Washington sentinel., 1854-03-14
G0nqrfssI0mal.
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
senatc-Monday, March ls. 1854.


Senatc-Monday, March rs, 1854.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate message
from the President Of the United States transmit
ting in reply 10 resolution Of the Senate certain
correspondence between r. G. Schenck, minister
to Brazil and the Secretary OF State, in relation TO
the African slave trade.
Also a message from the President transmitting,
in reply 10 a resolution of the Senate, certain
respondence relative TO the arrest and imprison-
ment of James III. West in 1850 by the authori-
ties al Sagua la Grande, in the Island of Cuba in
1850.
Also communication from the Secretary of
the Interior, trans uniting, in reply 10 resolution
OF the Senate, certain particulars respecting the
measurement of certain work done on the Patent
Office building.
All of which were read, appropriately referred,
and ordered 10 be printed.
STATE RESOLUTIONS.
Mr.. HOUSTON presented resolutions of the
legislature of Texas, III favor of changing the port
ofentry for the collection district of Brazos de San
tiago, from Point Isabel 10 Brownsville.
MIR. CLAY presented the resolutions of the le-
gslature of Alabama in favor of repeating all
duties on railroad iron.
Mr.. BRODHEAD presented the resolutions of
the Legislature of Pennsylvania IN favor of giving
one hundred and sixty of land 10 all who
were engaged in the war of 1872
Mr.. SHIELDS presented the resolutions Of the
legislature OF Illinois in favor of granting pensions
TO the survivors OF the war OF 1872
\ THE RIVER AMAZON.
Mr.. EVERETT presented the memorial of
Lieutenant NJ +. Maury, on behalf of the conven-
tion which assembled at Memphis in June. 1853
asking that measures may be adopted to procure
the opening oftbe river Amazon TO the free nav-
CATION of the world.
NEBRASKA AND KANSAS BILL.
RESPONSIVENESS against the passage Of the Ne
braska and Kansas bill We're presented by Messrs.
EVERETT, FOOT, SEWARD, TOUCEY. SUM
NER, and FISH, and were laid on the table.
PACIFIC RAILROAD.
Mr. GWIN, from the select committee on the
subject Of railroad to the Pacific reported bill
10 provide for the construction of railroad from
the valley of the Mississippi through The territories
OF the United States 10 the eastern border OF the
State of California.
The bill provides for the construction OF the
road by contract, after public notice inviting pro-
posas, the route TO be determined by the con-
tractor; and appropriates the alternate sections OF
public land twenty miles on each side Of the road
TO aid the contractors 10 complete the road. II
also appropriates a sum equal TO six hundred dol
lars per mile, per annum, TO pay Tor transporta-
ton of the mails daily on said road. The road 10
be completed in ten years.
On motion of Mr. GWIN the bill was made the
special order of the day for the 9Th instant.
FALLS OF NIAGARA.
a grant of land to the State of New York in The
construction of the ship canal around the Falls OF
Niagara and moved their reference to the Com
mttee on Commerce.
Mr.. STUART resisted the proposed reference
and said The subject properly belonged to The
Committee on Public Lands, which committee
had reported adversely on the subject
"A debate ensued. during which Mr.. STUART
moved to lay the memorial on the table, which
motion was rejected-yeas IL, nays %. After
further debate. the memorials We're referred TO the
Committee on Commerce.
VERMONT SENATOR.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the
resolution declaring that the Hon. S. S. PHELPS is
entitled to retain his seat in the Senate, senator
from the State Of Vermont .a
Mr.. PHELPS further addressed the Senate in
support Of his claim, and Mr. BADGER replied.
y Mr. FOOT obtained the floor, and on his mo-
ton the subject was postponed.
Alter an executive session,
The Senate adjourned. .#,.. t.