Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-08-05


to:
Resove That the President be requested to inform the
Senate if in his opinion be not incompatible with the pub
lie interest," whether thing has arisen since the date OF
his to the House of Representatives of the 18th March
last concerning relations with the Government of Spain,
which, in his opinion, may dispense with the suggestions
therein contained touching the propriety of provisional
measures by Congress to meet exgency that arise
in the recess of Congress affecting those relations
Mr.. JAMES, from the Committee on Patents, reported
digest and index Of patents which have been extended
or renewed by acts Of Congress- with reference to the
act in each case; which was ordered to be printed
% the s h D es
the relief Of VIM. B. Kibbey.
On motion BY Mr.. BRIGHT, the Senate proceeded to
consider the bill to provide for taking charge Of the
Louisville and Portland Canal and to prevent the same
On motion BY Mr. HUNTER, the Senate proceeded to
consider House bill for the relief of Charles Steenrod
and the bill was passed.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
Mr.. HOUSTON then, in compliance with the notice
given yesterday and addressed the Senate for
hour and half in defence Of his political and per-
sonal character which had been assaied in work now
in the Library Of Congress, written by Thomas Jefferson
Green.
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.
Mr.. BENJAMIN moved to proceed to the unfinished
business, being the river and harbor BILL Agreed to-
All the amendments made in Committee Of the Whole
were c0ncurred in the votes taken by yeas and nays in
each case.
Several Of the amendments defeated in committee were
again pressed in the Senate.
Mr.. RUSK renewed his amendment appropriating
$44 900 for the improvement Of Brasos river in Texas
which was agreed to by vote Of Is yeas to Is nays
Mr.. BROWN renewed his amendment authorizing the
Secretary Of War to contract for the purchase Of Grants
Pass the mouth Of the harbor Of Mobile and report
the same at the next session Of Congress for its Approval
and it decided in the affirmative by vote Of "a
yeas to 10 nays
Mr. BENJAMIN moved to strike out the appropriation
for the improvement Of the Appamattox river below Pc
tersburg virgina; which motion was defeated: Yeas
.18, nays %.
Motions made by Mr.. BENJAMIN to strike out the
appropriations for the improvement of the harbor at
Dubuque, in Iowa and also that for the improvement
of Taunton river Massachusetts, severay negaved
Mr.. SLIDELL moved to strike out the appropriation
for Florida which also defeated on call Of the yeas
and nays: Yeas 18, nays 20.
It was three o'clock, when on the question
Of ordering the bill to be read third time the yeas and
nays having been demanded it decided in the afir
native, as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Allen Boil, Benjamin. Glass; Chase, Cooper
Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge of Iowa. Fessenden Fish, Foot
Gillette James, Johnson Jones Of Iowa. Jones Of
nessee Pearce, Petit Pratt Rockwell Rusk Sebastian Sc
ward Slide Stuart Sumner Thompson Of kentucky Thorn
son OF New Jersey, Wade, and Walker-31.
NAYS--Messrs. Adams Atchison, Bright, Brown Clay,
Dawson Douglas Evans, Fitzpatrick, Houston Hunter NAL
ory Mason, Norton Norris Toombs, and, Williams-17.
The bill was then read third time and passed.
The bill has gone to the House with the following
amendments:
The item for continuing the improvement of the Des
$4,000 to one hundred thousand dollars.
The second amendment to add to the item for re-
opening the Albemare Sound, "and this as well
the former appropriation may be used" Sc.
The third amendment is appropriation Of $44, 900
for the improvement of the Brasos river in the State Of
Texas
The fourth is for the survey Of San Pedro Santa Bar
bara Monterey San Francisco, Humboldt and Trinity,
in the State of California and the rivers Sacramento San
Joaquin, and Colorado and the harbor of Apalachcola
Florida, $780, 0OO for survey of breakwater at Graces
Point, Block Island, So, 000
The following section is added:
Sec a. And belt further enacted That the Secretary Of War
be and he is hereby authorized with the proper
parties for the purchase of Grants Pass the
Mobile harbor, the mail route from New Orleans Mobile
and that he report said contract to Congress at its
sion for approval.
There were one or two other amendments, but unim-
portant in themselves.
On motion by Mr.. JONES, of Iowa, the Senate pro-
ceeded to consider the bill from the House Of Represen
tatves for the relief Of Charlotte Westcot and the bill
was read the third time and passed.
Mr. BRIGHT moved that the Senate insist on their
disagreement to the amendments Of the House Of Repre-
sentatves to the bill authorizing the extension of the
and Washington Railroad into the District of
Columbia and agree to committee Of conferences which
was agreed to-