Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-10
CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, APRIL s, 1852.
IN SENATE.

In SENATE
THE PRESIDENT of the Senate laid before the body
communication from the Secretary Of War, in compliance
with resolution Of the Senate calling for information In
relation to officers of the army contracting TO furnish sup
plies for the army
Committee the Judiciary and ordered to be printed
FLORIDA CLAIMS UNDER THE TREATY WITH
SPAIN OF 1919.
Mr.. MORTON presented the memorial OF Joseph NJ.
Hernandez in behalf the claimants to indemnity under
the ninth article Of the treaty with Spain OF 1879 asking
Congress authorize appeal to the Supreme Court Of
the United States make such provision for the set
ement Of their claims as shall be required by honor
tce and the principles OF equity.
GThe memoralist says it would be painful any ct-
zen of the United States who takes pride in the character
and honor of his country advert in detail the
of wrong and individual misery for which this
treaty stipulation designed to provide That it is
sufficient the present OCCASION to say that they
of 50 fragrant nature, wholly without excuse or pal
aon that the Government of the United States could
NOT without the greatest injustice, and total disregard
of all the precepts of morality and dictates of honor do
less than to indemnify to the uttermost farhing the
fortunate and innocent sufferers. The memoriais after
showing that had been pursued towards these
claimants further goes to that If the construction
which has been to the acts OF Congress IN relation
TO these claims be the If the District Judge
in passing upon them does exercise judicial power
If the Supreme Court cannot righuly examine these
judgments andf the Secretary of the Treasury purely
officer has the right to review the judgments
of the District Judge and reduce the amounts awarded
then Congress has omitted and neglected to fulfil the OBJ
legations imposed by the treaty. and has provided no
uprocess of law by which the validity and amount of
these claims can be lawfully established andthe unfortu
nate claimants left without remedy
CEDING PUBLIC LANDS TO THE STATES
Mr. BROOKE introduced bill to provide for the
sion of certain lands the States within which they lie
which read and referred to the Committee Public
Lands.
IThe st section of this bill provides that land offered for
sale for fifteen years prior the passage of the shall
be added the States in.which they e be held in
trust for purposes Of internal improvement and no other
purpose tckdeuer.
The I'd section provides said lands be at disposal
Of the Legislatures of said States the Commissioner of
General Land Office within ninety days from the passage
of the bill furnish the executives Of said Satesa list
lands coded designated by legal divisions and subdiy
sions
provides that shall prevent the opera
ton If act granting ernae sections for the benefit Of
therein named and to take effect from the pas
sage of the act
REPRESENTATION OF CALIFORNIA
The Senate proceeded the consideration of the
special order being the bill supplementary to An act
providing for the taking Of the seventh and subsequent
oft United States and to fix the number of
members of the House of Representatives and provide
for their future apporonment among the several States
approved 23d May, 1850.
The question pending being the amendment of Mr. |
BRADBURY to add the following section:
Sec And Dc further enacted That the State of Cali
forna be entitled to the number Of Representatives Con-
gress prescribed by the admitting said State into the
Union and this purpose the act Of May 49, $780,
vdng apporonment among the several States be
amended that the whole number shall be hundred
thirty four hundred and thirty until
apportionment under census.
To which Mr. DowSs had moved an amendment striking
out 234 and inserting 1885, the effect of which wsud be
to give Louisiana Representative for her fracto
Mr. CHASE addressed the Senate at some considerable
length against both propositions. |
Mr. BADGER of opinion that as the law stood
South Carolina entitled to member for her racton
and that California should retain her present representa-
ton inasmuch as the returns Of the enumeration from
that State were defective.
Mr.. GEYER sustained the amendment of Mr.. Bird
BURY.
Mr. DOWNS contended that it would not be safe to 20
estimates, and that California could only be entedto
representation from the returns.
The question then taken the amendment Of Nh.
Dowxs increase the representation 1885, and decided
in the negative. -
The question was then taken the amendment Of NJ
BRADBURY and decided in the affirmative, as folows
YEAS-Messrs Badger, Bell, Borland, Bradbury, Cfs
Chase Cooper, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Dodge Of Iowa. Da
las Fech Fish, Geyer, Gwin, Mallory Rhe, Rusk sewai
Shields, Sumner, Wade, Walker, Weller-25. III
NAYS-Messrs. Atchison, Brodhead DAVIS pawsa,
Downs, Hunter King, Mangum, Mason Mnier Mor'n'
Smith Spruance, Underwood, Upham-lo.
somewhat debate then enyied as to Whether
there would not have to be apporuonment if ne
whole number were increased 10 23L and whether
ratio would not tberebype fixed in~hch Messrs CHASE
RUsK DAWSON USDERw0Or ATCHIS0N, MASON,
and others nar,icipatrd. Adjourned