The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-01-22
In CONGRESS- OF THE U. STATES.
Thirty Second Consress-First session.
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 81. 1852.


WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 81, 1852
SENATE.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS.
The PRESIDENT pro tenn. laid before the Senate
communication from the President OF the United States
report from the Department OF Sale con-
tanning copies OF the correspondence which has iaken
place between that department and the Minister OF the
United States in Paris respecting The political occurrences
which have recently taken place ~ France which was
read and. on motion BY Mr. MANGqM. !, was ordered
TO be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations,
and printed for the use OF the Senate.
The PRESIDENT pro tenn. also laid before the Senate
report OF the Secretary OF the Treasury. communicating
in compliance with resolution OF the Senate of March
49, 1851, report on The statistics and history OF the
steam marine OF the United Sates which read. and
on motion by Mr. HAMLiN it was ordered 10 be referred
to the Committee on Commerce.
The PRESIDENT pro TEN also laid before the SeAate
a communication from the Secretary OF War, transmit
ling, in compliance with resolution OF the Sena,e OF
the llh of December 1851 copy OF the proceedings OF
the general court-martal convened in this city on the
23d OF June, 1861, for the trial OF Bevet Bgader Gen
eral George Talcott, Colonel of Ordnance; which was
read and on motion by Mr.. CLARKE, il was ordered
to be referred 10 the Committee on Military Affairs.
The PRESIDENT pro tenn. also laid before the Senate
areport Of the Secretary OF War in com
cember 1851 report Of the Chief Typographical Eng
neer in relation to nundalons Of the Mississippi river,
with estimates OF the appropriation required to complete the
surveys AMI investigations heretofore directed; which
was read and, on motion by Mr. DOWNS, it was or.
dered to be printed for the use OF the Senate.
Mr.. DOWNS moved that two thousand additional
copies of the report be printed three hundred of which
motion was referred to the Committee on Printing.
MEMORIALS, PETITIONS, ETC.
Mi. CLARKE presented the petition of Julia NJ. Law
renee, widow of James Lawrence, naval officer and
OF the captors Of the fgate Philadelphia praying TO be
allowed prize money which was referred to the Com
mit'ee on Naval Affairs.
Mr.. BELL presented the memorial of the legal repre-
senlayes Of Isaac Mccoy, deceased, praying the allow
of certain items rejected by the accounting officers
in the settlement of his accounts Indian Commissioner
in lslo and ls4 which was referred TO the Committee
on Indian Affairs
Mr. SEWARD submitted additional papers in relation
to the claim OF the widow of Bgadier General Belknap
to pension which were referred TO the CoDmltiee on
Pensions
Watson, widow OF Lieutenant Colonel William H. Wat
son, praying continuance of her pension; which was
referred to the Committee on Pensions.
Mr. p also presented memorial OF merchants, under
writer's, and others OF Baltimore, Mary land, pray ing
Congress to authorize survey OF certain shoals in the
Chna seas the Shaits OF Gaspar, and the Java sea,
which lie in the tracks OF vessels edng to and from
China which was referred TO the Committee on Com
merce
Mr. UNDERWOOD submitted an additional documea,
in relation 10 the claim OF William s Waller, OF Ken
lucky; which was referred TO the Committe OF Claims
Mr.. MALLORY presented the petition OF II L Ken
ney praying compensation for subsistence forage, and
other supplies furnished 10 company OF Texas voun.
teers in is49; which referred TO the Committee on
Military Affairs.
Mr. DOGE, OF Iowa, presented petition OF citizens Of
Jasper county in Iowa praying the correction Of an erro,
in the entry Of certain lands by Mesheck Dearnger and
William Dearinger which was referred to The Commit
tee on Public Lands.
Mr. D. also presented memorial OF citizens OF Iowa.
praying grant OF land 10 that Stale for the construction
OF railroad from Burlington TO the Missouri river (;
which was referred TO the Committee on Public Lands.
MIR. WADE presented the proceedings OF the city COM
Gil OF the city OF Cincinnati, Ohio in favor oil an appro
paton for the purchase OF the private stock OF the Lou
sve and Portland canal, reduction OF the tolls and
enlargement of the canal; which referred TO the
Committee on Roads and Canals.
CLAIMS AGAINST MEXICO.
Mr.. DOWNS presented the memorial OF Daniel
Pope and The memorial OF Andrew Brame, both pray
ing the appointment oil a tribunal TO review the decisions
Of the late board Of commissioners for settling claims OF
American citizens against Mexico.
Mr.. ID said: There now several petitions OF sim.
liar character which have been presented by myself and
some which have been presented BY other senator's OF
which the Senate have made disposition. | find that
the senator from New Jersey [Mr. SrocKToSl did not
make the motion the other day which | supposed. He
did not make the motion 10 lay the memorials upon the
table hope the question will now be taken up and
that some disposition will be made OF the matter. | will
state mistaken the other day in supposing that the
honorable from New Jersey made the motion TO
lay The memorials upon the table. think the motion
pending TO refer them to the Committee Foreign
Relations. But have since been informed that the sena
from New Jersey moved TO refer them to select CON-
miliee, which l. jus. what wanted myself.
The PRESIDENT. The senator did not make the
motion. but only suggestion TO that effect
Mr. BR0DHEAD. | understood the senator from New
Jersey 10 make the motion to refer them 10 select com
mttee.
The PRESIDENT. He suggested that be should make
a motion Of that kind al the proper time
Mr.. DOWNS. Mr.. President, make the motion now.
will state that have looked into these memorials with
some care, and think il is very important subject
which requires serious and perhaps laborious exami
nation The memoralists make complaints OF very
rous nature; and think il is indispensaby necessary in
Justice to Them that fall nvesga should take place
IL to mo that there strong objections TO having
TONS their avocatons would be great hs, they could
not devote their time to the consideration OF them. As
observed the other day. these claims very similar IN
their nature to those growing out OF the French spoa
tons and they do properly belong TO the province Of
any particular standing committee. As IN that case. so in
this, think the matter ought TO be referred to select
committee The petitioners request that should go to
select committee with power TO send for persons and pa
pers Whether that will be necessary or not the CON-
mee better ascertain when they commence making
the Investigations They suggest that the committee may
be qualified with this power al once and will make the
motion, therefore, in that way
will state, Mr.. President, that there are some things
ionishng find il set forth in several OF the memorials
that their claims being presented, were stated TO
be admitted, subject 10 the future orders OF the board
and afterwards some OF them have been reduced one
half more, and some OF them rejected alt Eether The
first idea that they perhaps reserved them in order 10
make pro rata distribution But upon recurring the
act OF Congress find that that transaction not left
with the board but with the Secretary OF the Treasury
when the returns were made TO him. st
There Is another very serious matter OF which the me-
morialsts complain: that when the awards were made
up they were never informed OF their nature. That
The general custom although in particular the in
formation was given Although application was made
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