Washington sentinel., 1854-05-05
Gongrsssional.
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
senate.-Thursday, May 4. 1854.

FIRST SESSION.
Senate.-Thursday, May 4, 1854.
SPIRITUAL PHENOMENA.
Mr.. SUMNER presented memorial, signed by
citizens of Wisconsin and Missouri, praying the
appointment off scientific commission TO investi-
gate certain mental and physical phenomena OF
questionable origin and mysterious import that
have Of late occurred in this country and in parts
of Europe, and supposed to be spiritual manifesto
tions. He moved it be laid on the table.
Mr.. SHIELDS suggested that he had presented
a similar memorial, and had been charged with
having smothered il, because he had not moved
also that he would be glad to serve on select
committee, with the senator its chairman to
investigate the subject
Mr.. SUMNER replied that he had not been re-
quested, was the senator, TO move its reference
to select committee. Laid on the table.
Messrs CHASE and SEWARD presented me-
MORALS praying that the Missouri compromise be
not repealed
REDEMPTION OF UNITED STATES STOCKS.
On motion by Mr.. BELL,
Resored Secretary the Treasury requested
to furnish for the information of the Senate, statement
States redeemed since the Sd of March, 1s5 specifying In
such statement the date of the issue of said bonds
rites the rate Of interest when payable and the amount
Of premium paid on each class Of the
REPORT OF EXPLORATION.
On motion by Mr.. JOHNSON:
Resolved That the Secretary Of the Navy be requested
to forward to the Senate the report and charts Lieut.
s. p Lee, late commanding the United States surveying
brig Dolphin.
The report is one Of an exploration made Of the
northern and southern Pacific ocean, OF Behring's
straits, and several other commercial routes to the
east.
DOCUMENTS PRINTED.
On motion by Mr.. BRODHEAD,
ordered That one thousand M copies Of the reports Of the
ofwhich to be furnished for the use of the mint
HEALTH OF EMIGRANTs.
message was received from the President
transmitting copy of certain correspondence be-
tween the Secretary of State and the British min
lister relative to further measures for the safety
health and comfort of immigrants TO the United
States by sea. Referred TO the Select Committee
on the subject and ordered TO be printed.
BILL PASSED.
Mr.. SHIELDS reported back House bill grant
ing the right OF way TO the st. Louis and Iron
Mountain Railroad Company, through certain
military reservations at st. Louis.
THE VETO MESSAGE
The Senate then resumed the consideration O.
the motion by Mr.. HUNTER TO print 10000 addf
tiona copies of the message Of the President ve-
toing the bill granting land TO the several States
for the benefit fthe INDECENT insane.
Mr.. GWIN moved that the further considera
tion of the bill itself be postponed until Monday
week.
Mr.. SHIELDS advocated a posponement of
the subject till later day, He was opposed to
any action on this bill until the homestead bill was
finally disposed Of by Congress. That measure
had been delayed most unjustly for other bills.
He was glad the whole subject of the public lands
had been by this message brought before the al
tention of Congress and he hoped most earnestly
fhat i'm fha a1p ofs
eral fixed system for the administration Of the
public lands
Mr.. PRATT said that if the senator was able 10
inform the Senate that the President would veto
ment of the bill would have some force other
wise he could not see any necessity for postpon-
ing action on this bill till that disposed of
Mr.. SHIELDS said he had no information as TO
the views of the President on the homestead. He
had too much respect for the President to ask him
his opinion on that any other measure; and he
had no doubt but that the President would regard
il as an insult 10 be asked his opinion upon any
measure pending before Congress.
Mr.. HUNTER said that he knew OF no occasion
before this when the consideration Of a message of
the President returning bill with his objections
had been postponed for such length Of time as
now proposed. lie was opposed 10 any post
ponement Of its consideration beyond Monday
next.
Mr.. CHASE also opposed any poslponemet be-
yond Monday next.
Mr.. BAYARD was in favor of considering the
bill at the earliest time.
Mr.. BRODHEAD expressed hmselfi in favor OF
considering the bill now; but if il was to be post
poned, he preferred il should be postponed till
Monday week.
Mr. WALKER agreed with the senator from
Illinois that the bill should be postponed until
after the homestead bill shall have been acted
upon.
Mr.. DAWSON said that if he knew the objects
sought TO be obtained by the motions to postpone,
he could more readily determine what course TO
pursue. If II were true, as il seemed TO be the
general opinion of the Senate, that the the
President did not touch the homestead bill, he
would vote for its postponement If any one, in
the confidence of the President felt authorized to
say that the objections Of the President 10 this bill
applied also to the homestead bill, then he would
be willing TO act upon this bill to-day.
Mr.. BAYARD said that, for one he regarded
the veto message as applicable in principle 10 the
homestead bill
Mr.. DAWSON said he did not think with the
senator. He and other representatives of the old
States had been for some time witnessing the pas
sage OF bills granting away all the public lands for
the benefit of the new States, and, while il was
going, they had thought il wise to secure little
of them for the support of the INDECENT insane
This, however, was now arrested by the veto. If
the President would also veto the homestead bill
and all the other schemes TO give away the public
lands, and hereafter IL was TO be established that
the public lands were the common property of
and were TO be held for the common benefit of all
the States he would go with the President and
sustain him. Ii not, and the system OF giving
away the lands was TO continue, he would go for
a distribution of the proceeds OF the public lands,
the lands themselves, among the several States.
Mr.. GWIN said he desired TO have considered
the Pacific railroad bill, more important measure
than this, and one in no way affected by the veto.
If ths Senate would do So he was willing 10 act
on this message now.
Mr.. SHIELDS suggested that the bill be post
poned ill Monday two weeds
Mr.. BELL said the postponement Of this bill till |
that time, for the purpose Of ascertaining the views