SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1851.

Mr. Seward presented a memorial of the Industrial Congress of the city of New York, praying such a modification of the foreign policy of the Government as will admit of the intervention of the United States in behalf of the oppressed subjects of other countries seeking to shake off tyrannical and despotic governments; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign

Relations.

Mr. Dawson presented the petition of W. R. Nevins, praying an extension of his patent for a machine for rolling and cutting crackers and biscuits; which was referred to the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office.

Mr. Morton presented the petition of Daniel Brister and others, praying compensation for property taken and destroyed by the Camanches and other Indian tribes; which was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Mr. Smith presented the memorial of Charles Massey, jr., and other citizens of Philadelphia, praying indemnity for French spoliations, prior to 1800; which was referred to the Select Committee on French Spoliations. Mr. Hamlin presented a petition of citizens of Maine, praying an appropriation for the erection of a breakwater in Owl's Head Harbor, in that State; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. Gwin presented the petition of Z. F. Johnston, an officer in the navy, praying the reimbursement of certain expenses to which he was subjected in obeying an order of the Secretary of the Navy, and to be allowed the pay of a captain in the navy during the time he discharged the duties of that office; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

On motion by Mr. Clemens,

Ordered, That the petition of Thomas Rhodes, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

On motion by Mr. Dodge, of Iowa,

Ordered, That John P. Sheldon have leave to withdraw his petition and

papers.

On motion by Mr. Mason,

Ordered, That Albert Fitz have leave to withdraw his petition and

Ordered, That the petition of Mira M. Alexander, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Mangum, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, to whom was referred the bill (S. 76) for the relief of the personal representative of William A. Slacum, deceased, reported it without amendment.

Mr. Borland, from the Committee on Printing, to whom was referred the resolution (H. R. 5) providing for the binding of certain documents, reported it without amendment.

The said resolution was considered as in Committee of the Whole; and, having been amended, on the motion of Mr. Borland,

On motion by Mr. Mangum,

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to Monday, the 29th instant.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution submitted by Mr. Walker, the 17th December, in relation to the foreign policy of the United

States; and,

On motion by Mr. Walker,

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

The joint resolution (S. R. 2) expressive of the sympathy of Congress for the exiled Irish patriots, Smith O'Brien, Thomas T. Meagher, and their associates, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole.

On motion by Mr. Shields, Ordered, That it lie on the table.

The joint resolution (S. R. 7) requesting the President of the United States to interpose the friendly offices of this government with the President of the Republic of France on behalf of the liberation of Abdel Kader, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and,

On motion by Mr. Hale,

Ordered, That it lie on the table.

The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the joint resolution (S. R. 3) explanatory of the act approved September 28, 1850, entitled "An act granting bounty land to certain officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the military service of the United States; and,

An amendment having been proposed by Mr. Borland,

On motion by Mr. Underwood,

Ordered, That the resolution be recommitted to the Committee on Public Lands.

On motion by Mr. Borland,

Ordered, That the proposed amendment be printed.

The resolution (H. R. R. 7) providing for the printing of additional copies of the journals and public documents, was read a third time. Resolved, That this resolution pass.

Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives thereof.

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

After debate,

On motion by Mr. Houston,

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to Monday

next.

After the consideration of executive business,

The Senate adjourned.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1851.

Mr. Jones, of Iowa, presented the proceedings, and a memorial of the Railroad Convention of the State of Iowa, in favor of the enactment of a law granting the right of way, and making a grant of land to that State in aid of the construction of a railroad from Dubuque to Keokuk, and from Davenport to the Missouri river, at or near Council Bluffs, in Iowa; which were referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. Jones, of Iowa, presented the memorial of Mary Robb, widow of Hugh Robb, a soldier in the last war with Great Britain, praying to be allowed a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Jones, of Iowa, presented a petition of S. Hempstead and others, praying that a pension may be granted to David L. Davis, in consideration of an injury received while in the service of the United States as an assistant surveyor of public lands; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Hamlin submitted additional documents in relation to the petition. of Nathan Weston, jr.; which, with his petition on the files of the Senate, were referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Downs presented the petition of Thomas Mullett, praying compensation for his services as a deputy surveyor of public lands in Louisiana ; which was referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Downs presented the petition of W. C. Templeton, proposing to establish a line of mail steamers from New Orleans, via Tampico, to Vera Cruz, and praying that the Postmaster General may be directed to enter into contract with him for the transportation of the mail between those places; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

On motion by Mr. Pratt,

Ordered, That the petition of the heirs of John Ireland, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Hunter submitted the following resolution; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Finance be authorised to employ a clerk during the present session, who shall receive the usual compensation. On motion by Mr. Cass,

Ordered, That the message of the President of the United States, communicating, in compliance with a resolution of the Senate, information in relation to the firing into and seizure of the American steamship Prometheus by a British vessel of war, transmitted to the Senate the 17th instant, be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

On motion by Mr. Felch,

Ordered, That of the additional number of copies of the report of Messrs. Foster and Whitney, ordered to be printed by the resolution of the Senate of the 19th instant, five hundred be furnished to the Commissionerof the General Land Office.

Mr. Shields, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (S. 74) to authorise the State of Illinois to select the residue of the lands to which she is entitled under the act of 2d March, 1827, granting

land to aid that State in opening a canal to connect the waters of the Illinois river with those of Lake Michigan, reported it without amendment.

Mr. Dodge, of Iowa, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (S. 1) granting the right of way, and making a grant of land to the State of Iowa in aid of the construction of a railroad in said State, reported it with an amendment.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Miller asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 79) making appropriations for the improvement of certain harbors and rivers; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Seward asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 80) for the relief of Thomas H. Leggett; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee. on Commerce.

Mr. Dodge, of Wisconsin, by unanimous consent, asked and obtained leave to bring in a joint resolution (S. R. 10) for the relief of Alexander P. Field, late secretary of Wisconsin Territory, and sureties; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Mangum asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 81) for the relief of John R. Bryan, administrator of Isaac Garretson, deceased, late a purser in the United States navy; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and, with the papers on the files of the Senate, referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. Jones, of Iowa, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of Elizabeth Arnold, submitted a report, accompanied by a bill (S. 82) for her relief.

The bill was read, and passed to a second reading.

Ordered, That the report be printed.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution submitted by Mr. Hale, the 4th instant, in relation to violations of the law prohibiting flogging in the navy; and having been amended on the motion of Mr. Hale, the resolution was agreed to, as follows:

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Navy be directed to inform the Senate whether any charges were preferred by any officer of the United States frigate Cumberland against William K. Latimer, while commanding said frigate, on her recent cruize, for illegal punishment and disobedience of orders; and also, whether any court of inquiry was holden on the conduct of said Latimer, and if so, what was the finding or recommendation of said court of inquiry; and if any such charges have been made against said Latimer, or if any such court of inquiry has been holden, that he furnish the same to the Senate; and that he also inform the Senate what proceeding the Secretary of the Navy has taken in the premises, both as regards said Latimer, and the officer who preferred said charges.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution submitted by Mr. Pratt, the 16th instant, to set apart Friday in each week, after the 1st of January, for the purpose of considering and acting on private bills; and, The resolution was agreed to.

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

After debate,

On motion by Mr. Clemens,

The Senate adjourned.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1851.

The President pro tempore laid before the Senate, a report of the Secretary of the Navy, communicating, in compliance with a resolution of the Senate, of the 19th instant, letters from officers of the navy on the subject of corporal punishment in the navy, and a revision of the rules and regulations of the navy by a board of naval officers.

On motion by Mr. Gwin,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, and printed.

Mr. Brodhead presented a petition of citizens of Pennsylvania, praying that the stock owned by individuals in the Louisville and Portland Canal may be purchased by the United States; which was referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

Mr. Dodge, of Wisconsin, presented the petition of Catharine Elwes, widow of Alfred W. Elwes, a surgeon in the army, praying a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Underwood submitted additional documents in relation to the petition of William L. Meredith; which were referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

Mr. Stockton presented the memorial of Jesse E. Brown, in his own right, and as administrator of William J. Russell, deceased, complaining of the rejection, by the late Board of Commissioners for settling claims against Mexico, of a large portion of their claim for indemnity, and praying that a tribunal may be established for reviewing the decisions of that Board; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

On motion by Mr. McRae,

Ordered, That Samuel Coburn have leave to withdraw his petition and papers.

On motion by Mr. Shields,

Ordered, That the memorial of Charles S. Jackson, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Commerce.

On motion by Mr. Shields,

Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the memorial of Preston Starritt and others, and that it be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

On motion by Mr. Shields,

Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of W. R. Hallett, administrator of Joshua Kennedy, and that it be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

On motion by Mr. Shields,

Ordered, That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the memorial of Richard M. Johnson, and that it be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. Bell submitted the following resolution for consideration: