The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-01-21
CON AL.
Thirty Finn oonsrsss--secoua session
THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1859.
SENATE,


ted States sent in compliance with resolution of the
Senate Of 4th June last requesting list Of claims Of
citizens Of the United States foreign governments The
President transmits letter from the Secretary Of State
covering the desired information.
The Secretary OF State sends the whole list with the
exception of those the late republic of Colombia which
he says will be presented in the supplementary report in
the of few days that the list sent has been pre-
pared with much accuracy the files of the depart
ment would permit and goes ON to say that from
ous obvious causes il has been found difficult TO state
the amounts claimed In several cases preferred directly
10 the department there is total absence of such nor
nation and diplomatic agents. in referring TO such
as had been originally presented at the legations,
frequently omit all mention OF the amounts and
in those cases where amounts stated, whether as
claimed or paid it has not been practicable always to
designate the relative proportions of principal and inter
est The files of the department do not always afford
positive information to the claims which have been
settled Some have been made the subject of personal
correspondence between the claimant and the ministers,
and dusted without the necessity of reporting the facts
to the department Some have been partially paid,
while Others have been allowed and are in of liqui
dalton but ID has been found mpracticable in several
to ascertain with sxacness either the
of restitution agreed upon or the instslments paid
thereon.
MEMORIALS,
The following memorials aud petitions were presented
and appropriately referred
BY Mr. DOUGLAS: From Henry G. REILLY, Jno j.
Speed r., and Tai p Shafner proposing to complete
telegraph communication between the Atlantic and Pa
cifc States.
ION presenting this memorial, Mr. ID. observed that
the parties had pledged themselves to construct of
the lines in time for transmitting the message Of the Pres
ident at the next session of Congress- that the
sage with each days congressional proceedings and
news shall be published simultaneously among the Amer
lean people the shores of the Pacific well in the
Atlantic Lake. and Mississippi States of the confederacy
provided, however that the bill reported from the Com
mttee Territories in the Senate shall become law at
an early period of the present session.
Nv Mr. Eram (barpg q WuII
and superintendent of company established for the pur
pose of connecting the United States with the island of
Cuba by means of submarine telegraph asking that the
President of the United States be authorized to contract
with him for the transmission of government dispatches
[The memoriast says the company engaged
in building the land portion of the line from Savannah
through the State of Florida and will that be
completed lay submarine cable from the land terminus
at Cedar Keys in Florida, to the island of Key West,
and the sanction of the Spanish government
be obtained they will carry it the Gulf stream
to the island of Cuba but pending such permission
line of steamers will be placed between Key West and
Havana to carry the teegraphc dispatches twice each
day
BY Mr.. TRUMBULL: From Jacob A. Whemple and
George Westinghouse asking that the Commissioner of
Patents may be authorized to determine their application
for an extension of patent for improved grain sep
arator.
Also from Lewis C. Underwood asking to be allowed
to purchase tract of land as a presumption claim.
COMMITTEES
cary TO which referred the bill to prescribe the time
and of holding elections for of the Uni
ted States reported back the with amendment
striking out all after the enacng clause and substituting
new bill in its place
Mr.. C. said il was important that this bill should be
taken up and acted without delay and he would
therefore that il be made the special order for
Tuesday next at o'clock which motion agreed
to.
Mr.. BENJAMIN, from the Committee ON the Judiciary
to which was referred joint resolution explanatory of
On act approved March Sd, 1855. entitled "An act in adj
dton to certain acts granting bounty land to certain Off
and soldiers who have been engaged in the military
service of the United States asked to be discharged
from its further consideration the ground that the
reso uton had been already reported adversely by
other committee of the body and he did not think it
right to exercise appellate power in the premises
The report agreed to.
Mr.. CLAY from the Committee Commerce, to which
referred House bill authorizing the Secretary of the
Treasury to grant register to the schooner VIM. A.
Hamll reported it back without amendment, and rec
commended its passage
Also, from the same committee, to which was referred
the letter of the Secretary Of State, enclosing letter
from the minister resident at BreHen inviting the aen
ton of government to the proposition of citizen of Ber
menhaven for testing his invention for preventing the
destruction OF vessels by fire. reported adversely thereon
Also, submitted adverse reports all memorials from
business of New York relating to Professor Ballots
theory of indicating the approach of storms
Also, submitted adverse report the resolution in
quirng into the expcdency of making appropriation
and harbors in California.
Mr. GREEN, from the Committee Territories, to
which referred resolution directing that committee
to inquire into the expedency of equazng the salaries
of the governors of New Mexico and Oregon reported
adversely thereon
Mr. FITCH, from the Committee on Printing, report
ed adversely the motion to print the report of the
Secretary of the Navy communicating statement of
contracts made under the cognizancc of the Bureau of
Yards and Docks during the year 1858 which report
was agreed to-
Mr.. THOMPSON of New Jersey, from the Commit
tee Pensions, to which referred the memorial of
Ruth Ellen Greland submitted report accompanied by
bill for the relief of Ruth Ellen Gread widow of John
H. Greland deceased
Also, from the committee made adverse reports
on the following petitions On that of James Varney
Samuel Warner, Henry Schooner, Jacob Rifel, Isaac
Outright Isaac White, George Butcher VIM. b. Heuck,
Sarah Hutton, and Carl Bceoher
ADOPTED.
On motion by Mr. YULEE,
Resolved inquire
pcdency
Key Tortugas with the line OF telegraph constructing Key
West and Cuba.
Mr.. SEWARD introduced a bill for the relief Of Jane |
Perry which was read.
Mr. S. said that this had been reported adverse
ly at the last session. and the report concurred in at
the present when he out of his seat He wished
the bill referred TO the Committee Pensions he dc
sired to have hearing It's merits and the bill
referred accordingly.
UNITED STATES CLAIMS Against FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS,
Mr.. BENJAMIN said there had been n message re- |
ceved from the President of the United States this |
morning which had been read and laid the table while
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