Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-05-13
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS
SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1854.
The SENATE was not in session TO-DAY.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

Mr.. WASHBURN, of Maine, by consent presented re-
resolutions Of the Legislature Of that State which w,r
laid on the table and ordered to be printed, viz:
resolution in relation to the claims Of the State
Maine upon the United States for lands taken and re
qured to be taken to satisfy claimants under the treaty
of Washington. .
ed States by every principle Of justice and national
honor bound to speedy provision for the ndem
MITIGATION of those citizens who suffered by French spoia
lions on Amerioan commerce prior to the ratification Of
the treaty of 1850.
PUBLIC LANDS.
Mr.. STEVENS, of Michigan, from the Committee on
Public Lands reported bill to aid the Territory of Min
nesota in the construction of railroad therein.
Before the bill was read twice Mr. s. asked to have it
put its passage. He stated that it for the con-
srucon OF railroad from the southern line Of the Ter
rtory of Minnesota, beginning between ranges nine and
seventeen running thence by the feasible route
st. Paul, the Mississippi river, and thence, in the
direction Of Lake Superior towards the eastern bounda
ny of the Territory s5
question order was raised whether the report could
be received without the unanimous of the House
whether it within the purview of the resolution set
ting aside this week for the consideration of Territorial
business? 1
The SPEAKER decided that the bill related to Ter
ritoria business it was competent for the committee
report it to the House ut the present time.
Mr. HAVEN, to obtain the sense of the House on the
| subject appealed from the decision of the Chair
Some conversation ensued when &s#
Mr.. EDGERTON moved to lay the appeal on the table
upon which motion the yeas and nays were demanded
| and ordered.
Mr.. FLAGLER moved that the House adjourn, which
motion was disagreed to-: Yeas 5s nays So.
Mr.. HAVEN then withdrew his appeal. sG.
The bill was then read the first time when
Mr.. HAMILTON objected to its second reading
The SPEAKER stated that, objection had been
made to the second reading Of the BILL the question was
" Shall this bill be rejected Z" which was debatable.
Mr.. STEVENS, Of Michigan, said that he had been
urged to withdraw the BILL and thatit had been suggest
ed to him that no was taking the House BY surprise
maely had place there. Now, he protested against
any charges or complaints Of this kind He the
last member to do unfair thing He would not intro
duce bill which did not legtmately belong here nor
would he take the House by surprise and thereby obtain
the passage of the BILL God knew he would do such
thing that He had been instructed by the Committee
on Public Lands to report this bill gentlemen from the
Territory Of Minnesota who had interest in this mat
had urged and requested him to report it this
ing He gave them his word that he would do SO, and
gentleman he was fulfilling his promise to them
He had personal interest in the measure. 1t did,
however, affect his district we'll the United States
at large, and Of those bills which, perhaps
than any other should be passed The interests it in
volved not alone confined to the Territory of Min
nesota for the proposed road when the chain of which
it but single link should be complied, would give
steam communication from the Gulf Of Mexico to the
Gulf Of ST. Lawrence and would also connect with the
Atlantic coast by way of the Erie canaand other means
Of communication.
He then explained the difference between this bill and
the one of the Senate which rejected some time
since by the House While the Senate bill proposed to
donate lands in Iowa, in Minnesota and in Wisconsin,
the before the House confined tothe Territory
Minnesota alone, and proposed to graft but $4,000
Of land In conclusion, he demanded the previous
question. G
Mr.. MEACHAM moved that the House adjourn; which
motion decided in the negative: Yeas77, nays 70.
Mr. LANE, of Oregon, moved that the House 60 into
Committee of the Whole the state Of tie Union. He
hoped this the last day for the consideration of
Territorial business under the order Of thu House, that
his motion would prevail.
Mr. LETCHER moved that the House adjourn; which
motion decided in the affirmative Yeas 49, nays &c.
And the House accordingly adjourned