Washington sentinel., 1854-01-11
GonqrrssionaI.
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
senate--Tuesday, January 10. 1854.

THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS-.
FIRST SESSION.
Senate--Tuesday, January I'D, 1854.
The CHAIR laid before the Senate communi-
cation from the Department of the Interior, trans
mltting the report of Willis A. German and X. nj.
Young, commissioners appointed by the President
to investigate the charges preferred against Alex
ander Ramsey, late superintendent of Indian af-
iars Tor Minnesota territory: referred TO the Com
mittee on Indian Affairs.
STATUE OF WASHINGTON.
Mr.. FISH presented the memorial of Henry r.
Brown, praying that he be granted fourteen pieces
OF condemned brass cannon, 10 enable him to cast
an equestrian statue of Washington in New York.
CENTRAL AMERICA.
On motion by Mr. CASS, the message of the
President transmitting certain correspondence re-
ative TO the Clayton Bulwer treaty, was postponed
till tomorrow.
PENSION LAWS.
Mr.. MASON asked and obtained leave to intro
duce bill to allow the payment of invalid pen
sions in certain cases: referred 10 the Committee
on Pensions.
LAND FOR RAILROADS.
Mr.. BRIGHT introduced bill granting 100000
acres of public land 10 each OF the follow ing named
railroad companies TO aid in the construction of
continuous line of railway from Lake Erie 10 the
NOUN OF tue Onlo, anu 10 mobile ana New Or-
leans: The Ohio and New Orleans Railroad Com
pany from the Mobile and Ohio road in Tenncs-
see, TO Paducah KentuckyD the Ohio River and
Wabash Railroad Company0 from Paducah TO
Fincennes in Indiana through Illinois j the South
western Railway company, from Vincennes TO
lndanapols;) the Toledo and Indianapolis Rail
way Company. from Munce TO the Ohio State
line; 10 the Toledo and Indianapolis Railroad
Company in Ohio, from the Indiana line TO Toledo,
on Lake Erie; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on Public Lands.
PRIVATE BILL.
Mr.. GWIN. from the Committee on Finance, re-
ported joint resolution for the relief of George
r. G. Floyd, late secretary of Wisconsin Terri
tory; which was explained, taken up, and passed.
NAIL STEAMERS.
Mr.. SEWARD presented the memorial OF the
citizens OF Brooklyn, New York, praying the es-
tabishment of a line of mail steamers from that
place TO various ports in Germany.
EXTENSION OF THE CAPITOL.
The resolution heretofore submitted by Mr..
JoNEs Of Tennessee, directing an inquiry by the
Committee on Public Buildings as 10 whether any
change has been made in the plan for the exten-
sion of the Capitol, and If so. by what authority
and whether such change involves any additional
expenditure OF money, was taken up and passed.
WESTERN RIVERS AND HARBoRs.
The resolution submitted yesterday by Mr..
JONES, of Iowa. calling upon the War Departm ent
for a statement of the expenditures, made under
tho appropriations of 1852, for the improvement
of western rivers aud harbors, was taken up and
agreed to-
NOTICES OF BILLS.
Mr.. MALLORY gave notice Of a bill to repeal
certain discriminating duties Spanish tonnage.
Also, bill 10 provide suitable building for the
United States district court in the southern dis
trct of Florida.
DEATH OF MR., MUHLEyBERG.
A message was received from the House Of
Representatives, announcing the death of the
Hon. II. A. MuHLENBERG, member of that body
from the State Of Pennsylvania, and communicate
ing the proceedings of the House thereon.
Mr.. BRODHEAD then addressed the Senate
as follows
The melancholy event, Of which the message
from the House Of Representatives gives US
official notice, is Of painful interest in this Capitol
and especially in Pennsylvania. To me- person
ally, it is great afiiction, for the deceased
my friend, in the true sense of the term, tried by
by time and the hour of need. / was much with
him during his protracted and fatal illness. He
breathed his last at my residence last evening at
halfpast ten o'clock; and can now hardly com
mand my feelings and arrange my thoughts in a
manner proper for this occasion.
The name of MUHLENBERG is intimately asso-
ciated with the history Of Pennsylvania ; and
may add with that of this country and govern
ment. Upon the records of the old Continental
congress- anu upon nearly every page OF the MS
tory of our revolutionary struggle, il can be found
| For more than one hundred years the family has
been conspicuous in everything calculated TO ad-
vance the cause of religion, of letters and of good
government
The r.at-grandfather of the deceased an em-
nent scholar and divine, settled at early day,
in Pennsylvania, then almost unbroken wilder
ness, and well earned the name of the Father Of
the Lutheran Church in America. His three sons
one the grandfather of the deceased, were edu-
Gated for the same profession but the difficulties
with our mother country came on their country's
agony called them from the temple and the altar
to the council-board and The camp they welded
their pens and their swords in their country's
cause and became the associates of Washington,
Franklin, Jefferson, Wayne, and Greene and rem
dered good service over almost every part of the
wide field of the revolutionary contest. The bat
tle-felds Of Brandywine, Germantown, Stony Point
and the seige of Yorktown, attest their heroism
The father of the deceased, although he lived in
more peaceful times, was scarcely less dstin-
guished. During the whole Of General Jackson's
presidential term he was a representative in Con-
| gress lie was a statesman without the arts of
the demagogue; wise in council, and resolute in
action. Such a man could not fail TO attract the
attention of President Jackson, and entertaining
the same political views, they were, consequential
| personal and political friends. He was, subj
quently, our Minister at the Court Of Austria an
on his return, was nominated as the democratic
candidate for governor Of Pennsylvania his native
ctdtt- Ills Responded 10 MS nomination
a way that demonstrated their confidence in their
chosen chief, but he was stricken down with the
banner in his hands, and died but short time be-
fore the election.
His son, HENRY A. MuHLENBERe. my deceased
friend, not depending upon the fame and fortune
left him by his ancestors, is too often the case
in this country, thought it his duty TO make him
self useful in his day and generation, and lay in
large stock of reputation on his own account. He
possessed the qualities of head and heart to enable
him TO do it. He was honest and Industrious sa-
gacious and patient. Although man of selfreli-
ance and iron-will, Essential ingredients in the
composition of leading mind,) his pretensions
never exceeded his real merits. He was the most
fearless person ever knew in the discharge OF
duty. He never sought security from censpre by
prudent silence or timc-serving neutrality And
great were the qualities of his mind, they were
fully equaled, If not ecpsed by those of his heart
Thousands throughout the country. and some of
the members Of this body, who have shared his
hospitality, will attest the truth of this remark
On my way TO this place was a guest for days,
with my family, in his hosptable mansion.
Although but about thirty years of age, he had