The southern press., 1852-01-31
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
SENATE.


The PRESIDENT pro tenn. laid before the SEN
ate letter from the Treasurer ofthe United States,
communicating copies Of his accounts of REGENTS
and disbursements for the service ofthe Pose-otce
Department, for the year ending Both June, 1851;
which was read, and ordered to lie on the table.
STEAM LINE TO RIO JANEIRo
Mr.. PRATT presented the memorial Of Henry
Mankin, praying that the Postmaster General
NAV be authorized TO contract with him ana ms
associates, merchants residing IN Baltimore ana
Rio Janero, for the transportation OF the mall ia
steamers. from Baltimore and New York to st.
Thomas and Barbados, in the West indies, fara,
Pernambnco and Rio de Janeiro, IN Brazil, and
Monte Video, in Buenos Ayres which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Post Offices and Post-
roads.
MEXICAN INDEMNITY.
Mr.. HUNTER from the Committee on Finance,
N whom was referred the bill from the House,
ITO provide for carrying into execution, in further
part, the twelfth article of the treaty with Mexico,
concluded at Guadalupe Hidalgo," reported back
the same without amendment.
- ORANGE AND ALEXANDRIA RAILROAD COMPANY
Mr.. BRODHEAD, from the Committee on
Claims, to whom was referred the petition OF the
Orange and Alexandria railroad company, sub
mtted an adverse report, which was ordered 10
be printed.
DISCIPLINE IN THE NAVY.
r.
Affairs, reported amendment to the bill " to IN
force discipline and promote good conduct In the
naval service Of the United States" which was
ordered to be printed t..
ABUSES ON BOARD CALIFORNIA STEAMERS,
Mr. BRADBURY submitted resolution in
structing the Committee on Commerce TO inquire
whether any legislation is necessary to prevent
abuses in the conveyance of passengers by steam
boats from the Atlantic ports to those of CalIfor-
Mr.. BRADBURY said he had been requested 10
call the attention of the Senate to this subject. 1t
had been represented to him that those steamers
were in the habit of taking larger number OF
messengers than they could suitably accommodate,
and more than was consistent win safe1y; tnat
the supply of food was deficient both as to quantity
aud quality, and that the general treatment OF the
messengers was such that a large number had lost
ibeir lives in consequence, either during the pas
sage or Immediately after landing. lie believed
that committee with suitable powers OF investi.
cation would find that those abuses had parallel
only in the horrors OF the Hluu'e passage 1" TIC
African slave trade.
Mr.. GWIN said he was glad that the subject
had been brought up. He hoped the matter would
undergo thorough investigation, and that a biIl
would be reported and passed, imposing the Sc
yerest PENALTIES. He had no doubt that many
lives had been lost by those abuses.
The resolution was considered by unanimous
consent, and agreed to.
RELIEF OF THE CUBAN PRISONERS.
The bill from the House for the relief of Ameri-
can citizens lately imprisoned and pardoned by the
Queen of Spain, was read twice by unanimous
consent, and referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations.
APPOINTMENTS IN THE NAVY.
The resolution heretofore offered by Mr.. HALE,
directing an inquiry to be made as TO the eXpedi-
encv of making all appointments in the navy for
a limited term, was taken up and passed.
ADVERSE REPORTS.
Adverse reports were made upon the memorials
OF Charles H. Blood, Joseph Hill g. Sons, Jose
Baya, Phebe Glover, John III. Patterson, Samuel
M Bootes, Robert Pratt, George +. Paine ard
Polly Teal, Samuel Crapin, Hugh w. Dobbln,
heirs of Samuel Prioleau, Thomas Flanagan, Sa'
rah Bennett, A. J. Williamson.
The reports were seyerally concurred in by the
Senate. ...
PRIVATE BILLS
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration OF
priyate bills when the bills upon the calendar for
The relief of the following individuals were ordered
10 be engrossed for a third reading, viz Mary
w. Thompson, John T. Sullivan, Joseph Gideon,
John O. Means, George Poihdexter, VIM. Miller,
Ezra Williams.
Upon the bill for the relief Of Ira Day an ami
mated debate arose, in which the propriety Of al.
loving interest on claims Of several years stand
ing, generally, was fully discussed. A motion TO
strke out the clause allowing interest in the pres
ent case, from the fist of July, 1887, being re-
parded ns a test question: taken by yeas and
NAYS, and decided in the Acknowledgements H,nays
Is.
The further consideration Of the bill was post.
poned and
The Senate adjourned until Monday.