The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-01-08

Mr. EVANS presented the credentials of Hon. jams
H. HAMMOND, elected senator by the legislature of the
State of South Carolina to fill the vacancy occasoned by
the death of Hon A, Z. Butler which read and
Mr. H. having appeared the oath prescribed by the
stitution administered to him, and he took his seat
in the Senate
MEMORIALS, PETITIONS, Ero
Mr. SEWARD presented petition of citizens of Canaan
daigua ia the State of New York, praying for the adop
ton of practical by which the people Of
the North cooperate with the people Of the South
in the extnguishment of slavery, by making fair and
honorable compensation to the sayeowners for the full
value of their slaves which ordered to lie the
table es .a' @
Mr.. DIXON presented the petition Of Samuel Colt,
praying extension of his patent for Improvement
in firearms which was referred to the Committee ON
Patents and the Patent Office.
Mr.. KING presented memorial of citizens of New
York. praying that the public lands may be laid out in
farms and granted free of cost to actual settlers who are
not possessed of other lands which referred to the
Committee on Public Lands
Mr. WILSON presented petition of Charles Fairbanks
and Others, praying extension of the pension laws
which referred to the Committee on Pensions
Mr.. POLK presented the petition of Joseph Hardy and
Alton Long, praying the return of rent collected by
agents of the United States for the working of mines not
the property of the United States which referred to
the Committee of Claims.
REPORTS FnoM COMMITTEES
Mr.. HARLAN from the Committee on Public Lands,
to whom was referred the petition Grafton W. Bant
Mexican mechanic, and also the papers in rea-
ton to the claim of William Smith, asked to be dis
charged from the further consideration Of the same
which agreed to-
Mr. FOSTER, from the Committee on Public Lands to
whom referred the resolution of the Academy of Ma
tiona Sciences in favor of the publication of DR.. John
Evans report of his geological survey of the Territories
of Oregon and Washington asked to be discharged from
the further consideration of the same and that it be
ferred to the Committee Printing which was agreed
to- ....
Mr.. F., from the committee, to whom was re-
ferred the petition of William Davis praying that the
Commissioner Of the General Land Office may be required
to make statement showing the Territories acquired
since the revolution and the number of square miles in
each for publication, asked to be discharged from the
further consideration of the which agreed to-
Mr.. F., from the committee to whom referred
the petition of citizens of the United States praying that
the public lands may be laid out in farms for the of
settlers not possessed of other lands reported it back and
asked to be discharged from the further consideration
thereof the committee of opinion that further
legislation the subject is requisite The motion was
agreed to-
Mr. MALLORY, from the Committee on Naval Affairs,
reported joint resolution to authorize certain officers and
engaged in the search for Sir John Franklin to re-
ceve certain medals presented to them by the govern
nent of Great Britain which was read and passed to
second reading.
Mr.. CLAY from the Committee on Commerce, report
cd bill authorizing the issue of register to the barque
ehu and bill authorizing the issue Of register to the
steamer Fearless which severay read and passed
TO second reading.
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED. .....
On motion by Mr. KING, a resolution was adopted
qestg the President of the United States to furnish the
Senate if not incompatible with the public interest,
pies of the correspondence with and dispatches FROM
ministers at the courts of England France, Switzerland
and other powers the subject of the dangers to emf
grants arising from the practice of contracting with ire
sponsbe parties in Europe for American inland passage
tickets. .E
On motion by Mr. FOOT, resolution was adopted re-
questng the President of the United States to conuni
cate the Senate if not incompatible with the public
interest all the official dispatches and correspondence of
the Hon. Robert McIane and Hon Peter Parker, late
commissioners in China, with the State Department.
On motion by Mr.. TOOMBS, resolution adopted
directing the Committee Commerce to inquire into the
cxpediency of modifying repeating the navigation
laws and report by bill or otherwise.
On motion by Mr. MALLORY, resolution adopt
cd directing the Committee Commerce to inquire to
the expedency of providing for the appointment of in-
spectos the hulls and boilers of steamboats, in the coll
lection district Of the State of Florida
..a a BILLS INTRODUCED.
Mr. MALLORY asked and obtained leave to introduce
bill to provide for the construction OF court house,
post Office and custom Apaachicoa in the State
Florida and bill for the construction of marine
hospital ut the place; which severally read
twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
q. Mr. JONES asked and obtained leave to introduce
bill confirming the location Of land warrants under certain
circumstances which read twice and referred to the
Committee on Public Lands .."' #"
EMPIRE
The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the fol
lowing resolution, which submitted by Mr.. GwrN
Resolved That the Committee Foreign Relations be
instructed inquire into the expeiency of providing by
law for the appointment of minister plcnipotentiary to
the empire of Japan. i...Iaa. a-,aa
The resolution having been modified agreed to
follows a.
Resolsad That the Committee on Foreign Relations he
instructed to inquire into the expedency of making an