Weekly national intelligencer., 1852-06-19
MONDAY, JUNE IA, 1852.
IN SENATE.

In cENAIE.
The PRESIDENT Of the Senate laid before the body the
following communication from the Treasury Department.
which read referred the Committee on Commerce
and ordered to be printed:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT. JUNE IL, 1852.
SIR In reply to the resolution of the Senate of the
10th Instant calling upon this Department report
"upsn the practicabty, utility, and probable cost of
ship canal across the peninsula of Florida and also to
communicate such information the Department may be
in possession of In relation the navigation of the straits
OF Florida the losses accrung thereon and the dangers
and difficulties incident thereto have the honor state
that the Department possesses information to the
practicabhy probable cost of ship canal the
peninsua Of Fl rida nor has it any officers at its COM
mand capable Of making the needu surveys estimates
in order ascertain those facts and only add that
from general and unofficial Information the subject IL
believes the plan would be practicable and at
able expense in comparison with the great advantages
which would result from such work.
The Department cannot arrive at the correct amount of
the commerce of the straits of Florida it would be i'm
possible to ascertain the value of the immense shipments
coastwse to New Orleans for the supply Of the States
bordering the Mississippi and its tributaries besides
those TO the ports of Florda Alabama and Texas but
from the best data in possession of the Department is
Gulf inward and outward foreign and domestic exceeds
two hundred and fifty millions Of dollars per annum be-
sdes that of the Mexican and other foreign ports
the Gulf
All the above commerce has to encounter the dangerous
navigation of the Florida coasts and its numerous
reefs and all the inward portion Of it the Gulf ports
CATION OF the Bahama Banks difference Of insurance
on the above Of only oneha Of per cent by
O ship canal through Florida would be annual saving
of million and quarter OF dollars and still larger
amount would be economical in the expenses Of the
ses and consequent reductions in the rate Of freight by
shortening the voyage as would be the case BY route
through such canal q s t3., t- ,t.s.
Asreeards the difficulties and dangers incident the
present route navigation the ports of the Gulf il will
probably be sufficient the single that the rate
of insurance from New York 70 New Orleans is equal to
that from New York to China 49, s
The losses on the Of the Gulf by marine dis
asters proporonaby very heavy but the Department
has means Of ascertainng even approximation to
the correct amount. ~ .,se
All which is respectfully submitted
VIM. L. HODGE,
Acting Secretary Of the Treasury.
Hon. wnLrax 4. KrSo,
President pro tenn cfhe Senate.
INCREASE OF COMPENSATION.
Mr. BRIGHT introduced bill to increase the compen-
vide for the appointment Of the by and with the sd
vice and Of the Senate which read and
fered to the Committee the Post Office and Post Roads
This bill increases the compensation Of each five hun
CATLIN's PAINTINGS.
The resolution submitted by Mr. SEWARD in relation to
the purchase Of Catns gallery of Indian portraits
modified 90 as to read:
e.orsd That seIec committee TO consist Of three mem
bes appointed by the President Of the Senate to inquire
into the expedsncy Of purchasing Mr. George casns col
being sold and lost to the country.
The resolution was agreed to, and Messrs. SEWARD,
GwfT, and USpERwoop were accordingly appointed by
the chair.
: On motion BY Mr. HALL 1t was ordered that mes
sage be the House Of Representatives requesting
thereurn the Senate Of the bill to amend an act en-
titled San promote the progress Of the useful arts
and repeal all acts and parts Of acts heretofore made
for that purpose approved 4h july 1886 and also mn
Act TO provide additional examiners in the Patent Office
and for other purposes approved May ~, lS4s
REMEDY TO PATENTEEs
The bill giving further remedy to paentees was taken
up ON motion OF Mr.. UNDERWOOD, and after long de-
bste, in which Messr. UNDERWOOD, MILLER, Sc.
WARD, BRADBURY, and TOUCEY advocated the bill
and Messrs. BOkbAND, BAYARD, BUTLER, HUNTER,
FELCH, and GEYER opposed it,
Motions were nnde to rccommit It to the Committee
thePatent Office, and to the Committee on the judiciary
both Of which failed. -
Mr. BORLAND then moved that the Senate adjourn
which motion agreed to- Ayes 13, 4 No quorum
present. Q N4AA
And the SENSE adjourned r
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. MOORE of Louisiana, asked the unanimous con.
sent Of the House TO make personal explanation.
There being no objection kas.4s,.s !. lt.
Mr. MOORE said that in the course Of the speech made
by the eentleman from North Carolina Mr.. SrAsLY on
Saturday, that gentleman adverted to certain mcet
inrs held in this city by those who withdrew from the
ceIsbrxtsd Whg cauSus At the Same time the gentle
man aued ID An attsnpt get up third party; snd
a To o.