Ordered, That they lie on the table, and be printed.

Mr. Gwin presented the memorial of Eliza C. Bache, widow of George M. Bache, a lieutenant in the navy, praying that she may receive the same amount that was paid to the widows of those officers who were lost in the brig Somers; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. Gwin presented the proceedings of a meeting of the citizens of San Diego, California, protesting against the change proposed to be made in the contract with the Pacific Mail Steamer Company, by the substitution of a coasting steamer; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. Gwin presented the petition of officers of the revenue service, stationed in California, praying an increase of pay; which was referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. Gwin presented the petition of Joseph Hill and sons, praying compensation for horses and mules stolen by the Indians, in California; which was referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Gwin presented the petition of James R. Browning, praying indemnity for property stolen and destroyed in California, during the war with Mexico; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Gwin presented the memorial of James C. Cushing and others, representing that they have discovered a pass through the greater range of the Sierra Nevada, and proposing to open a wagon road upon certain conditions; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. Houston presented the memorial of S. H. Duff, praying compensation for services in seizing spirituous liquors, under an order of General Taylor, during the war with Mexico; which was referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Shields presented a memorial of officers of the army, serving in New Mexico, praying that they may be placed on the same footing, in regard to pay, as the troops serving in California; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Shields presented the memorial of Jose Maria Jarero, a citizen of Mexico, praying the payment of a claim of an American citizen against the government of Mexico, that was received by said Jarero in payment of a debt; which was referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Wade presented the petition of Priscilla C. Simonds, praying compensation for the effects of her son, Moses II. Simonds, which, after his decease in the public service, were taken possession of by his superior officer, and lost; which was referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Davis presented the petition of Gridley Bryant, proposing to enter into a contract with the Government for the erection of a permanent lighthouse on Minot's Ledge, in Massachusetts bay; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. Bradbury presented the petition of Isaac Lilly, praying compensation for a vessel and cargo seized and sold by an agent of the Government, under the pretext of her having on board timber cut from the live oak lands of the United States; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Fish presented the memorial of E. Pavenstedt and F. A. Schumacher, praying the return of duties paid on goods which were lost at sea; which was referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Bradbury presented a memorial of William T. Johnson and others, publishers of newspapers in Maine, praying an alteration in the rates of newspaper postage; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. Sebastian presented a petition of the late and present land officers at Batesville, Arkansas, praying compensation for services in entering lands under bounty land warrants.

Ordered, That it lie on the table.

Mr. Cass presented the petition of Samuel Spalding, praying arrears of pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Cass presented the petition of Jacob Young, praying to be allowed a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Cass presented a memorial of citizens of Washington, praying an appropriation for the erection of an equestrian statue of Washington, under the resolution of Congress, of 1783; which was referred to the Committee on the Library.

Mr. Whitcomb presented resolutions adopted at a meeting of citizens of Westfield, Indiana, recommending that the sale of the public lands be discontinued, and that they be granted in limited quantities to citizens of the United States, with families; which were referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. Mallory presented the memorial of Isaac Bush, John Price, and Thomas Suarez, praying compensation for themselves and the officers and men under their command, during the Seminole war in Florida; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

On motion by Mr. Gwin,

Ordered, That the documents on the files of the Senate, relating to the claim of B. Juan Domercq, a Spanish subject, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

On motion by Mr. Houston,

Ordered, That the petition of G. Thomas Howard, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

On motion by Mr. Clarke,

Ordered, That the petition of Samuel Crapin, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Pensions.

On motion by Mr. Downs,

Ordered, That the memorial of L. E. L. A. Lawson, heir of General Eleazer W. Ripley, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

On motion by Mr. Seward,

Ordered, That the petition of Phebe Glover, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Pratt submitted the following resolution for consideration:

Resolved, That after the first day of January next, Fridays of each week shall be set aside for the consideration of private claims, and that, on those days, private bills shall have priority over all other business.

Mr. Felch, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom the subject was referred, reported a bill (S. 58) authorizing Victor Morass to relinquish certain lands, and to enter the same quantity elsewhere; which was read, and passed to the second reading.

Mr. Felch submitted a report on the subject; which was ordered to be printed.

Mr. Felch, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (S. 43) for the relief of Charles Melrose, reported it without amend

ment.

Mr. Felch also submitted a report on the subject; which was ordered to be printed.

Mr. Felch, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (S. 19) to extend the time for selecting lands granted to the State of Wisconsin for saline purposes, reported it with amendments.

Mr. Felch, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (S. 30) to extend the time for selecting lands granted to the State of Michigan for saline purposes, reported it without amendment.

Mr. Borland, from the Committee on Printing, to whom was referred the joint resolution (S. R. 6) in relation to printing the seventh census, reported it without amendment.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Hunter asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 59) to provide compensation to such persons as may be designated by the Secretary of the Treasury to receive and keep the public money, under the fifteenth section of the act of August 6, 1846, for the additional services required under that act; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Downs asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 60) for the relief of William Darby; which was read the first and second times by unanimous consent, and considered as in Committee of the Whole.

On motion by Mr. Downs,

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to Monday next, and be the order of the day.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Underwood asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 61) to provide for the repair and improvement of the dam at the head of Cumberland island, in the Ohio river; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and considered as in Committee of the Whole.

On motion by Mr. Underwood,

Ordered, That it lie on the table.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Bright asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 62) to provide more effectually for overcoming the obstructions to the navigation of the Ohio river, at the falls thereof; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Dodge, of Iowa, asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 63) to grant to the city of Burlington, in Iowa, the land heretofore reserved between that city and the Mississippi river; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Bradbury asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 64) to provide for the ascertainment and satisfaction of claims of American citizens for spoliations committed by the French prior to July 31, 1801; which was read the first and second times by unanimous cou

sent.

On motion by Mr. Bradbury,

Ordered, That it be referred to a select committee, consisting of five members, to be appointed by the President pro tempore; and

Mr. Bradbury, Mr. Smith, Mr. Bright, Mr. Downs, and Mr. Felch were appointed the committee.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Mallory asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 65) to repeal the act entitled "An act concerning tonnage duty on Spanish vessels; which was read the first and second times by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

The engrossed bill (S. 6) to establish a branch of the mint of the United States in California, was read the third time.

Resolved, That this bill pass, and that the title thereof be as aforesaid. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the resolution submitted by Mr. Shields, the 8th instant, for the appointment of a committee to introduce Louis Kossuth to the Senate: and having been amended to read as follows:

Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed by the Chair to wait upon Louis Kossuth, on his arrival at the capital, and introduce him to the Senate.

On the question to agree thereto,

It was determined in the affirmative,

Yeas-
Nays---

On motion by Mr. Underwood, The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative are,

Messrs. Atchison, Bradbury, Brodhead, Cass, Chase, Clarke, Davis, Dodge, of Wisconsin, Dodge, of Iowa, Douglas, Felch, Fish, Foot, of Vermont, Foote, of Mississippi, Geyer, Gwin, Hamlin, Houston, James, Jones, of Iowa, Miller, Norris, Seward, Shields, Smith, Stockton, Sumner, Wade, Walker, Whitcomb.

Those who voted in the negative are,

Messrs. Bayard, Borland, Butler, Clemens, Dawson, Hunter, Jones, of Tennessee, King, Mason, Morton, Pratt, Sebastian, Spruance, Underwood, Upham.

So the resolution was agreed to; and,

Mr. Shields, Mr. Seward, and Mr. Foote, of Mississippi, were appointed accordingly.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the resolution submitted by Mr. Foote, the 4th instant, in relation to the adjustment of questions growing out of the institution of slavery; and,

After debate,

On motion by Mr. Mason,

The Senate adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1851.

The Honorable Willie P. Mangum, from the State of North Carolina, attended.

The following message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. McCormick :

To the Senate of the United States:

In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 9th instant, requesting information in regard to the imprisonment of John S. Thrasher, at Havana, I transmit a report from the Secretary of State, and the documents which accompanied it.

WASHINGTON, December 16, 1851.

The message was read.

On motion by Mr. Hunter,

MILLARD FILLMORE.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations, and printed.

The following message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. McCormick:

To the Senate of the United States:

I have received a resolution of the Senate adopted on the 12th instant, in the following terms:

"Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to communicate to the Senate, if not inconsistent with the public interest, any information the Executive may have received respecting the firing into, and seizure of the American steamship Prometheus by a British vessel-ofwar, in November last, near Grey Town, on the Mosquito coast; and also what measures have been taken by the Executive to ascertain the state of the fact, and to vindicate the honor of the country."

In answer to this request I submit to the Senate the accompanying extracts from a communication addressed to the Department of State by Mr. Joseph L. White, as counsel of the American, Atlantic and Pacific Ship Canal Company, dated 2d instant.

This communication is the principal source of the information received by the Executive in relation to the subject alluded to, and is presumed to be essentially correct in its statement of the facts. Upon receiving this communication, instructions such as the occasion seemed to demand, were immediately despatched to the Minister of the United States in London. Sufficient time has not elapsed for the return of any answer to this despatch from him, and in my judgment it would at the present moment be inconsistent with the public interest to communicate those instructions. A communication, however, of all the correspondence will be made to the Senate at the earliest moment at which a proper regard to the public interest will permit.

At the same time, instructions were given to Commodore Parker, com