The true Democrat., 1856-12-30
LEaIsLArURE
SENATE.
 Friday, Dec. ls. Senate convened 2 Prayer by the chaplain.


 Prayer by the chaplain.
 The roll was called
 MT. Redmond presented the petition of J C. Merrill, of Des Arc, Arkansas, representa-. that on the 18th of January, 1855, he was sum mored to appear as a witness before the s,,prem, court in the case of the State rs Ellis, that un controllable circumstances prevented him iron appearing at the precise hour at which he Wa. summoned to appear, and representing also 1 that he was afterwards arraigned to answer "foi contempt of the said court'' in publishing cer. tain editorials in his paper, the " Des Are Citi- zen,' in consequence of all which proceeding he sustained damages, amounting in the aggre. gate to Sl0,392 all, or portion of which he petitions the Legislature to allow him. | Which petition was read, and on motion ol Mr. Hammond, referred to a select committee ot five, consisting of Messrs. Cain, Hammond Floyd, Redmond and Pennington.
 Mir Jones presented the petition of Messrs Hamilton S Dobson, of Wittsburg, Arkansas asking the Legislature to pass an act refunding to them the sum of S56 64, amount of taxes paid by them to the sheriff of St. Francis coun- ty, on a stock of goods which they expected to- but did not purchase.
 Which petition was read, and was on motion
  claims.
 Mir. Clark, on leave, introduced Senate. bill to be entitled An act for the relief of person s purchasing swamp and overfowed lands, be- fore the time that they are subject to entry un- der existing laws' Which was read a first time.
 On motion of Mr. Humphreys, the Senate chamber was tendeled to Rev. James Bruton for divine services on each Sabbath.
 Mir. Royston, on leave, introduced bill to be entitled An act ameudatory of chapter 59 of the Digest of the Revised Statutes of the State of Arkansas, under the head of Dower." Which was read the first and second times, and referred to the committee on the judiciary. message was received from the House of Representatives stating that they had passed a bill entitled "An act to grant charter to B. V. King for the purpose of building a toll- bridge across Cadron Creek, in Conway county"
 Also, a bill entitled An act to change the name of Mary Eliza Mathews, of Union coun- ty, to Mary Eliza Reeves. Also, bill entitled "An act concerning es- trays in the county of Polk" Also, a bill entitled An act concerning iu- TOTS and witnesses in the State"
 Mr. Watkins, on leave, introduced bill to be euIllled " An act to amend the law ln regard to the pay of witnesses before the grand juries in this State.'
 Which was read the first and second times, and referred to the committee on the judiciary. On motion of Mr. Clark, Senate bill to be entitled An act to lessen the expenditure and hasten the reclamation ofthe swamp and over flowed lands," was taken up, and being read, Mr. Clark offered to amend as follows:
 Amend section by adding:
 Provided, That no swamp and overfowed land scrip shall hereafter be issued except in the discharge of contracts now existing by the terms of which the parties are legally entitled to receive the same"
 Mr. Royston offered the following amend ment to the amendment:
 ind proUided, also, That swamp lands shall hereafter be sold for cash or scrip at the option of the purchaser at the prices now prescribed by law.'
 Which was accepted by Mr. Clark as part of his amendment.
 The amendment as amended was then adopt ed by vote of l5 yeas and 10 nays
 The Senate adjourned until tomorrow morning. 10 o'clock