The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-06
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
SENATE.


The President pro TEN. laid before the Senate,
reports Of the Secretary of the Treasury and the
Secretary of War, communicating, In compliance
with resolution of the Senate, information IN re-
lation to the contracts entered into by Robert b.
Garter and James Roddey, for the supply ofraons
to the army, from June l, 1912. to June |, 1915.
Also, a report of the Secretary OF the Treasury,
communicating a report of the lighthouse board I,
appointed under the act orMarch 3, 1851.
Also a report OF the Secretary of War, commu-
nicatng the proceedings of the board of commits
soners appointed un der the act OF March 3, 1851,
to found military asylum for the relief and sup
port of Invalid and disabled soldiers of the army.
The communications were referred as usual.
woRKMEN UPON THE CAPITOL.
Mr.. CASS presented petition of mechanics
and Iaborers lately employed upon the extension
of the wings of the capitol, praying that they may
be allowed to proceed with the work. He also
submitted letters from the architect, and from the
Secretary of the Interior, recommending their EN-
poyment during the winter months, and asked
leave to introduce joint resolution to that effect.
After some remarks by Messrs. CAss and SHIELDS
in favor of their employment and by Mr.. Box
LAND against il, the memorial was referred to the
Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.
EXPLOSION OF STEAM BOILERS.
MIR. SHIELDS presented the memorial of AL
fred Guthrie in relation to the explosion of steam
boilers.
4
practical engineer and had devoted his life time
to experimenting upon this subject. The results
of his Investigations, as presented IN this essay,
had been submitted to some ofthe most scientific
gentlemen in the country, who approved OF his
suggestions as calculated great degree TO pre-
vent such disasters. He asked that the memorial
might be printed.
Mr.. BORLAND moved the printing of five
thousand extra copies.
The motion was referred to the Committee on
Printing.
MISCELLANEOUS PETITIONS, &c.
Petitions were presented by Mr.. Downs, pray
ing for the right Of way and grant of land to the
State of Louisiana, to aid in the construction of a
railroad from the Mississippi river to the Texas
line By Mr. SHIELDS, in favor of pre-emption to
nctua settlers along the line ofthe central railroad,
Illinois, By the CHAIR, memorial of the legis-
Iature of Alabama, for grant of public lands to
enable the State to make geological survey of
the State; and by Messrs. | INTER, STOCKTON,
GwrN, FISH, UNDERwooD, DAVIS, SEWARD, ArcH-
IsoN and PEARcE, for various objects
CHARGE TO SWITZERLAND.
Mr.. BRODHEAD called up his resolution
directing an inquiry to be made into the expedien-
CIV of sending a charge d'aflars to Switzerland,
and submitted few remarks upon the subject
There were many considerations OF political and
commercial character, he SAID, which should IN
duce this government to establish diplomatic rela-
tons with Switzerland without further delay
lie in Europe and notwithstanding she had often
been oppressed almost to extnc ion she had always
maintained the principles Of republican freedom
and been pursery of patriots and an asylum Tor
political refugees. In lS46 and 49 they adopted
a new constitution which contained many Prov
siops similar to our own, and they now have the
same mower to negotiate treaties which we en-
;ov A representative of the United States
in that country would be of great service to
political refugees in time of war. There
were other considerations OF a commercial cha
racter which he thought imperiously demand
the sending of charge to that government Our
large and increasing commerce&llh them required
IL Our industrial interests would be promoted
by it. We furnish them with large quantities of
cotton, tobacco, rice and other products; and they
had adopted liberal policy with regard to the
admission Of foreign products, which should be
encouraged.
The resolution was adopted.
PLANK ROADS FOR MAIL SERVICE.
Mr.. RUSK, from the committee on Post -offices
and Post Roads, reported back the joint resolution
to establish certain post roads, with an amend
ment, authorizing the Postmaster General to have
the mails carried over plank roads whenever he
may think proper.
TIE amendment was agreed to, and the resolu-
ton ordered to engrossment.
NEW ORLEANS AND VERA CRUZ STEAM LINE.
Mr.. SOUIE reported bill to provide for the
between the ports of New Orleans and Vera Cruz,
stopping at certain intermediate places.
T. The bill was read and passed to second read
ing.
PROTECTION TO THE INHABITANTS OF CALIFORNIA
AND OREGON.
Mr. GWIN introduced bill to provide for the
better protection of the people of California and
Oregon; and submitted few remarks showing
the necessity for the passage Of the same. He
said the troops at present stationed In those terri
tories were entirely inadequate to defend the
country, being barely able to keep themselves
from being scalped by the Indians. He referred
tn the correspondence of the Secretary of War,
with various officials in those territories upon the
subject, from which it appeared that the secretary
was unable to afford any further relief under ex-
listing laws.
The bill was read twice and referred.
THE CENSUS PRINTING.
On motion of Mr.,SHIELDS, the Joint re sou-
ton expressive of the sympathy Of Congress for
the relief of the Irish patriots, was postponed to
Saturday; and
in relation to printing the returns OF the seventh
census, was taken up
Mr. PEARCE suggested an amendment limit
ing the price to be paid for the work, to the aver
age rate Of the proposals of bidders for the print
ing of the present Congress, for the same classes
of work.
Mr.. SMITH spoke with much earnestness
AGAINST the amendment Of MIR. BADGER He
could not uphold it upon any idea OF compromise
as had been suggested by the Senator from North
Carolina So far from being compromise, he
regarded it as great deal worse than the original
resolution He contended that it was liable to all
the objections which had been urged against the
original proposition.
Mr.. BADGER replied in defence of the amend
ment.
Mr. CASS submitted few remarks upon the
subject.
Mr. BORLAND followed in opposition to
printing the census the plan or the Maryland
specmen He would exclude entirely the histori-
cal portion in preparing which he said the Super
intendent of the Census had exceeded his author-
ty, and would greatly abridgs or strike out the
medical statistics and thus reduce the bulk of the
work at least one half
Mr. HAMLIN concurred in the suggestions Of
the chairman of the Printing Committee, but
wanted first TO decide who should do the work
then determine what should be printed.
Mr. GWIN hoped the Senate would proceed to
but