The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-05
THlRTY-SECOND CONGRESS-.
THURsDAy, March 4, 1852.
SENATE.
FIRST SESSION..

Philadelphia, for the establishment of one in
New York.
STEAMERS FOR IRELAND.
Mr.. SHIELDS presented the memorial of VIM
Mccormick, and numerous other citizens of New
York, in favor OF law authorizing the Postmaster
General to contract with A. W. Thompson for the
transportation of the United States mails in steam
ere between New York and the western coast Of
Ireland.
MIR. ). alluded 10 the many advantages to be de-
rived from the establishment OF this line. In time
thirty six hours would be gained and the distance
would be over three hundred and fifty miles less
than the present route. The difficult navigation of
the channel would also be avoided. A line of rail-
road now extended from Galway to Dublin, and
telegraph fran Dublin TO England was now,
shortly would be, in operation One half Of the
letters carried from the United States to the Brit
ish Kingdom directed to parties in Ireland;
and one third Of all the letters sent TO Europe had
the same destination. He urged this subject upon
the attention of the Committee on Naval Affairs.
FALLS OF TIE ONO AND ST. MAIZE RIVER.
Mr.. WADE presented the joint resolutions oTthe
Legislature OF Ohio, urging the construction OF a
ship canal around the falls of the St. Ms,Ie.
Mr.. CHASE presented the memorial of over four
thousand citizens of the valley of the Mississippi
praying the construction Of new canal on the
north side OF the Ohio river, around the falls of
that rver near Louisville, Kentucky.
Mr.. SMITH salt thata bill had been repor tcdced-
ing to the State pl Michigan half million Of acres
OF the public lands TO aid in the construction OF
ship canal around the falls of the St Marie, he
gave notice that, when that bill came before the
Senate Tor action he would move TO amend il by
making money appropriation to execute the
work.
NATIONAL RAiLsoAD TO THE pAsIrIc.
MIR. GWlN presented the resolutions adopted by
The miners and settlers conventions held at sacra-
snento City, Cab tornia, urging the immediate con
structiuu Of railroad from the valley of the Mis-
sssippi to the Pacific also, the remvns 81 rance of
the same convention against the adoption OF w Init
neys scheme for the construction OF railroad to
The Pacihc. Also, the memorial, by committee
oi the same convention, asking the enactment Of
such laws, IN reference To the public domain in
California, will best each settler there
reasonable portion thereof. All of which were
referred.
PRoTEsr AGAISsT GovERSMESr AID FOR STEAM.
MIR. DAVIS presented the memorial of Enoch
Main and others, merchants Of Boston, signed also
by large number OF ship owners, masters. mer-
chants, and others, OF New York, praying that no
more lines of mail steamers may be established by
the aid OF the Government.
ORANGE AND ALEXANDRIA RAILROAD COMPANY.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD, In pursuance of noiUe, in
trdduced IA bill for the relief OF the orange and
Alexandria Railroad Company.
FLORIDA FLANK soAp.
MIR. MORTON introduced bill granting the
right Of way 10 the Pensacola and Navy Yard
Plank Road Company" which referred 10 the
Committee on Public Lands
PRIVATE LAND CLAIMS.
Mr.. GWlN introduced a bill to authorize the
payment by the surveyor general Of California for
she surveys which may be executed of any claims
which have been or may be presented 10 the board
OF land commissioners for adjudication under the
act of Congress approved March 3, 1851 " to ascer.
tain and settle the private land claims IN tue State
of California;" which read and referred to the
Committee ON Private Land Claims.
SAvy YARD At NEW ORLEANS.
Mr.. GWIN. from the Committee on Naval AZ
Tar rt..a hill
depot near the city OF New Orleans.
cArToRs OF THE PHILADELPHIA.
Dir. FISH, from the same committee, reported
bill for the relief Of the captors of the rigate Phia
delphia.
HEw YoRk NAVAL HOSPITAL GROUNDS.
Also, joint resolution providing for straighten
ing the eastern boundary line Of the naval hospital
lands at New York.
COMMITTEE CLERK.
Mr.. SHIELDS submitted resolution authorizing
the Committee Military Affairs to employ
clerk at the usual rate OF compensation which was
adopted
RELATIONS WITH JAPAN.
Mr.. GWIN submitted the following resolution,
which was considered and agreed to:
Rssoiued, That the President of the L nited States
be requested furnish the Senate II not in bis
opinion inconsistent with tho interests OF the Gov.
ernInent, copies Of all communications relative 10
The empire OF Japan that may be on file IN either
Of the Executive Departments particularly of the
instructions under which Commodore Blddle yIs-
ited Japan in lst6; his official report of that Welt;
the communication made by him TO the local
thorties in Jeddo bay, and a copy of d translation
Of a communication made To him on that occasion;
together with 90 much of a communication TO the
State Department from Alexander ii Everett then
Commissioner 10 China, relates TO that Japanese
doc umeut; alec, copies OF any other commuuica-
ton received, either directly indirectly, from the
Japanese authorities; aud such other information
that viii serve TO illustrate the existing relations
he nit
GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATIONS OF cAlFoRNIA.
Mr.. UwIN submitted the following resolution,
which agreed to
Rssoiued. That the Secretary Of the Treasury be
requested 10 communicate TO the Senate any report
made 10 the Treasury Department by any person
or persons employed by him IN the geological
plOratiOn Of California.
CoSTEACTs ASD cosTRsCToRs, ETC., roR CARRYING
the MAIL BrTwEES sew YORK ASD CALIFORNIA.
The following resolutions. submitted by Mr.
tLrSESs on the eth ulumo, were taken up, amend
cd, aud adopted, in the following form.
Resolved That the Secretary Of the Navy and Post
master General be requested to furnish Congress
With copies Of all the contracts originally made and
present existing for thetranspOrtaon Of the mails
between New York and California by steamships
On the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and all the in
formation they posscss la regard thereto; what
amount has been paid and 10 whom; what amount
u nov paid, and 10 whom, for the transit Oi the
mails across the lsthmus Of Panama. IN cOnucpiOn
with ssid steamship service; the grOss amount ~
money that has been paid under each service;
when such contracts commenced; in what sums,
and ~ what periods Of time paid, and 10 whom
each payment has been made; whether at such
periods a. eNpressCd under the terms Of said con-
traots, or otherwise; the amount u service rem
dercd, and by what vcssels; how often they arrive
and depart; what time has been, and is now, ocCu-
pied IN the carriage 81 the mails between s1id porte
whether all the vcsscl5 stipulated under said con.
tracts 90 be- built have been built or what por.
ton Oi them; whether II two or three Of the i've
ships contracted TO be built under said contracts
not built. but other vesscls engaged in in
dependent lines united with the vessels II the Gov
eminent contractofs thus forming one line-cach
II the partners, however, owning their own We.
tcs, and IN that particular answering The terms
Of the contract a. build yaid FIVE ships whether
other facilities exist for performing the same Or
similar service, and II other propositions have bccu
made, and upon what tefms, o. perform said ser
VICE and within what periods Of time; and whether
thc ships built or uscd by the contractors can nov
10 taken for The use Of the Government. and whe-
thct would be the iutcres, Of the Government ~
take them and pay iyr them at this time.
R'sortd That The Postmaster General bc re-
quostcd 60 communicate also the amount received
from postagcs by sai line Of steamers.
1HiRp HEADisG % = BILL.