H. R. 119. An act for the relief of Anthony Bessee.

H. R. 187. An act for the relief of James B. Davenport.

H. R. 191. An act to confirm Elizabeth Burriss, her heirs or assigns, in their title to a tract of land.

H. R. 328. An act for the relief of John B. Smith and Simeon Darden.

H. R. 405. Act to extend certain privileges to the town of Whitehall, in the State of New York.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Campbell, their Clerk:

Mr. President: The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed five enrolled bills, I am directed to bring them to the Senate for the signature of their President.

The Vice President signed the five enrolled bills (H. R. 119, 187, 191, 328, 405) this day reported to have been examined, and they were delivered to the committee, to be presented to the President of the United States.

Mr. Berrien, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (S. 350) for the admission of California into the Union as a State, reported the same without amendment.

Mr. Berrien also submitted a report upon the subject; which was ordered to be printed.

After the consideration of executive business,
The Senate adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1849.

The Vice President laid before the Senate a report of the Secretary of the Navy, made agreeably to law, accompanied by a report of the Commissioner of Pensions, showing the names and residence of persons who have applied for relief under the navy pension laws; which was read.

Mr. Dickinson presented the petition of Henry W. Barnes and Randolph M. Cooley, praying compensation for clothing furnished to a regiment of New York volunteers mustered into the service of the United States during the war with Mexico; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Dickinson presented a petition of citizens of New York, praying that the rates of postage may be reduced and the franking privilege abolished; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. Underwood presented the petition of G. W. Norton and P. E. Norton, praying the payment of certain bonds issued by the late republic of Texas; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Downs presented the petition of Francis Barnes, praying compensation for services as an inspector in the custom-house at New Orleans; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. Davis, of Massachusetts, presented the memorial of Lucretia O. Everett, widow and administratrix of Alexander H. Everett, deceased, late minister to Spain, praying to be allowed, in the settle

ment of his accounts, certain charges for office rent and difference in exchanges; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Mr. Davis, of Massachusetts, presented the petition of David Baker, praying an extension of his patent for an improvement in the saw-mill; which was referred to the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office.

On motion by Mr. Breese,

Ordered, That the petition of the legal representatives of John Rice Jones, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee Private Land Claims.

On motion by Mr. Dickinson,

Ordered, That the heirs of Jethro Wood have leave to withdraw their petition and papers.

On motion by Mr. Metcalfe,

Ordered, That Elizabeth Adkins have leave to withdraw her petition and papers.

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

Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads inquire whether the counties of St. Lucie and Dade, in the State of Florida, are excluded from the benefits of the mail system; whether the provisions of the fourth section of the act of March 3, 1835, regulating the Post Office Department, have been complied with in regard to these counties; and whether any and what further legislation is necessary in the premises.

Mr. Benton submitted the following resolution for consideration: Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate be, and he hereby is, authorized and directed to contract with a suitable person for compiling a synoptical index to the laws and treaties of the United States, in continuation of the like index compiled under the order of the House of Representatives of May 15, 1824.

Mr. Davis, of Mississippi, presented the petition of Peter A. Carnes, a wagon and forage master in the army, praying to be allowed a pension in consideration of disabilities contracted in the service; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. King presented the petition of Farley D. Thompson, praying to be released from liability as security for a defaulting postmaster; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. Downs, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 181) for the relief of John P. Skinner and the legal representatives of Isaac Green, reported it without amend

ment.

Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 22) for the relief of Elizabeth Clapper, of Muskingum county, in the State of Ohio, reported it without amendment.

Mr. Rusk reported from the committee that they had presented to the President of the United States, the 9th instant, the following

acts:

H. R. 119. An act for the relief of Anthony Bessee.

H. R. 187. An act for the relief of James B. Davenport.

H. R. 191. An act to confirm Elizabeth Burriss, her heirs, or assigns, in their title to a tract of land.

H. R. 328. An act for the relief of John B. Smith and Simeon Darden.

H. R. 405. An act to extend certain privileges to the town of Whitehall, in the State of New York.

Mr. Fitzpatrick, from the Committee on Printing, who were instructed by a resolution of the Senate to inquire into the expediency of purchasing, for the use of the Senate, copies of a map of the British provinces, Mexico, &c., reported thereon.

On motion by Mr. Davis, of Massachusetts, Ordered, That the report lie on the table.

The Senate proceded to consider the resolution, submitted by Mr. Bell the 8th instant, respecting the claim of the Cherokee nation of Indians; and the resolution was agreed to.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Campbell, their Clerk:

Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed a bill (H. R. 691) making appropriations for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian department, and for fulfilling treaty stipulations with the various Indian tribes, for the year ending June 30, 1850.

On motion by Mr. Butler,

Ordered, That the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the further consideration of the bill (H. R. 659) further to continue in force the acts for the payment of horses and other property lost in the military service of the United States, and that it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

On motion by Mr. Butler,

Ordered, That the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of citizens of Indiana, presented the 5th instant, in relation to the transportation of certain colored persons; and,

On motion by Mr. Yulee,

Ordered, That said petition lie on the table.

The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion, made yesterday by Underwood, to refer the petition of Daniel P. Bedinger to the Committee on the Judiciary, with instructions to inquire and report whether Congress possesses the constitutional power to appriate money for the removal of free people of color who may choose to emigrate, and slaves who may hereafter be manumitted for the purpose, to the republic of Liberia or elsewhere; and if, in the opinion of the committee, Congress possesses the power, whether it is expedient and proper to make such appropriation.

On motion by Mr. Dayton, the motion was amended, by striking out the proposed instructions.

On motion by Mr. Dickinson, that the further consideration of the petition, with the motion to refer the same, be postponed indefinitely,

It was determined in the affirmative, Nays...

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

Messrs. Atherton, Bell, Berrien, Borland, Breese, Butler, Calhoun, Davis, of Mississippi, Dickinson, Douglas, Downs, Fitzgerald, Fitzpatrick, Foote, Hannegan, Houston, Hunter, Johnson, of Louisiana, Johnson, of Georgia, King, Mason, Pearce, Rusk, Sturgeon, Turney, Westcott, Yulee.

Those who voted in the negative are,

Messrs. Allen, Baldwin, Benton, Bradbury, Bright, Clarke, Clayton, Corwin, Dayton, Dodge, of Iowa, Dodge, of Wisconsin, Felch, Hale, Hamlin, Jones, Metcalfe, Miller, Niles, Phelps, Spruance, Underwood, Upham, Walker.

Mr. Davis, of Misissippi, by unanimous consent, asked and obtained leave to bring in a joint resolution (S. R. 52) respecting the bounty land and extra pay allowed to the substitutes of men enlisted for the Mexican war; which was read the first and second times by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Pensions.

After the consideration of executive business,
The Senate adjourned.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1849.

The Vice President laid before the Senate a report of the Secretary of State, made agreeably to law, showing the clerks employed in the Department of State during the year 1848, and the compensation paid to each; which was read.

Mr. Bradbury presented a petition of citizens of Brunswick, Maine, praying that the rates of postage may be reduced, and the franking privilege abolished; which was referred to the Committee en the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. Borland presented a memorial of the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, praying that appropriations may be made for the completion and repair of certain forts and barracks on the western frontier of that State; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Borland presented a memorial of the General Assembly of Arkansas, praying to be allowed the right of exchanging the valueless school lands in that State for others of more value, and a grant of an additional section in each township for public schools; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. Dayton presented the petition of William Green, junior, praying that a patent may be issued to him for an improvement in the process of manufacturing sheet iron; which was referred to the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office.

Mr. Breese presented the petition of Mary Hall, widow of John Hall, praying to be allowed a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Breese presented the petition of Rhoda Abney, widow of a revolutionary soldier, praying to be allowed a pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Niles presented the petition of William Lacon and Lewis H. Bates, praying to be indemnified for losses and expenses incurred in consequence of the illegal seizure of a quantity of iron imported by them; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, presented the memorial of D. A. Watterston, praying the payment of a balance due him for services as clerk to the surveyor general of Louisiana; which was referred to the Committee of Claims.

Mr. Dodge, of Iowa, 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 establishing a post route from Albia, the seat of justice of Monroe county, Iowa, via "Chariton Point," in Lucas county, to Trader's Point, on the Missouri river; from Garnevella, in Clayton county, to "Monona."

Mr. Felch, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (S. 102) for the relief of John Milliken and others, to secure certain rights to pre-emption in the State of Louisiana, and for other purposes, reported it without amendment.

Mr. Davis, of Mississippi, from the Committee on Military Affairs, reported a bill (S. 385) amendatory of an act entitled "An act respecting the organization of the army, and for other purposes," approved August 23, 1842; which was read, and passed to the second reading.

Mr. Breese, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 662) in addition to an act entitled "An act in relation to military land warrants," approved August 14, 1848, reported it without amendment.

The Senate proceeded to consider the said bill as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment being made, it was reported to the Senate.

Ordered, That it pass to a third reading.

Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred a petition of Patrick Walker, reported a bill (S. 386) continuing the pension granted to Patrick Walker.

The said bill 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 said bill was read a third time by unanimous consent. 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 in this bill.

Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, agreeably to notice, asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 387) to authorize the payment of invalid pensions in certain cases; which was read the first and second times by unanimous consent.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Pensions,