Resolved, That Owen Connolly be and is hereby appointed a messenger to the Senate, to take effect from and since the 11th day of March, 1851. Mr. Jones, of Iowa, submitted the following resolution; which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to.

Resolved, That the Committee on Pensions be authorized, as heretofore, to employ a clerk.

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

Resolved, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be instructed to inquire into, and report on the expediency of establishing a naval depot at Key West, in the State of Florida.

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

Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the reinvestigation by the judicial department of the government, of all payments made by any of the executive departments, where there is ground to apprehend fraud or mistake.

On motion by Mr. Dawson,

Ordered, That the petition of Charles Lee Jones, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

On motion by Mr. Davis,

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

On motion by Mr. Walker,

Ordered, That the heirs of James Bell have leave to withdraw their petition and papers.

On motion by Mr. Atchison,

Ordered, That when the Senate adjourn, it be to Friday next.

Mr. Clemens, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the joint resolution (S. R. 5) authorizing the President of the United States to confer the title of lieutenant-general by brevet, for eminent services, reported it without amendment.

Mr. Dawson, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the petition of Margaret Hetzel, submitted a report, accompanied by a bill (S. 83) for the relief of Mrs. Margaret Hetzel, widow and administratrix of A. R. Hetzel, late assistant quartermaster in the army of the United States.

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

Ordered, That the report be printed.

Mr. Dawson, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the memorial of Roger Jones, submitted a report, accompanied by a bill (S. 84) for the relief of Adjutant-General Roger Jones.

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

Ordered, That the report be printed.

Mr. Dodge, of Iowa, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (S. 55) to relinquish to the State of Iowa the lands reserved for salt springs therein, reported it without amendment.

Mr. Jones, of Iowa, reported from the committee, that they had examined and found duly enrolled the resolution (H. R. 7) providing for the printing of additional copies of the journals and public documents.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Forney, their Clerk: Mr. President: The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed an enrolled resolution, I am directed to bring it to the Senate for the signature of their President.

The President pro tempore signed the enrolled resolution (H. R. 7) last reported to have been examined, and it was delivered to the committee to he presented to the President of the United States.

Mr. Dodge, of Iowa, submitted the following resolution for considera

tion:

Resolved, That five thousand five hundred copies of the report of Dr. D. D. Owen on the geology of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota Territory, be printed in quarto form, according to the resolution of the Senate, at its last session, and that five hundred copies of the same be delivered to the Commissioner of the General Land Office, two hundred copies to Dr. Owen, and three hundred copies to the Smithsonian Institute for distribution.

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 domestic slavery; and, After debate,

On motion by Mr. Downs,

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to Monday, the 5th of January next, and that it be the order of the day. After the consideration of executive business,

The Senate adjourned.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1851.

A quorum not being present,

On motion by Mr. Mangun,

The Senate adjourned.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1851.

The number present not being sufficient to constitute a quorum,
On motion by Mr. Smith,

The Senate adjourned.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 29, 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 22d instant, the record of the proceedings of a court of inquiry convened November 20, 1850, on board the United States ship Cumberland, in the Bay of Naples, for the investigation of charges preferred against William K. Latimer, an officer in the navy;

The report was read.

Ordered, That it lie on the table.

The President pro tempore laid before the Senate a report of the Secre

tary of the Navy, communicating estimates for deficiencies in the appropriations for the naval service, for the year ending June 30, 1852; which was read.

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

The President pro tempore laid before the Senate a letter from John S. Mechan, librarian to Congress, communicating information of the destruction by fire, the 24th instant, of the books, paintings, statuary, medals, and other property of the Government, in the principal saloon of the Library of Congress; which was read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Library.

Mr. Shields presented the petition of James Corrigan, a pensioner of the United States, praying an increase of pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Clemens presented a petition of citizens of Cherokee county, Alabaina, praying that indemnification may be demanded of the Spanish government for the seizure of the property of Edward Stiff, a citizen of the United States, and his imprisonment by order of the Captain-General of Cuba; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Mr. Felch presented the petition of Amos Kendall and John E. Kendall, praying compensation for services rendered the Western Cherokees, in prosecuting their claims; which was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Mr. Walker presented a petition of citizens of Wisconsin, praying that the right of pre-emption, and a credit of two years may be allowed to the settlers on the Menominee Purchase, in that State; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. Underwood presented additional evidence in relation to the claim of James Jeffrics and Jeremiah M. Smith; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. Dawson submitted additional evidence in relation to the claim of Calvin B. Seymour; which, with his memorial on the files of the Senate, was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Mr. Dodge, of Wisconsin, presented a petition of citizens of La Cross county, Wisconsin, praying the establishment of a mail route from La Cross to Black River Falls, in that State; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and the Post Roads.

Mr. Gwin presented the petition of Santiago E. Arguello, a captain in the California battalion, praying compensation for losses sustained during the late war with Mexico; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

On motion by Mr. Felch,

Ordered, That the petition of Joseph W. Edwards, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Pensions.

On motion by Mr. Pratt,

Ordered, That the memorial of citizens of Baltimore, on the files of the Senate, relating to the establishment of a line of mail steamers between the ports of Baltimore and Norfolk and England, be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

On motion by Mr. Pratt,

Ordered, That the memorial of William Blackistone and others, citizens of Maryland, in relation to the establishment of a line of mail steamers

between the ports of Baltimore and Norfolk and England, be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

On motion by Mr. Dawson,

Ordered, That the petition of Willard Boynton, on the files of the Senate, be referred to Committee on Indian Affairs.

On motion by Mr. Bell,

Ordered, That the memorial of the representative of William Russwuria, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

On motion by Mr. Dodge, of Iowa,

Ordered, That the petition of William Roberts, and the documents relating to the claim of Rhoda Frisbee, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Jones, of Iowa, submitted the following resolution; which was con sidered by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of constructing a military road from Dubuque, in the State of Iowa, to Fort Dodge, in said State.

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

Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to communicate to the Senate such information as may be on file in the War Department relative to the construction of a military road from Fort Dodge to Dubuque, in Iowa; and that he inform the Senate what the cost has been for the transportation of the munitions of war, provisions, &c., used at said fort, from the usual place of deposit upon the Mississippi river.

Resolved, That the Secretary of War be also directed to communicate to the Senate a plan and estimate for the construction of a military road from Dubuque to Fort Dodge, and the amount necessary to pay for a survey and estimate for such road.

Mr. Cass submitted the following resolutions for consideration:

Resolved, That a committee be appointed, jointly with such committee as may be appointed on the part of the House of Representatives, to inquire into and report the cause of the recent fire in the Capitol, and also what measures it is proper to take to prevent the occurrence of a similar accident; and the said committee be also instructed to examine the proposed mode of construction of the addition to the Capitol, and ascertain whether it is intended to render the same fire-proof; and if not, what should be done to secure it, as far as possible, from the danger of fire.

Resolved, That the Committee on the Library be instructed to examine and report what measures should be taken immediately to procure such books as may be most indispensable, and what plan it is best to adopt to procure a library, which in its extent, and in the character of the works, shall be sufficiently useful and honorable to the country.

On motion by Mr. Shields,

Ordered, That the President pro tempore appoint a member of the committee to wait upon Louis Kossuth, on his arrival at the capital, in the place of Mr. Foote, of Mississippi, resigned; and,

Mr. Cass was appointed.

On motion by Mr. Atchison,

Ordered, That when the Senate adjourn, it be to Friday next.

Mr. Atchison, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was referred the memorial of the heirs of Joseph Watson, reported a bill (S. 85) for the relief of the representatives of Joseph Watson, deceased; which was read, and passed to the second reading.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Forney, their Clerk: Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed a joint resolution (H. R. 8) authorizing an inquiry into the origin of the late fire, by which the Congressional Library was destroyed; also a bill (H. R. 40) making appropriation to meet the expenses incurred in consequence of the late fire at the Capitol; in which resolution and bill they request the concurrence of the Senate.

A message from the President of the United States, by Mr. M. P. Fillmore, his Secretary:

Mr. President: The President of the United States approved and signed a joint resolution (S. 4) of welcome to Louis Kossuth.

Mr. Jones, of Iowa, reported from the committee that they had presented to the President of the United States the joint resolution (H. R. 7) providing for the printing of additional copies of the journals and public documents.

The joint resolution (H. R. 8) authorising an inquiry into the origin of the late fire by which the Congressional Library was destroyed, was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the Library.

The bill (H. R. 40) making appropriation to meet the expenses incurred in consequence of the late fire at the Capitol, was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and considered as in Committee of the Whole. An amendment being proposed by Mr. Cass,

On motion,

Ordered, That the bill, with the proposed amendment, be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. Shields, from the Select Committee, appointed the 16th instant, to wait on Louis Kossuth, on his arrival at the capital, and introduce him to the Senate of the United States, reported: That the committee recommend that the same proceedings be pursued as in the case of General Lafayette, to wit: that the chairman of the committee introduce him in these words: "we present Louis Kossuth to the Senate of the United States;" upon which the senators are recommend to rise, and the President will invite him to be seated.

The report was read; and,

On motion,

Resolved, That the Senate agree thereto.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution submitted by Mr. Dodge, of Iowa, the 22d instant, in relation to the printing of the report of D. D. Owen, on the geology of Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota Territory; and

On motion by Mr. Underwood,

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Printing.

The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution submitted by Mr. Eell, the 23d instant, in relation to the employment of a messenger; and,

On motion by Mr. Bell,

Ordered, That it lie on the table.