The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-30


they would not be satisfied with any bill; they pre-.
ferred 70 have no law at all ON the subject.
Mr hUSk earnestly urged the passage Of the
OIL as measure necessary to prevent the wanton
sacrifice Of human life.
MIR. STOCKTON opposed the BILL He thought
1t very doubtful whether Congress had any power
TO interfere in this manner with the business pur-
suits of private individuals. The rights and iiber
ties OF the citisen should be guar and protected
and the Government had no power to interiors
with his private pursuits. He considered that the
great lose of life steamboats, wa, mainly attri
butable to the recklessness OF the persons them
selves. Men would 80 on vessels known to be I'M
cafe in order TO save quarter dollar in pas
cage, And was the Government to interfere with
the liberties OF the citizen, in order to save the
lives OF persons who thus recklessly exposed themr
Mr. DOWNS thought the Senator'S argument
an extraordinary one. He thought that the most
unquestioned power OF Congress was the jurisdic-
ton over all SEAS bays, lakes and rivers, and the
power 70 punish murder committed upon them,
This bill was to punish murder, and to prevent it..
MIR. STOCKTON rejoined; and, in conclusion,
moved that the bill be laid on the table; which mo-
ton was rejected-yess 8, nays 43-as foilows:
YEAS.-Messrs. Bayard, Butler, Clemens, Hale,
NAYS essrs. Adams. Atchison, Badger,
Bell, Borland, Bradbury, Bright, Brooke, Cass,
Charlton, Chase, Clarke, Cooper, Davis, Dawson,
Dodge Of Wisconsin, Dodge Of Iowa, Douglas,
Jones of Iowa, Mangum, Mason, Merriwether,
Miller, Morton, Norris, Rusk, Shields, Smith,
Soui6, Spruance, Sumner Toucey Underwood,
Upham, Wade, Walker, and Weller-43
The House amendments were then agreed to.
APPEALS IN PATENT CASES.
The bill from the House in addition to the act to
promote the progress Of the useful arts was taken
up, read twice. and, on motion, considered.
Mr.. BADGER said that, owing to the continued
intirmity of Chief Justice Cranch, before whom
all appeals from the decisions OF the Commissioner
of Patents were to be tried, it was necessary to
confer that power on some one else. This bill was
to authorize the trial of such cases before the
sstant judges Of the circuit court OF this District
The bill was then passed.
THE ARMY BILL. ...-
On motion of MIR. HUNTER, the Senate pro.
ceedcd to consider the Army Appropriation bill.
Various amendments, reported by the Committees
OF Finance and Military Affairs, were considered
Mr.. SHIELDS moved to amend the bill by add
ing an appropriation Of $4,000, for the purpose
OF testing the adaptation OF cames to the transpor
tation service Of the army; and it was agreed to-
yeas rs, nays is.
Mr.. S. also submitted series of amend
ments authorizing certain allowances to be made
In the settlement OF the accounts of the States OF
Maine, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, North
Carolina, and Michigan. for moneys by them ex-
pended for military purposes in behalf of the
United States; and they were all agreed to.
An amendment appropriating $l0O,00o for
heavy gums and necessary equipments to be sent
to California, preparatory to the erection OF FORTH
cations there was debated and agreed to.
MIR. BORLAND moved an amendment appro-
Priating $780, 600 to enable the President to pur-
chase Doctor Morton's patent for his anHsthetic
sulphuric ether now used in the army and navy
for all surgical operations, &c.
This was debated for several hours, principally
upon the claims of Doctor Morton, DR.. Jackson,
and the heirs of DR.. Wells, as to who first discov.
cred this valuable agent. ...... .... .
Messrs. BORLAND, SHIELDS, BADGER,
CLEMENS, MALLORY, DOUGLAS, and WALK
Err supported the amendment and the claims OF
DR.. jackson. So. ....... .. ."
Messrs. SMITH and TOUCEY urged the post
ponement of this matter till an investigation could
be had, when they thought il would be manifest
that DR.. Wells made the discovery. %..'.
Mr.. BRADBURY defended DIR. Jackson.
MIR. sOULE supported the amendment, but did
not think Dr.. Jackson's claims thereby questioned
Messrs. SEWARD and MANG UNI opposed the
adoption Of the amendment at this time.
Mr.: HALE said he had been oredibly informed
that it could be proved that this discovery was not
made by either jackson, Morton, or Wells, but by
a physician in New York who was now dead. He
was for postponing the matter till next session.
The question was then taken, and an the amend
YEAS.---Messrs Borland, Brooke, Clemens,
Dodge Of Iowa, Douglas, Gwin, Houston, James,
Jones of Iowa, Mallory, Morton, Shields, souie
Stockton, Sumner, Walker, and Weller-l1.
NAYs.-Messrs. Bradbury, Bright. Brodhead,
Cass, Charlton, Chase, Clarke, Dawson, Downs,
Fetch, Foot, Geyer, Hamlin, Hunter, King, Man
gum, Merriwether, Miller, Norris, Pearce, Pratt,
Upham, and Wade-2S.
Mr.. BAYARD moved an amendment appro-
prating $2OO,OOO for the construction of Fort
Delaware, which was supported by Messrs. BAY.
ARD and STOCKTON, and agreed to-yeas 10,
nays l6:
The bill was then reported to the Senate; and all
the amendments were concurred in save the last,
which was rejected-yeas Fl, nays 25.
Mr.. DOWNS moved amendment appropr- |
atng $4,000 for the continuation OF the survey
Of the Delta of the Mississippi, which, after de-
bate. was agreed to-yeas %, nays 10.
The bill was then read u third time and passed. |
THE CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC BILL. |
message was received from the House stating |
hat all the Senate amendments to the Civil and |
Diplomatic Appropriation bill had been rejected.
On motion OF Mr.. HUNTER, the Senate insisted |
m its amendments; and Messrs. HUNTER, We'll
Err, and UNpERwooD were appointed Commit |
ee OF Conference. |
LAND FOR RAILROADS. |
The bill from the House granting land to Ar |
"a nsas and Missouri to aid in the construction of
er lain railroads in those States, was taken from |
he table and read first time. |
Mr.. BORLAND asked that it be read q second |
Mr. FISH objected.
Mr.. F. then moved that the Senate take up |
he House bill granting land to all the States for |
purposes of internal improvements, education,
&C.; and the motion was disagreed to-yeas %,
23-os follows: u.
YEAS.-Messrs. Brooke, Clarke, Davis, Daw-
on, DoWns, FISH, FOOT, I1ale, Jamesp Jones VI |
owa, Mallory. Mangum, Miller. Morton, Pratt.
eward, Smith, Spruance, Stockton, Underwood,
Y ade, and Weer-22. II .-... .a.
NAYS.-Messrs Badger, Bradbury, Bright, |
'rodhead, Charlton, Chase, Desaussure, Dodge of
owa, Felch, Gwin, Hamlin, Houston, Hunter,
King, Mason, Merriwether, Norris, Rusk, Shields,
'ouie, Sumner, Toucey, and Walker-23.
OFFICE APPROPRIATION BILL.
On motion of Mr.. HUNTER, the Senate proc eed
ID to consider the bill making appropriations for
he service Of the Post Office Department
Several amendments we're agreed to.
Mr.. RUSK moved an amendment TO authorize |
he Postmaster General to contract with the Ocean
steam Navigation Company for additional trip |
10 Bremen and an additional trip to Havre, at the |
ame price per trip as now allowed; also to con.
ract for change of the terminus Of the Havre line
rom Havre to Antwerp. Agreed to.
THE WHEELING BRIDGE. |
Mr. BADGE Err moved to amend the bill by add |
ng thereto the provisions Of the House bill declar-
ng the Wheeling bridge to be lawful structure.
Messre. BADGER, MASON and WELLER sup
ported the amendment; and Messrs. BRODHEAD, |
CAASE, TOUCEY and BRADBURY opposed il.
1t was then agreed to-yeas 80, nays 10 as fol-
ows:
YEAS Mcssrs. Badger. Bayard. Bell. Borland, !
Brooke, Charlton. Clarke. Davis. Dawson. Dodge |