The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-31
TIL = r VI r OF CO n @ n
SECOND sEssroH.
IN SENATE.

| SECOND o.a9uON.
IN SENATE.
| THuRsDAY, Jan. 80. 1851.
The PRESIDENT pro TEN laid befors tn
Senate, from the War Department, report from
Professor G. Elicit, In reference to the practca
bity Of deepening the mouths Of the Missis
sippl river 0 dered 70 be printed.
Petitions were presented by Messrs BADGER
HALE, SHIELDs, JOHN DAVIS, CLAY, DAYTON
and DAWSON.
| nRrORTs FROM COMMITTEES.
| Mr. SHIELDS made report In reference ia
repeating piatols for the army. Ordered to bs
printed.
Various reports on private cases were made
BY the same senator, aud by Messrs BALDwIr
and HALE.
On motion Of Mr. BORLAND, a memorial
| referred to the Printing Committee. on the sub.
jeet Of steam boilers and boiler explosions, was
ordered TO be printed.
On motion Of Mr.. EWING, the report OF
Nh. William Carey Jonss, late special agent TO
California. on the subject of California land H.
Ties, ~ derived from the Spanish and Mexican
| governments, &c, was ordered to be printed
Ar. BALDWIN reported bill 70 tho relief
of the heirs Of Herman Blennerhassett.
Mr. RUSK, from the Committee on Post OF
fccs and Post Roads, submitted Joint rcsolu-
ton concerning dead letters in the post Offices
OF California and Oregon, and for other pur-
poses.
He asked tho immediate consideration of the
resolution; the expense Of bringing the Inn
mense mnss OF dead letters in California 10
Washington, would be very great; the trans
portation Of the mails across the Isthmus alone,
being $4,000 year. The resolution, there
fore, proposes that dead letters in the California
and Oregon post Offices shall be sent opened
quarterly tn San Francisco, by the special agent
u the Department, under the direction OF the
Post Mater General. The letters containing
no yaluables shall be destroyed, and those con-
tanning money or valuables shall be returned to
the Department at Washington. The resolu-
ton also provides that the special agent for Cali
fornia shall have salary Of $4,000 year, and
o. per day travelling expenses; and that the
fiscal ysaE in California, Oregon, Utah, and New
Mexico, shall commence with the month of April
The resolution was ordered to a third reading
Tx AMfsTAD CASE.
Mr.. MASON offered resolution instructing
the Committee on Foreign Relations to inquire
INTO the expediency Of providing some indem-
nifty to the Spanish owners of the Spanish ship
Amistad, according to the Recommendation Of
the late President Polk. Mr.. NJ hoped the re-
solution would now be considered
Mr.. CHASE objected, and the resolution lies
over one day.
rHE RIVERS OF MISSISSIPPI
Mr. FOOTE introduced bill providing for
the Improvement of the navigation Of the Pearl
the Big Black, and Yazoo, and other rivers in
the State of Mississippi.
HuDsoN's BAY COMPANY.
Mr. GWlN submitted resolution asking of
the President for copy of all the official inter
national correspondence that may have taken
place; and such correspondence as may have oc-
Cured between our Government and the Hud-
sons Bay Company in reference to their pos
-essng rights Of landed Estates &c.. in the
Unit, st aes Territory Of Oregon, aud whether
any proposition of sale of said property has
been made by said company 10 this GVS4rn-
mcnt, and If 30, 10 communicate the same 10 tn.
Senate. The resolution was adopted.
SMITHSONIAN InsrIrnrIon.
Mr.. WALKERS resolution substanti l!y in
curing why the Regents OF the Smithsonian In
stitution have not relieved the Patent Office o
the musenm Of curiosities which occupies th,
upper story Of The patent building, was taken
Mr.. JEFFERSON DAVIS opposed tho rcso
luton. The management Of the Smithsonian
Institution was not a duty devoiving upon Con.
gross. Nor would il be fair 10 cucumber thu
Institution with the museum of the Exploring
Expedition.
Mr.. PEARCE sustained the views of Nr
DAVIS.
Mr.. FOOTE hoped tho resolution would be
laid upon the table.
Mr. WALKER contended that the upper
story OF the Patent Office was wanted for the
models or inventors, which were now piled W
like 90 many brush h~eps in the lower part Of
the building
Mr. DAVIS replied. when on motion Of Mr.
BADC Ka, the resolution was laid on tho table.
THE rAKtSY.
Mr.. HUNTER gave notice that he should
call mp the amendatory bill in relation TO the
tariff net Of leA6, Tomorrow.
DEFICIENCY.
The House bill providing for deficiencies in
the appropriations for the current year WAS read
and rc'errcd TO the Committee on Finance.
CALIFORNIA LAND TITLES.
The Senate nj one o'clock resumed the spe-
cial order Of the day. 10 wit The bill from the
Judiciary Committee, providing bonrd Of three
Commissioners for the assertsinmcnt and settle.
ment Of The land titles and land claims of Cali
fornia.
The pending amendment was that of Mr..
SovLE, accepted Ivy Mr.. Bssr,r. in lieu If one
he had proposed, the accepted proposition pro-
viding that twenty years possessory right OF
a tract Of land in California. shall te deemed
conclusive against all light or tile 10 the ssme
on the part of the United States.
Mr.. GWIN opposed the amendment The
priests remaining upon the Old missions, would
come IN for IN immense area Of tho most valua-
BILE lands Of California, by no other title than
that OF possession for twenty year
Mr.. Benton rod from Mexican decree 81
the snpreme government NJ 1893, s~culsrising
oil the ecclesiastical landed property In CAlifcr.
MIA, and sxpstriating and indsmnifying The
prirsts for saM property.
M~sasa- 0wis. DAwsoS. BasrcS, and CLAY
continued the di.cussion ill pact three O'Clock
Mr. Bssrm coat~ndIog fes the dxAsA al the old
settlera and Messrs. GwIs. DAwsos and Cay
strongly machining IN the side Of shs new ssst-
lers on the California iands
Nv. SOCLE rsxt seemed the Aco,. sw ON
his motion the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.