Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-04
TUESDAY, JANUARY 81, 1854.
IN SENATE.

The PkESlDENF OF senate lald before the Douy
communication from the Secretary Of War; made in COM
pance with resolution Of the Senate Of the Sd instant
calling for information in relation to the improvements OF
the Arkansas river which ordered to lie on the ia
Also the first part of the report Of the Commissioner
of Patents which laid the table and ordered to
| be printed.
Mr.. WADE from the Committee of Claims reported .
bill for the relief OF John Bronson
/ Mr.. BRODHEAD, from the Committee of Claims, re-
ported bill for the relief of John P. McElderry
| Mr.. BADGER, from the Committee on Finance, to
which was referred the bill allowing credit for limited
period for duties railroad iron imported into the United
States, reported back the with amendment.
! On motion by Mr.. PEARCE,
Resore That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed
communicate I'd the Senate statement showing
money has been collected and paid under the
the Goth June 1884, and Goth May $780, to the
specvey Of the following named vessels SUNK for the de-
fence Of the harbor Of Baltimore witt ship Scoto, schoon
Packet, ship Packet brig Ann, brig Betey brig George
ship Adrana, schooner scudder, brig Blanche, brig Sally
ship Mars soop Rosana schooner Enterprise brig Eliza
brig Swallow schooner Columbia, ship Thomas Wilson, and
| ship Chesapeake.
| On motion by Mr.. MALLORY, yE
Resolved That the Committee the Judiciary be instruct
ed inquire into the expedency Of providing for appeals
from the district of the United States in the State
Florida to one of the circuit courts Of the United States in all
of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction in which the
in controversy be less than $4,000 exclusive Of
| costs.
! On motion by Mr. DODGE, of Iowa,
Reolred That the Committee the Post Office and Post
Roads be instructed inquire into the expedeney Of eab
fishing post from Macedonia via Bethlehem, Glen
| wood, in Iowa. .-
| Mr. CLAYTON submitted the following resolution:
Resoped That the President be requested communicate
the Senate If incompatible with the public interest
United States and Great Britain in regard to the Sandwich
Islands, including copies of all communications between the
Secretary of State and Mr. Fox the British Minister during
lS4S and 1884, in regard to the independence of
those Islands, and especially of the letters of Mr. Fox Mr.
Upshur of the 25th june 1S43 and of Mr. Upshur to Mr.
Fox of the 9Th July ALSO copy any protest other
in regard the seizure of those Islands by Lord
George Pawle commander of her Britannia Mnjesys ship
"Carysfor and of any reply of this Government thereto
| BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Mr.. FOOT bill to incorporate the National Pa
cfc Railroad Company; which read and referred
the select committee appointed on that subject
By Mr. PRATT: bill to incorporate the National Ho
tel Company Of Washington city.
capital stock Of the company amounts to $500 OOO
be divided into five thousand shares of hundred
dollars the company be conducted by president
md six directors to be elected by stockholders.
By Mr.. MALLORY:A bill to constitute Palatka ana
Bayport, in the State Of Florida, ports of delivery
spectively
/ SALARIES OF GOVERNMENT CLERKS.
| On motion by Mr.. ADAMS, the Senate proceeded to
consider the bill amend the third section Of the act
making appropriation for the civil and diplomatic
penses of the Government.
Mr. ADAMS explained the object of the BILL which was
intended to be temporary in its character They
about to investigate the whole subject, and arrange
proper classification of all the clerks in the employ Of Go
vernment ".
brief discussion ensued in which Messrs. CLAYTON,
HUNTER, BELL, BRODHEAD, ADAMS and others par
| ticpated when the bill amended and passed
| LAND TO WISCONSIN.
! On motion by Mr. WALKER, the Senate proceeded to
consider the bill granting portion Of the public lands to
the State of Wisconsin to aid in the construction of rail-
road and branches in said State.
Mr.. WALKER having made brief exposition Of the
objects of the bill
/ Mr. DAWSON did not believe that they had the right
/ or 10 NAL any disDostiou of uhc
lands but if they had the right it ought to be
csed in such way to do equal and exact justice to all
the States Of the Union He wished the bill to lie
he might have time for its investigation He expressed
the opinion that the emergency of the not such
to demand hasty action. If the old States in
tendedto assert their rights to share of these lands
the time to do and therefore they ought not
to embarrass themselves by establishing precedens for
giving away the public domain before the general prin
cple which it should be granted was fixed.
i Mr.. DOUGLAS expressed the opinion thai the bill
would lead to debate and hence felt compelled to
its postponement with view to take up the Nebraska
BILL
Mr.. WALKER felt bound to advocate the bill because
instructed by his Legislature to do He had discussed
it fully prior session. and had nothing new to adj
vance He wished very much however to get direct
vote the bill and have the subject off his mind. If
the Senator from Ohio mr. CHASE was ready to proceed
in his speech the Nebraska BILL he would that
his bill should lie over
Mr.. CHASE observed that, far his personal con-
venence concerned he would rather the special
/
DoUGLAs in his opening speech had referred certain
historical facts and documents that would require
examination his (Mr. Cs) part, but in consequence
of other engagements he had not had opportunity
| do so.
Mr.. DOUGLAS made brief reply, and the debate was
continued by Messrs. CHASE, DOUGLAS, CASS, VEL
LER, CLAYTON, SEWARD, BRoDHEAD, GWIN, BAD
| GER, and others
Mr. FOOT moved postpone the further consideration
of the subject until Friday at o'clock and the question
taken by yeas and nays and decided in the Affirmative
Yeas 30, nays IA.
| So the further consideration postponed.
The bill granting land Wisconsin to aid in the
struction of certain railroads was motion of Mr. WAL
KER, taken up and passed.
| BILLS PASSED.
The following bills, ordered be engrossed Friday
last, were severally read third time and passed:
bill for the relief Of Geo. NJ. Bouton, Geo. Wright
and the'widow of Marvin w. Fisher.
| bill for the relief of Jacob Gideon.
bill for the relief Of the legal Of the
late Capt VIM. G. Williams.
/ OFFICERS OF THE ARMY, &C.
On motion by Mr. SHIELDS, the Senate proceeded TO
consider the bill promote the officers of the army by
retiring disabled officers.
Mr. HUNTER argued against any preciptate action on
this bill 1t important subject aud should be duly
considered In his opinion il would be much better
fix certain day for its consideration.
Mr.. SHIELDS said that this bill had passed the Senate
three several times and had been thoroughly considered
by the Military Committee and had the sanction Ct the
War Department. lie spoke Of the Importance of these
military bills which he considered quite great that
OF any others and if they be postponed until the
privileged question, the right Of Senator seat and
the Nebraska bill were disposed of no feared they would