Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-04-20

l>eorashd Din were presented by Messrs. COorEu
and WADE.
METROPOLITAN RAILROAD.
Mr.. BRIGHT presented the memorial of the
president and directors of the Metropolitan Rail
road Company, asking the passage OF a law as
senling 10 The act of The legislature OF Maryland
incorporating said company within the District OF
Columbia, with authority TO extend and conduct
said road from its terminus in Georgetown, through
said town and the city of Washington, to the de-
pot of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in the
city OF Washington, and TO the navy yard and Po-
tomac river; and Also asking donation of land
or money 10 aid in the construction of said road.
DUTY ON IRON.
MIR. COOPER presented memorials from Penn
sylvania, demonstrating against any change of the
duties now imposed on imported iron.
THE CLERKS BILL
Was received from the House with two amend
ments, and, on motion by Mr. ADAMS, the said
bill was taken up, and the amendments made by
the House were concurred in.
COMMERCIAL REGULATION.
Mr.. SEWARD, from the Committee on Com
merce, reported bill 10 prevent unnecessary de-
lay in the unloading or discharging the cargoes of
vessels propelled in whole in part by steam, ar
irving from foreign ports and the bill was then
considered and passed.
ANEsTHETIc AGENT.
On motion by Mr.. EVERETT, the Senate pro-
ceeded to consider the bill TO compensate the dis
coverer Impractical anasthesia.
The bill recites the value ofthe discovery in all
surgical cases, both in the naval and military SER
vice. and in private practice and the total want Of
remuneration to the discoverer. II alleges that
Doctors Jackson and Morton, of Boston, and
Wells, Of Hartford, respectively lay claim to have
been the discoverer of the valuable agent. The
bill appropriaes $780, oO0 to be paid to such one Of
these claimants who may be by proper Judicial
examination declared to be the original dis.
coverer.
Mr.. DAWSON said that DR.. Long, Of Athens,
of Georgia. claimed to be entitled to the discovery.
Mr.. PETIT said he was perfectly satisfied
that the discovery was made by DR.. Samuel Guth-
RE, of New York.
Mr. RUSK suggested that it was discovered by
DR.. James Dickson.
The bill was then amended by allowing these
several persons and all others, 10 become parties
to the suit and contestants for the reward and it
was then passed-yeas "a, nays -.
THE HOMESTEAD BILL. II,
The Senate then resumed the consideration of
the House bill, known as the homestead.
Mr., WADE moved to amend the bill by striking
out that provision whichlimits the benefits of the
bill 10 those who now are residents ofthe United
States.
4 Mr.. ADAMS opposed the amendment and OPP
posed the bill. He was opposed to taxing our own
people that farms might be given 10 foreigners.
He alluded to the manifestations recently made by
Germans, tending TO show combination on their
part, as Germans, separate class of population;
their remonstrances, as Germans, against the ac-
ton the Senate; and their hanging in efigy an
honorable and honored senator for having nobly
performed his duty. He thought no further in
ducements ought to be held out TO them by Con-
gress. He then advocated the graduation of the
price of the public lands. He considered that
he - Ia 81 a.. g..
would prefer TO pay for their land and have the
right of disposng it, rather than TO take it for
nothing as gift 10 pauper, without having any
right over il except to occupyit it.
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Kentucky also opposed
the amendment. He contrasted the action OF the
House, where the bill granting land for the INDECENT
insane Of our own land had been declared uncon-
stitutonal, and the present proposition TO give
away the public properly to the vagabonds and
paupers. criminals and outcasts Of Europe. He
was in favor, ii the bill 10 pass, Of making
more equal in its operations. If land was 10 be
given TO the landless, why not give money TO the
moneyless? Why grant land for nothing 70 the
agricuturists, and deny equal grants TO the me-
chancs and professional men 10 whom the land
would be Of no value
He regarded the public lands as pledged for the
public debt, and Congress had no legal right 10
lake the mortgaged property and bestow it upon
whomsoever would take it.
He then at considerable length commented upon
the injustice of giving the public lands TO foreign
ers who might possibly be the outcasts ofall civil
lied nations, and denying the old States any por-
ton Of it for any purposes whatsoever. He attr-
buted this and all other schemes 10 the spirit Of
demagognism on the part of presidential expect
ants. His remarks We're frequently interrupted by
prolonged laughter, and by applause in the lobbies
and galleries.
Mr.. BROWN gave notice Of substitute for the
bill, which provided for making presumption rights
permanent.
Mr.. ADAMS expressed himself in favor Of the
substitute.
The bill was then postponed.
After brief executive session, the Senate ad-
journed