Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-02-20
DOINGs OF CONGRESS.

SESATE.-The business this morning consist.
ed mainly in the presentation of petitions me.
| MORALS, &c; several against the repeal of the
Missouri Compromise having been presented
by Messrs. Chase, Foot, Fish, Everett and
| Sumner.
Mr.. johnson, of Arkansas, brought in q bill
| to organize the territory inhabited by certain
| Indian tribes, and moved that one thousand
| additional copies of the bill might be printed
| Read twice and committed.
MIR. Bayard reported favorably from the
| Committee on the joint resolution for allowing
| supplementary contract to furnish marble fol-
the Capitol extension. The expense would be
| Sl4S, 900.
| Some other business was then transacted
| after which,
| Mr.. Petit spoke on the Nebraska bill, pre-
| facing his speech by reading from a news
paper the foreign news received bv the Baltic
| on the Eastern War He thanked God thai
this country was not involved in the dire
catastrophe. He then alluded to the weather
| and said that it might be expected his mind
and feelings would participate with the
weather. The Hon. Senator was speaking
when we left.1
HousE.-To-day, after the reading of the
Journal
Mr.. Latham reported back from the Com
| mittee on Public Lands the Senates bill ex-
| tending the presumption privilege to Cali
| fornia
Mr.. L. argued in favor of the immediate
enactment of this bill, as the similar right now
enjoyed in California, under the act of March
1853, would cease to exist in March next Ii
had been unanimously sanctioned by the Com
mttee on Public Lands
Mr.. l.. explained that as it would be impos-
| sible to bring the public lands in California
! into market regularly for years, under the sur
| veying system, unless this bill re-enacted all
Permanent settlement of public lands. These
would be impossible, without the enactment of
tins bill, which only extended pre- emption
| rights tor two years, at the end of which time
1T was Probable that the lands there will have
been Surveyed
After fusther remarks from Mr. L., this bill
| was duly passed.
MI W arIea reported back from the Commit
| tee on Public lands, the bill extending grants
OF lands Tor military service to the extent OF
lou acres each, t. classes of persons who have
not heretofore beea included in such grants
i;om the Generai u>vernment; and increasing
the quanuty TO LOU ceres each, granted to ali
persons who have received ONLY 40 or so acre
warrants, with RECOMMENDATION that it do
not pass.
, MIR. W. accordingly mo-ed to lay the bill on
the table, but withdrawing that motion by re-
quest, the letter from the Secretary of the In
terror explaining the effect Upon the Govern
ment's land system, and the receipts from sales
OF the public lands Tin the Treasury likely to
result fpm the enactment of this hill vas
read from the Clerks table.
Mr.. Fbrence, moving to refer the bill and
letter to the Committee of the Whole on the
state OF the Union addressed the House to
show tn propriety of thorough investigation
before inally acting on the BILL as It was
drawn ap in answer to numerous petitions
from ptsons who had served in tho war of
1872. -
Mr.. zones, of Tenn, renewed the motion to
lay thtbil on the table -
Il Mr.. Richardson asked to have Tuesday.
Wedneday and Thursday next set apart for
the confederation OF organized territorial bust
ness.
i Subsequently modifying this motion ION con-
versatn with Messrs. Orr and Jones, of Tenn. J
to setspart Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs
day q week aftor next; it was agreed to. ls