The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-16
THIRyY.-FIFTH CONGRESS.
First Session.
SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1858.
SENATE
sxpuTIyK COMMUNICATIONS


sxrcurrvH COMMUNICATIONS
1bs VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate a re-
r, Of the Court of Claims In favor OF the claim OF
"a F;snatr;ck which was referred TO tho Committee
of Claims :, a. ,,,.
Also certain testimony in the case OF inc contested
.,sc,lon Of the Hon j. D. Bright and Hon. Graham N
Fgtb IA senator's from the State of Indiana which was
raterred To the Committee on the Judiclnry
CAPTIVITY or AN AMERICAN
NJ OWN presented joint resolution OF the legisa-
,oe Of California In of the interposton of the
III ovarnmsnt for the release of j. M. Ainsa Amcr-
can citizen held in captivity at Sonora, in Mexico which
was read.
ptIon to state that it referred to young gentleman
named Ainsa the brotherin-law Of the gallant Colonel
Cmbb Who with his brave associates, massacred in
sonora through the fundamentally OF the very men who
invited and advised the expedition the history OF which
bloody tragedy still unwritten 1t WAS the natural
wish of those who planned that bloody buchery to de-
roy all evidence of the part taken by them in inviting
Crabb Sonora Of which Ansa WAS perhaps the only
living witness who knew the facts and could give the
whole history of that dsgaceful transaction and hence
ria rrc on our own soil and his detention captive ut
Guaymas Mr. O. could scarcely restrain his indignation
when he reflected the murder, robbery and captivity
TO which our citizens subjected within the last few
yesrs on the borders Of Mexico and in the northern Pacific
Mexican cast and the absence Of successful efforts
the part Of the to visit the guilty parties with
summary punishment. At the same place from whence
Ainsa was TAKEN four of citizens were ruthlessy
murdered by Mexcans stimulated by desire for plum
d and hatred of our people The father Of young Ansa
was respectable citizen OF California, whose daughters
are married to their most respected citizens, IL native
of Sonora but he and his now American citizens,
Since the capture OF this young man ne has bcenf orced
10 sign papers denying that he American citizen,
10 sop the Intervention of government in his behalf
His case was brought before the California delegation last
summer by his distressed family and letter sent
to our Minister urging him to use his influence to pro-
,araIa In Tn
Mr. FORSYTH said that President Comonfor had issued
order that the prisoner should BIZ restored to tho place
whence had been illegally TAKEN and at the proper costs
OF the Mexican government thus confessng all the facts
charged The authorities of Sonora paid attention to
the order and in fact Mr.. Forsyth had said that the
Mexican government had not shadow of authority in
Sonora which alien to the capital US San Fran
CISCO and that until peace and order are restored he
Gun do nothing further Now, when that time to
Gomez Were we to wait with citizens held in cap
tvty in this way until that time arrived? Mr. q.
understood to say TINT he had applied to the Secretary Of
the Navy TO have steamship ordered to the Mexican Pa
cc coast protect citizens in their lives and prop
sry but feared that could be spared from other
service He would content himself therefore, with
ferrng the resolutions to the Committee Foreign Re-
ons and would invoke their earnest attention to the
subject and he hoped that Congress- would not adjourn
before placing at the command Of the government
to compel the release of Ainsa and obtain redress for
tho outrages perpetrated upon our citizens in
that portion of the Mexican republic.
MEMORIALS PETITIONS, xrc
Mr. GWIN presented joint resolution of the legisla-
tue of California in favor of the construction of break
water at San Luis Obspo, In that State which
fered to the Committee Commerce and ordered to be
printed.
Mr. BRODERICK presented joint resolution of the
legislature Of California in favor of donation of land to
each of the States and Territories of the Union for the
endowment and maintenance of colleges for instruction
in such branches of education pertain to agriculture
the mechanic arts and natural history which refer
red to the Committee Public Lands and ordered to be
printed.
Mr. SEWARD presented the memorial of the president
and directors of the Metropolitaa Railroad Company,
Praying the assent Of Congress to the act Of the legsa
tue Of Maryland incorporating said company the incor-
poration Of said company In the District of Columbia,
and authority to lay double track railroad through
Pennsylvania avenue in Washington, from Georgetown
to the yard and to Potomac bridge, the to be
moved by horse power which was referred to the Com
mittee on the District of Columbia.
Mr.. HAMMOND presented memorial of the Charles
ton Chamber OF Commerce. praying appropriation for
the lighting. buoyng, &C., of Mafitts channel which
was referred to the Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. CRTTTENDEN presented the memorial of Taliafer-
70 r. Shaner OF kentucky, asking Congress to amend
the act approved March g. 1857 to expedite telegraphic
communication for the Of the in its for
egn intercourse, that the subsidy granted by Con-
ges shall DO general in its application to all Atlantic
telegraph nesthe President of the United States to de-
emno from time to time the telegraph line most enti
tied to patronage of the government and best calculated
to benefit the United States and the citizens thereof
all time equal terms with any other nation. This
memorial contains than hundred closely-written
pages commencing with history of the Atlantic tele.
graph, and ending with appendix exhibiting its prog
@ and the priority of the memoriast in the organize
ton Of the enterprise both in America and In Europe
The memorial referred to the Committee on the Judi
carry.
Mr., PEARCE presented two petitions of citizens of
washington city, praying donation of land appro-
paton Of money for the permanent endowment of the
columbian College, In the District of Columbia which
ba
Mr.. DOoITrII4E presented the petition of William
Aerrhew, an officer Of the army in the Mexican war;
praying additional pay such which was referred to
the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr. FOLK presented the memorial of r. H. Miller Il
Sons praying that the duties paid by them certain
eahenware imported by them and destroyed by fire
Fannu from New Orleans to st. Louis may be refunded
which was referred to the Committee Finance.
Mr. RICE presented twelve memorials of the legisla
tue OF Minnesota praying the establishment of certain
mail routes In that State and memorial of the same in
favor OF tho erection of bridge Root river in
Fillmore county, in that State which referred to
The Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.
Mr. also presented petition of citizens of Pembna
county IN Dac0tah Territory praying early organi-
ZION Of the Territory and for the establishment of the
capital at St Joseph; also, several memorials Of the
legislature OF Minnesota In favor of the improvement of
me st. Croix river and the Mississippi river from the
mouth of the Minnesota river to Sank rapids in favor
o. Donation of land for the establishment of an agri
cultural college in that State in favor of relief to pre-
mptos and donations Of land to actual settlers In ia
Os OF the construction Of wagon road to the South
s OF tho Rocky mountains; in favor of the northern
aclhc railroad route &c. which referred to the
appropriate committees
RnPoRrs YRox COMMITTEES.
II