The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-08-12

SENATE.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 3.

A message was received from the President
in reply to Mr.. Mason'S resolution calling to
| information with respect to the fisheries. TIT
message is accompanied by report by the act
ing Secretary of State The President state
that the United States steam irigate Mississir
| pi under the command Of Commodore Perry
has been ordered to the place of difficulty, wit
instructions to protect the rights OF America
fishermen
Mr.. Cass moved the reference of the mes
sage, and addressed the Senate to show tina
| the claim set up by Great Britain was totalI
untounded, and that it ought to be resisted
and the Americans engaged in those fishcric
to be projected in their rights under the treaty
as it is construed by the United States.
Mir Davis and Mr. Hamln followed in argu
ments. showing that the construction placed on
the treaty by the law officers of the Govern
ment of Great Britain was untenable.
The Senate went into Executive session
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 4.
The resolution submitted by Mr. Geyer, to
purchase 800 copies OF MOulton n MayO's edi-
ton of the pension and bounty land acts, at
SO % per copy, was taken up and passed
The Senate then took up the Joint resolution
explaining the census acts, so IN to make them
mean that the Superintendent of the Census
was not entitled to receive pay both as Super
ntendcnt of the Census and Secretary of the
Census Board The joint salaries amount to
$1,000 per annum and the resolution declared
he shall receive only that Of the Superintend-
ent, which is ~ 800. The motion pending was
to reconsider the vote passing it, A long de-
bate ensued after which, the motion to recon
slider was rejected and the resolution was
passed
After an Executive session, the Senate adj
jOurned
THURSDAY, AUGUST 5.
On motion Of Mr. Bright all other business
was postponed and the Senate took up the
Message of the President concerning the fish
cries.
Mr. Hamlin then resumed the speech on
this subject commenced by him on Tuesday
last He read many statistical tables of the
persons and vessels engaged in the American
fisheries, the number of fish, both OF cod and
mackcrel, cSNxht, cured and inspected, &c
He urged the necessity and justice of protect
ing them he would, in the language of Mr.
Webster, protect them mt all hazards--and
protect every hook and line, every bob and
sinker,u
Mr. Soule said he desired to submit some re-
marks upon the subject, but rs il was desra-
BILE that the papers should be printed, he mov-
ed that the subject be postponed for one week,
and that the papers be printed. Agreed to.
The Indian appropriation bill was taken up,
and ON n motion to strike out an appropriation
of SEC 900 to the Shawnees, for certain land
of theirs sold in Ohio, long debate ensucd in
which Messrs Cass, Sebastian, Underwood,
Bell, Atchison, and Walker, took part.
Finally without taking Il vote, the Senate
adjourned
FRIDAY, AUGUST g.
The consideration Of the private calendar
was postponed.
On motion of Mr. Adams the Senate took
up the resolution fixing eleven O'clock ~ the
hour for the daily meeting Of the Senate, and
il was agreed to.
Mr. fech reported back House bills known
~ the Homestead and Land Distribution bills,
with recommendation that they ought not
to pass.
Mr.. Seward submitted resolution calling
for information whether the King Of the Sand
witch Islands has made any proposition to trans
fer the sovereignty Of those islands TO the Uni
ted States Agreed TO.
Several resolutions calling for information
were submitted and agreed to.
MIR Houston submitted resolution direct
ing the appointment Of committee Of five, to
inquire whether any abuses, bribery or fraud,
has been committed in the prosecution Of
claims before Congress, Heads of the Depart
ments, and that said committee have power 10
send for persons and papers. Agreed TO- and
Messrs Houston, Borland Underwood, Merri-
wether, aud Brooke, were chosen the commit
tee
The Indian Appropriation bill was then
taken up and amendments were debated,
SATURDAY, AUGUST 7.
The Senate was not in session to-day