The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-07-29
In CONGRESS OF THE U. STATES
Thirty-F Fourth Congress-First Session.
MONDAY, JULY %, 1856.
SENATE.
ExKoUrIvE COMMUNICATIONS.

SENATE.
ExEoUrIvK COMMUNICATIONS. ....
The PRESIDENT pro tea laid before the Senate a mes
sage from the President of the United States transmitting
for the accommodation Of the post office and other public
offices at PHILADELPHIA which was read and, on motion
and ordered to be printed.
The PRESIDENT pro also laid before the Senate
message from the President Of the United States commun
eating report OF the proceedings council held at Fort
Pierce by Brig. Gen. William +. Harney with delegation
Of nine tribes OF the Sioux Indians accompanied by other
papers the subject with Recommendation carry
into effect the stpuations there agreed upon which
referred to the Committee Indian Affairs and ordered to
be printed. #
The PRESIDENT pro tenn also laid before the Senate
communication from s. H. Huntington, chief clerk of the
Court of Claims transmitting the decisions Of said court in
favor of the claims Of the executor of James Beatty of Err
Fiddler, of Thomas Crown Of Sturgess Bennett Co.,
and of H. and Meyer which was referred to the Com
mitee Of Claims +.
MEMORIALS, PETITIONS, ETC.
Mr. BELL of Tennessee presented petition of large
number of steamboat navigating the Mississippi river
and its tributaries praying appropriation for the
val Of obatructons in the same which laid the t
bic, as the committee had reported on the subject.
Mr. FOSTER presented the petition of James Hail. pray
ing that contract may be entered into for carrying the
mail between the United States aud the ports along the
eastern coast South America which referred 10 the
Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads
NJ HAMLTN presented the petition of Joseph Holman
praying TO be allowed bounty land for military services
the Committee Public Lands.
Mr. BROWN presented the petition of the grand jury of
the criminal Of the District of Columbia praying
appropriation for providing additional accommodations
for the United States courts in that District which
referred TO the Committee the District of Columbia
Mr. D. also presented presentment of the grand jury of
the criminal for the District of Columbia praying
the establishment Of magistrates police court in said
District. They set forth that under the present system
the United States has been subjected by
of the magistrates sending to the of
friy rhara and
monng unnecessary number Of witnesses to establish
the proof They also state that to the time of the pre-
presentment, than hundred witnesses have
been examined and 29l have been investigated;
Of which l72 have been dismissed, the number
of witnesses in these being 2s The number of cases in
which presen have been found is l56 The whole
number of the Jail docket is 46 and OF these
have not been acted for the want Of witnesses and 1T
have been released baed out recognizauce. Thev
ask that the subject may be investigated and that re-
form may be made the time of the grand jury has been
wasted in the examination Of witnesses unnecessarily In
easel which might have been settled by the magistrates
but they fear thatit is useless to hope for any
the there are the the justices of the
and consabes receive The memorial was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary
Mr. JONES, of Iowa, presented q memorial from the
Legislature OF Iowa. praying grant Of land TO aid in the
construction of railroad from McGregors landing on
the Mississippi river to the western boundary of that State
which was referred TO the Committee Public Lands
Mr. FITZPATRICK presented the petition of Henry Lu
cas- praying that certain public land in the State of Ala
baa may be disposed Of at auction and not by private
entry which was referred to the Committee on Public
Lands. a.s..... !. 4 ...aa. ~. ... 2 -. +.
Mr. CLAYTON presented tn, memorial Of Cornelius Van
aerb praying the passage of law authorize the Post
master General to with him for carrying the mail
in steamships from New York TO Southampton, England
which was referred to the Committee the Post Office and
Post Roads
Mr.. Q. also introduced bill in conformity with the
prayer OF the petition which read twice and referred
TO the came committee
REPORT FRoa COMMITTEE
whom was referred the memorial Of Francis Tread WELL
praying extension OF the bountyand laws asked to be
discharged from the further consideration of the same
the object prayed for had already been attained which
was agreed to.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED.
On motion by Mr. PUGH, a resolution was adopted re-
quesng the President of the United States inform the
Senate whether application has been made to him by the
governor Of the State Of California TO maintain the laws
and the peace Of the said State against the usupcd authority
Of organization calling itself the Committee Of Vigilance
Of the city and county Of San Francisco and IL any such
application has been made communicate copy OF and
OF his tbereto also lay before the Senate what
information he may have in respect the proceed
ngs Of the said Committee OF Vigilance.
DIPLOMATIC SYSTEM or THE UNITED STATES
On motion by Mr.. MASON, the Senate preceded to the
consideration Of the bill to amend the act entitled An
to remodel the diplomatic and consular systems Of the
United States" approved March !, 1855.
Mr. NJ explained the objects Of the b brief synopsis
Of which given when the bill was reported Mr. BEN
JAMIN Submitted several amendments which
ally agreed and the bill then read third time and
passed.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS
The Senate then resumed the consideration Of the bills
the calendar making appropriations for harbor and
river improvements and the following debated at
great length, read third time, and passed
The bill making appropriation for the construction OF
harbor at the mouth Of Grand river in the State Of Mich
igan.
Bill making appropriation for the construction Of a
harbor al the mouth Of Black lake. the State Of Mch-
gan.
After an executive session. the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
EXECUTIVE coMSUSIoArioss
The SPEAKER laid before the House communication
from the Navy Department in TO resolution Of
the House asking for Information to the length of
vice Of officers in the navy; which laid on the table