Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-27
FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1852.
IN SENATE.

FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1852.
IN SENATE.
message was received from the President of the Unit
ed States, as follows
WASHINGTON, MARCH &c. 1862.
To the Senate and House Of Representatives Of The " States
AT the close of the commission to adudcate upon the
claims of citizens of the United States under the treaty of
Guadalupe Hdalgo, directed list to be made of papers
which had been presented that commission, and,
to the act Of Congress- approved Sd March, 1849
the papers themselves to be carefully arranged and de-
posted for safe keeping in the Department OF State
deemed all this necessary well for the interests Of the
claimants to the Government against fraudulent
claims which might be preferred hereafter few days
since surprised learn that Of these papers
had been auduleny distracted by one OF the claimants
and upon the being made known to me by the Secre
ary of State referred it to the Attorney General Tor
the purpose Of ascertaning what punishment could be
inflicted upon the person who had been guilty Of the
offence communicate to you his opinion and that
of the Attorney the United States for this District by
which you will perceive that is doubtful whether there
be any law for Furnishing the very grave offence OF frau
dueny absracting or mutiatng the papers and public
documents in the several Departments OF this Govern
1t appears to that the protection of the public
records ana papers requires that such acts should be
made penal and suitable punishment inflicted upon the
offender and therefore bring the subject your cons
deraton enable you upon it. should you
with me in this opinion. WILLARD FILLMORE
The opinion of the Attorney General was somewhat
length and the opinion Of the District Attorney, Mr.,
Fenda called for, while he arguing in court
also given The Reporter gives the following extract
| from the same
The District Attorney able discover any law
of Maryland in force this District any law of the
United States declaring such act to be arcen but that
according to series of decisions in England from 1910
1915, Indictment would lie for stealing many
pieces Of paper goods and chaels and it would be
sufficient if the value that of the smallest current coin
In that there probably among the papers blank
sheets the intrinsic Of the smallest coin of the
United States, and the sheets, written and unwritten
would be of greater value article Of sale to paper
makers Larceny Of property under the value Of FIVE
dollars punished here by fine and Imprisonment in the
county jail at the discretion of the court Some Of the
English held to be enough that the property stolen
should be Of value the though having none to the
rest of the world. In decided by the Supreme
Court Of New York. in 1870 it held that taking away
letter from another not larceny, the letter being
Of intrinsic value, mparting any property in pos
session Of the person from whom il taken The last
Of the English decided by the fifteen Judges in
lS45 From the English doctrine that IL is enough that
the papers stolen should be of value to theocn would
seem follow that such value ought to be the measure
of value to the jury and in the particular the value
Of the papers to the may be five dollars or more
II so, and if the English doctrine be maintained, the
punishment would be Imprisonment and labor the pen
Tertiary for period Of not less than nor more than
three years.
The PRESIDENT of the Senate laid before the body
communication from the Postmaster General made in
compliance with resolution calling for copies of all con
tracts originally made and present existing for trans
porting the mails between New York and California by
steamships which was referred to the Committee on tho
Post Office and Post Roads and ordered to be printed
CONTESTED SEAT IN THE SENATE
Mr.. MALLORY presented thirteen memorials from diff
ferent members Of the Legislature Of Florida, giving
their separate views and costendng that the rule has
prevailed without exception since the formation OF the
State Government that upon joint vote Of the two
houses Of the General Assembly majority Of all the
members elect has been required constitute election
and that in the election Of January 1851 the rule
regarded and the votes were cast with the under
standing that thirty votes necessary TO constitute
majority; that the practice Of voting blank adopted
for the convenience Of the clerks in making up their jour
nails and always prevailed in the General Assembly o.
that State with the knowledge that they would be counted
in the negative and the occasion given In
opposition the election Of Mr. Hulee These several
referred the select committee appointed BY
the Senate the subject Of the contested seat
/ Mr. sOULE introduced by unanimous consent, join
resolution provide for the production Of seeds required
for distribution at the Patent Office which read ant
| passed TO a second reading.
1.-THE resolution appropriates one thousand dollars
produce such improved seeds Of grain grass and vegeta
bes as may be wanted for distribution at the Paten
Office the TO be expended under the direction
Daniel Lee clerk Of the agricultural department Of III
Patent Once
Mr. HALE submitted the following resolution and aske
\ its immediate consideration
al Resored That the Committee on Public buildings be in
national painting q Washington Crossing the Delaware.
and causing the same 70 be placed the mansion Of the Pre-
Il
Mr.. RHETT l object TO H.
II Mr.. BADGER. It's mere resolution Of inquiry.
. Mr. RHEIT. withdraw the objection
q Mr. ADAMS object 70 expenditure Of the publ
e money for any such purpose
q The resolution was laid over under the rules
! BILL PASSED.
The bill 70 divide the State OF Ohio into two judcia
districts and TO provide for holding the district and
cult courts Of the United States therein was read hr
!, time and passed.
BILLS POSTPONED
The following bills severaly considered and pos
poned until Friday next
: The bin for the relief Of Thomas a. Lesrett
# The bill for the relief Of Ira Day, Of Vermont
On motion by Mr.. BRADBURY the Senate proceeded ,
consider The amendment Of the House
to the bin amendatory Of act entitled" An act "a prs
vide for holding the courts Of the United States IN
of the sickness other disability Of the judges az ii
District Courts approved July 20 1850 and concurrr
n therein.
e On motion by Mr.. UNDERWOOD, the Senate process
ed to consider the bill to provide for the unpaid claims
the officers Of the Virginia State and continental lines
= the revolutionary army.
i Mr.. UNDERWOOD explained the grounds on whic
n bill stood advocated after a