Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-04-21
Cungrrss.


seat in tile Senate. to take effect on tne S9tn
Of May next
Mr.. Foot submitted resolution, directing
an inquiry into the expediency of making
an appropriation for the purchase Of a cite
and the erection Of Custom House at Bur
lngton, VI.
Mr.. Petit presented petitions praying that
steps may be taken to colonze and civilize
the Indians at Puget's Sound, in Washing
ton Territory.
Mr.. Fisk's resolution, offered on Mon
day, calling for the correspondence held by
Mr. Barnard, while Minister of the United
States at Berlin, was taken up and adopted.
Mr. Hunter reported back the Indian APP.
preparation bill, with amendments.
The bill for the relief Of John McAvoy
was taken up and passed.
Mr.. Pratt presented memorial from the
merchants of Baltimore and others, asking
for the repeal of all duties on diamonds and
other precious stones.
Mr. Rusk introduced a bill providing that
all railroad companies which shall contract
with the United States TO carry mails,
troops, munitions of war, &c, free Of charge
and allow the Postmaster General to regu-
late the manner and times of transportation,
shall be allowed to import free of duty all
iron required for the use of such roads; and
to all double track roads who shall contract
as aforesaid. there shall be granted six Sec
tions Of public lands for each mile of such
road.
The bill was referred
At half.past II the Senate went into Exc
cutive session.
HousE.-Mr. Columbia Lancaster, dele
gate from Washington Territory, was intro.
duced to the House, and took the oath TO
support the Constitution, &c.
The bill empowering the Postmaster Gen
eral 10 contract for carrying the mail be-
tween New Orleans and San Francisco ac-
cofding TO the time occupied therein, was
then taken up.
Messrs. Hamilton and Phelps opposed the
bill, on the ground that it would cause an
enormous increase of the expenses of the
Post Office department
The bill was then tabled, by vote of 80
to 50.
The House next went into Committee on
the bill graduating the price of public lands
according to the time they have been IN the
market, and after debate adjourned.
THURSDAY, April ID.
SENATE. e In the Senate, Mr.. Stewart re-
ported back the House bill establishing a
new land district in the lower district OF
Michigan aud II passed.
MIR Ca>s offered a resolution Of inquiry
relative to granting land for a railroad from
Iron Bay, in Michigan, to Little Bay des
Noquetie.
An executive session was then held.
The Senate remained IN executive session
until o'clock, and then adjourned unit
Monday.
HousE.-The House ordered 90 900 ad
ditonal copies of Lieuts. Ilerndon and Glib
0on's report on the Survey of the Amazor
rlver
Mr.. Gray asked leave 10 introduce a reso
luton calling unon the Postmaster Genera
to furnish to the House copies of the rule:
and regulations adopted by him, which deny
to the members of the Committee on ia,
Post Office the right of going into the otfic.
above during office hours, and examining The
public records. And, further, that the Post
master General abolish all such resolutions.
Agreed to and referred to Committee OF
Post Offices.
Mr.. Odds, from the Committee on Pos
Offices, reported bill modifying the rate
of postage.
The BIZ was debated at length, and post
poned for two weeks.
The House went into Committee on tn,
Land Graduation bill Several amendment
we're adopted, and the bill was reported 4
the House.
The bill provides for the sale OF land
which have been in the market for ten year
at one dollar per acre; fifteen years, seven
/ Y-hve cents twenty years, fifty cents
twen,y FIVE years, tweiny Eve cents thur
years or more, twelve and a HAIR son,s.-
Provided, nothing shall be SO construed a
to extend to lands reserved TO the Unite
States in the acts granting lands to tn
States for railroad purposes or other interna
improvements, or to mineral lands held q
owe, one dollar and quarter per acre no
SO Construed rs 10 interfere with any RICH
which has accrued, or may he eafter accrue
by virtue of any act granting preemption t
actual settlers on public lands.
Mr.. Badger moved that the bill be laid Of
the table. LOst-yeas &c, nays 60.
Pending the question of ordering the bill
to be engrossed for third reading, III,
House adjourned.
FRDAr, April "A.
lloUsf.-ln the House today, the bill Il
reduce the prices of the public lands wa
ordered to be engrossed for the third read
I idg. by vote OF ~ to %.
The bill was afterwards passed the Hous
| by % TO "a.
The House went into Committee on In
| Senate's amendments to the West Poin
Academy bill, and afterwards adjourned t
Monday.
MONDAY, April IL.
SENATE.-In the Senate, several petitions
and memorials were presented on variou
subjects including the remOnslrahce agains
I the Nebraska bill, aud a memorial iron
ID coo believers III spiritual manifestations
praying of Congress 10 investigate tn,
natter
the Senate then went into executiv,
session.
HoUsF.-In the House today, Thoma
d. Eliot, Representative from Massachu
sets took his seat.
Mr. Wabrdge, Of New York, submii tet
II resolution, declaring that
The United States deem il proper, il
view of the existing wlr in Europe, 4
make known that every American yesse
engaged in the lawful pursuits of com
merce is held by the Government to be
! protected by the flag that covers her. anC
which shall be the evidence of her ma.
tionality and that we attach TO all sucl
Vessels a character of sovereignty, con,
sldcring them part of our territory, and
that as such they should be kept nvlolable.
The House refused to suspend the rules
] yeas As, nays not counted.
The resolution was afterwards referred 70
the Committee on Foreign Affurs.
A bill from the Committee Of WAYS and
Means, for the purpose of increasing the
salaries of clerks and subordinate officers
in the Executive Departments, gave rise tc
a long debate. in which the policy of al
economical expenditure OF the money Of the
people was strongly insisted on by some o.
the speakers.
Without disposing of the matter, the
House adjourned.
TUESDAY, April Is.