Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-04-17


the Journal, petitions were presented; among
which-r--a-a--#- -=-l..=---
Mr.. Brodhead presented the petition of citi-
gems Of Pennsylvania, for the amending of the
homestead Bill, so that the purchasers Of l6a
acre lots of public land might be refunded
their purchase money, with interest.
Mr. Shields presented petition on the sub.
lect OF 'Spirituaiism," which was signed by
| lo,o00 names, asking that committee of scen-
| tihc men might be appointed to investigat
| into the subject. The Senator read some ex-
| tracts from the petition, in which the phenom-
ena attendant Herewith, were enumerated
and explained that as he never refused to pre-
| sent petition that was properly worded. he
had followed out that course in the present in
stance. After quoting the words of the petit
| ton, that there were two opinions as to the
cause Of the phenomena, the Senator said he
would give third opinion. He believed that
| it was one Of those strange deiusions that had
occupied the mind Of people in all ages -
The Senator then entered infinitely into a
| history of similar popular delusions, beginning
with the Alchymists of the middle ages, and
concluding with the last most celebrated one
of period prior to the French revolution,
| which was patronized and believed in by the
nobility of the French Court; the old ladies
going to the professor of spiritualism Of the day
to purchase immortality, and the young ladies,
| beauty.
The honorable Senator made most humo-
| rous speech, replete with much research upon
the subject and amid, much laughter, handed
| over the petition.
This latter was a long fold on roller made
| as we are informed, of paper with a linen
back and appeared to be written with much
neatness. The Senator presenting it said that
| it was we'll worded.
| Mr.. Weller moved that it should be referred
| to the Committee on Foreign relations
| Mr. Mason at first proposed a select com.
mittee, the presenter to form one; but after
wards moved that it lie on the table, which
| was agreed to.
Mr.. Butler brought up the report of the Ju
dietary COMMITTEES, accompanied by bill,
| founded on that part of the Presidents Mes
| sage which referred to the subject, and moved
that the bill be made the special order of TIT
day for the first Monday in May
Some other business was transacted, an(
several bills read first and second time
among which the bill for graduating the pric,
of public lands, as passed by the House thi
bill, after its second reading, was referred {,
the Committee on Public Lands
On motion by Mr.. Mason, the Senate thel
went into Executive ses sion.
| HoUsE--Mr. Thos. D. Elliott, elected t
succeed Mr.. Zeno Scudder, (resigned) wa
sworn in as the representative from the Is
district of Massachusetts, for the balance @
the current Congress
Mr.. Walbridge moved to suspend the rule
to enable him to offer series of resolution
concerning the rights of neutrals,'' which
we're read for Information; rules not sus
pended.
Mr.. Robbins moved to suspend the rules t
enable him to report back from the Commute
OF Ways and Means the Senate's "clerk's bill,
with a substitute.
After few remarks from Mr. R., explana
tory OF the bill. and in favor of his motion, tn
said substitute was read for information; an,
the rules were suspended-yeas 107, nays 80
Mr. H. moved next to suspend the rule rem
derlng necessary its reference to the Commit
| tee OF the Whole on the state of the Union
agreed to-yeas l06, nays 49,
MIR. Robbins then stated that he had bee
instructed to report the substitute, and did SC
though himself in favor Of the original.
MIR. K. here moved the previous question.
Mr.. Pratt moved to lay the bill on the ia
BILE, on which the yeas and nays were bein
called when our report went tn press