The republic., 1851-01-31
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
THURSDAY. JAsuAar 20. 1851.
SENATE. s

THURSDAY, JAsuAny 20, 1851.
SENATE.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate communica-
ton from the War Department in response TO a
solution of the Senate Of the 25th inst. enclosing
report by Mr. Eilet, upon deepening the mouths OF
the Mississippi river, which Was read, laid on the
table. and ordered TO be printed
ssIrHsosIAs INSTITUTION FUND.
MIR EWING, from the Committee ON Finance.
reported bill amendatory of the act establishing
the Smithsonian Institution. The bill provides for
the payment into the treasury by the Regents Of the
Institution ofthe sum of $50, 900, which remains in
their hands, for the purpose Of adding to the per-
manent fund for the endowment OF the Institu-
ton.
DEAD LETTERS In cALIroRsIA AND OREGON.
Mr. RUSK, from the Committee on the Post Office
and Post Roads, reported joint resolution con-
cerning letters remaining in the post Offices in
California and Oregon. He explained that there
great number Of dead letters in the post Off
ces of California, and that under the present law
these letters very few of which Of any value,
were brought to the Department in Washington to
be opened and examined. They were brought here
by and greatly crowded the mail which came
across the isthmus of Panama. This joint resou-
ton provided that the dead letters of California and
Oregon should be opened and examined by the
postmaster at San Francisco, and special post
office agent All letters containing any thing OF
value to be sent on to the Office at Washing
ton, and all others destroyed The bill fixed the
salary of the special agent at $4,000 and travelling
expenses.
The joint resolution then considered, and
was ordered TO be engrossed and read third time.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
| Mr.. FoOTE introduced bill for improving the
navigation of the Pearl, Big Black Yazoo, and
other rivers in the State of Mississippi
| Mr.. BORLAND introduced bill for the relief of
| the heirs of VALERIE de Hauterieve.
MIR. BRIGHT introduced bill for the relief Of
Franklin Hardin.
THE "AMrsTAD CASE"
| MIR. MASON submitted the following resolution:
Resolped, That the Committee Foreign Re-
| lations be instructed to inquire into the pro-
priety of providing by law, pursuant to the
comnendation of President Polk in his message Of
December Z lS4I, for payment OF the claim there
mentioned as arising to certain Spanish claimants
| in the "Amistad case"
| Mr. CHASE objecting, the resolution was laid
| over.
Hupsoss BAY coMPAsY's POSSESSIONS.
Mr.. GWIN submitted the following resolution,
| which was agreed to-
Resolred, That the President be requested to COM
municatc to the Senate, if not incompatible with the
public interest copies of ofallcorrespondence between
this Government and the government of Great
| Britain, and between this Government and the
| Brtish Hudsons Bay company, relative to the pos
sessory rights OF said company in Oregon or TO the
| purchase Of said possessory rights by this Govern
inent; and whether any proposition has been made
| by said company to our Government to sell said
1 ppsocooOiJ
| the Senate copies thereof.
NOTICES OF BILLS.
! Mr.. FELCH gave notice of bill to regulate the
surveying and sale of islands belonging TO the
United States.
| Mr.. TURNEY give notice of a Joint resolution
! supplementary to the joint resolution approved
March 8, lS4S, entitled "a joint resolution express
sivc of the thanks of Congress to Major General
| Winfield Scott and the troops under his COM
inand."
DEFICIENCY
| The bill from the House of Representatives TO
supply deficiencies in the appropriations for the
service Of the fiscal year ending June 80, 1851,
was taken up and referred TO the Committee on
Finance.
NATIONAL MUSEUM IN THE PATENT OFFICE.
The following resolution, submitted by Mr..
WALKER some days since, was taken up:
Res0ired, That the Board Of Regents of the
Smithsonian Institution be directed to inform the
Senate why the sixth section of an entitled .'An
act to establish the Smithsonian Institution, for the
increase and diffusion Of knowledge among men,"
has not been complied with, by making suitable
rangements for the reception Of the "obects Of ar
named in said section.
| Messrs. DAVIS of Mississippi, PEARCE, and
FoOTE opposed the resolution; and MIR. WALKER
! replied. and then
MIR. BADGER moved, and it was laid on the Ia.
bic.
| CALIFORNIA PRIVATE LAND CLAIMS.
+, The Senate resumed the consideration Of the bill
TO ascertain and settle the private land claims in the
State OF California.
\ The llth section of the bill now reads:
"Aad be ii further enacted, That the commissioners
herein provided for, and the district and supreme
courts, in deciding on the validity of any claim
| brought before them under the provisions OF this
act, shall be governed by the treaty of Guadalupe
Hidalgo the law of nations, the laws, usages, and
| customs Of the government from which the claim
is derived the principles Of equity, and the deci-
sions OF the Supreme Court OF the United States
far as they applicable"
! The question pending was on adding to the sec
ton the following amendment proposed by Mr.
Benton, modified at the suggestion of Mr. SoULf:
"Prorided, That possession in good faith within
/ determined metes and boundaries, during twenty
years, shall be deemed prima facie evidence of a
| complete grant, even against the United States"
! Messrs. g WIN, DAWSON, and CLAY opposed
| the amendmentj and Mr.. BENTON supported it.
| Mr.. SOULE obtained the floor; and then, mo-
/ ton,
| The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
IMPRISONMENT BRITISH eEAMEN.
| MIR. GIDDINGS asked the unanimous consent of
! the House TO enable him to offer resolution--re
questing the President of tho United States if
sistent with the public interests, to communicate to
that body any correspondence which may have
taken place between Great Britain and this Go
vernment, respecting the imprisonment of British
seamen in ports of the United States.
| Objection was made; therefore the resolution was
not offered