Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-01
CONGRESS.
in SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1851.

ton of land for the Pacific railroad which referred
the Committee on the Public Lands.
Mr. MASON. ask leave to present memorial OF the
trustees the Mercer Monument Association asking that the
monument ordered be erected the memory Of Gen Hugh
Mercer pursuance Of resolution Of Congress- may be
erected.
also present resolutions Of the Common Council OF Fred
ericksburg, Virginia. and memorial OF citizens OF na place.
in favor Of an appropriation for the erection Of monument TO
Gen. Hugh Mercer in pursuance OF resolution OF congress
These memorials are Of kindred character with pre-
sented days by my colleague and one y
the honorable Senator from Massachusetts, which was ex
planned by him 10 the Senate Congress- in the onth Of
April l777 directed that monument should be erected to
the memory of Gen. Warren at Boston, Massachusetts and
the memory Of Gen. Mercer a. fedencksourg' W.
gna but further steps were taken carry the resoutons
Of Congress into effect AT the present session OF the Gene
raj Assembly Of Virginia law has been passed incorporate
trustees by the title of the Trustees OF the Mercer Monument
Association in fredericksburg Virginia TO carry INTO efecf
the resolutions Of Congress passed in 77 an appopra-
ton shall be made by Congress for that purpose One
of the memorials which present submitted on the part
of that association II is accompanied by resolutions OF the
Common Council Of Fredericksburg and OF inhabitants o that
vicinity and ask that they may be referred to the Commit
tee on the Library.
They referred .
Mr. FOOTE from the Committee on Foreign Relations,
which referred the memorial OF Wm D. Porter ask
ing be reimbursed for certain expenses incurred by him n
bringing Amin Bey and su reported bill for the relief
Of Lieut. Com. VIM. D. Porter Of the United States navy
which was cad and passed to a second reading
MI. II,
to which was referred Senate bill $780, provide for the
vey Of public lands in California, the granting OF donation
privileges heon and for other purposes reported back the
same with sundry amendments
Mr.. BELL from the Committee Indian Affairs, to
which was referred the memorial of VIM Hart asking
neraiion for removing certain Indians, submitted report
which ordered 10 be printed accompanied by bill for
his relief; which read and passed to second residing
REDUCTION OF POSTAGE.
Mr.. RUsK, from the Committee the Post Office and
Post Roads, which referred House bill No. S5l,
duce and modify the rates of postage in the United States and
10 provide for coinage Of three pieces reported back
the with amendments.
Objection having been made, the bill lies
The following is the bill amended by the committee
AN ACT to reduce and modify the of postage the
United States, and provide for the coinage Of three
cent piece. .
Beenacte sc. That from and after the thirtieth day of
June, eighteen hundred and all letters carried in the
mail shall be charged with postage follows:
Upon each letter which the postage shall have been
paid weighing half ounce, three and for
each additional half ounce fraction Of half ounce, three
cents Upon each letter which the postage AL have
been prepaid weighing half FIVE cents and
for each additional half fraction of halt ounce five
Prorded That post Office in existence shall be
discontinued shall the mail service mail route in
any Of The States or Territories be or
in any dimnuon of the that may
suit from this y2nd provided further, That it shall be the
duty Of the Postmaster General to establish post Offices
and place the mail service mail established
that may hereafter be established in the
thous this act had not been passed find provided further
compensation
the allowed him for the year ending the 5oh June
1884, the Postmaster General shall be authorized make
such additional allowance he deem just and proper
not TO exceed the amount compensation for the ending
50th June, 1851.
See. >. Ind be ii further enacted That there shall be
charged upon each newspaper pamphlet periodical maga
Zine book and every other description Of printed matter
which shall be unconnected with manuscript written
natter and which may be lawful through the
mail of greater weight than and for
each additional ounce fraction Of Bound
books not weighing thirty ounces, shall be deemed mail
able under the provisions of this section Provdd
That delivered in the State Territory where
printed shall be chageabe with only half the foregoing
rates Prspded That in asceriainng the amount be
charged newspapers they shall be weighed when in dry
state
Sec s. 7ad be il further enacted That it shall be lawful
coin the mint Of the United States and its branches
piece of the denomination and legal value of three cents
threehundredhs Of dollar to be composed OF
silver and oneourth copper and to weigh twelve grains and
three-eghhs grain the said coin shall bear such
devices shall be conspcuousy different from those OF the
other silver co and Of the gold dollar but having the
and and that it shall be legal tender in payment OF
debts for all sums Of thirty cents and under.
duty t the Postmaster General provide and furnish all
deputy posmaser and other applying and paying
therefor suitable stamps of the denomination OF three cents
tofacate the prepayment Of the posases provided for in
this and any person who shall counterfeit alter forge
any letter stamps shall knowingly have in his possession
false forged, altered letter with intent to sell
or the genuine, shall be deemedto be guilty OF
felony punished by fine exceeding five hundred
dollars, by Imprisonment not exceeding hive years
Sec s. Ind Sc il further enacted That there is hereby
out OF any money treasury otherwise
appropriated the OF million five hundred thousand
dollars supply any deficiency that may arise in the Post
Ohice Department.
Sec g. iud be il further enacted That lists of letters
ainng uncaled for any post Office Tor the space OF six
weeks In any city, town, village where newspaper shall
be printed shall hereafter be published once only In news
paper which, being issued frequently any oher shall
have the largest circulation within the range OF delivery Of
said Office decided by the Postmaster General, under
such regulations shall be prescribed by him. charge not
exceeding one cent on each letter called for And the post
master al such Office is hereby directed post conspcu
place in his Office copy OF such list on the DAY or Gay
after the publication thereof Provided hovep, the pub
Usher paper herein specified shall refuse 10 publish the
designate other paper 10 which such list shall be pub
lished ~ ,
Sec l. qnd belt further enacted, That from and after the
passage this act all publishers of pamphlets, periodicals.
and newspapers shall be allowed to interchange
their publications reciprocaly, free Of postage rotade
That interchange shall be confined single copy OF
such publication: 7nd provided also, That said publishers
enclose their publication bills for subscription ereo
without any additional charge for postage.
Sec s. ind he ftsr enacted That t shall be the duty
OF all posmasiers all stamps attached to letters in
prepayment be dcsced passing through their
speciiye Offices such be directed by the
Postmaster General and any postmaster who shall fail per-
torn this duty shalt be hIed less than five more than
fifty dollars each case, the discretion OF the Postmaster
General.
VIRGINIA wooLLEN COMPANY.
Mr. DAVIS, Of Mississippi. | also, from the same com
miuee, which referred House bill No 25s for the
lief Of the Virginia Wooen Company report back the same
without amendment, and recommend It's passage
have been reques ed 10 ask the Senate consider that
bill at this ime is bill for the relief Of company tha,
contracted to furnish the army with woolen goods but fail
ing TO perf1m their contract, they charged certain
damages, and they ask that the retained
damages may be returned 10 them. there be any OBJ
lection, can state To the Senate why.
Tho,e no he - 4,