The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-07
THIRTY-FIRsT CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, FEBRuAnr G. 1851.
SENATE.
SECOND sESsIo

| The CHAIR laid before the Senate a communica-
| ton from the Secretary OF the Navy, enclosing d
| report of an examination into the merits OF con
densers for supplying the boilers oil marine eng mes
with fresh water, required to be made by clause
| in the appropriation bill OF last session.
BOOKS AND DOCUMENTS FOR LIBERIA.
! The CHAIR laid before the Senate petition from
the Rev. X. Il. Gurley, praying donation to the
| government of Liberia OF such books ana pubhc
documents as have been from time to time printed
| by order of Congress-; which was referred TO the
| Committee the Library.
Mr.. SHIELDS offered the following resolution,
which was agreed TO:
Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed
to communicate to the Senate copies of Colonel
McCall's report TO the Secretary of War, dated
Santa Fe New Mexico, July 18th, $780, in rela-
ton TO the population, military resources &c, OF
New Mexico, the best mode Of supplying the troops
in service there, and the force necessary for the
protection Of the inhabitants.
DELAWARE HARBoRs.
Mr.. SPRUANCE submitted the following resolu-
ton, which agreed to:
Resolced, That the Secretary of War be required
to furnish the Senate with copy of any report in
reference TO the harbor of Newcastle and other har-
bors Of the Delaware, with estimates Tor the same,
and information in relation to any obligation on the
part of the United States to keep those harbors in
repair.
DRY DOCK OF THE PACIFIC.
Mr.. MASON, from the Committee on Naval AT
fairs, to whom had been referred resolution in
curing whether the law providing for the construc-
| ton of a sectional or balance dry dock on the
Pacific coast could not be amended so rs to save to
the G Government considerable amount OF money,
reported the same back adversely, and recon-
mended that the committee be discharged from the
further consideration of the subec and the report
OF the committee was concurred In.
BRANCH MINT IN CALIFORNIA.
Mr.. WIN gave notice of bill to establish
branch mint in California.
RAILROAD IN MISSOURI.
Mr.. ATCHISON moved, and the Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration OF the bill granting the
right of way and donation of the public lands to
the State of Missouri, to aid in the construction
of railroad from Hannibal to Saint Joseph's, in
that State.
MIR. SHIELDS proposed an amendment, making
a similar grant to Illinois for railroad in that
State, but, after some debate. Withdrew il. The
bill then reported to the Senate and ordered to
| be engrossed for third reading.
THE CHEAP POSTAGE
Mr. RUSK moved, and, after debate, the bill
from the House to reduce and modify the rates OF
postage on letters, and to provide for the coinage
| Of three-cent piece, was postponed to Monday
next, and made the special order for that day.
| MISSOURI AND THE TWO PER CENT FUND RESERVED
ON SALES OF THE PUBLIC LANDS.
MIR. BENTON moved, and the Senate proceeded
to the consideration of the bill to make good to the
State Of Missouri the two per centum OF the net
proceeds of the public lands, heretofore withheld
from that State.
The bill ia as follows:
BE it enacted, &c, That the two per cent. of the
proceeds of the lands sold by the United States
in the State of Missouri since the 9th day Of March,
1920, and reserved by the act approved on that
day, entitled can act to authorize the people OF
Missouri Territory to form q constitution and
State government, and for the admission OF such
State into the Union on an equal footing with
the original States and to prohibit slavery in GER
tain Territories for the making of a road or
roads, canal canals, leading to the said State be
and the same is hereby reinqushed to the said State
,ri la In hes "a
money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
PROVIDED, That the Legislature of said State shall
first pass act declaring their acceptance OF said
REIMBURSEMENT, and also relinquishing all claim on
Congress for the construction OF a road or canal
'sto'' the State; and, also, embracing provision,
to be unalterabe without the consent OF Congress,
that the whole of said two per cent. fund shall be
faithfully applied, under the direction OF the Legls
lature Of Missouri to the two railroads heretofore
chartered by the General Assembly of the State, to
WITT the Mississippi and Pacific railroad from st.
Louis the western boundary OF the State and from
Hannibal, on the Mississippi river, to ST. Joseph,
| on the Missouri.
SEC .. Ind be 1t further enacted, That the
amount of the said two per centum on the sales OF
public lands in the State of Missouri which have
accrued, shall accrue, before the thirtieth
day Of April, eighteen hundred and fifty one shall
be then paid to the State of Missouri, out of any
moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated;
| and the future accruements Of said fund shall be
paid quarter yearly to the State OF Missouri, out
/ Of any moneys not otherwise appropriated. The
Committee on Public Lands reported the following
| amendment to be added at the end Of the bill:
| esTo be faithfully applied by the Legislature OF
said State to roads, canals, and works of internal
Improvement within the limits of the same
| Dir. SHIELDS explained the causes inducing the
! committee to report this bill.
| Mr. CLAY eaid, that some days ago he had said
| that Missouri not the creditor of the United
States on account of this two per cent fund.- to the
! amount of single farthiDg. He now proposed to
prove this fact lie considered that every cent of
the two per cent fund reserved by The Government
| for the purpose of constructing a road to the
western States, had already been expended In the
| construction and continuation OF the road from
Cumberland in Maryland, to Vandalia, Illinois, at
| which place il was stopped, owing TO several
reasons. among others, that of tho difficulty be-
| tween Illinois and Missouri as to the terminus OF
the road; and this appropriation and application
of this fund had been made with the silent acqui-
cscence of Missouri and by the votes of her Repre-
sentatives in Congress. About seven hundred miles
of this Cumberland road had been erected and con.
tinued, at a cost to the Government of about
| & 500, 900, upon the pledge with the several
States that the Government was to be reimbursed
by this reserved of two per cent. upon the net
proceeds of the sales OF tho public lands within
| these States This two per cent fund has realized
| 10 the Government some 5 ,50oQ0O, leaving de-
felt of about s4,500,0 900 TO be supplied from this
| two per cent fund.
| He had contributed to some extent to the passage
of those bills which appropriated money to con-
struct and continue this road, on the ground that
the States had pledged this two per centum to the
reimbursement oil the Government; and nc now
felt called upon to resist any thing like viola
ton Of that pledge, and to show that the General
Government is not responsible to the extent OF a
dollar either to Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri
He read from the law by which five per centum of
the net proceeds of sales of the public lands, after de-
Quoting all expenses, &C., was to be reserved;
three ffths of which was 70 be applied under the
direction Of the State Legislature to the consruc-
ton of roads canals within the State, and two
fifths to be expended under the direction Of Con-
gress in the construction Of road to the State No
claim set up account Of the three per cent.
that the State had received. Congress not
bound to make any peculiar kind OF road but Con-
gress was to be the sole Judge Of the species of road
10 be made, and TO control the amount OF
money to be expended. The road to be con-
structcd without and not within the limits of Mis-
j souri,.
The whole amount reserved by the United States
on account Of this two per cent fund, not only OF
Missouri but aso of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, has
been expended specifically in the construction and
continuation Of the Cumberland road
The road had been McAdamized from Cumber-
land IN Wheeling and throuOh Ohio. and partiv