The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-20
THlRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
MosDAy, April 10, 1852.
SENATE.

other places in Pennsylvania, praying the abroga-
ton OF the contract system, and the establishment
OF a Government printing otice.
AID TO THE CoLLINs LINE.
Mr.. SUMNER presented the memorial Of citizens
of Massac husetts.
MIR SMITH the memorial of citizens of Stoning
ton. Connecticut; and
Elr. UNDERWOOD the memorial of citizens of
Louisville, Kentucky, ying that additional aid be
given by Congress to the Collins line of mail
steamers.
VIRGINIA BOUNTY LAND wARRANTs
MIR. HUNTER presented the report and resou-
tons OF the Legislature Of Virginia the subject
OF the Virginia military land warrants, and in
structing the Senators and Representatives from
that State to cndeayor TO obtain the passage OF "A
bill to provide for the issuing OF scrip to pay and
satisfy the outstanding military bounty land war
rants.
DEBT OF TEXAS.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD presented the memorial Of
n citizen of Kentucky, claiming TO be a creditor Of
the late Republic Of Texas, and complaining Of the
measures which have been adopted by that State
with regard to the payment of the debts due by the
late Republic
CHARTER OF wAsHISoToN CITY.
MIR. SHIELDS, from the Committee on the Dis
trict of Columbia, reported bill TO amend the
charter Of the city Of Washington
The first section provides that every free white
male citizen of the United States. (vagrants, pau
pers, ieions, and persons non con'pos mtntis cx
cepted,) Of the age of twenty, one years, who has
resided in the city of Washing ton one year Inme-
diately preceding the day of election and shall be
resident of the ward In which he shall offer to
vote, shall be entitled TO vote for all corporate
officers. The effect OF this section is TO abolish the
registry and to abolish the prepayment of all per-
sonal taxes, even that for school purposes, as at
present required.
person to vote be challenged, the oath of such per
con, made before any of the commissioners of
election that he is lawfully entitled 10 vote by the
provisions Of this act shall be suth lent evidence of
. Uf.fn. and hn Er.u n rlxrt
falsely, such person swearing shall be adjutged
guilty of wiltul perjury, and punished accordingly
Section three provides that the Mayor and City
Councils shall be empowered to declare such mu
ncipal officers elected within the several wards
they shall from time to time deem advisable
Section four makes any qualified ell. ctor eligible
TO the office OF Mayor, or any other elective Office
within the city
ARMS TO THE wAsHISGTos CITY SOLDIERS.
MIR. DAWSON presented the memorial of the of
fcers of the Boone Riflemen and the Washington
fagers. volunteer companies of Washington city
asking that the Secretary Of War be authorized to
supply them with arms.
RAILROADS IN CALIFORNIA.
Mr. q WIN gave notice that on TO morrow he
would introduce bills granting the right of way
through the public lands of the United States for
the construction of the following railroads III Cal
ifornia
From Benicia, via Sacramento city, Marysville,
and Shasta city, TO Shasta Bale city
From San Francisco to San Jose
From Sacramento city TO Nevada bay.
From Sacramento city, via Cooma, TO Placer
vile.
From Stockton to Moukolumna Hill
From Stockton TO Sonora.
From Stockton to Aqua Fria.
From Monterey, via San Juan, TO Aqua Fria.
From San Pedro TO Los Angeles.
From San Diego. via San Luis Rey, Los Angeles,
San Juan 10 San jose
From Los Angeles to Aqua Fra.
PUBLIC EXECUTIONS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
Mr.. BADGER, pursuant TO notice, introduced a
bill to prohibit public executions in the District Of
Columbia.
The bill provides that any person now under
sentence OF death, hereafter adjudged 10 suffer
death within the District OF Columbia, shall be
ccutcd within the walls OF some prison, within
the enc osure adjoining, aud not elsewhere. The
marshal, or one of his deputies, with such officers
of the prison, constables other peace officers as
the marshai may deem necessary and proper, TO
attend at such execution
1t provides also that the marshal or bis deputy
shall invite the district attorney and the counsel
the prisoner, two or more physicians, and twelve
respectable citizens, 10 be present, and shall nIso
allow any ministers of the gospel not more than
three IN number, and any Of the prisoners near
relatives, but no others in this act not mentioned;
and no pcrson whatever, under the ngc of twenty
one yCars, shall be allowed To attend at such exc
Cuiion.
MIR. RADGER said there we're peculiar reasons
why the bill should be passed possible.
6ee GRsn The T i'll ws s aud was ordered
TO be engrossed. Subsequently, it wns read a third
time ana passed.
SALARY OF JUDGE OF ORPHANS COURT.
MIR SHIELDS submitted the follow ing resolution;
which was considered and agreed to.
R,s0irod, That the Committee on the Judiciary
DC instructed TO inquire into tho crpedicncy Of
placing the compensation of the Judge of the or
phsn's court for the county Of Washin gton in the
District q Columbia upon an equality with that
Of The Judge Of the district court for said district
IMPROVEMENT or TBE NissIssIPPI
Mr.. GEYER gave notice Of bill to provide for
the improvement Of the navigation OF the Missis-
sppi river and the navigable waters leading into
the came.
srsvEy OF RIVERS ~ oRECos
Mr. GWiN submitted the following resolution;
" hich agreed TO:
Rssoived That the Secretary Of War cornmuni.
cate To the Senate a cory Of report ard survey
Oregon, made by Lieutenant williamson CAPTAIN
Typographical Engineers.
MAIL TO CHINA
Mr.. GWIN introduced a bill TO provide for
monthly mail from San Franci.co, California, via
the Sandwich Islands, TO Shanghai. China. Refer.
red 70 the Committee on the Post Office and Poet
Roads.
Inquiry RELATISG TO NhRISE HosPITALs
Mr.. HAMLlN submitted the following resolu.
ton; which was readnnd referred 70 the Commit.
tee on Commerce.
Rssoiusd, That tho Secretary Of the Treasury be.
ens be sincerely, directed 20 Cause such an inyes-
ugation "a he shall deem necessary TO astertain
u any OF the marine hospitals erected BY the
United States Government are uscd for any pur-
po.e other than for the relief If sick and dsabled
scamen and other pcrsons by law entitled 10 re-.
lief; and, If II shall be found that said hospitals
are used Tor any purpose except such a. specified
by Law, that the Secretary be directed 10 adoot
such rules az shall prevent said abuse.
FRENCH POPULATIONS.
The Senate then resumed the consideration Of
the French Spostion bill, which on Thursday last
had been ordered TO be engrossod for a third read
Jug.
be question being the passage Of the bill
Mr. RCSk soid he would have voted against the
biH, but bad paired oil with the Senator from Lou.
isiana, (Mr. SOuLE)
Mr. JONES, Of Iowa, said he had paired of with
the Senator from Maryland, (Mr. PRATT)
Mr.. BROOKE ssid he had made a similar
IsngcmeDt with The Senator from California (Mr
WytLER)
Mr.. MANGUM said he would vote for The bin
under Instructions.
The question was then taken, and the bill was
Pasecd-yeas 20 nays l3-as follows:
hEAs-Messrs. Badger, Berrien, Borlnnd.
bradbury, Clarke. Cooper, Davis Dawson. D1wns
flsh, Geyer, Halo, llamln, Jamcs. Msnpum'
Miller. Pearco, Scbastian, Seward, Shields smitb
Spruancc, Sumner, Underwood, Upham. and
Wade. f' '