The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-21
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
SENATE.

MONUMENT TO GENERAL TAYLOR.
Mr.. EWING presented memorial Of large
number of American citizens, resident and sojourn
ing at Liverpool. England, praying that Congress
would take measures for the erection Of a monument
10 General Taylor.
FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
MIR. HAMLIN presented petition praying the
repeal of the Fugitive Slave law, which, on his
ton, was laid on the table.
EXTRA PRINTING DOCUMENTS.
Mr. DOWNS moved that FIVE thousand extra CO.
pies of the report Of the Bureau of Typographical
Engineers on the inundation Of the lower Mississippi
MIR. WALKER opposed the printing, and Mr..
EWING supported it, and upon division the mo-
ton was agreed to.
CLERKS, ETC, INDIAN BUREAU.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate a communica-
ton from the Department of the Interior enclosing
u statement of the clerks and other persons employ
ed in the Indian bureau.
PRIVATE LAND CLAIMS In CALIFORNIA.
Mr. BERRIEN, from the Committee on the Ju-
dietary, to whom had been referred the bill provd
ing for the ascertainment and settlement of private
land claims in California and several proposed
amendments reported the same back, with a sub
adopted in lieu of the whole bill He moved, and
the bill made the special order for Monday
next.
MARINE HOSPITALS.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate communica.
ton from the Secretary Of the Treasury transmit
ting in compliance with resolution Of the Senate
the report OF DR.. J. O. Edwards and Dr. G. b. Lor-
ing, who were appointed TO collect and report in
formation IN relation to marine hospitals
woRKs OF ALExANpER HAMILTON.
Mr.. PEARCE, from the Committee on the Ii
brary reported joint resolution providing for the
purchase of the works of the late Alexander Ham
ilton.
MIR. HALE asked that the joint resolution be
read second time, 30 as to enable him to offer
amendment.
Mr. CLAY objected; and the joint resolution took
1tQ N II - IN Tho ~
AMENDMENT OF THE RULES
MIR. BADGER, from the select committee to
whom had been reported certain resolutions pro-
posing amendments to the rules Of the Senate. re-
ported the same back as follows with a recommen-
dation that they be adopted
Resolved, That the 10th rule of the Senate be
amended by adding thereto the following words:
"And any motion may be withdrawn by the
mover at any time before a decision, amendment
ordering Of the yeas and nays, except motion
to reconsider, which shall not be Withdrawn with
out leave of the Senate"
Resoiced, That the following be added to the
rules of the Senate:
"a motion to take up bill, resolution, or other
subject, which shall have been ordered to lie the
any subject, and all questions to priority of bu
siness, shall be decided without debate"
The consideration Of the resolutions post
poned.
AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE.
Mr.. CLAY submitted the following resolution,
which read:
Resoloed That the Committee on Commerce be
instructed to inquire into the exPediency of max
ing cfIectual provisions by law to prevent the
employment of American vessels and American
seamen in the African slave trade, and especially
as to the e1pediency Of granting sea letters or
vessels clearing out Of the ports of the empire of
Brazil for the western coast of Africa.
MIR. CLAY asked the immediate consideration of
the resolution.
MIR. HALE objected; and the resolution was laid
AMERICAN MANUFACTURED STEEL.
Mr.. SEWARD, pursuant to notice, introduced
the following joint resolution, which read
twice and referred TO the Committee on Finance:
Resolved by the Senate and House Of Reresenta-
tires Of The United States Of america in Congress
sembled, That in making contracts for the benefit
of the United States, American manufactured steel
shall be, preferred to foreign manufactured steel
whenever it can be found Of as good quality and
as low price.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED.
On motion by MIR. GWIN,
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Department
Of War furnish the Senate with the copy Of report
of expedition from San Diego to the Colorado,
by Lieut.. Whipple, of the Corps of Typographical
Engineers.
On motion by Mr. JONES,
ResoUed, That the Committee on the Library be
instructed to inquire into the expediency of dis
tributing to the surveyors general, registers and
receivers of public moneys, Judges Of the United
States courts and Others the Biennial Registers not
disposed Of under the existing law.
On motion by Mr.. SEWARD,
RESOLVED, That the Committee on Military Affairs
be instructed to inquire into the expediency OF in
creasing the salary of the Professor of Drawing
the Military Academy at West Point.
DRY DOCK CALIFORNIA.
Mr.. EWING submitted the following resolution,
which was considered by unanimous consent and
agreed to-
Resored, That the Committee on Finance be in
structed to inquire whether the clause in the LIST
section Of the act Of September 2Sth, 1850 provid-
ing for the construction Of sectional or balance
floating dry dock, basin, and railway at such har-
Dor the Of the Pacific the Secretary of the
Navy may select, can be go amended and the place
modified as to save large amount OF public mo-
ney in the construction of the contemplated work,
without detracting from its utility.
Subsequently, the vote by which the resolution
was adopted was, on the motion of Mr.. GwIs,
considered, and then the resolution was laid
under the rules.
SLAVE TRADE.
MIR. HAMLIN moved that the correspondence
between the American minister at Brazil and the
State Department, relative to the African slave
trade, now lying on the table, be referred to the
Committee on Commerce. And the motion was
agreed to-
BILL INTRODUCED.
MIR. SEBASTIAN, pursuant to notice. asked and
obtained leave to introduce a bill to render more
eectual the jurisdiction of the circuit courts of the
United States.
REDUCTION POSTAGE.
The bill from the House to reduce and modify
the rates OF postage in the United States and to
provide for the coinage of a three-cent piece. was
taken up, ana referred TO the Committee on the
Post Office and Post Roads.
GENERAL ARMSTRONG.
MIR. CASS moved that the Senate proceed to the
consideration of the bill granting pension TO Gen.
eral Armstrong.
Mr.. HALE opposed the motion; he for TAX
ing up cases according to their order the cal
endar
And the question being taken, the motion was
disagreed to.
5PoLIATI0NS BY THE FRENCH.
The Senate then resumed the consideration of
the bill provide for ascertaining and settling the
claims of American citizens for spoliations COM
mtted by the French prior to 1900.
Mr.. HUNTER addressed the Senate in opposition
TO the bill. He said that of the select committee APP
pointed on this subject, he was the only one who
differed from the report Of the committee, and who
was opposed TO the bill.
He considered the grant of five millions, this
bill proposed, would carry with it acknowledge
ment by the United States of its liability for the
claims; to this he was opposed. The five millions,
il was well known, would not satisfy fully the
amount Of the claims which had been presented;