The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-11
THiRrY-SECOND CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
SENATE
MONDAY, May 10, 1852.

REVOLUTIONS
The following resolutions were submitted and
By MIR. MALLORY:
R,soIped That the Committee ON Foreign Re
ations be instructed to inquire into the propriety
Of authorizing the PRECEDENT of the United States
10 have investigation made whether any Spanish
subjects, not citizens of the United States, have
sustained damage by loss OF property or otherwise
In consequence of public outbreak or violence in
the State of Louisiana. growing out Of the late
Cuba expedition; and into the propriety OF autho
rizing the President to make indemnity to the
Spanish government for such Spanish subjects Tor
BY Mr.. WELLER.
Reso,red, That the Secretary of War be directed
TO communicate to the Senate a copy OF the recon
noissance Of the Gulf Of California and the Colo.
RADIO river made In 1850 and 1851, by Lieutenant
Derby, Of the corps Of Typographical Engineers;
together with copy Of the report made by said
officer to the Department in relation to the Tuare
lake and its vicinity,
By Mr.. SU MINER nt
Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be
directed TO consider the expectancy OF aeo!ishing
by law the exaction Of twenty cent? from the
monthly wages Of seamen in the merchants SER
vice Of the United States and OF boatmen on the
western waters, constituting what is called "hos
pital money so that when sick or disabled they
may enjoy their present privileges at the marine
hospitals without the present tax.
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary
Re directed to inquire into the PfoPriey Of nereas
the northern district Of New York
LAND ron RAILROADS.
On motion Of Mr.. MORTON, the Senate pro
ceeded TO the consideration OF the bill granting the
right Of way and making grant OF land to the
States Of Florida and Alabama, in aid Of the con-
struction Of railroad from the waters OF the Pen
sacola bay, in Florida to Montgomery, in the State
Of Alabama and for other purposes
The bill was amended 90 as to conform to others
Of a like character passed this session
MIR. MORTON moved to amend the bill by add
ing thereto additional sections. granting like por-
tions of the public lsnds TO aid in the construction
OF railroad from Pensacola bay to Mobile bay,
and another road or a branch to the Chattahoochie
and Flint rivers, in Georgia. Which amendment
was agreed to.
The bill was then ordered to be engroased for n
third reading.
On motion Of Mr.. UNDERWOOD, the Senate
proceeded to the consideration Of the bill granting
land to the States of Indiana and Illinois to aid In
the construction CT a railroad connecting the Ohio
river at point opposite Louisville, Kentucky, with
the Mississippi river at point opposite st. Louis
This bill was also amended, and then ordered to
be engrossed for third reading.
The bill granting land to Alabama, TO aid In the
construction Of the Mobile and Girard railroad;
and the
Bill granting land to Florida, to aid in the con.
struction Of the Florida Atlantic, and Gu Central
railroad and its branches. which we're on Friday
last ordered to be cogrossed, were taken up and
sevcrlliy read a third time and passed
SCHOOL LANDS IN MISSISSIPPI
On motion OF Mr. ADAMS, the Senate proceeded
70 the consideration Of the bill from the House. to
authorize the Legislature of Mississippi to sell the
lands heretofore appropriated for the use o. schools
IN that State, and 10 approve sales already made;
and the same considered, read third time,
aid passed
AID TO The COLLINS LINE.
The Senate proceeded to the consideration Of the
Deficiency bill, the pending question being on the
amendment giving additional compensation to the
Collins line.
q
TO the amendment. He said that those who advo
Gated this amendment did 30 for variety OF rea-
sons, many OF them contradictory. The protec-
Zionist and the friend OF free trade found something
in il recommending ii to their favor But all agreed
upon one thing, and that was that il will crafty
the national vanity by enabling this line to beat
John Bull in boat race on the ocean.
He regarded this enterprise as in danger VI be-
ing, by This forced action, made hot house plant;
and that il would perhaps become stronger and
more firmly established il allowed to rest and ma
ture as all other branches Of American industry.
He regarded il as nothing less than plain, pal
pabe case VI monopoly; proposition TO give the
aid Of this Government to enable these men-the
owners Of the Collins line-to carry on their bust
with aid and assistance not possessed by or
given TO others who might be induced to engaged in
it This aid to them virtually excluded all others
from the business.
He considered the adoption Of this amendment
would be rank injustice TO oil other branches OF the
navigating interest. Let general system of pro-
lection be established and not single DOT partcu-
lar object Under general system the enterprises
Of American Dor, skill, and genius would in tine
be "a much in advance Of those Of England. our
magnificent rivers and country are In advance Of
those Of that nation.
He then alluded to the neglect Of the interests Of
the inland and western commerce.; for years moth.
ing had been done by Congress for the improve.
Inent Of rivers hsrbors Some years ago the
Government did undertake to do something for
them; appropriations were made, and extensive ma
chinery was purchased for the purpose OF improve
ment If the waters and harbors Of the Western
States; but in Mr.. Van Buren's time this suddenly
stopped, and the people have never heard OF Uncle
Sam since II was their anxiety TO hear OF him
which induced those questions which few years
ago put to the honorable Senator from Michi-
gan, and to which owing TO the "noise and confu-
sion," that Senator did not respond.
MIR. CASS said the words "noise and confusion .
were old acqusintances of the Senate. And he
claimed the light TO the floor whenever they were
mentioned. He asked the Senator whether he had
ever seen q letter Of Governor Wood denying the
whole story
Mr.. WADE said be had read that letter. He did
not mean TO say there any truth in the story
or not. lie merely said that the people # that
ton OF tho country were anxious to know the
whereabouts .: Uncle Sam, and they put ihOse
questions 20 the Senator, sopposing that he might
know much about il as any other.
The Senator was now for giving sum little less
than millions 10 sustain this line
MIR. CASs said he wac in favor Of no such thing
MIR. RusK said the Senator from Ohio seemed 10
forget that the hostages on mails by ths line
lowabce was not gratuity 10 this line.
Mr. WADE said IL made but little difference
whether this not. There noise
and confusion in the Senate now; and he desired To
know whether the Senator from Michigan would
vote with him for tho same amount 10 be expended
in the improvement Of rivers aud harbors in their
section oftbc country; and whether they could de
pend on the vote Of the Senator at this session oI
such an appropriations
Mr.. CasS said the Senator seemed as IL he had
made a new discovery; "noise and confusion
we're not new in the Senate IL was an old friend
there lie desired to say that his views upon this
subject fully disclosed 10 the Senate al
the last session Of Congress He should vote for a
bill making appropriations Tor internal improve
Tnent--a reasonable bill, the items Of which shall
have been examined by and reported here upon
estimates ION the War Department; he would vote
for a reasonable bill, which does not push the
expenditure to an extent which would be unreo-
sOuable. He was not for establishing general
system Of internal improvement, but there were
rivers and harbors which he would vote appropria.
tons TO improve.
Mr.. WADE expressed himself grati6ed 10 hear
that the Senator would support such measure
and expressed his astonishmeLt that during the six
months Of the session already elapsed no measure
of the kind hsd been heard OF. He then resumed
mi ka mn he amendment