The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-18
THIRTY,SECOND CONGRESS.
TUESDAY,, August II, 1852.
SENATE T..
FIRST SESSION.

ton of the Senate calling for estimate OF the
survey Of certain islands on the coast oil Cahforhia
PAY OF woRKMES.
MIR. PRATT presen ted the memorial OF the work
ingmen and mechanics engaged on the public
buildings in Washington setting forth that all the
arguments advanced in favor of an increase of the
salary of clerks apply with far greater force to an
increase OF the pay gwen them.
ANNExArioN THE sAsDwiCH IsLANbs.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate the following
message from the President OF the United States:
TO the Senate of the United States:
have received a resolution oil your honorable
body OF the 9th instant, appearing to have been
adopted in open Legislative session, requesting
10 inform the Senate, if not Incompatible with the
public interests, whether any proposals have been
made by the King of the Sandwich Islands to trans
fer the sovereignty Of those islands to the United
States, and TO communicate to the Senate all the
official information on that subject III my posses
sion. In rcl ly ~ which, have TO stat: that OH ur
about the l2th day of June last RECEIVED similar
resolution from the SeEh,c, adopted in Executive
session, or cccrct session, to which ! returned an
answer, stating that in my opinion communi-
cation Of the information requested at that juno
ture would not comport with the public interest,
Nothing has since transpired to change my views
this subject; and ! therefore feel constrained
again to decline giving the information asked.
WILLARD FILLMORE.
WAsHiSGToN, August IA. 1852.
MIR. SEWARD said the message was in reply to
a resolution introd NC ed By him, and he moved ihat
it be referred, with tue following resolution. to the
Committee on Foreign Relations:
Resolved, That the President of the United States
be requested to send a Commissioner to the Sand
~ich Islands. who shall be instructed to inquire
into the expectancy of ustituing negotiations for
the acquisition Of those islands by the United
States.
resolution at this time.
Mr.. WELLER said that he offered the resolution
in Executive session, and, when it was answered,
had given notice that he would offer it in open
IL ,kat, rs.AI, Sk~
tor from New York had offered the one to which
this message was an answer. He desired to dis
cuss this matter, and wished the motion to refer
70 be laid over.
MIR. BADGER said he also sired 70 cav some
thing on the subject; and the melton TO refer was
therefore laid on the table.
Mr. SEWARD subsequently submitted his rcso
luton, WHEN il was laid over.
DEBT OF TEXAS.
MIR. PEARCE reported bill for the payment U:
ne creditors of Texas
1.-THE bill authorizes the Secretary OF the Trea.
sury, under the direction Of the PresideHt 10 have
prepared and issued certificates Of stock, redo
able at the pleasure OF the United States alter
twenty years, bearing interest at the rate Of three
per cent. from Janulry, 1851. payable semi- annu
ally; the whole amount vi said stock not to ex
coed eight millions three hundred and thirty thou,
sand dollars, and none to be issued for fractional
part OF q hundred dollars.
The Secretary Ia to ASCERTAIN, IN such mode as
may be prescribed By the President. which classes
ana to what amount Of the debt Of Texas ~ The
payment OF which principal and interest were
pledged the duti. On imposts; and when
cerained. is to adjust and pay the same with this
stock at lie par value, the parties to file full dis
charge, sc. Interest is to be included up to Janu
airy, 1851. Whenever there shaIl be more than zen
nlIions in the treasury the President ma, direct
the purchase Of said stock. All claims unier s 100
are 10 be paid in cash. II the claips exceed the
sum provided then it ID TO be d;stributed amongst
them No claim is to be received after April 1853
MIR. HUNTER ss'". he did no, concur with the
majority Of 'ne Committee in reporting this bill.
CLASSIFICATION OF CLERKS.
MIR. HUNTER, from the Committee on Finance.
reported the following resolution
ResolrGd, That the Secretary OF the Treasury, Of
; War, of the Navy. Of the Inferior and the Post.
master General, be directed to report to the Sen
number and classes of clerks which will be required
in each bureau division Of hi. Department. upon
the suppo9tion that they are to be organized
follows, that lie to say into four ciasses viz: No
/, into which no new appointment ia to be made
oiany person over eighteen years Of age and with
a salary OF $500 per annum. No 2, with a salary
each of 5 200. No. g. with salary each OF s 500;
new appointments in each Department in classes
two, three, ard four, to DC made from the class
Immediately below il in that Department, and the
members Of class No. l to receive five per cent; ad
ditional salaries to commence at the end of cac h
year OF additional servce; and the other classes to
receive three per cent. Of like additional salaries
for similar additional service. but none 10 re
eS.A
or than the grade above him. And no additional
salary to be given to any member of class No. 4
after his salary reaches $2.4OO. But the clerks in
each Department to be subject to removal by its
head
TIE NAMES, SALARIES, ETC, or PERsoNs EMPLOYEE
IN THE DEPARTMENTS.
MIR. BRIGHT submitted the following resolution,
which agreed to:
Resolred. That the Secretaries of State, Treasury
War Navy, and of the Interior, the Postmaster
General nd he be "A cfet t,,
communicate TO the Senate the names and com De u.
sation per annum of each Of the clerks employed
in each Of the several offices and bureaus under
their direction together with description Of the
services performed by each clerk, respectively, in
GLIDING any additional compensation allowed to
either for any purpose. And also the names and
compensation of each person employed extra
clerk. or employed in copying or other business,
for each OF the said Offices and bureaus.
THE sUPERINTENDING CLERK Of THE CENSUS
Mr.. BORLAND submitted the following rcsou
tion, which vas agreed to:
Resolved That the Secretary Of the interu, be
authorized to communicate a statement VI thr
of the expenses OF the vist to Europe OF the
experimenting clerk Of the census, to be made
out from the vout hcrs in the cese, in lieu Of the
rerbdtim copies Of the vouchers which were called
for in former resolution OF the Senate.
COAST OF CALIFORNIA.
MIR. GWlN submitted the following resolution,
= While n was greed to-
Resolved, That the Secretary Of the Treasury be
without
interfering with the regular progress Of the coast
survey, the reconnaissance OF the coast Of Cafor.
MA may be c1!tnded south to Cape ST. Lucas.
sAvLT STE, MARIE.
On motion Of Mr.. FELCH, the Senate proce, ded
TO the consideration Of the bill granting land TO
Michigan To aid in the construction Of ship canal
around the falls OF the Sault Ste Marie.
MI SMiiH opposed the grant OF land for this
work as useless. The constitution Of that State
lid not allow the incorporation of any company TO
construct this work. The lands now be ging to
shat State had remained for years unsoid, and II
the work was no, TO be constructed til the State
dcf''ed the money from the Gales Of the land now
granted, II would be a lcng while before il could
b" done. lie would support money appropria.
ton, the work to be constructed by the United
States. He could not comprehend the force of the
objections OF Senators who willing TO vote
land, but not willing to vote money Land wac
property, and money was nothing more.
MIR. BORLAND called attention to the fact that
year ago the Senator was a jealous supporter OF
"A bill granting land Tor this work.
Mr.. FELCH supported he bill He preferred
the money Appropriation, but as that had been &c
fused, he was for the land. The State would take
the land and do the best il could.
Mr. WALKER, by way Of accounting Tor ,h,
sudden change OF sentiment Of the Senator from