The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-21
CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES.
MONDAY, APRIL II, 1854.


Mr. ABE presented the petition OF one hundred and
fifty citizens of Ohio demonstrating against any infringe
ment Of the Missouri Compromise which ordered TO
lie ON the table
s Mr. HAMLIN presented documents in relation TO the
claim OF the heirs Of Nathan Daggett to compensation for
services during the revolutionary war; which, together
with sundry papers the files of the Senate in relation
the same claim, were referred TO the Committee Pen
sons.
Mr.. H. also presented the remonstrance public
ing held at Point Isabel in the State Of Texas against the
removal of the custo-house from that place and change
OF the port Of entry from there TO Brownsville also the
memorial Of 5. missing praying that the cusom-house
may not be removed from Point Isabel TO Brownsville
Texas; which referred TO the Committee Com
merce.
Mr. FISH presented memorial of the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company of New York protesting against the annnL
of their for the transportation of the mails
which referred 10 the Committee on the Post Office
and Post Roads
Mr. SUMNER presented the petition Of the women of
Sandsed Massachusetts, demonstrating against the pas
sage OF any act directly indirectly egazng slavery in
the Territories OF the United States which ordered to
lie on the table.
Mr. also presented two petitions of inhabitants of An
dover Massachusetts, praying reduction of the rates Of
ocean postage; which were referred to the Committee
the Post Office and Post Roads.
Mr. s. also presented petition signed by Mrs. Harriet
Beecher Stowe and other Of Andover, Massachu
setts praying reduction Of the rates OF postage
which was referred TO the Committee the Post Office
and Post Roads
Mr.. SEWARD presented additional documents in rela-
ton to the claim Of the representatives Of John Shulh for
remuneration for services rendered by him during the
dictionary which referred to the Committee
Revolutionary Claims.
Also from citizens Of Berrien county,
Michigan against the passage of the Nebraskakansas bill
which ordered to lie on the table.
Mr.. BRODHEAD presented memorial signed by ct-
zens Of Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, praying
that the homestead bill may be so amended that each
citizen who has heretofore purchased hundred and
sixty acres of public land may be refunded the amount
paid by him. with interest thereon which ordered to
lie on the table.
Mr. b. also presented memorial of the Board of Trade
and Merchants Exchange of Pttsburg Pennsy
tnrfh
bar at the mouth of the Mississippi river which was
ferred TO the Committee on Commerce.
Mr. JONES, of Iowa. presented petition Of citizens of
Marshall county, Iowa. praying the establishment OF a
mail-roue from Toledo to III Dorado in that State which
referred to the Committee the Post Office and Post
Roads.
Mr. MASON presented a petition Of citizens Of Aexan-
dria Virginia praying reduction of the Of
postage which was referred to the Committee on the Post
Office and Post Roads
Mr. DODGE, of Wisconsin presented petition of the
State Historical Society of Wisconsin, praying that copies
of our national medals may be struck in bronze and dis
-tribued which referred to the Committee the
Library. ~
Mr. DODGE, of Iowa. presented the memorial of L. +.
Truesde proposing for certain compensation in land to
construct good road from point Council Bluff
70 California to establish line Of coaches thereon for
transporting the mails and passengers and also to con-
structa line of telegraph upon certain conditions
Ordered, That of the memorial as relates
construction of road be referred to the Committee
Public Lands and that much thereof relates to the
transportation OF the mails of tee
graph be referred to the Committee the Post Office and
Post Roads.
+ Mr.. JOHNSON. present to the Senate the memorial
of Rev d. McManus, chaplain in the army at Fort
Gibson, praying TO be allowed land warrants which
move may be referred to the Committee Pensions
do not know upon what ground exactly to base the
claim of the petitioner and others occupying his stu
alton in what light their position may be regarded in
reference 70 the application made but move to
fer the memorial TO the Committee Pensions, il
aes 10 the establishment Of feature in the pension
laws or bounty laws and glad be permitted
say, in connexion with it this time that if they
connected with the army, and had permanent position,
and did accompany troops in the with Mexico, IT
seems to me they ought not 10 be excluded from the com
pensson which has been given to Others. They are a
meritorous class and if they far recognised be
connected with the army to have been retired il
20 that they ought not 10 be excluded from the
grants and benefits which have been made TO Others in the
army.
The memorial was referred to The Committee on PEN
sions
PAPERS WITHDRAWN AND REFERRED.
Mr. DODGE, of Iowa. asked leave to withdraw from the
files Of the Senate the petition of Benjamin Arnold praying
remuneration for property destroyed during the last
with Great Britain aud that the be referred to the
Committee of Claims; which agreed TO.
Mr. STUART asked leave TO withdraw from the files OF
the Senate the memorial OF members Of the bar AT Detroit
Michigan praying increase of the salary of the United
States district judge Tor Michigan and the proceedings Of
the meeting AT which II adopted and that the same be
referred 10 the Committee the Judiciary; which was
agreed to.
SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATIONS.
Mr. SHIELDS. Mr. President beg leave 10 present to
the Senate petition with thirteen thousand names
appended TO It. upon very singular and novel subject.
The petitioners represent that certain physical and mental
phenomena of mysterious import have become prevalent
IN this country and Europe engross large share Of
public attention.
partial analysis OF these phenomena the exist
ence-
First OF force which Is exhibited ia sliding,
raising aIesng holding suspending and otherwise dis
turbne pondsabe bodies apparently in direct opposition
70 the acknowledged laws OF matter and ranscendng the
accredited powers Of the human mind
N Of yar md Of
different degrees Of intensity appear in dark where
developed, and where there Of generating
electricity or Of producing combustion.
Thirdly, variety OF sounds, frequent in occurrence,
and div crsfed IN character and of singular significance
aud import consisting Of mysterious rappngs indicating
the presence Of invisible intelligence Sounds often
heard like those produced by the prosecution of mechanic
cal operationske the hoarse Of the winds and
waves mingled with the harsh creakng noise of the
and rigging Of ship laboring in rough Concls
sions also occur resembling distant thunder producing
oscatory movements Of surrounding objects, and rem
uous motion Of the premises upon which these phenomena
occur Harmonious sounds OF human voices and other
sounds resembling those of the fife dram trumpet &C.
have been produced without any visible agency.
Fourthly. All the functions Of the human body and
mind are influenced In what appears TO be certain sbnor
nal states Of the system by causes not vet adequately
power frequently interrupts the normal operation of the
faculties suspcndng sensation and voluntary notion and
reducing the temperature OF the body deatlkc cold
aud gidity and diseases hitherto considered in
curabe have been entirely cradicaed by this mysterious
agency
The petitioners proceed state that opinions pre-
vail with respect 90 the origin Of these phenomena. One