the First Comptroller of the Treasury, praying an increase of salaries; which was referred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. Soulé presented a resolution of the legislature of Louisiana, in favor of the establishment of a tri-weekly mail from Harrisonburg to Natchitoches ; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. Mr. Soulé presented a resolution of the legislature of Louisiana, in favor of the establishment of a mail route from the mouth of Red river to Burr's Ferry, on the Sabine; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. On motion by Mr. Wade, Ordered, That the memorial of the heirs and executors of Samuel Prioleau be recommitted to the Committee of Claims. On motion by Mr. Mason, Ordered, That the petition of the executors of Robert Porterfield, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Public Lands. On motion by Mr. Seward, Ordered, That the petition of William R. Nevins, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office. On motion by Mr. Badger, Ordered, That the memorial of Cornelius Vanderbilt be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. On motion by Mr. Clemens, Ordered, That the report of the Secretary of the Navy, in relation to contracts for the transportation of the mails by steamships between New York and California, communicated the 22d instant, be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. Mr. Shields, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted a report (No. 140) accompanied by a bill (S. 304) to improve the efficiency of the artillery. The bill was read, and passed to the second reading. Ordered, That the report be printed. Mr. Shields, from the Committee on Military Affairs, submitted a report (No. 141) accompanied by a joint resolution (S. R. 27) concerning the national defences. The resolution was read, and passed to the second reading. Ordered, That the report be printed. On motion by Mr. Shields that two thousand additional copies of the two last mentioned reports be printed: Ordered, That the motion be referred to the Committee on Printing. Mr. Brodhead, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the petition of Santiago E. Arguello, submitted a report (No. 142) accompanied by a bill (S. 305) for his relief. The bill was read, and passed to the second reading. Ordered, That the report be printed. Mr. Foot, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of Avery Downer, submitted an adverse report, (No. 143) which was considered; and, in concurrence therewith, Ordered, That the committee be discharged from the further consideration of the petition. On motion by Mr. Foot, Ordered, That the report be printed. Mr. Stockton, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of Squire Moon, submitted an adverse report, which was considered; and, in concurrence therewith, Ordered, That the committee be discharged from the further consideration of the petition. Mr. Stockton, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of Joseph W. Edwards, submitted an adverse report. Mr. Stockton, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of the heirs of Elisha Merriman, submitted an adverse report. Mr. Stockton, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of William Blodgett, submitted an adverse report. Mr. Cass submitted the following resolution: Resolved, That Y. P. Page, who has been engaged in clerical and other duties in the office of the Secretary of the Senate for some years past, be paid the same per diem compensation from the beginning of the present session as is allowed to the committee clerks of the Senate. The resolution was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment being made, it was reported to the Senate. Ordered, That it be engrossed and read a third time. The resolution was read a third time, by unanimous consent. A message from the President of the United States, by Mr. Millard P. Fillmore, his secretary: Mr. President: The President of the United States approved and signed, the 19th instant, the enrolled bill (S. 184) entitled "An act to provide for the repair of the Congressional library-room, lately destroyed by fire;" also, the 22d instant, the enrolled bill (S. 146) to make land warrants assignable, and for other purposes. Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives thereof. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (S. 175) to repeal the proviso in the act entitled "An act making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of government, for the year ending the 30th of June, 1852, and for other purposes," approved March 3, 1851, relating to the salaries of the officers of the Territories of the United States; and the reported amendment, having been amended, on the motion of Mr. Geyer, was agreed to. The bill was reported to the Senate, and the amendment was concurred in. Ordered, That this bill be engrossed and read a third time. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the resolution (S. R. 13) re-affirming the doctrine of non-intervention. On motion by Mr. Bell, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to Monday, the fifth day of April next. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (S. 15) to establish a navy yard and depot on the Bay of San Francisco, in California, and for other purposes; and, After debate, On motion by Mr. Borland, The Senate adjourned. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1852. Mr. Clarke presented the petition of George W. Greene, praying the subscription by Congress to the memoir and papers of Major General Nathaniel Greene; which was referred to the Committee on the Library. Mr. Sumner presented a petition of citizens of Boston, Massachusetts, praying a reduction of the rates of ocean postage; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. Mr. Sumner presented a petition of citizens of Montville, Maine, praying a reduction of the rates of ocean postage; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. Mr. Bradbury presented a petition of merchants and other citizens of Portland, Maine, praying further aid to Collins's line of mail-steamers; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. Smith presented a petition of citizens of Bridgeport, Connecticut, praying an extension of Woodworth's patent for a planing-machine; which was referred to the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office. Mr. Seward presented resolutions of the New York State Agricultural Society, in favor of the establishment of an agricultural bureau; which were referred to the Committee on Agriculture. Mr. Felch presented the petition of Amaziah Goodwin, praying an increase and arrears of pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions. Mr. Weller presented a petition of citizens of Washington, District of Columbia, praying an amendment of the charter of that city; which was referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia. Mr. Gwin presented the memorial of William Money, praying indemnity for horses seized by order of Brigadier General Kearny during the war with Mexico, and for losses incurred in consequence thereof; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Mr. Atchison presented the petition of Rosanna Sowards, praying a pension on account of her son, who died of wounds received in the late war with Mexico; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions. Mr. Soulé presented a petition of merchants and other citizens of New Orleans, praying that further aid may be extended to Collins's line of mail steamers. Ordered, That it lie on the table. Mr. Mallory presented the memorial of Hartwell Carver and his associates, praying a charter for the construction of a railroad to the Pacific ocean; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. Mr. Dodge, of Wisconsin, presented a memorial of the mayor and common council of Racine, Wisconsin, praying a further appropriation for a harbor at that place; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. Mr. Dodge, of Wisconsin, presented a memorial of the legislature of Wisconsin, in favor of restricting the jurisdiction of the United States district court for that district in certain cases; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Geyer presented the petition of the St. Genevieve Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob Plank-road Company, praying the right of way; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. Mr. Davis presented the memorial of J. Balestier, praying to be allowed certain items rejected on the settlement of his accounts at the Department of State for services and expenses as special agent to Cochin China, and other portions of southeastern Asia; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. On motion by Mr. Hamlin, Ordered, That the petition of Nathan Weston, jr., be recommitted to the Committee on Military Affairs. On motion by Mr. Hamlin, Ordered, That the petition of George Dennett, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Commerce. On motion by Mr. Brooke, Ordered, That the documents on the files of the Senate, relating to the claim of the heirs of Joseph McAffee, be referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims. On motion by Mr. Pratt, Ordered, That leave be granted to withdraw the original letters patent filed with the petition of Obed Hussey. Mr. Sebastian submitted the following resolution; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the establishment of a mail route and the transportation of the mail from Fort Smith, in the State of Arkansas, to Doña Ana, in the Territory of New Mexico, on the Rio Grande, in connexion with the line of military posts being established between those places. Mr. Borland submitted the following resolution; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to communicate to the Senate any plan which may have been adopted for the extension of the Capitol; a statement of the manner in which the money already appropriated for this object has been expended, and the amount paid to each individual, and for what object or purpose, and the amount, if there be any, of the appropriation unexpended: copies of all written contracts and verbal agreements, if any, entered into from the beginning of the work to the present time, for materials or workmanship, which have heretofore been, or are hereafter to be furnished or done for the extension of the Capitol: a statement of the materials proposed to be used in the construction of the interior and exterior walls and porticoes of the Capitol: a statement of the materials proposed to be used in the construction of the frame-work and covering of the roofs: a statement of what, if any, plan has been adopted to insure the proper lighting, warming, and ventilating the several departments of the proposed extension; and what, if any, plan of construction has been adopted with reference to the principles of acoustics, in order to facilitate hearing in each of the two halls of legislation, and in the Supreme Court room. The President pro tempore laid before the Senate a report of the Secretary of War, made in compliance with a resolution of the Senate, in relation to the construction of a basin at the terminus of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, at Rock creek; which was read. Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia. The President pro tempore laid before the Senate a report of the Secretary of War, communicating, in compliance with a resolution of the Senate, a supplemental report of the battle of Cerro Gordo, made by General Pillow to General Scott; which was read. Ordered, That it be printed. On motion by Mr. Felch, Ordered, That the Committee on Public Lands be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of William Smith, and from the further consideration of three petitions of residents of Wisconsin, presented the 18th of March. Mr. Borland, from the Committee on Printing, to whom was referred a motion to print two thousand additional copies of the reports of the Committee on Military Affairs, accompanying the bill S. 304, and joint resolution S. R. 27, reported in favor of printing the same; and The report was concurred in. Mr. Borland, from the Committee on Printing, to whom was referred the motion to print the petition of James Riley, reported that the petition be not printed; and The report was concurred in. Mr. Felch, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (S. 41) to grant to the State of Wisconsin the military reservation at Fort Winnebago, in that State, to aid in improving the navigation of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers, reported the same without amendment, and that the bill ought not to pass. Mr. Felch, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (S. 128) to enable Jacob Banta to locate two revolutionary bounty land certificates, reported the same without amendment. Mr. Felch also submitted a report (No. 147) on the subject; which was ordered to be printed. On motion by Mr. Bradbury, Ordered, That the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the further consideration of the memorial of assistant marshals in Pennsylvania, presented the 22d instant, and that it be referred to the Committee of Claims. On motion by Mr. Hamlin, Ordered, That the Committee on Commerce be discharged from the further consideration of the resolution instructing the committee to inquire. into the expediency of establishing a port of entry at Tuscumbia, Alabama. On motion by Mr. Hamlin, Ordered, That the Committee on Commerce be discharged from the further consideration of the memorial of citizens of Davidson county, Tennessee, presented March 23. Mr. Miller, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the memorial of the West Feliciana Railroad Company, submitted a report, (No. 144) accompanied by a bill (S. 306) for their relief. The bill was read, and passed to the second reading. |