Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-08
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

The SPEAKER laid before the House q communication
From the Post Office Department, transmitting certain in
formation in relation to the contract for carrying the
mail between Mobile and Montgomery, in Alabama, in
compliance with resolution adopted on Monday last
which referred to tho Committee the Post Office
and Post Roads and ordered to be printed.
PRIVATE BILLS
This being private bill day, the following bills Of tho
Senate taken from the Speakers table, read twice.
and appropriately referred:
bill for the relief of the West Feliciana Railroad and
the Georgia Railroad and Banking Companies.
A bill enable the United States make Of the
solar compass in the public surveys.
bill for the relief of Hodges and Lansdale and Of the
legal representatives of Rinaldo Johnson and Of Ann E.
johnson, deceased.
Mr.. ORR, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, to
which referred the bill of the House defining the
terms which treaties shall be hereafter made with
certain tribes of Indians and for other purposes report
ed the same back with sundry amendments and the bill
and amendments were committed.
The House resumed the consideration of the bill to
power the Postmaster General contract for the
portaton of the United States mail from New Orleans
San Francisco according to time, the question being
the motion Of Mr. McMuLLEs to refer it to the Commit
tee Of the Whole on the state of the Union.
Mr. ORR moved that the further consideration of the
subject be postponed to Thursday next and that the bill
and amendments be printed.
Mr.. PHELPS moved that the bill be laid on the table,
which motion decided in the negative Yeas &C.
nays Is.
Mr. ORR then withdrew his motion at the request of
Mr.. LATHAM, who remarked that he was not prepared
to say that he in favor of the bin in all its Details
believing that substitute might be introduced which
would much efectually carry out its intention He
thought the principles of the bill right and believed that
the passage Of such would make the Post Of
fee Department sefsustaning branch of the Govern
ment He was opposed to its committa oontending that
its reference to the Committee of the Whole would prevent
it from ever being reached
Mr. McMULLEN spoke in favor Of committing the bill,
and contended that its effect would be to create
poly Before he concluded his remarks the morning hour
expired
Mr. LANE, Of Indiara by consent, from the Commit
tee Private Land Claims, reported bill to authorize
Robert Graham to locate of land in lieu Of the
undivided half part of certain lands patented to John
Edgar and John Murray ST. Clair by Governor of the
Northwestern Territory which read twice and COM
mitted
MARTHA WASHINGTON coNsPIRAToRs.
Mr.. PARKER, by consent from the Committee on the
Judiciary reported bill defray the expenses growing
out Of the burning Of the steamboat Martha Washington
which read twice. 1855.
Mr.. 2. asked the consideration Of the biil now.
Mr. JONES' Of Tennessee, insisted that under the rule
the bill should be referred to the Committee of the Whole
as it contained an appropriation.
Mr.. PARKER hoped the gentleman would not insist
on the reference Of this bill The Committee the Ju
dietary had special session this subject this
ng and deemed it of sufficient Importance be brought
TO the attention Of the House. Il would be recolected
because II was matter Of universal notoriety that
two years ago the steamboat Martha Washington was
burnt the Lower Mississippi under circumstances he
believed which satisfied the public mind that it was
only connected with Of the s,upendous frauds
known TO the country, but over and above that
with the high crimes of and urder for no less
than sixteen persons lost their lives by the sair Some
four five persons who supposed to have been
picated in this matterndeed there could be no doubt
about their imphcationwere arrested under the law Of
the United States making conspiracy under such circu-
stances highly criminal and tried in the courts of the
United States in the State Of Ohio For want Of tes,i-
mony which had quite recently come 10 light six iudi-
yidunls were acquitted They had since however been
arrested under requison the Governor of
and there were now some nine Of them whom the Com
mittee on the Judiciary deemed unouestonably guilty,
confined in jail in the town Of Helena in that State Their
preliminary examination would Off on the 18th OF
this month, and it was deemed matter of immense i'm
portance 10 the country that they should be vigorously
prosecuted As he had before stated murder and arson
yell as stupendous frauds were involved in this case
and the committee deemed il unwise to leave il to be pro-
secuted by the weak county Of Phillips without the aid
OF the Government 1t was the object Of the bill give
this aid and make some requal to those who had
| pended their means in arrestng these persons.
Mr. STANTON, OF Tennessee stated 10 sfy his col
League, Josss that the bill provided that part Of