Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-08
THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL SESSION.
TurusnIy Ernnr,uy an 1870

men cordially and sincerely to act together, nc
matter which one receives the nomination.
THIRTY-FIFTH coNGREss-sEcoND SESSION
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3D, 1859.
SENATE.
Mr. Seward presented the petition Of citizens
Of New York asking for the improvement o
harbors, lakes, and rivers within her borders
Referred.
Mr. S. characterized this memorial as equa
to any state paper which has ever been pro
duccd. lie stated its objects at some length.
Mr.. Bayard, from the Committee on the Ju
dietary, reported adversely to the memorial Of
Messrs. McCarty and Lane, praying for seats in
Congress as Senator's from Indiana, and asked
to be discharged from the further consideration
Of the samc which was laid over.
Mr.. 3. stated that on Thursday he should call
up the report.
Mr.. Collamcr submitted a minority report
from the committee.
Mr.. Seward offered a resolution in effect that
Messrs. Lane and McCarty be allowed to occupy
seats on the Senate floor during the discussion
/ of the reports of the Committee on the Judi.
ciary, and that they have loave to speak OIL the
said report. Laid over.
Mr.. Houston addressed the Senate on n bill
which he proposed to introduce, consolidating
the two judicial districts in Texas, the effect OF
which is to get rid Of Judge Watrous.
Mr.. II. was speaking, when the hour OF one
o'clock having arrived,
The Vice President called up the special or
der-the Indian appropriation bill.
Mr.. Houston. | trust that | may be permit.
ted to go on. am nearly through, and will
consume the time Of the Senate but 4 little
longer.
By unanimous consent the Senator proceeded
with his speech on the bill.
Mr.. Fl. replied to those members in the
House who had accused the people Of Texas Of
unusual clamor against Judge WatrouS, and
proceeded to reveal an alleged conspiracy Of
which Judge W. was an actual member. The
object of this conspiracy and fraud was to
obtain large portions Of the public domain Of
the Republic Of Texas.
He advocated the removal Of Judge Wat
rous BY the consolidation of the two Judicial
districts Of Texas, and insisted that the people
Of Texas should be released from this judicial
monster-Judge Watrous. 1t was due to the
.Anglo-Saxon honesty of the State.
On motion Of Mr.. Gwin, the vote on the bill
donating lands to the States for agricultural
purposes was reconsidered, by yeas %, nays2I.
So the Senate proceeded to the consideration
Of the bill donating lands TO the States and
Territories for agricultural purposes and the
mechanic arts.
The amendment cxempting the mineral lands
in the several States from being appropriated
was then adopted.
Mr.. Gwin proposed a substitute for the first
section, providing q ratio Of distribution Of the
land grant based OH representation and geo.
graphical area; also, that California may select
her portion from any lands in that State other
than mineral lands, or those occupied by ac-
tual settlers. This was rcjected-yeas "a,
! nays %.
Mr.. Rice offered an amendment excepting
Minnesota from the provisions Of the bill.
Mr.. Pugh moved TO exclude Missouri; which
amendment was accepted.
The amendment as amended was then re-
jccted-ycas %, nays 80.
Mr.. Polk moved to strike out the fourth and
fifth sections; which would leave the bill as
making simple unconditional grant Of lands
to the States.
The amendment was rejected,
The further consideration OF the bill was post
poned till Monday, in order that Mr.. Clay may
speak on it, he thinking tia mounstrous DANCE
rous and iniquitious measure.
The indian appropriation bill, was then taken
up, debated and passed.
The Senate then went into executive session,
and soon after adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. Reagan, Of Texas, offered Il resolution in
s~tructing the Committee OH the Judiciary to
inquire into the expcdiency Of reporting a bill
defining and providing for the punishment of
polygamy in the Territories Of the United
States, and restraining the people and authori-
ties from interfering with the Federal judiciary.
The resolution was adopted.
The consideration of the bill providing for
the division among the New York Indians of
the reservation in Kansas upon which they are
now settled, was resumed. This bill allots 800
acres to each, giving them permanent posses
sion thereof
The bill was passed-ycas ll2, nays Sc.
Mr.. Faulkner, Of Va, reported from the Com.
mittee on Military Affairs adversely on the bill
to establish 4 branch of the military academy
at the Hermitage, l2 miles from Nashville,
Tenn.
Mr.. F. reported from the same committee adj
versely on the bill for n survey of the upper
Missouri and Columbia rivers; also, adversely
on the bill to establish a military post in Daco-
tab Territory; also, adversely on the bill for
the survey of the Columbia River also. adj
versely on the bill to enable the Secretary of
State to test the utility Of q new method Of
writing, invented BY Mr.. Hogue, Of Arkansas;
also, adversely on the bill providing for the pay
of certain volunteers in the Mexican war also,
in favor Of printing the reports of Majors Della
field and Mordccai; also, n bill to promote the
efficiency of the army by retiring disabledo or III
firm officers; also, adversely on 4 bill TO organ
ize n regiment of mounted volunteers for the de-
fence of the frontier Of Texas; also, Senate bill,
with an amendment, granting the right Of way
over the military reservation of Fort Gratlot.
Michigan, for railroad purposes.
The last nmcd bill was read a third time, and
vas passed.
Mr.. Faulkner also reported, from the same
committee, q resolution instructing the Com
mittee on Public Printing to enquire into the
expedicncy of devising some method Of having
the Presidents Message and accompanying
documents printed earlier for the use of Con-
gross.
Mr.. Lctchcr Of Va, offered all amendment.
also requesting the committee to enquire into
cxpediency Of taking means to abolish the pre-:
sent system Of charging double composition.
Mr.. Houston of .Alabama, said that means
ought also to be taken to examine those large
books called accompanying documents, and
prune out the useless matter. Two-thirds oil
these documents. when printed, are entirely
worthless.
The resolution a. amended was adopted.
Mr.. Faulkner Of Va, asked that the Com
mittee on Military Affairs be discharged from
the further consideration Of the memorials Of
citizens Of the States Of Ohio, Pennsylvania,
North Carolina and Virginia, praying for the
establishment Of a national foundry IN those
States.
Mr.. F. stated that the Committee on Military
Affairs had been very much divided on this
subject, and, considering the brief period re-
naming for the transaction Of public business,
the Committee thought that the subject should