The true Democrat., 1856-12-30
Tuesday,, Dee. g.
Senate convened.

| Tuesday,, Dec 23 Senate convened
 i Prayer by the chaplain.
 Mir. Scogin asked and obtained leave of ab- sence for Mir. AslSew on account of sickness I Mr. Keith introduced bill for the relief of Garland Silvey and others" which was read two several times anl referred to the committee on swamp and overfowed lands.
 Senate bill "to provide for revising and digesting the Statute laws of Arkansas" was amended and passed.
 MT. Coker offered preamble and resolution, which was amended by striking out the pream- Die and some words in the body of the resolu- ton, and then adopted as follows
 Be st resolved, That the secretary of the l swamp land board, be respectfully requested to make full report of the whole proceedings oi the late meeting of the swamp land board of commissioners held and commenced on the 10th of December, 1856.
 1st. How much was allowed by said board to be audited for issuance of scrip?
 2d. How much was allowed to each commits sioner?
 Sd. How much was allowed to each engi- neer? And also to furnish the Senate with correct certified copy of each engineers account, and if said engineers have received any other compensation as sub commissioners, and if they have been allowed any amount for travelling expenses, and if so, how much, and if they have been paid in swamp land scrip at par or not, and if any discount has been allowed, how much?
 4th. Also to inform the Senate if any con. tracts have been entered into by any of the commissioners of the swamp land board for levee work since the 1st day of November, l856 and if so, how many and which of the commissioners or sub-commissioners made those contracts, and with whom made, and how many miles let to contract, and what the price agreed on and how long the contractors have to per- form their contract
 And that the secretary of the Senate furnish a copy of this resolution to the secretary of the swamp land board and request an early reply thereto.
 MT. Floyd introduced bill ito levy poll tax on slaves" which was read twice and re- ferred to the committee on ways and means. Mr. Scogin, from the joint committee on the Penitentiary, reported bill Ito provide for the construction of block of additional cells in the main building within the walls of the Penitentiary, and for other purposes" which was read first time, and POO copies ordered to be printed.
 MT. Keith offered a joint resolution making 1t the duty of the public printer to print the Reports of the Supreme Court and Revised Sta tutes of this State.
 Which was read three several times and adopted.
 MT. Ferguson, from select committee, re- ported upon Senate bill Ito authorize Desha county to ievy and collect a road tax"
 On motion of MT. Craighead the county of Mississippi was added to the provisions of the bill, which as amended, was read third time and passed.
 The Senate took recess until 2l5 o'clock
 Al the appointed hour the Senate convened.
 message received from the Governor stating that he had on the 22d December, 1856, approved and signed "An act more fully to define the duties of clerks and comparing jus tces or houSehoders of elections and to prevent them from rejecting any pollbooks of cleo uons," also, " An act to change the times of holding the circuit court in the several judicial circuits, and to change the time of holding the county and probate courts of Chicot county" and also, two joint resolutions instructing our Senators and Representatives in Congress to procure all increase of service from tri-weekly to daily mails on the route from Little Rock to Washington, in Hampstead county, and to pro- cure additional compensation to the contractors of said route for extra service heretofore per formed and the other to procure a weekly mail route from Perryvlle, Uia certain post offices 10 lntersect the mail route running southward from Fort Smith,
 MT. Royston, chairman of a select committee, to whom was referred House memorial and joint resolution asking Congress to establish Lranch of the United States district court at Paraclifta in Scvier county, reported favorably tttar l.l. mittee.
 MT. Clark reported adversely in the minority of said committee.
 On motion of Mr. Hammond the majority report was adopted, and,
 On motion of Mr. Royston, the Senate con- cured in the memorial and resolution
 House joint resolution inslructing our dele gation in Congress to procure the passage of an act granting to this State all the public lands yet unsold, within the same, for the use of in- ternal Improvements, was taken up and on motion of Mir. Floyd, referred to the committee on memorials.
 (Narious joint resolutions concerning mail routes Ill this State, were taken up and concur red in, as received from the House. They will be specified by description when signed and ap- proved by the Governor)
 House joint resolution instructing our dele gauon in Congress to procure the enactment of law confirming titles to all lands entered un- der the graduation act of August 4th, 1854, and transferred to innocent purchasers previous to making the necessary proof of settlement and occupancy by the original purchasers, was taken up and being read,
 On motion of MT. Hammond the Senate con- cured therein.
 House joint resolution instructing our dele gaton in Congress to secure, under proper re- strictons, donation of lands to this State for the use of the Little Rock and Napoleon Rail- road was taken mp and being read,
 On motion of Mir. Ferguson, the Senate con- cured therein.
 The Senate adjourned until Friday morning 10 o'clock.