The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-10

SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, June 8. 1854

Tbs CHALK signed large number OF snFo"eo
bills.
M. DOUGLAS presented rsmonstrancs
against Whtney' Paci6c railway project.
Alsena memorial in favor of the assumption by
the general government Of State debts.
Mr.. DOUGLAS, in presenting the latter memo
rial. took occasion 10 express his unyieIding OPP
position to the object Of the petitioners
The memorials we're laid upon the table
aAiLRoAp AND TELEGRAPH TO SAN FRANCISCO.
Mr.. RUSK presented a memorial Of Ovid F.
johnson and associates, propo ing to construct
railroad and line Of tslegraphs from New Orleans
70 San Francisco, and TO carry the mails in four
horse coaches from the head of steamboat naviga-
ton on Red river via FL Paso and the river Gla
to San Fancisco which referred to the Com
mittee on Post Offices and Post Roads
REousrERISG VESSELS.
Mr.. HAMLlN, from the Committee on Com
merce, in pursuance of resolution referred to
that committee, reported bill authorizing the
Secretary of the Treasury to issue registers to
foreign built vessels, whenever they may have
been wrecked in the United States, and been pur-
chased aud repaired by American citizens under
certain instructions.
At the request of Mr.. H. the bill was considered
and ordered to be engrossed, and was subsequent
jy passed.
ADJOURNMENT or CONGRESS.
The resolution recently passed by the House of
Representatives, providing for tho termination OF
the present session Of Congress on the 10th Of
August next, was received from the House and
read.
Mr. HUNTER thought It would be better TO
let the resolution lie upon the table for the present
In the present backward state of the public bust
ness, he thought it premature 10 act upon resolu
ton of that kind.
The resolution was laid on the table.
HOUSE BILLS REFERRED.
The following bills from the House of Repre-
sentatives, were read twice and appropriately re-
ferred:
An act to run and establish boundary between
the State of Texas and the territories Of the Unit
ed States.
An act for the construction of a military road in
Oregon territory.
An act authorizing the legislative authorities Of
territories to control the appropriations made by
Congress for the support Of their respective gov
ernments.
An act making an appropriation for the compile
ton of public buildings in the territory of Min
nesota.
An act providing for the construction of roads
in the same territory.
TERRITORIAL SALARIES.
The Senate bill relating to the salaries Of Of
fcers Of the territories Of the United States, and
to repeal the proviso in the act making appropria
tons for the civil and diplomatic expenses of the
government for the year ending the 3Oth June,
1859, approved March Sd, 1851, was also received
from the House, with amendments
Mr.. UNDERWOOD moved that it be referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. CLEMENS hoped the amendment would
be concurred in, and the bill passed
Mr.. UNDERWOOD Withdrew his motion
the amendment was agreed to, and the bill passed
CHANGING A NAME.
On motion Of Mr.. DOUGLAS, the Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration of the House bill
changing the name OF the river est. Peters, to
Minnesota" when it was ordered to be en-
crossed.
HARBoR DEFENcgs
On motion of Mr.. GWlN, the Senate resumed
the consideration Of the joint resolution authorz
ing the completion of war steamer for harbor
defence.
Mr.. STOCKTON submitted a few remark upon
the importance of Immediately passing the rssolu-
ton. He thought it high time that the attention
of the Senate was called to this subjrct-the pro-
per defence of the country. He wished to have
this vessel built, and then he believed it would be
found to work SO admirably that similar vessels
would be constructed for all our harbors. He
did not design that this plan should supercede per-
manent Notifications, but it would be very i'm
porant auxiliary to that mode Of defence and
would possess many advantages over stationary
Notifications. The condition Of the national de-
fences was deplorable. If war should break out.
he believed that every city on our shores would be
heap Of smoking ruins in the space Of twenty
days. Pass this resolution and carry out the plan
proposed, aud he had no fears but that they could
against all the nations of the earth.
He would pass the resolution, then, first, be-
cause it essential for the proper defence of the
country; secondly, because Congress had passed
an act directing the steamer to be built thirdly,
because the contractor had performed his duty
with fidelity and ability, and had not been treated
with the respect which he deserved.
Mr.. HAMLIN regretted that the Senator from
New Jersey had called up the resolution at this
time. He had examined the subject to which it
.c.-x - tof
the Secretary of the Treasury relating to the sub
ject, to which he would like to call the attention
Of the Senate, but he had misaid it and would
like to have time to find it. He would concur with
the Senator from New Jersey most cordially, in
the adoIelon of any measures for the defence c f
the country which may be deemed necessary, if
economically but it occurred to him that there was
at least one serious objection to this measure. If
he wac not mistaken, this gentleman originally
made this proposition to construct steamer for
harbor defence, but after being called upon by the
department, he had not up to this hour furnished
any plan or description of plan Of the vessel
which he proposed to construct. And this money
which they were called upon to appropriate, was
TO be placed at his disposal to be used as he saw
fit, without knowing what sort of a vessel was to
be built. 1t did seem to him that before they
made any appropriation of that kind, the work
should be examined by some proper authority in
order that the best mode Of construction might
be adopted.
After some further debate in which Messrs.
UHDERwoop, HALE, GwIN and STocKToN partici-
pated, the further consideration o. the resolution
was postponed, and
On motion of Mr.. ATcHsoN the Senate pre-
ceeded to the consideration ofexecutive business,
After protracted session with closed doors the
Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE S.
WEDNESDAY, June 8, 1859
II. l. I.