The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-14
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
FRIDAY, February l3, 1852.


PRAYER was offered by Rev Mr. Butler, and the
journal OF Yesterdays proceedings read.
Mr. THAppEus SrEyEns, OF Pennsylvania, who
had for some weeks past been absent at his home,
OF, account Of serious sickness, appeared in his
seat.
REGULAR ORDER OF BUSINESS.
Mr.. DANIEL, of North Carolina, moved that
the House go into Committee of the Whole, and
take nm the calendar of private bills. He hoped
the nresent Congress would pursue the regular
order of business on the days which are assigned
for that purpose and not be guilty OF that indiifer
ence to the public business which characterized
the last Congress.
CHARGES PREFERRED AGAINST A JUDGE.
Mr.. yENABLE asked that Mr.. DANIEL would
suspend his motion, in order to permit him (Mr.
Wy TO make report from the Judiciary Com
mittee. He would then renew the motion to 60
into Committee of the Whole.
Mr.. DANIEL assented.
Mr. VENABLE said that a memorial from a
certain William Alexander, a lawyer in Texas,
had been referred to the Judiciary Committee,
preferring charges against Hon. John G. Watrous,
Judge OF the United States Court in the District OF
Texas setting forth, among other things, that
said Watrous was in the habit OF practising law,
receiving fees, and adjudcating cases IN which he
was personally interested. The committee had
instructed him 10 report a resolution authorizing
matter.
The resolution was read and agreed to.
PLANK ROADS TO BE Posi- ROADS.
Mr.. oLDS moved that message be sent to the
Senate, requesting copy Of a bill passed by that
branch. which the Committee on Post Offices ard
Post Roads had instructed him TO report, and
which he had nisaid, declaring plank roads to BE-
post roads.
The motion was agreed to.
MILITARY sroRE-KErPER IN NEW mrxIco.
Mr.. wEIGHTMAN, Of New Mexico, by
leave, introduced a resolution, directing the Com
mittee on Military Affairs TO inquire into the ex
pediency of allowing the military store-keeper on
dutv in that territory the same rate Of compensa
ton as is allowed military store-keepers' at arse
oals. TO be paid for such time as he may be or
duty.
pRvATE CALENDAR.
Mr.. yENABLE moved that the House go into
Committee Of the Whole, and take up the calendar
of private bills, which was agreed TO.
The SrxAKER called Mr.. DrsSEy, Of Ohio, Il
the chair.
HEIR OF JOHN JACKSON.
The committee took up the bill for the relief o.
an heir Of John Jackson, an English pilot, EN-
pIoyed during the war Of the revolution in tn,
service Of the United States, on board Of the "Bor
Homme Richard, under the command OF Captair
John Paul Jones. The claim.is made by the only
surviving heir, now residing at the Navy Yard il
Washington, for services rendered by the sale
jackson as pilot, and for saving the lives of thu
officers and crew OF the "Bon Homme." On tn,
22d day Of September, l779, Jackson came OF
board OF Captain. Jones' ship, installing i for I
British ship-of-war. Captain Jones requiring thu
assistance Of a pilot while near the banks on thu
English coest, detained him on board his ship
and he was there employed as the pilot of salt
ship in the action which took place between tn
same and the Scraps, in which action Jackson
lost an arm. In consideration Of the services o
Jackson, and his severe misfortune, Captain Jone
paid him one hundred ducats, and gave him
written promise, in behalf Of the United States
that he shoud'reeeive half-pay as a pilot the re
mainder Of his life, to commence from the date o
said writing, and payable every six months b,
the American ambassador at the court Of France
upon proper proof OF identity. II does not appea
that this engagement Of Captain Jones, in behal
Of the United States, has ever been performed
The attention of the ed Congress was called 4
this subject by a letter from the Secretary 70
Foreign Affairs, dated September 20, 1855, and
underwent the examination OF a committee. Thi
committee made a report, stating further, that
appeared. from letter Of Captain Jones, that I'll
second lieutenant Of the "Bon Homme Richard
was. with twenty others, at the time OF the battl
with the Serapis, on board Jackson's pilot boa
and that when Captain Jones found il impossible
10 prevent the " Bon Homme Richard" ffor