The southern press., 1852-05-11
CosoREssIoNAL pRocEEDINos.
SENATE.

structing the Committee on Foreign Relations, I,
inquire into the propriety of authorsing the Pres
ident of the United States, to have investigation
made whether any Spanish subjects, not citizens
Of the United States, have sustained damage d
loss of property, or otherwise, in consequence o
public outbreak or otherwise, in the State or Lou
4 isana, growing out Of the late Cuba expedition
and into the propriety Of authorlsing the Presl
dent to make indemnity TO the Spanish govern
ment for such Spanish subjects for said damage
Mr.. M. explained his object in offering the reso
luton. He had reason to believe that Spanish
! citizens did sustain very serious losses IN conse
quence of those disturbances, and he thought this
! government could do no less than 10 make full in
! demnity for such losses. The resolution was
| precisely like resolution which he offered two
months since, in reference TO similar losses OF
Spanish subjects in Pensacola That resolution
brought the subject TO the notice sf the COMMITTEE
on Foreign Relations; but he had heard nothing
from it,. He hoped this would receive then
prompt attention.
| The resolution was adopted.
|, RESPONSIVENESS IN cALiFoRNiA.
| MIR. WELLER submitted resolution which
was agreed to, directing the Secretary Of War to
1 communicate to the Senate copy of the recon-
Nuisance Of the gulf OF California and the Collora-
do river made in 1850 and 1851, by lieutenant
of the corps Of typographical engineers, together
with copy Of the report made by said officer to
the department, in relation TO the Puare lake and
its vicinity.
ABOLITION or "HosPiTAL TAXES.
Mr.. SUMNER offered the following resolution
which was agreed to:
RESOLVED, That the Committee on Commerce be
directed TO consider the eXpediency OF abolshing
by law the exaction of 20 cents from the notify
wages Of seamen in the marine service OF the
United States, and of boatmen on the western wa
tiers, constituting what is called hospital money,
SO that when seamen are disabled they may en-
JOY their present privileges at the marine hospital
without present taxes.
RAILROAD BILLS.
On motion Of Mr.. MORTON, the Senate pro.
ceeded to the consideration of the lgrantng the
right of way, and making grant of land to the
States Of Florida and Alabama, in aid Of the con-
sruction of railroad from the waters Of the PEN
sacoa Bay, in Florida, TO Montgomery, in the
State Of Alabama, and forother purposes.
The bill was amended SO as to conform To IN
other railroad bills which have passed the Senate
MIR. NORTON moved further amendment
extending to the said States like advantages priv
ileges and benefits for the construction of rail-
road from the waters of Pensacola Bay to the
waters Of the Chattahoochie and Flint rivers, in
the State of Georgia.
The amendment was agreed to, and the bill was
ordered to engrossment
On motion Of Mr.. UNDERWOOD, the Senate
proceeded to the consideration of the bill granting
lands and the right of way to the States of lndi-
ana and Illinois, in aid of the construction of q
railroad from point on the Ohio river, opposite
to Louisville, Kentucky, TO point opposite to
st. Louis, in Missouri
Like amendments were made, and the bill was
ordered to engrossment.
JUDICIAL SALARIES.
Mr.. FISH submitted a resolution directing the
Committee on the Judiciary to inquire into the ex-
pediency Of increasing the salary Of the United
States District Judge for the northern district of
New York, which was considered and agreed to-
THE DEFICIENCY BILL-THE COLLINS LINE
The Senate then resumed the consideration of
the bill providing for the supply of deficiencies in
the appropriations for the service Of the current
fiscal year the amendment reported by the Com
mittee on Finance to increase the compensation of
the Collins line OF steamers being under consider
alton.
Mr.. WADE, OF Ohio. addressed the Senate in
opposition TO the amendment. He spoke with
much emphasis against making any further grants
for the purpose Of aiding the Atlantic navigation
interests, until the West had received her due.
He was surprised to some Of his Western
friends sustaining this Collins appropriation, when
the rivers and harbors of the West were so much
neglected. He inquired of the Senator from
Michigan whether he, who was so ready to vote
money from the public treasury for the support
OF this Collins line, would vote an appropriation
for the purpose of improving the rivers and har-
bors Of the West.
MIR. CASS said his views were the same as
they had always been upon the subject Of inter-
nal improvements. He would vote for bill
making reasonable, but NOT extravagant appro-
priations for such purposes.
Mr.. WADE expressed his qualification at the
reply. As TO the arguments Of gentlemen who
had attempted TO show that these steamers were
adapted TO war service, he had no faith in them
A single shot from the mouth Of cannon would
hem Of aastlu . I.,.o
wild goose upon the wing Gentlemen talked
about the splendid furniture Of these steamers-of
what use would all that be in a naval fight In
his opinion, such splendid equipments were better
calculated for an Eastern serago than for a ship
Of war.
In conclusion, he called upon Western men TO
join with him in doing justice to the West. Let
them set their faces like brass against every other
interest until that was done. For one, he would
not give dollar for the purpose OF sustaining the
ocean navigation interest until IL was done. The
course Of gentlemen astonished him. They were
sending QUITO japan expeditions, and bolsiering
up this and that interest, and ransacking Heaven
and earth 10 find an interest, and did not know
yet that they had. West He was not disposed
TO be sectional but he wanted eyen-handed justice
done 10 the West.
MIR. BAYARD, OF Delaware, next addressed
the Senate in earnest support Of the Collins line.
He defended the steamers for war purposes, con-
ries TO the service If not fied for all the purposes
Of war. This was not monopoly as some gen.
tlemen contended. II was rather the establish
ment Of American competition for the purpose Of
destroying British monopoly. He answered va
rious other objections TO the amendment, and adj
vocated il not as local, but great national
interest
AT the conclusion Of his remarks there was a
general cry Of Question ~ question"
Mr.. MALLORY renewed the amendment which
he offered on Friday last, transferring the oppro-
priaton from the Navy TO the Post Office Depart
ment. lie stated that the Naval Committee were
unanimous in recommending that the oppropria-
ton be placed upon that footing, they regarded
this as strictly mail service, and whether the
steamers could hereafter be fitted for war services
ot not, they were not al present adapted 10 that
service.
Mr.. BADGER said he offered an amendment
to the same effect the other day, by direction Of
the Naval Committee, but withdrew il at the sug-
gestion Of several senators who thought il calcu-
lated 70 embarass the BILL For the same rerson,
he hoped his friend from Florida would consent
to withdraw the proposition.