Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-10

senate was gwen; and Mr.. ATcHIsoN presided.
THE HOMESTEAD BILL.
Mr.. CHASE presented petition from certain citizens
OF Ohio, asking the passage Of the Homestead BILL and
expressing great anxiety lest delay may defeat the
sure and urgently asking that 1t might be taken up al
once and acted Mr. c. thought the anxiety express
ed in the petition was peculiar to these petitioners,
but was largely shared by others in the State which he
had the honor to represent in which soicitude
more profoundly shared than himself The chairman Of
the Committee on Public Lands would therefore pardon
him Tor asking whether early report the bill might
be expected He was to extent of the
that had delayed 1t but in order that the public mind
might be set at rest the subject he would ask the Se
nator from Michigan Mr. FELcH) the question
Of the Senator from Ohio. ist
When the bill first came to the Committee on Public
Lands IT sent to the General Land Office for nforma
ton the important subjSct to which il relates This
is the usual course OF the committee with all important
bills relative to the administration of the public domain
The bill referred to is Of most important character
IL is evident at the first glance that proposes great
changes in the entire land system Of the country if in
deed it does not entirely overurn it, and substitute very
different one. The committee regarded it due to so
important subject to obtain oil the information in their
power as to the practical operation Of the proposed ys
tenn and at once sought it in the department having i'm
mediate charge Of the public lands This information
was received by the committee in communication re-
ceiyed from the Commissioner just before the melancholy
event 1.-The death Of CLAY which interrupted the business
Of the Senate last week One meeting only Of the com
mttee has since been had At that meeting the subject
received the consideration Of the committee but their de-
alterations upon not concluded One of the mem
bers of the committee Nr USDERwooD is absent as
of the committee to attend the remains of deceased
member Of this body to his last resting place He had
expressed his desire in committee to propose amend
mens to the BILL and confess should feel delicacy in
acting finally upon it until his return think run no
hazard in saying the Senator that the committee will be
able to report back the bill day of next week
Whatever may be the result Of their deliberations,
the Senate that unnecessary delay has been
win be made in the committee There other propo-
sitions Of the most important character materially affect
ing the system of administering the public domain in the
hands Of the committee We cannot overlook their i'm
portance, be unconscious Of the difficulties
which they present They win all receive the final action
of the committee and be reported the Senate the
| earliest possible day.
DUTIES ON CASKS AND BARRELS.
Mr.. HUNTER, from the Committee on Finance, made
adverse report the memorials of several merchants
and manufacturers asking that duties paid by them on
American casks and barrels may be refunded which
ordered to be printed
Mr. H. says in his report that the subject was SUBJ
mtted to the Secretary Of the Treasury for his opinion
which officer has given his views and argues the question
so fully as to make further comment unnecessary.
Mr. DODGE, of Iowa, from the Committee the Pub
lie Lands reported bill to create three additional land
districts in the State of Iowa.
Mr. d. threw himself the indulgence Of the Senate
to have the bill considered once He alluded TO the
large quantity of pubic land in that State while there
were only three land Offices thus subecting purchasers
great inconvenience and showing the necessity that
existed for the increased facilities provided for in the
BILL
The motion having been agreed to- the bill was ordered
to be engossed and subsequently read third time
and passed.
Also, from the same committee bill for the benefit of
the town of Beeview, in Iowa.
VIRGINIA LAND WARRANTS.
Mr. HUNTER asked the Senate to take up bill appro
prang land scrip in full and final satisfaction of Virginia
military bounty land warrants he thought il could not
To hate ptio If mil lie inc
The motion having been agreed to- the bill amend
ed and after brief discussion in which Messrs HUN
TER CHASE, and FELCH participated, ordered to
be engrossed for third reading.
ENGINEER OFFICERS.
Mr. SHIELDS moved that the Senate proceed to con-
slider the bill to provide for the promotion Of certain Off
in the Engineer Typographical Engineer and Ord
Corps, which his motion amended as to
strike out all after the enacng clause and insert the fol-
lowing:
Whenever any lieuenants Of the Corps Of Engineers,
Corps Of Typographical Engineers Ordnance Corps shall
years continuous service lieutenant,
he shall be promoted the rank of captains Prorded That
the whole number of officers in either Of said corps shall be
increased beyond the number by And provided
further That officer shall be promoted before those who
rank him in his corps"
The amendment having been agreed to, the bill
dered to be engrossed
OTHER BILLS.
On motion by Mr. PRATT the Senate proceeded to
slider the bill for the relief Of the heirs and representa-
tves hate Robert Sewa which verbally amend
ed and ordered to be engrossed.
On motion by Mr.. BORLAND the Sennte proceeded to
consider the bill granting TO the State Of Arkansas the
right of way and portion Of the public lands to aid in
the construction of railroad from Gainess Landing to
Fulton in said State which, after brief explanation by
Mr. b. ordered TO be engroseed for third reading
and subsequently read third time and passed
On motion by Mr.. HAMLIN, the Senate proceeded TO
consider House bin for the relief Of Francis Tbou which
was read third time and passed. set
On motion by Mr.. BRODHEAD, the Senate considered
and ordered TO be engrossed for third reading the bin
for the relief of John Duff.
On motion by Mr. JONES' of Iowa, the Senate consider
ed the bin regulate the Of the district court Of
the United Srtes for the district Of Iowa. and ordered the
same to be engrossed for O third reading.
On motion by Mr. CHASE, the Senate proceeded to
slider House bill to amend entitled An act provd
ing for the sale Of certain lands in the States Of Ohio and
Michigan coded by the Wyandot tribe of Indians and for
other purposes" approved Sd March, 1913 which read
third time and passed. h a
Mr. DOUGLAS made a strenuous effort TO take mp the
bill for the protection of the emgrant route teegraphc
ne and overland mail between Missouri river and the
settlement in California and Oregon dwelling with much
energy the necessity that existed for the adoption of
the measure, well early action the Territorial
bills generally. ~
The motion was opposed by Mr.. RUSK; and after de-
bate the further consideration postponed 70 Tuesday
next
On notion the Senate proceeded the consideration Of
Executive business and time spent therein the
doors we're re-opened and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr.. GREY, from the Committee on the Post Office and
Post Roads, reported bill to authorize the Postmaster
General contract for the transportation Of the mail be-
tween Jersey City, the port Of New York. and Galway in
Ireland; which read twice.
1.-THE bill provides that from and Immediately after the
ms NJ of