Arkansas true Democrat., 1859-02-16

Mir. Gaines, from said committee, also report ed favorably to House bill to incorporate the town of Madison in St. Francis county. fas- sed. ,.u
 He also reported favorably to House oill a1' thorizing the sale of the 16th section Tn H. o. N. g E., in Crttenden county.
 He also from the same committee, reporteu adversely to House bill to authorize the sale oi certain lands belonging to the estate of James M. Matlock, deceased, and to Senate bill to sell and confirm title to certain lands in Conway county. and also to House bill for the relief of Hannah Shanks All of which bills were re- iected by adopting the reports of the commit tee.
 Mir. Gaines from the same committee, report ed favorably to House bill to provide for the purchase and distribution of one hundred CO., pies of English's Digest of the reports of the decisions of the supreme court of Arkansas, but the bill failed to pass by vote of ; yeas to l3 nays.
 Mr. Gaines from the select committee on the geological survey, reported favorably to Senate bill to provide for the further prosecution of the geological, mneraogical and chemical survey of the State of Arkansas ID connection wIh an agricultural and botanical survey oi sad otate. Mr. Douglas, from the same comIhittee' present, ed d minority report signed py hiihSe'i anu Messrs Davies and McColoch, dissenting rom the report of the majority, and obJectng to the passage of the bill. Majority report aaop'eo'
 The bill was amended so as to give the geo. loeist a salary of S2, 5OO and appropriate $6,- GOO per annum for two years for carrying on the suryey required by the bill, repeating all other acts of appropriation tor that purpoSe'- IL. bx,t thn fnl
 YEAs.--Messrs. Carrigan, Clark, Floyd, Gaines, Gould, Hammond, McCreery, Mecklln, Pennington. Redmond, Stirman, Trimbe and Mr. Presdent-13.
 NAYs.-Messrs. Craighead, Davies, Douglas, Jones. Marshall, Rosson, Terry, Watkins and Wilams-9.
 Report from committee on enrollments.
 Senate adjourned.
 Wednesday,, Feb. 9.
 Senate met.
 Prayer and roll called.
 Journal read.
 Mir. Gould asked to have his vote of yester- day on the passage of the geological bill changd from the affirmative to the negative.
 Mir. Gaines objected to the change, and MT. Gould then moved to reconsider the vote on the passage of said bill; which motion was lost.
 Mir. President Fletcher. from his chair, made the following announcement:
 To tue Honorable members cf the Senate:
 Since the adoption of the report of majo- rity of the judiciary committee, declaring that the members of the Senate are entitled to per diem pay during the recess in the present ses- sion of the General Assembly, have been pre- sented with the account of member for his services bv member of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas'' from the 23d day of December. 1858, to the Eth of February, 1859, embracing the recess, and which 1 am required to certify. 1 have declined doing so, from a conviction that it is not correct Tn law or fact. The expression of the opinion of the majority of the judiciary committee. and its adoption by the Senate by vote of l3 to 6, make 1t tie more painful in differing with my brother Senators Rather than sign the certificates un- dE such circumstances, l would consider It my duty to resg gn my position as presiding officer, conferred by yonr generous confidence should it be required at your hands.
 Members are entitled to their mileage in tra- yelling to and from their residences in obedience to the proclamation of the Governor, which will be certified; but not to per diem for servl- ces not rendered and at a time when the Gene ral Assembly was not in session. The adop- ton of the majorty report of the committee does not change or modify the law in reference to the compensation of members or exonerate me in the performance of all act which deem illegal, and which would in effect defeat the very object that prompted the executive of the State to adjourn the General Assembly by his proclamation. THOS. FLETCHER,
 President cf the Senate.
 Mir. Hammond, from the committee on swamp and overtiowed lands, reported favorably to Se- nate bill to enable the land agents to issue cer- thcateS in certain cases, with amendment, which was adopted and the bill passed.
 He also from said committee, reported favo- rably to Senate bill for the relief of purchasers of swamp land at any of the U. s. laud offices. Bill passed.
 He also from said committee, reported favo- rably to House bill to amend the pre- -emption laws of this State. (The bill gave pre-emp- tions on 32O acres of swamp land to those who had improvements on such land to the value of $25.)
 Mir. Clark offered to amend by adding this provso to the second section of the bill, to- wit:
 Provided, That all persons entitled to pre- emptions under existing laws shall have the right to pay for such land on which they have such pre-emptions at the rate of ten cents per acre.
 Which amendment was lost by vote of 10 to 13
 Mir. Carrigan offered similar amendment except that the pre-emptor be allowed to enter at taoemyJiUe cents per acre.
 MT Gould offered 10 amend MT. Carrigan's amendment by adding this provso:
 PrOvided, That no person but the original settler or cultivator shall have the benefit of this act
 Which was accepted by Mir. Carrigan and be- came part of his amendment.
 The amendment was then adopted by vote of 14 to g.
 On motion of MT. Pennington, the bill was so amended as to give pre- -emptions on 16O iu- stead of 32O acres.
 On motion of Mir. Rosson, the bill was so amended as to require the improvements to be worth one hundred instead of twenty i've dol lars.
 On motion of Mir. Pennington, the bill was again amended by the following proviso:
 And provided further, that any person who may hereafter make such settlement or improve ment on any of said lands he or she shall be entitled to the benefits of this act.
 The Senate took a recess until 21s o'clock. r. M., at which time it met and resumed the consideration of House bill to amend the pre- emption laws of this State.
 Mir. Gould offered to amend the bill by add ing the following sections, which were adopted, to-wt:
 SEC. - Be it fvther enacted, That before any person shall be permitted to make any en- try of land under this act, such person shall, in addition to the pre-empton oath now required by law, be required to make and subscribe an affidavit in the following form: STATE OF ARKANSAS.
 l, - do solemnly swear that the land which l now apply for and desire to enter IS for my own use and benefit, and not for the use and benefit of another and that I have mt directly or indirectly agreed to sell or convey the same to any other person.
 Sworn to and subscribed before me this. etc etc. SEC. n. Be H further enacted, That any Der. son who shall swear falsely in the premises shall be deemed guilty of perjury, and upon conviction shall be punished accordingly. and ,,