The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-18
CONGRESS OF THE q. STATES.
WEDNESDAY, MAY II, 1854.

MEMORIALS, PETITIONS, ETC.

SENATE.
MEMORIALS, PETITIONS, ere
Mr. WELLER presented the memorial Of the officers and
soldiers of the United States army board the
Winfield Scott al the time she was wrecked praying 70 be
reimbursed for the losses they sustained that occasion
which referred to the Committee Military Affairs
Mr., MORTON presented the petition Of Isaac Hulse
praying indemnity for injuries done his property in the
construction the barracks of the United States Bar
rancas which was referred TO the Committee on Military
Affairs.
Mr. CIV IN presented Il memorial from Alexander =. Tay-
o representing that he is in possession of manuscript pa
pes and documents Of great value in calculating the early
history and settlement OF California and praying such an
appropriation will insure their early publication as part
Of the archives of the government which referred TO
the Committee Public Lands and ordered to be printed
Mr. DODGE Of Iowa. presented petition OF German cit
liens of Washington praying reduction IN the rates oil
ocean postage; which referred TO the Committee on
the Post Office and Post Roads
JOHN W.
On motion by Mr.. NORTON the Senate proceeded to
the consideration of the bill for the relief or John W. kel
ley which proposes to grant him compensation for the an
nument of entered into by him for the transpor
,aon Of the mail from cambridge, in Georgia. to Apala
Mr. MORTON, Mr. DAWSON, and Mr. MALLORY ex-
planned the circumstances of the CASE and the bill was
read third time and passed.
COMMITTEES.
Mr.. ALLEN, from the Committee Pensions submitted
adverse report on the petition of Leonard Proctor.
Mr.. MALLORY, from the Committee on Naval Affairs
reported bill to improve the naval service; which
Mr.. JOHNSON from the Committee Printing, report
ed in favor of printing three thousand additional copies Of
Capt sitgreayes report of expedition down the Zun
and Colorado rivers and five thousand additional copies
Of the report of Captain Marcy of his exploration of the
waters of the Red river; and the report agreed to.
RESOLUTION INTRODUCED
Mr.. CLAYTON introduced joint resolution manifest
ing the sense of Congress towards Commander Edward
Marshall commanding her Britannia MajeSys ship yira-
CO. and the officers and crew who detached by his
der for the relief of the surveying party under the command
Of Lieutenant G. Strain which was read the first and
second times by unanimous consent and referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations
BILL PASSED
Mr. SHIELDS, from the Committee on Military Affairs,
whom referred the bill granting the right Of
over and depot grounds on the military at Fort
Lake Michigan Railroad Company reported it back with
amendments in the form of substitute for the bill and
asked its immediate consideration The motion being
agreed to- the bill taken up the reported amendments
concurred in and the bill was read third time and
passed.
TO CUBA
On motion by Mr.. MALLORY the Senate proceeded to
the consideration of the resolution submitted by him
terday in relation the and declarations Of
the Cuban authorities considered in connection with SPANS
past policy with reference to that island
Mr. moved that the resolution be referred to the Com
mittee Foreign Relations.
Mr. SUMNER thought il could not go that committee
without seeming to receive the sanction of the Senate
Mr. CLAYTON said that the reference of the resolution
to the Committee Foreign Relations expressed opn
ion whatever II to be regarded resolution Of in
qury and could 60 out to the world receiving the
sanction of the Senate unless il adopted by them
Mr. CHASE could not see how il possible TO refer
resolution of that character without appearing least
give the sanction of the body to the proposition and for
one he was unwilling to give vote of that kind to
observe silence while such resolution acted by
the Senate He hoped the senator from Florida would not
suspect him of any desire throw any obstacle whatever
in the way of simple resolution of inquiry but this goes
further 1t asserts facts running through long line of
policy on the part of the Spanish and before
ia IN he hat he
wished to say upon it to-day as well as at any other
time
Mr. MALLORY said that as another resolution on n
kindred subject had already been referred TO the Commit
Foreign Relations he thought il of
esy the committee that this should be allowed TO take
Mr. WELLER said that IL declarations like those of the
resolution had been Embodied in q memorial 1t would
have been referred to the appropriate committee without
question; and this ought 60 in the way II did
not commit the body at all
Mr.. STUART moyed in order to obvate the difficulty in
the minds OF senator's to insert after the word that the
words "the Committee Foreign Relations be instructed
10 inquire whether that il would read as follows
Resoired That the Committee Foreign Relations be in
structed inquire whether the recent and declarations
of the Cuban authorities considered connection with Spain
past policy with reference to that island, calculated to
excite the just apprchensons of the government of the uni
ted States of settled design to throw Cuba ultimately into
the hands its negro population and TO revive there with
in few hours sail Of shores the Of San Domngos
reyoluona result which the United States win deem
alike inconsistent with their progress their prosperity and
the civilization Of the age.
The amendment was agreed To, and the resolution, az
thus amended, adopted.
INDECENT
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the bill grant
ing public lands the several States of the Union for the
benefit Of INDECENT insane persons and the Presidents OBJ
ections thereto
Mr. BROWN spoke at length in favor Of the BILL
and in reply 10 the arguments advanced in the veto
sage. lie said that If this original question he
would be SILENT but having voted for thi. bi both in the
House OF Representatives and in the Senate he felt called
upon in justice TO his constituents and TO himself TO
sign the which in his Judgment justified those
votes lie then proceeded 10 take up and consider the
gumcnts against the BILL serian He thought thst the
grants Of lands for school purposes had diminished the
thirst for knowledge in the minds Of the community neither
would the Of lands for the benefit Of the INDECENT in
sane dry up the fountains Of benevolence
Having concluded his remarks the further consideration
Of the bill was postponed until tomorrow.
SENATE.
On motion by Mr. BRIGHT, the Senate then proceeded
TO consider the resolution submitted by him days
since in relation TO the publication of the debates and pro-
ceedngs Of the Senate In the Washington Sentinel
Mr. BRIGHT moved to amend the resolution by striking
out all after the word "Resofued and inserting in lieu