Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-04
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1854.
IN SENATE.

IN SENATE.
The following memorials and petitions were presented
and appropriately referred:
By Mr. WELLER: From L. Frazee, asking Congress
opurchase his patent feboat for the use of the
The memoralist has secured letters patent for his in
veaon and thus describes it The nature Of this nyen
tn consists in combining together buoyan vessels pro-
ply shaped and arranged CONSTRUCTED of India rubber
oilcloh, stuffed with cork the whole combination
sdtutng e-boat possessing all the desirable qualities
for its purposes. For simplicity, which is the great
merit of all important inventions and improvements in
the mechanic arts it cannot be surpassed nspec
ton of the principles upon which it is founded will
prove
BY ilr FEssENDEN: Two petitions from citizens Of
Maine demonstrating against the repeal of the Missouri
compYmse, ond for the prohibition of slavery in the
Terriyries of the United States.
By Mr.. COOPER: From the Representative Committee
OF the Society Of Friends of Pennsylvania New Jersey
Delaware and adjacent parts of Maryland demonstrating
against any extension Of the area of slavery.
Mr.. G. observed that it well known this pecu-
liar class of people Cat least in the State which he had the
honor to represent was very different from those who
would on any occasion seek to do any thing that would
disturb the concord harmony that exists between the
several States They have always been governed by the
principles Of their creed, which ncucates humility and
forbearance towards all men.
MIR. BADGER You mean they are no political
agtators.
Mr. c. Certainly they are no political agitators what
hey do they do conscientousy believing that the subject
gainst which they demonstrate calculated do mis-
hief He thought this mucDwas due to this highly es-
By Mr.. BRODHEAD: Three petitions from citizens of
Pennsylvania, demonstrating against any infringement Of
the Missouri compromise.
The above petitions were severally laid on the table
Mr. PETIT asked and obtained the consent of the Sc
nate to introduce bill granting portion of the public
lands to the States of Indiana Illinois, and Iowa to aid
i'm the construction Of a railroad in said States.
IMPROVEMENTS OF HARBoRs AND RIVERS.
Mr. STUART called up for consideration the following
resolution submitted by him on the 18th instant:
Resolved That the Committee Commerce be they
hereby instructed report the Senate early day
as one can reasonably be prepared bill making appropra
tons for the Improvement Of harbors and rivers.
Mr. HAMLIN would prefer that the subject should not
be pressed at time when there SO thin an attend
ance of the Senate He would suggest that the resou
ton be permitted to lie over for o few days.
Mr. STUART reminded the chairman Of the Commit
tee on Commerce Mr.. HAMLIN) that the resolution had
already been before the Senate for several days. and that
its adoption had more than once been urged. He
ainy should have called it up before had he not been
temporarily occupying the chair for the last or
days. which left him without the opportunity to do So
He was extremely anxious that there should be prompt
action on the subject regarding it he did Of para
mount Importance He deprecated the custom of wait
ing for the action Of the other branch such bills be-
cause they usually sent at late period of the
session that they must be lost least be but very
partially considered and from all he could gather he
no better prospect than heretofore of bill reach
ing the Senate in time for judicious action vote on
the resolution would not commit any Senator in favor Of
the BILL though, when the vote should be TAKEN he would
be quite as glad as the chairman of the Committee
Commerce could be that there should be full attendance
Mr. CASS agreed with every word uttered by his col
league, Mr. STUART) He spoke of the delay of these
appropriations, sometimes reaching into July and August
before they passed the consequence of which was
that the time for beneficial action was lost or at all
events the work executed hastily and far more ex-
pensYey than commenced and progressed with pro-
per season He thought that all these appropriations
should be made early SO that the be prosecut
ed in season. otherwise the expenditures would be lost
He adyerted to the fact of improvements having been
commenced under former appropriations that in
tended 10 DO permanent, and many of which would be
entirely sacrificed for want of prompt continuation of
these appropriations He considered them essentially
necessary for his portion Of the Unon and expressed
decided objection transferring the power Of improving
harbors and rivers from the general to the State author
ties. From the very foundation of the Government
pendtures had been made for the improvement Of har
bors and mouths of rivers and he considered the power
under the constitution clear any general power
could be- and he felt exceedingly anxious that the Senate
should have the subject before it in such way as to
insure action.
OF the Committee on Commerce would not insist upon the
postponemeut of the consideration of the resolution
The other day, when he had moved to consider the bill
just reported from the Committee Commerce for the
removal of distractions at the mouth Of the Mississippi
river the Senator from Michigan Mr STuART) objected,
on the ground that there should be general BILL and
that all bills taken up in detail would only serve to
weaken the interest felt in general measure.
He had lately received letters from engineers and mer
chants of New Orleans showing the necessity that exist
ed for prompt action the bar again fast filing up
for want of the to keep it clear The mouth of
the Mississippi not navigation that interested Lou
isiana alone; the chairman Of the Committee Com
merces State particularly interested indeed, he
might add that the commerce Of the whole country
interested in the issue Last year 900 expended
under contract for the improvement of the mouth of
the Mississippi river and he learned from report of the
WarDepartment that it the only expenditure ever
made there with any beneficial result there had been
depth Of not less than fifteen feet on the BAR but it
was now fast filling up for want of appropriations for
continuing the system of dredging happily
ed Unless the appropriations could be made early there
was danger that works already begun might be destroyed
that any bill containing appropriations for the improve
ment Of the mouth Of the Mississippi should be reported
and acted on at an early day The object of the resou
ton was merely to pave the way for prompt action
subject in which the commerce Of the whole country
more or less interested and he hoped would be adopt
ed at once
Mr.. STUART, in accordance with the wishes of the
chairman of the Committee Commerce, moved that its
further consideration be postponed until Tuesday next
which was agreed to.
The bill from the House Of Representatives establishing
a land office in the lower peninsula of Michigan read
by its title and referred to the Committee Public
Lands.
GENERAL CAss AND LORD CLARENDON.
Mr.. CASS said: Mr. President have discretionary
article in of the London papers which desire to bring
to the attention of the Senate to the attention Of the
Committee on Foreign ENTHUSIASTICALLY to the atten
ton Of the chairman of that committee (M[r. MASON,
whom am glad to in his seat refer TO speech
delivered by Lord Clarendon, the British Secretary Of
State for Foreign Affairs, from which will read few
lines. 1t is Of the extraordinary declarations
hnan aIA t, 1n, hat