| A bill to enforce discipline, and to promote
good conduct in the naval service Of the United
States.
| MR.. BORI.AND'S motion for clerk to the
Committee on Printing, after some conversation
ON the subject between Messrs. WALKER, HALE.
HAMLiN and BAEGER. was adopted
The bill (an Arkansas billy to allow the U.
s. District Judge to appoint steamboat inspec.
| tors in certain eases; and
The bill to incorporate the Union Gas Light
Company of the District Of Columbia, were read
a third time and passed.
CALIFORNIA LAND TITLES.
The bill providing DO I'd of three Commits
sonprs, for the ascertainment and settlement oil!
California land claims and land titles, was re-
sumcd, as the specia! order of the day. The
question prevailing was the motion Of Mr.. Ben
Toy to strike out the proyiso to the 18th sec
ton. which proviso was rs follows:
PROVIDED al,rays, That il the title of the
claimant to such land, shall b. contested by any
other person, it shall and may be lawful for such
person to file petition in the District Court of
the United States, for the district in which the
lands are situated, plainly and distinctly setting
forth his title thereto and praying the court to
hear and determine the same, copy Of which
petition shall be served upon the adverse party
thirty days before the meeting Of the court to
which it is returnable, aud The subsequent pro-
ceedings thereon shall be the same as in other
evil cases.
Mr. BERRIEN offered several verbal amend.
mcnts to this proyiso, one of them changing it
so as to rcad-"a copy of which petition shall
be served upon the adverse party thirty days be-
FORE the time of hearing the same"
Mr.. BENTON, in the most emphatic manner
denounced the bill as a fragrant violation of the
Constitutions disregarding in to to the prin
ciple Of meum ard tuvm--as subjecting one
man to many trials at the same time--as Great
ing the greatest confusion. b. mixing up the
United States with interested parties--and as
the most abominabc specimen Of legislation
that had ever appeared in the civilized world
and rs calculated only TO brighten or to worry
by lawsuits the old settlers out of their prop
city.
Mr. BERRIEN sid, that if the rudcness
with which The Senator from Missouri had at
tackled this bill and the Senator reporting it af-
fordcd him any pleasure he was welcome to en-
Joy it. Mr.. BERRIEN should be extremely re-
uctant, from respect to himself and the Senate
to indulge in any such strain of remark He
had never w,rtonly i-;ured the feelings of any
man. He then decided to vindicate the
solidity, applicability and propriey of the bill.
A heightened del ate ensued. Messrs. EWING.
JOHN DAVIS II ale, BUrlE ,Gwf, and BENTON
participating in il. when the question on Mr.
BERRrENs amendment was taken, and it was
agreed TO-
The Gu stion then recurring on Mr.. BEsToHs
motion to strike out the proviso, the motion
failed--veas 10, nays 81.
Mr.. WALKER then moved another provso.
that in every case where patent shall be Is
sued, it shall only cover the REIMBURSEMENT OF
the title OF lhe United States
Pending this amendment, on motion the Sem
ate adjourned
HOUSE CT REPRESENTATIVES,.
TUESDAY, Jan. %, 1851.
Mr. STBLEY obtained leave to take up the
Senate bill reducing and defining the boundaries