The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-22
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, January 81, 1852.

After prayer and the reading Of the journal,
A message from the President Of the United
States was received, transmitting communca-
ton from the American Minister to France in re-
laton TO recent occurrences in that country which
On motion of Mr.. MANGUM was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be
printed.
Another message was received covering COM
munications from the War Department, trans.
hitting the proceedings Of the court martial in the
Case of General George Talcot, which was reterr-
ed and ordered to be printed. Also the report OF
the Bureau of Typographical Engineers, which
was duly referred and ordered to be printed-30U
copies for the use ofthe bureau.
MEXICAN CLAIMS.
Among the memorials presented were several,
by Mr.. Downs, asking for an inyestigion of the
action Of the Board of Commissioners on Mexi-
can claims.
\ Mr.. DOWNS moved their reference to select
committee of five, with power to send for persons
and papers.
Mr.. MANGUM moved their reference to the
Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr. DOWNS said that he had no objection to
their reference to that committee, except that the
subject was one which required thorough investi-
cation, which he thought could be. better given it
by a select committee.
Mr.. MANGUM thought that no senator should
be unwilling to trust the matter in the hands Of
the Committee on Foreign Relations, the chair
man OF which was prominent lawyer, the second
the lista candidate for President, and the other
members gentlemen of prominence in public af-
fairs He was entirely opposed to the appoint
me1t of select committees, except on rare occa-
slohs, as when the Union was in danger, for In
stance. The Senate rule had almost uniformly
been to submit business to the regular committees,
and he hoped it would not be departed from on a
mere question of a private claim.
Mr.. DOWNS intended no disrespect to the
Committee on Foreign Relations, by submitting
his motion. But their labors were so great in
other things, that he did not wish to impose this
subject upon them. The Senate had allowed the
appointment of select committee to consider the
subject of French spoliations.
Mr.. HALE desired that the petition might be
reed
A voice-It will take an hour.
Mr.. HALE wished to know whether any
corruption was alleged in iti There were a
great many persons dissatisfied now, in relation
to the decision of the late Board Of Commits
sioners on Mexican claims, and by multiplying
these commissions you only increase the number
Of persons to be dissatisfied. Ii these memorial
lists complain Of corruption, however, they are
not alone. Corruption is the history of the day.
When General Taylor came into office he proposed
to ferret it out, and bring back the country to it's
original purity. Butt the labor caused the old man 3
death. Mr.. HALE hoped the memorial might be
read in order to see whether it contained any
specifccharges.
Mr.. DOWNS said the Senator was mistaken if
he supposed the memoriasts charged corruption.
Their complaint is that the proceedings of the
Board Of Commissioners have not been made suf-
fcienty public, and that awards have been made
in some cases, and claims rejected in others,
without proper hearing. They wish the veil Of
secresy removed; and it was proper that COM
mttee should be appointed to ascertain whether
these complaints are well founded or not He
Mr.. ID. thought they had right to complain OF
the secresy which had been pursued. In all the
courts of the country right Of appeal and revi-
sion Is permitted. What would be said Of them
were the records of their proceedings to be kept
as a sealed book, and not open for the public eve
Mr.. MANGUM said he knew of no senator
who had yet opposed an investigation of this SUBJ
ject The whole question which he had raised
was to which committee it should be referred.
His motion to refer to the Committee on For
eign Affairs was then agreed to, IS to l..
communication from the Secretary of the
Treasury. transmitting a report relating TO the
steam marine of the United States, was received
and
On motion fMr. HAmLH, referred to the Com
mittee on Commerce.
On motion Of Mr. Downs, all the memorials be-
fore the Senate relating to Mexican csims, were
referred TO the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr.. HAMLlN, from the Committee on Com
merce, made written report upon memorials
from Charleston, S. C., from the Board Of Trade,
&c, recommending that the committee be dis
charged thereon, which was laid on the table and
ordered TO be printed.
Mr.. HAMLlN, from the same committee, re-
ported bill to annex the island Of Martinicus
(Me.) 10 the Waldoboro' collection district.
Mr.. SEWARD, from the same committee, re-
ported bill authorizing an exploration of the
China Seas, Behring's Straits, &c.
Mr.. FO0TE, Of Vermont, from the Committee
on Pensions, reported a bill for the relief Of VIM.
Miller
Mr.. SOULE, of Louisiana, reported bill ad-
hitting the brig Sylphe to register.
Mr.. BRADBURY, from the Committee on Ju-
dietary, reported the House bill, "authorizng the
payment OF interest to the State Of New Hamp-
shire, for advances made for the use and benefit
Of the United States in repelling invas onand sup
pressing instruction, at Indian Stream, in said
State, which was subsequently read third time
and passed.
A resolution explanatory Of the bounty land
law Of Sep %, 1850, was read a third time and
passed.
GENERAL ORDERS.
On motion Of Mr.. GwrS, the Senate passed over
the special order, and took up the general orders
as entered on the calendar.
A bill to extend the time for selecting public
lands granted to the State OF Wisconsin for salint
purposes--after being amended so as TO FIX on IN,
18th day Of January, lS54-was read third tint
and passed.
The following bills on the calendar were similar
ly disposed of:
Bill for the relief OF the widows and relatives o
certain officers and seamen Of the United States
brig Washington, who were lost overheard in
hurricane.
Bill to authorize the State Of Illinois 10 selec
the residue Of the lands to which she is entitled
under the act Of ID March, 1897, granting land tc
aid that State in opening canal TO connect tn,
waters Of the Illinois river with those of LAX,
Michigan. Brought in on leave, by Mr. Felch.
MIR. BADGER introduced, for future consider
alton, resolution to supply senators with tn,
same books as were furnished at the last session
A resolution was introduced and adopted, re-
questing the Secretary OF the Interior to commu
nicate the probable number Of pages, proportion
Of statistics, &c, which the census documents
when printed, will contain.
CONGRESSIONAL BINDING.
The Senate took up the joint resolution author.
izng the binding, under direction Of the Commit.
tee on Printing, of all such documents as do moi