The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-02-21
Thirty-sevent IT,! Congress.
FIRST SESSION.

After considerable debate the amend.
ment appropriating $l5y000.0O0 for build
ing additional gunboats, was adopted-ll8
against Is.
Also an amendment appropriating
$4,000 for an ordnance foundry at Wash.
ington, and for ordnance $40 100000 Bill
then passed.
Mr.. Wykoff having appeared before the
judiciary Committee and answered the
question proposed, was ordered to be dis
charged from custody.
The House considered the Post Office
appropriation bill in Committee of the
Whole.
The House concurred in the Senates
amendment to the bill for the suppression
of the Coolie trade. Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Feb. II.
SENArE.--Mr. Harlan presented con
munication from the Secretary of the Int.
rior in regard to the recently discovered
gold mines of California.
On motion of Mr.. Nesmith, the joint
resolution relative to the mode of payment
of the awards for settling the Oregon and
Washington war debt, was taken up.
Mr.. Lane, of Indiana, asked to have a
despatch received by Gen. Mcclellan read,
announcing the capture OF Fort Donelson
by the land forces of the United States.
HoUsE.--After the announcement of the
surrender of Fort Donelson,
Mr.. Wright moved an adjournment. Dis.
agreed to.
The House evidently at the time was not
in proper condition for business.
Mr.. Mallory moved to discharge the
Committee on the Conduct of the War, as
from the good news this morning there
seemed to be no further use for them.
This was greeted with loud laughter, and
cries of "agreed," agreed"
WASHINGTON, Feb. lS.
SENATE.--Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts,
from the Military Committee, reported
back the joint resolution from the House,
relative to certain Railroads in Missouri
The resolution authorizes the Secretary of
War to pay certain Railroads in Missouri
for transportation.
Pending the consideration of the ques.
ton, message was received from the
House asking return of the resolution,
which was done.
Mr.. Harris moved to print the bill Offer
ed by him. He said the bill was founded
on the English principle of outlawry. 1t
provides for the forfeiture of the rights and
privileges under the laws, of those who take
up arms against the United States. Or.
dered printed.
The case of Mr. Starke, of Oregon, was
taken up.
In the proceedings of the Senate of the
9th inst we find the following:
WILLIAM H. MOBILES.
Mr.. Nesmith. am directed by the com.
mittee on Military Affairs and the Militia,
to whom was referred communication of
the Secretary of the Interior, to report a
Joint resolution for the relief of William a..
Mobiles; and ask that all prior orders be
suspended, and that it be considered and
passed at the present time.
The joint resolution Is. No. 45) for the
relief of William H. Mobiles was read a
first time by its title.
The Vice President. The Senator from
Oregon asks the unanimous consent of the
Senate, to consider this resolution at the
present time. Is there objection?
MIR. Trumbull. Let it be read.
The Secretary read the joint resolution.
Its object is to direct the Secretary of the
Interior to pay William II. Mobiles, out of
any balance of appropriations for wagon
roads under his control, $8,l99 80 being
the amount reported by him under the sec.
ond section of the Army appropriation act,
approved March 2, 1860, to be due to
MOBILES, late Superintendent of the Fort
Ridgely and South Pass wagon road.
Mr.. Trumbull. 1 should like to know if
that resolution comes from a committee.
The Vice President. 1t is reported from
the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. Nesmith. Perhaps it would be
Proper that l should make brief statement
in relation to this resolution. The appro.
priation bill passed at the second session of
the last Congress provided that before pay
ment of these accounts the Secretary of the
Interior should pass upon them, and report
the propriety of paying the amount. Ac-
companying the resolution is the report of
the Secretary of the Interior, stating that
this amount of $500 80 is found to be
due to Mr.. Mobiles The report goes on at
length to state all the circumstances con.
nected with it, and to give all the items.
That report was referred to the Committee
on Military Affairs, and accompanying the
resolution there is lengthy report from the
Committee on Military Affairs, condensiDg
the report of the Secretary of the Interior.
They came to the same conclusions, and find
that the money is actually due and should
be paid. This resolution provides that it
should be paid out of the balance of ap-
preparation now in the hands of the Secreta-
~ Of the Interior.
There being no objection, the joint reso'
luton was read a second time, and consid-
cred as in Committee of the Whole. 1t
was reported to the Senate without amend.
ment. ordered to be engr0ssed for third
reading, and was read the third time and
passed.
NORTHWESTERN MILITARY ROAD.
Mr.. Rice submitted the following resolu-
ton which was considered by unanimous
consent, and agreed to-:
Resolved, That the Committee on Military
Affairs and the Militia be requested to inquire
into the expediedcy of recommending an ap-
for ho nnrnnco Of 1otino the