The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-25
Il HIRTY-FI RST CON GRES
SECOND SESSION.
IN s f N ATE.

IN NATE,
TUESDAY, Jan. %, 1851.
The CHAIR laid before tho Senate several
papers from the Treasury and Navy Depart
ments. w
Petitions We're presented by Messrs BRAD
BURY, Downs, WALKER, Dickinson, SEWARD,
and others.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD presented potion from
the citizens Ct Georgetown praying, that in sup
plying Washington with water, the Potomac
river be stopped at the Great Falls, and that the
water be also introduced into Georgetown
Also, that more efficient police be provided for
the city Of Washington Referred to the Com
mittee on the District Of Columbia.
Alter some incidental business
| A bill for the relief of John B. Barton. and
the surviving children Of General William Bar
ton, was read third time and passed.
CALIFORNIA DRY DOCK.
The resolution was adopted, instructinr the
Committee on Naval Affairs to inquire if the law
Of last session, providing for a dry dock on the
Pacific coast, may not be SO amended az to &c.
cure considerable saving to the Treasury.
| THE PUBLIC LANDS.
MIR. BENION'S resolution, coming up, in
structing the Commute on Public Lands to INQUIRE
into the expediency of suspending the sale Of
\ TIC puOilC uOuldIu Oy AUCTION.
| Mr.. BENTON urged its adoption. He com.
planned that the public lands sold at auction
were monopoized by spectators in Mexican
war bounty land warrants, who, buying up large
patches OF these warrants, were thus enabled to
appropriate the most valuable tracts; while not
dollar was paid into the Treasury.
FRENCH sPoLIATioNs.
| The indemnify bill of five millions on nc
count of French spoilations, &C., was resumed
as the special order.
The question being upon agreeing to the
amendment in Committee of the Whole, silk.
ng out the illh section, which appropriates
$50 000tO carry the laws into effect, it was con-
Cured in, 30 to g.
| The object OF this amendment is to facilitate
the passage of the bill through the House, as
he appropriation can be supplied in the list
| Mr.. HAMLlN rose to correct telegraphic
export in the Northern papers, in which they at
'ributed to him the speech of Mr. HUNTER.
| Mr.. BORLAND moved to strike out that
lause in the bill which limits the indemnity to
Ne paid to FIVE millions. Ii the Government,
really owed larger debt, it was not exactly the
thing to 60 to compromising it to cents, more or
ess upon the dollar
Mr.. HALE spoke of an old man in New
Hampshire, aged ninety years, still waiting in
hone for this indemnity. He hoped the bill
would be pa sed If the senator from Arkansas
thought five millions too little, he could vote to
i'd something to it hereafter.
Mr.. BORLAND had been anxious to know
whether this bill was for payment of debt, OF
a mere gratuty. 1t was considered claim, and
the senator from New Hampshire had admitted
that this was but the entering wedge, for that
hereafter the claimants could come in for more.
when once the principle is established. But
where is to be the end of II!
Mr.. BRADBURY and Mr.. HALE explained
that this bill was in full discharge of the debt.
and that the creditors would not only be salts
| lied, but grafihed to get even this allowance.
Mr.. FOOTE, though he should vote against
the bill, was opposed to disturbing il us a com.
promise.
Mr.. BORLAND said il was a mere arbitrary
declaration that we will pay given amount.
Mr.. FOOTE meant the principle of couppro-
mise upon which the bill was drawn up.
The motion Of Mr.. BoRLAsp was rejected.
The question then being upon ordering the
bill to third reading, the yeas and navs were
ordered, and resulted 80 to 26 as follows:
YEAs--Messrs. Badger, Baldwin, Berren, Brad
bury, Clarke, Clay, Cooper, Davis Of Massa-
chusetts, Dawson, Dayton, Downs, Ewinp. Green.
Hale, HamIin, Miller, Morton, Pearce, Phelps,
Pratt, Seward, Shields, Smith, Soule Spruance,
Sturgeon, Underwood, Upham, Wales, Win
throp-30.
NAYs-Messrs. Atchison, Bell, Benton. Bor-
land, Butler, Csss, Chase, Clemens, DAVIS Of Mis-
sissippi, Dickinson, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Dodge
Of Iowa, Douglas, Fech, Foote, Hunter, Jones,
King, Mangum, Norris, Rhett, Rusk, Turney,
Walker, Whiicomb, Yulee-26.
And the Senate went into Executive Session
FRrDAY, Ian. "a. 1851.
Petitions were presented by Messrs. D,cx.s-
rSsoN, Donor, HuNrER, HAMLlN, SHIELDS, sew
Ard, CAss, STURGEON, JEFFERSON DAVIS, JoHs
DAVIS, and BERRiEN.
Sew, raj reports were made from committees upon
private cases.
On motion of MIR. HAMLIN, the Committee
on Printing were instructed TO inquire if further
legislation was necessary to the printing of
the census returns.
MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA RAILROAD
On motion Of Mr. SHIELDS, the bill was
taken up providing the right of way and a grant
Of public lands to the States of Louisiana and
Mississippi, TO aid in the construction ola railroad
from the city OF Jackson, in the State Of Missis-
| spp, to jacksonville, in the State Of Louisiana.
[rhe bill grants hundred feet each side Of the
road for the right Of waXand the alternate sec
uons OF the public lands 'or six sections deep on
each side Of the road--that is, one half the lands
of strip twelve miles wide the whole length Of
the road; for where the aternaies are disposed Of
other lands are TO be selected
MIR. UNDERWOOD proposed an amendment;
but at the instance Of Mr. Smith, the bill was laid
temporarily on the table, and
THE FRENCH sPoLATIon BILL,
of FIVE millions from the Treasury was then
taken up, and read third time and passed.
THE LAND GRANT BILL,
for the benefit Of the States of Mississippi and
Louisiana, was then resumed.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD then offered his amend
ment, providing precisely similar grants Of land
to the States Of Indiana and illinois, for railroad
from the Ohio river, opposite the city of Louisvil
le, across the States of Indiana and illinois tn the
mississippi river, opposite the city Of 81. Louis.
A desultory discussion followed upon the
amendment, and the original bill, involving also
the question Of the general policy Of disposing Of
the public lands.
Mr.. SHIELDS suggested that the Illinois road
should terminate opposite the mouth Of the Mis-
scuri river.
Mr.. CASS thought the bill had better be post
poned. II would take up the whole day.
Mr.. BRADBURY suggested il to be laid upon
the table.