The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-03-16
trfosts rRoM COMMITTEES.

read and passed 10 second reading and the report was
Mr. CLAY, from The Committee on Pensions, TO whom
was referred the bill from the House Tor The relief OF
Thomas Frazer, reported back the same without amend
men, and asked 10 be discharged from the further con
sderaon thereof The ground that the cogmltlee had
reported general bill which would provide Tor ms
case.
| Ths motion was agreed to-
4 ~ sILLs INTRODUCED.
/ Mr STUART asked aud obtained The unanimous con.
sen OF the Senate to introduce bill IS granung the
right OF way over, and depot grounds on, the military
at Fort Grao,, in The Stale OF Michigan, TO he
| Port Huron and Lake Michigan Railroad Company |;
which read the first and second times by unanimous
consent, and referred to the Committee on Naval Al
fairs.
sent of the Senate introduce bill Is 270) Tor the re-
lief OF John Boyd which was read the hsl and SECOND
times by unanimous consent, and Tstered 10 The CON-
mtee on Private Land Claims. es4
/ MIR. PETIT asked and obtained The unanimous con
sent OF the Senate 10 introduce bill Is 27) TO regulate
the and compensation OF the district attorneys in the
courts of the United States Tor the Territories OF Min
nesota New Mexico, and Utah which was read the
first and second times by unanimous consent, and refer
red 10 the ColDmilec on The judiciary.
sHIp-cANAL AROUND NIAGARA FALLS.
Mr. FISH Mr. President, desire to present two pc
tons of merchants of the city OF New York, asking or
an appropriation IN aid OF the construction OF canal
around Niagara Falls. which ask may be referred TO the
The PRESIDENT. They will be SO referred, if there
be no objection.
Mr., FISH A few days since presented two similar
petitions, which were ordered TO lie upon the table.
ask that they may be taken from the table and re-
ferTed to The same committee.
The PRESIDENT, If there be no objections they will
be taken from the table and so referred.
MIR. STUART. | would like to inquire of the honor
able senator from New York whether these petitions are
like the which was reported back from the Commit
tee Public Lands a few days since, which asked
grant OF the public lands or that purpose
| Mr. FISH. They are.
| Mr. STUART Then, do not think il night that they
should 60 to the Committee on Commerce 1t does not
seem to me that that committee has anything 10 do with
the question OF granting public lands
construction OF work OF internal improvements Ihe
Committee Commerce have invariably had subjects OF
hatnatue referred them Whether the grant asked or
in the shape OF public lands or money ior this purpose
seems TO me is very lmmaeria as the Committee on Gem
meTce have invariably had subjects OF internal improve
under their consideration. They have this parc.
uar subject now in charge--severa memorials of this
sort having been referred 10 that committee For that
reason think the appropriate committee 10 which these
memorials should be referred.
Mr.. STUART. i do no, know sir, whether il may be
important to settle this question now, but II seems to me
that there is some Importance 10 referring to the appop
committees the subjects which belong 10 them. Now,
sir cannot conceive that there any proprey IN send
ing 10 the Committee Commerce petitions which ask
for grant OF public lands to aid 10 the construction OF
ship-canal around the Falls OF Niagara. any other
work OF internal improvement IL is conceded that the
subject belongs 10 the Committee on Commerce the ap-
preparation asked for be that OF money but in the pe,
tons which sent to the Committee on Public Lands,
the aid asked for grant OF the public lands. learn
from the New tndt t01s CnaraC.
OF these petitions and do think that to send that sub
ec the Committee Commerce is certainly IN direct
conavenon OF the rules OF the Senale and such being
the case feel myself bound make at least protest
against il. As TAR | concerned individually, 1t
makes no difference as 10 my views, for am on both
those committees but think there is practical i'm
poEtance IN keeping subjects before the committees to
which they respectively belong
In this instance the Committee on Public Lands de-
ermned that grant OF land ought not TO be made, and
therefore instructed TO report back the petitions, and
ask TO be discharged from their consideration dad so,
and the committee were discharged. Now II rs sought TO
review the very question before another committee
of the Senate, and before committee 10 which the sub.
ject does not properly belong cannot agree with the
senator from New York that il is proper TO send these
petitions TO the Committee on Commerce, because they
may propose or recommend an appropriation oi money
for this object Sir, think il would be right 10 leave
ha, committee to consider petitions and memorials alone
which ask for grant OF money, but not those which
ask for grant oil land. Such seems 10 me 10 be the
proper view OF the question.
MIR FISH Mr. President il is true that these petit
ons ask Tor lands, but by no means follows that Con-
is TO grant lands Congress may grant the and IN
such form as TO II seems proper The Committee on
Public Lands have reported adversely TO grant OF
lands The object sought is one OF internal improve.
ment, similar to those works which Congress has aided
in various wayssometimes by grants OF land and some
times by grants of money. The Committee on Public
Lands having decided that their judgment, aid in
land is appropriate, does not by any preclude
the whole question. The Senate may think differently
from that committee, and the Committee on Commerce
may very properly think that, although II would not be
proper TO grant lands, still grant OF money should be
made he OBJECT sought IN these peuuons Is an import
one and surely il should not be precluded oppor
tunty OF being presented to the Senate mere tech
nica question Because inappropriate committee has
reported adversely is tina, the committee TO
whom the subject legItimalely pertains should not have
an opportunity OF passing upon II, and recommending
money appropriation, If they think proper hope the
Senate will allow the reference which have proposed.
The subject s already before the Committee ON Com
merce and | only propose 10 send 10 that committee
further petitions subject which they are now con.
slderiDg. .u. .##. .HE.= ~. N
| Mr.. SEWARD Mr.. President, this subject was
brought before the Senate al the last session mum.
Der OF memorials were presented 10 the Senate and
ferred to the Committee Commerce. bat IL too
late IN that session Tor the committee 10 take them up
and the subject therefore. fell through Early in this
session large number Of memorals--l do not know
how many, should think hundred-were presen nted
that know OF, referred 10 the Committee on Com
merce. This being the subject under the consider
alton of that committee Representing, as do, const
uents who are deeply interested in the subject and being
member Of that committee, desire that no conclusion
may be drawn adverse to the consideration of the subject
| by the Committee on Commerce. who have il in charge
hope, therefore, that these petitions will go TO that
mee. W a
The question is, wba, is the principle and what is the
incidents The principle is the construction of the canal
around the Falls Of Niagara for the benefit OF commerce
The Incident is the means funds which shall be uped
for that purpose This is fair subject for the action Of
of that committee, desire that may be allowed to
| before the Senate
| Mr. STUART MIR. President, If / did not think there
more importance in this question than the ref
erence these memorials, certainly should moi have