The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-27
CONGRESS OF THE u. STATES.

MEMORIALS, PETITIONS ETC.
Mr. BRODHEAD Mr. President ! beg leave to present
memorial signed by citizens of Northumberland county,
Pennsylvania praying that the homestead bill may be
amended before its final passage to authorize the Treas
urer of the United States TO refund TO each and every for
r purchaser of any portion of the public domain not
ding quarter-secton Of land the original cost OF that
land with interest from the time of purchase They repre-
sent the first part Of their memorial that many OF our
citizens tocd hard 10 get sufficient 10 purchase
one hundred and sixty Of land, and that we now
propose give the amount of land TO other citizens
without demanding any payment They wish TO have the
bill so amended TO provide for refunding the amount
which already been paid by those who have purchased
public lands As the subject is already before the Senate
| move that the memorial lie upon the table.
The motion agreed to.
Mr. PETIT l present number of petitions from
citizens Of different States have one petition from one
hundred and ten citizens Of indiana another irom one
hundred and twenty-five citizens of Indiana; another from
one hundred and citizens OF Oho one from twelve
citizens of Pennsylvania from eighty citizens OF Mas
sachusetts another from ioreght citizens OF New erk
one from twenty citizens of Mississippi and one from
one hundred and citizens of Georgia All these pe-
TONERS pray for the abolition of they say the uncon-
situtonal office of chaplain to Congress- do not know
hetber any such petitions have been heretofore presented
At this session whether they have been referred to any
committee doubt whether any similar ones have been
presented at this session. although there have been such
brmerly move, therefore, that these petitions lie upon
the table for the present.
The motion agreed to-
Mr. BRODIIEAD presented petition OF cngravers em-
poyed in the Office of the Coast Survey praying to be al
lowed the benefits of the act Of 3lst August 1852 grant
p0a
eral executive departments at Washington which was
erred to the Committee on Finance.
Mr. RUSK presented petition of certain residents OF the
Rio Grande valley praying ing at d m In IN .e Sa'
district of Bazos de Sanago which was referred to the
Committee Commerce
Mr. WADE presented resolutions passed by the Presby-
terry of Tumbul county, Ohio at its sessions in arren
April H. protesting against any enactment by Congress
which shall open the way the extension OF slavery into
any State or Territory Of the United States where does
ayiet lpredt to n
Mr. DAWSON presented the petition of Peter Berry,
George Poe jr Robert p Dodge and other citizens OF
Georgetown District of Columbia praying an appropra-
ton to improve the basin of the Chesapeake and Ohio ca
nal between that town and Washington city, and TO raise
bridges the canal which referred to the Com
mittee for the District Of Columbia.
Mr. SUMNER presented series of resolutions passed al
the annual meeting of the inhabitants Of Westpor Mass
chuset protesting against the repeal of that portion OF
the Missouri Compromise by which slavery prohibited
IN the territory north of SO deg 30 min which were or
dered to lie on the table.
Mr. HAMLIN presented the petition of Edward Bartlett
and others who served in the last with Great Britain
praying be allowed PENSIONS which referred to thu
Committee on Pensions s1
Mr. H. also presented the petition Of Thomas Dyer, pray
ing remuneration for clothing lost by the destruction
the United States ship Adams in the last war with Urea
Britain which referred to the Committee on MAYA
Affairs 80,
Baptist Association of Georgia praying that measures b'
taken to American citizens residing or
in foreign countries the rights of religious liberty whcf
was ordered to lie the table 9a..1sfH
Mr. GEYER presented memorial of the Board of Di
Of the Mississippi Valley railroad praying gran
Of land aid in the construction Of their railroad whef
was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.
Mr. G. also presented the memorial OF NJ Tarver pray
ing grant of public lands to the State of Missouri for t'
establishment and support Of juvenile reform school
which referred to the Committee on Public Lands.
GEORGIA on THE SLAVERY QUESTION
Mr. DAWSON. Mr. President during my recent absence
from this city, resolutions transmitted to from th,
legislature Of the State Of Georgia. through the executive
OF that State which did not intend think II neces
sary submit the Senate but am instructed to dc
So In consequence of the oft-repeated presentation
petitions the subject Of slavery beg leave to presen
them
They set forth that the State Of Georgia in solemn
venton has firmly fixed herself upon the principles of thu
compromise of 1850 relating to the subject
slavery in the Territories of the United States as hna
settlement Of the agitation of that question: its Withdrawn
from the halls Of Congress and the political arena and II
reference the people of the Territories interested therein
and distinctly recognises in those compromise measures TN
doctrine that is competent for Congress TO mpos
any restrictions the existence Of slavery among them
upon the citizens moving into settling upon the Terri
tories Union acquired be hereafter acquired bn
that question whether slavery shall shall not form
part OF their domestic institutions, is for them alone
eraed aud affirmed the fxed policy in his Inaugural
address. They therefore resolve;
THAT the legislature OF Georgia the representative
thepeope speaking their viii and expressing their feel
ngs have had confidence strengthened in the Eette'
determination OF the great body Of the northern people 70
in good faith those principles in the practical application
mittee Territories in the United States Senate at tn
present session. proposing the organization OF territora
government FOR the Territory OF Nebraska.
And BE- (rtheY re,oirsd That senators in Congress
be- and they hereby instructed and representative
requested for and support those principles and to US
all proper their power for carrying them out ethe
applied TO the government Of the Territory OF Nebraska
any other bill for territorial government which ma
before them.
R..eleed, ~rhsr That his exeelency the governor
requested transmit copy OF these resolutions each
our senator's and representatives in Congress.
IprePn those resolutions 7 do not wish to make an,
further comment them, but simply to say that they ar
the decision Of the representatives Of the people Of Georgia
IN legislative assembly convened move that they lie OF
the table.
The motion was agreed to-
rosT oFrIcT SAVANNAH.
Nr DAWSON. | hold in my hand a petition, very nu
merousy signed by the merchants and citizens Of the cit
OF Savannah Georgia asking Congress make an nppro
pration for the erection Of post-oice building in ha
city The grounds which they make this request ar
these
The basement Of the custom-house Is used a pos
office, and il altogether unsucd for IT,
lst II is too contracted for present business,
decidedly in view of the rapid annual increase Of tn
business and population OF the city win here take
sion to state that the city Of Savannah Has nearly doubles
her population within the last few years and Is rapidly In
creasng in numbers.
In the second place the petitioners state that the presen
location Of the post Office is unhealthy.
In the third place IL is too dark, rendering gasight
pVer the whole establishment necessary days, an'
y he general delveryroom, day and night indspensa
ana thus also, increasing materially the expense Y
the department
Again when the cusomrhouse first planned, th
basement was intended for cnstom-house stores The pa
eng me post Office there aertbough, as Is clearly
proved by the fact that the architect omitted to make
arrangements for heating and ventlatinR the same, Will
uP,e arrangements made in all other parts OF th