The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-28

Mr. GwIN submitted the following resolution:
R,solced That the President of the United States
be requested TO inform the Senate In what manner
the vesses of the navy are now employed, specify
ing the objects and operations OF each squadron,
and of single vessels special service; and also to
communicate to the Senate statement oil the iorce
of the navy available for immediate service.
Mr. MILLER thought the resolution had better
lie over one day; and it was laid over
THE BRIa eEHKRAL ARMSTRONG.
Mr.. JONES Submitted the following resolution,
which wa1 laid over:
Rssolred That the President of the Unit.i
States be requested 10 communicate to the Senate
if not incom patibe with the public interest, CO.
pies of all the correspondence which has taken
place, and documents that may have been collect
ed since the message OF the President OF the loih
December, lS45, (printed with Senate documents,
LIST session OF the 18th Congress, in volume 3,
No. ls,) In relation TO the claim OF the owners OF
the brig General Armstrong" against the gov
eminent Of Portugal; including all letters and pa
pers in the possession OF the Government material
10 full understanding Of the subject, and not here
tofore communicated to the Senate.
UNITED srArrs JUDICIAL ciscuIrs
MIR. GWIN submitted the following resolution,
which was agreed to: 49,. ..
Rssolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary
be instructed to inquire into the expediency Of so
recognizing the circuit courts Of the United States
as to include the States Of California, Texas Flor
ida, Iowa, and Wisconsin, within said circuits
THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION
MIR. w ELLEN, from toe seleCt APP
pointed yesterday, submitted the following resolu-
ton, which was agreed to:
Resolved, That the President Of the United States
be requested, if not incompatible with the public
interest to transmit to the Senate copies o-hrst,
q letter from Mr.. NJ. Gonzales de la Vega, Charge
d'Afaires of Mexico, to the Secretary Of State,
dated January, 1852; second, copy OF a letter from
the Mexican Minister to the Secretary OF State,
dated llth March, 1851, both upon the subject Of
the American and Mexican boundary commission.
APPEALS FROM UNITED STATES COURTS IN CALI
FoRNIA.
Mr.. GWIN submitted the following resolution,
which was agreed to-:
be instructed to inquire into the expediency Of
providing by law for appeals to the Supreme Court
OF the United States from the district courts Of
California in all cases involving amounts exceed
ing two thousand dollars.
REPEAL OF THE FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW.
MIR. SUMNER said he desired to offer resolu-
ton, which he gave notice he would call up at the
s,rliest possible moment, per haps TO- morrow dur
lag the morning hour, when he would throw him
self upon the indulgence OF the Senate TO De heard
its merits.
The resolution was read, as follows:
Rtso,ptd, That the Committee on the Judiciary
be requested 10 consid the expedency OF report,
ing a DILL for the immediate repeal Of the act OF
Congress approved September Is, 1850, usually
known as the Fugitive Slave act
MIR. MASON said: There arc but few acts which
I would not sooner permit or do than 10 deny in
diligence to any Senator. But if the Senator who
has offered this resolution, asks to- morrow, or al
any time during the session, for the lndul-
gence of the Senate to be heard upon it, Tor one
thall refuse. Sir, we have fixed day for the ad
iournmen,, which is at hand; the probability is that
the House will concur in it, and here, after eight
months Of the session have clapsed-withln thirty
days Of the adjournmsnt-th the Senator from Massa-
chusetts representing that State in part, asks the
Senate TO hear him upon question which all agree
involves the continuance Of the Union. and at a
time too when there can be no reply. For one,
shall refuse.
The CHAIR said that remarks were in order,
as the resolution was not under consideration.
ALTON, ILLINOIS.
On motion of Mr.. HAMLIN, the Senate proceeded
to consider the bill to constitute Alton, in the State
Of Illinois port of delivery; and it was ordered to
be cngrossed.
CANAL AT FALLs OF ST. MANY.
The Senate then proceeded to consider the bill
providing for the construction of ship canal
arc nd the falls of the ST. Mary, in Michigan.
The queston pending was on substitute for the
whole bill, authorizing the Secretary OF War to
contract with the owest bidder for the constr uction
OF tue ship canal provided the cost of the same
does not exceed 100000.
Mr.. TOUCEY expressed himself in favor OF the
bill; he regarded the work essentially necessary
for the national Gefences lie concluded his
marks by moving to add to the substitute the fol-
lowing additional secton:
SEGA ind bel further enacted, That the said
canal, with its appurtenances, when the same Ia
completed, shall be delivered over to the State OF
Michigan, 10 be kept in operation and repair, and
eubect to by all citizens Of the United States,
and such foreigners may be permitted to use
the same by authority OF Congress, up n the pay
ment of such tolls and charges only as shall in the
aggregate tie sufficient to defray the necessary
peises of the operation and repairs Of said canal
Propided That all boats and vessels belonging to,
or in the employment Of the United States shall at
all times be allowed to pass through said canal free
of all charges: Procided, also, That there shal! be
kept under the authority Of said Stale, an &C
curate account of the expenditures in the repairs
and the operating Of said canal; and also of all
receipts for tolls and charges, and sworn state
ment Of the same be returned TO the Secretary OF
War IN the month Of January in each year: And
propded further, That the work upon the said canal
shall not be commenced until said State, by act
of the Legislature thereof, shall agree to accept
the same, and shall make proper provision for the
alton, repair and operation thereof, 90 the
terms and conditions above specified.
MIR. BELL addressed the Senate in opposition to
the selection Of this particular work, from among
the many similar improvements in various sections
OF the country which were of equal national i'm
porance for the purpose of legislation, and leav-
ing the others altogether unprovIded for. He de-
MED that this canal, which was wholly within the
limits of one State, had any peculiar claims
more than canals and railroads, and other i'm
provements eisew here -; il was not more essential
to the wants OF commerce, to the protection oil lie
upon the western waters, or more necessary Tor
the national defence than many other improve
ments which had been neglected He did not con-
slider the defenccs of the lake region SO necessary
Of war Great Britain would make any strenuous
effort in that quarter against the vast American
population now inha biting the northern frontier.
Mr.. b. moved to lay the bill on the table.
Mr.. BUTLER hoped the motion would be with
drawn he desired the bill to be fully discussed on
it's merits.
Mr.. BELL Withdrew his mo ton, and moved that
II be postponed.
Mr.. SMITH defended the bill.
MIR. CASS said the fricnde OF the bill would show
the national importance Of this work.
The motion to postpone was then agreed to.
HEIRS JAMEs O.. WATSON.
Mr.. WADE moved to reconsider the vote by
which the House bill for the relief Of the legal rep
resentatives OF General James c. Watson was
passed yesterday by the Senate. He stated bis
desire was afford his colleague, who was absent,
an oppor tunity Of being heard on the bill.
Mr.. CHARLTON raised the point Of order that,
the Senator bad not voted with the majority, he
could not move to reconsider.
Mr. WADE said he had voted with the minority.
The CHAIR decided that the Senator could not
make the motion TO reconsider.
REcoNSoissAScE CHINA SEAS, ETC.
The Senate took up the bill authorizing on cx-
poraton and recon nossance OF the courses Of navi
cation in the regions Of Bbcring straits, China
seae, &c.
Mr.. SEWARD offered a substitute for the bill