The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-12
THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
FaiDAv, February IL, 1858.
SENATE.
SECOND SESSION.

vice of that Department; also, disbu, sements for
the service of the State Department including for
eign missions, &c, &c., for the year ending June
30, 1882
THE STEAMBOAT LAW. IA
Mr.. SEWARD presented the memorial of C.
Vanderbilt, the owner and representative of two
millions of dollars worth Of low pressure steam
vessels, Ed Collins, one of the largest owners of
the New York and Liverpool United States mail
steamers, and numerous other proprietors of
steamships, asking that the late law in relation to
steamboats, may be modified or repealed Also
several similar petitions from ports on the Atlantic
and the lakes
THE HOMESTEAD,
DIR. HALE presented the resolutions of the In
dustrial Congress OF Philadelphia
Mr. DODGE, of Iowa, the joint resolutions of the
Legislature of Iowa
Me- WALKER, several petitions, all in favor of
tne passage of the Homestead bilh
MERCHANT SERVICE.
Mr. FISH asked, and obtained, leave to intro.
duce bill for the better management and safe
conduct OF American merchant vessels, and for
maintaining discipline board the same.
The bill was referred to the Committee on Com
merce; It contains twenty five sections, which
provide that seameni in the merchant service guilty
OF refusal or neglect to obey lawful orders
wlIul dlsobedence, using provoking or threaten
ing language, gestures or menaces, drunkenness
quarreilng or lighting, disorderly conduct, un-
lawful combination or damage to vessel or cargo,
or theft not exceeding twenty dollars, the captain
is gwen discretion TO fine such offender two
weeks wages, and confinement on bread and wa
Ter Tor not more than three days. but before any
pain or penalty be inflicted the master shall enter
on his log statement of the offence, and the pun
isnment awarded, TO be certified by the mate or
one or more witnesses. If the master neglect to
make such entry and to read the same to the
offender, and proceed to iniict the punishment,
then he is TO be fined double the amount imposed
upon the seaman; together with fine of fifty
dollars Tor each day of confinement. Any justice
oil the peace within collection district is empow-
ered TO try the CAGE in q summary manner and to
pass sentence. II the offence be committed in for
elgn lands, the United States Consul or CONNER
clal Agent, or senior officer of the United States
navy, are vested with the same powers to try the
case, and may confine the offender on board of any
public vessel for period not exceeding ten weeks
and on bread and water for term not ex
ceedipg ten days. Any landlord or keeper of a
sailors boarding house enticing a seaman to de-
sert his ship, shall harbor deserter, shall for.
ieit one hundred dollars and be imprisoned for
term not exceeding elk months. The fine to be
paid TO the owner or master prosecuting
vided in the bill.
Mr.. FISH answered in the negative.
THE CLAYTON AND BULwER TREATY-BRITlsH COL.
oNIzATIoN.
Mr.. MASON, from the Committee on FOREIGN
Relations, TO which was referred the Presidents
message in answer to resolution calling for in.
formation relative to the establishment of a colony
IN the Bay of Honduras, and also resolution d.
reclng an inquiry whether any measures be neces.
sary on the part of the Senate in consequence of
the explanations by Messrs. Clayton and Bull.
wer at the exchange of notifications of the treaty
Of looo, maue report, accompanied by the fol-
lowing resolution:
Resolred, AS the opinion of the committee that the
declaration on the part of the British government,
and the reply thereto by the Secretary of State as
preliminary to the exchange of notifications of the
treaty concluded at Washin gton between the gov
ernments of Great Britain and the United States
on the 18TH April, $780, import nothing more than
an admission on the part Of the two governments
or their iunconaries at the time of such exchan ge
that nothing contained in the treaty was to be
affecting the title or existing rights
OF Great Britain to the English settlements in Hon
duras bay. And consequently, in the opinion of
the committee, that no measures are necessary on
the part of the Senate to be taken because of such
declaration and reply.
Inc report of the committee SAYS that the com.
rnlttee have been unable satisfactorily ascertain
what Is now the extent of the claim or pretensions
OF Great Britain in regard to the territory or do
mlnion on the Gulf of Honduras In the unset
tied cond ton OF the country pending hostiities
between Spain and the colonies, it is very mani
lest that whether with without the sanction of
the British government the settlers there pushed
their occupancy far beyond the southern limits
assigned to them by treaty, and it now appears
that right is asserted to maintain such occupan-
cy az ii stood in 1921, when the colonies were dis
membered from Spain.
These are questions properly belonging to the
powers OF Great Britain and Gua te mala; but the
question of dominion is of different character
and II ID one IN the disposition of which this Gov
eminent can never be indifferent Whether il
shall ultimately be determined that the En- plisb
settlements on the Honduras are in Mexico or
Guatemala, the question remains the same as re- |
CARDS the United States; and, as connected with
this inquiry, the committee have considered it in
cumbent on them to express opinion. They
then enter into a long argument on this subiect
and close the report as follows:
On the whole, the committee therefore report az
thelr opinion to the Senate That the islands of
Roatan, Bonacca, Uulla, Barbant Helena and Mo- |
rat, IN and near the Bay of Honduras constitute
part OF the territory of the republic Of Honturas
and therefore form part Of Central America .
and n consequence that any occupation or coGoaf
ZaSion q ihsse Islands by Great Britain would be
violation Of the treaty Of 1874 April, 1880,
TIE committee, from the information before
them, tain decided opinion nat tsa British
settlements at Belize, SO 6e6aed by ne treaties
with Spain lie within the territory Of TIE repesc
Of Guatemala, and equally GoBstitats r5srE 81
fsCentr4i &meFica-" sncGI8 s5.EH Ee The fact
2hisS ne committee are not prepared to say that
ne engagements Of the treaty Of 1850 would re-
41re mat those settlements shall be abandoned and
discontinued on the part of Great Britain yet this
Government would have just cause of complaint
against any extension of the limits of these settle
nents beyond those prescribed by Spain or as
further allowed by the republics where they may
be formed, and that in any manner to enlarge or
change the character of those settlements by any
mode Of jurisdiction would be in violation of said
treaty.
Dir. UNDERWOOD said that lest his silence
should De deemed an acquiescence, he desired to
state that the report Of the committee did not con-
cur with the views be entertained on the subject.
PASSED.
The following bills severay considered,
read a third time, and passed:
A bill for the relief Of the heirs of William
Weeks.
House amendments to the Senate bill for the re-
lief of the town of BeIlyew, concurred in with
amendments.
A bill for the relief of Mary Woodward.
bill authorizing exchanges in the locations of
certain land offices.
House bill for the relief of j. G. Pitcher, amend.
cd by making provision for Mrs. Christine Bar
nard.
MIR. MALLORY reported bill for the relief of
Major William B. Scott, late navy agent at Wash
ington.
INDEPENDENCE OF LIBERIA
Mr.. MILLER gave notice that on to morrow he
would ask the Senate to allow him to speak on his
resolution directing inquiry as to the expe-
diency OF recognising the independence of Liberia
THE TEXAS DEBT.
The Senate proceeded to consider the bill max.
ing provision for the settlement of certain claim
ants against the United States arising out of the
debts of Texas under the provisions of the Bound.
airy act.
MIR HOUSTON addressed the Senate for a n honr