The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-02-07
Congress.

SENATE.-Mr Pratt presented memorial from
Baltimore, praying that all those engaged in the
war of 1912 be allowed one hundred and sixty
acres OF land.
Mr. Clay presented petitions from Pennsylvania,
praying modification OF the tariff OF 1916.
Mr. Hamlin presented petitions from Maine,
praying repeal of the Fugitive Slave Law, which
laid on the table.
Mr.. Hunter reported back the bill providing for
the appointment of inspectors at large.
Mr.. Walker offered resolution calling upon the
commissioner Of patents to report whether the pres
sent Patent Office building if the gallery Of Curl
osties were removed, would not be sufficient for
the wants of his office.
The resolution was amended by making the call
on the Secretary Of the Interior, and was 'then
adopted. ..-f
He also offered resolution inquirng why the
regents of the Smithsonian Institution have not
removed from the Patent Office building the ma
tional curiostes, etc. Laid over.
Mr.. Levin offered resolution, which was adop-
ted, calling for copies of all correspondence be-
tween the United States and Great Britain in rek-
ton to the seizure at Astoria, Oregon of a vessel
called the Albion.
Mr.. Hale offered resolution, which was adopted,
directing the Committee on the District of Colum.
bia to inquire if any persons or corporations IN this
District are exercising the powers of issuing bank
notes, and whether said notes are made payable in
any Thing else than gold silver; and said notes
are thus issued, by virtue of what law!
The resolution offered yesterday in regard to in
creasing the compensation of Judge Cranch, was
agreed to.
The Committee on Printing was allowed to en-
ploy clerk.
The Senate next took up the bill to ascertain
and settle private land claims in California.
Mr.. Berrien moved several verbal amendments
Mr.. Benton moved to amend the bill by striking
out that part of the 18th section which authorizes
the United States Judge after claim has been al
lowed, TO restrain by injunction the issuing of a
patent whenever any other party may come In and
claim better right and title. "
On these amendments long discussion took
place, and the amendments of Mr. Berrien were
agreed to, and the motion to strike out rejected
yeas 10, nays 81. Adjourned.
Householder the journal had been read, Mr..
Brown, of Mississippi, moved bill in amendment
TO the bill before the House relative to the settle
ment Of public lands, and granting the right pre-
empion TO persons settling on the same-under
certain restrictions.
Mr. Brown said, it was not the object of the bill
to provide a house for individuals which they might
sell, and thus meet the consequence of their own
imprudence but that persons who were not in a
condition to purchase and settle, should be allowed
TO obtain lands to certain extent. Wilderness
lands, he said, were worth nothing; and his pro-
position was to put occupants upon them.
The Government would, if the plan he proposed
were adopted, give away nothing, as the lands
would be improved for the mutual advantage
equally OF the public and the individual who might
improve them. The individual when put in pos
session Of lands would be expected to pay for them
when able, at the rate of dollar and quarter per
acre. The land thus obtained would be valued at
one hundred dollars, and the labor that would be
expended it would render it worth that at least
A motion was made to lay the bill on the table
which was negatived by vote OF 80 to IS and
that to refer the bill was carred-l21 to "a.
The House then went into Commi tee of the
Whole on the state of the Union, and the De-
fciency Bill again taken up, and a motion
granting to one of the clerks Of the Third Audi
tors Department sl700 having failed, Mr.. Bayly,
Of Virginia moved that it be fixed at Sl600-add-
ing dollar, to render the sum different from the
| amendment which was rejected yesterday and
read private letter from the Third Auditor, ex-
pressing the hope, that the committee would re-
verse its decision of yesterday, which fixed the
pay OF the clerks under the bill uniformly at $1,000
and urging the ability of Mr.. Kinds, the chic
clerk, as a reason why he should receive an add.
tional compensation.
Mr.. Dunham, of Indiana, considered the writing
and production OF the letter, as improper inter
ference with the proceedings of the House, Of
which Mr.. Bayly had received an extract. The
reading of the entire letter being called for by the
committee, it handed in and read at the Clerk s
desk.
The question was then taken, and carried on Mr.
Baylys motion-yeas 81, nays 49,
Mr.. Robinson, from Indiana then moved that
four other clerks be allowed $4 each, which was
also agreed to-yeas 81, nays 35
Various other items of the bill were taken up
among others the remuneration of the clerks in the
| Pension department, under the law of September
| last, and which passed, without any important
! amendments.
| Among the sums thus voted was S136624 fol
| the payment of Texas volunteers, such pay ant
| allowance to be in conformity with that received
| by troops in Mexico
A similar vote of $4,000 to meet expenses o
employing militia and volunteers in Florida, in
! 1919, also carried.
| An amendment introduced by one of tn,
members from Pennsylvania whose name we die
not ascertain, to increase the duties certain art
cles, among which were iron manufactures, and tc
| appoint appraisers.
An objection was made to the introduction o.
this amendment, on point of ordeI-when the
committee rose, reported progress, and the House
| adjourned.
In giving brief sketch of the proceedings of tht
House, the object is to give the mere substance
the debates; and it would extend the reports to to-
great length to mention the names Of the numer
| GUS speakers who address the House, when il
committee. There is no intention, however, o
exercising any partialty and accidentally
omitted Mr.. Robinson's name, of Indiana. yester
day, as moving resolution which produce debate
and also that of Mr.. McMullen, of Virginia, in re
ply to the observations made by Mr.. Dunham witt
reference to the employment of clerks by the Secre
tary of the Interior, and which, that gentleman
| contended, was not without the authority Of pre-
| cedent