The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-14

THURSDAY, May Is, 1852.

AAUA1DAr, may To- 1904.
Aftss the presentation of petitions.
On mction ofMr. GEYER, the Senate proceed
I'd 70 The consideration Of the bill declaring the as
vent Of Congress to the State Of Missouri, 70 i'm.
pose TAX on lands hereafter sold by the United
States therein, from and after the day OF sale,
when the same was ordered 70 be engrossed.
HOMESTEAD BILL.
A message was received from the House OF
Representatives, announcing the passage OF Inc
bill to encourage agriculture, manufactures ana
all other branches Of industry, by grantng to eve
ry man who Is the head Of q family, and citizen
OF the United States, = homestead OF one hundred
and sixty acres Of land out OF the public domain,
upon condition Of occupancy and cultivation Of
the same, for the period therein specified
The bill was read twice by unanimous consent
and referred to the Committee on Public Lands
c,HclnNArI AND ST. LOUIS RAILROAD.
Mr.. SHIELDS, agreeably to previous notice,
introduced bill granting land to the States of
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, TO aid in the construc-
,ion Of q railroad from Cincinnati to ST. Louis,
which was read twice and referred to the Com
mittee on Public Lands.
SURVEY roR CANAL BASIN.
On motion of Mr. PRATT the Senate took up
the bill directing survey and estimation of the
cost Of constructing a canal basin at the terminus
Of the Chesapeake and Ohio canal, IN George
town.
After considerable discussion, for and against
the bill, the yeas and nays were ordered and, on
motion. was ordered to engrossment-fe cas- 80
nays7.
THE DEFICIENCY BILL.
The speciai order-the bill to supply defcien-
cies in the appropriations for the service Of the
current focal year--being announced.
Mr. WALKER said the Senator from Arkan-
sas (Mr. BcRLAnpl was too unwell to proceed
with his remarks to-day, and desired that the
Collins amendment might be postponed
Mr.. HUNTER thought the Senate might, by
unanimous consent, let the amendment lie upon
the table, and proceed with other parts Of the bill
Mr.. GWlN was opposed to postponing the
amendment He thought they had better take
the vote upon it, and allow the Senator from Ar
kansas to finish his speech after the bill had been
reported to the Senate.
Mr.. CASS thought it was quite UNI sual to re-
fuse q courtesy of this kind. He preferred to let
The amend ment lie over and proceed with other
portions Of the bill !,
M. WALKER said that, in order to test the
question whether the Senate were disposed to ex-
tend this act Of courtesy to the Senator from Ar.
kansas, he would move to postpone the Dill untli
Tomorrow -,
After some further debate, the Collins amend
ment was informally passed over; and
Mr.. HOUSTON, by direction OF the Committee
an Finance. reported several additional amend
ments to the bill. MO ooo
the reoair Of a steamer which he said was neces
..rv r. order to enable the coast survey to COM
nIeie the survey Of Nantucket shoals II was
agreed to. ,nr.,;on &c
10000. TO enable the SecretTy Of the Interior
to investigate Ahe conduct of certain Indian agents
in California who, without authority of law,
have contracted heavy liabilities for supplies al
i.eed TO have been furnished to the Indians, &c
MIR. RUSK made few remarks IN opposition
to the amendment, and it was rejected.
The next amendment authorized the purchase
of site for a custom house at San francisco, and
was agreed to- x- ron :.
certain contingent expenses in the Post Office DE.
partment; al 900 for extra clerk hire IN the dead
letter office, and $3.50 for fuel used by that depart
ment, were agreed to.
Mr.. SEBASTIAN, from the Committee on
Indian Affairs. reported variety OF amendments,
anpropriating in all some $1,000, for expenses Of
treating with various tribes OF Indians, and for
carving into effect former treaties; which amend
ments were agreed to.
Mr.. RUSK, from the Committee on the Post
Office and Post Roads, renorted an amendment
appropriating the Of Sll 500 for the salaries
OF special agents of THAT department. winch
was agreed to-.
Mr.. HAMLIN submitted amendments appro-
priatine for the purchase Of site tor custom
house at Bangor, Maine, $4,000; also, for
another at Bath, Maine, Sll,UUVi whlch were
agreed to.
nriating Az, 900 for a naval depot at Key West,
Florida, which was agreed to.
Mr.. BELL offered an amendment appr!opratng
S355, 700 for the payment of certain citizens OF
Alabama, Georgia and Florida. for the depreda-
tons upon their property by the Creek Indians,
an animated and protracted dscusson-M essrs
RrLL. CLEMENS, Rusx, and DAWSON sustaining
the amendment, and Messrs. HUNTER, CAss and
HALE opposing it-pending which,