Resolved, That the prayer of the memorialists ought not to be granted. The Senate proceeded to consider the adverse report of the Committee on Public Lands on the petition of Peter Whitmore Knaggs; and in concurrence therewith, Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioner ought not to be granted. The Senate proceeded to consider the adverse report of the Committee on Public Lands on the petition of Peter Godfrey; and in concurrence therewith, Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioner be not granted. The Senate proceeded to consider the report submitted by Mr. Cameron the 10th of August, and the resolution was amended and agreed to, as follows. Resolved, That the Secretary of War be requested to communicate to the Senate any information that may be within the knowledge of the department in reference to claims made against the Cherokees, who were parties to the treaty of August 6, 1846, especially against that portion of the nation called "old settlers" or "western Cherokees," for services or any other aid and assistance rendered the said Cherokees in the prosecution of their claim, which resulted in the treaty aforesaid. If such claims are based upon written contracts, he is requested to state whether these contracts were made by the duly authorized representatives of the Cherokees in their national or aggregate capacity for the benefit of those who are made recipients by the treaty, in all moneys arising out of the settlement of their claim; and also, whether, within the knowledge of the department, such contracts have been fully and faithfully complied with, as far as practicable, by the other parties named in them; and that he will communicate the evidence upon which he bases his opinion, with any papers in possession of the department showing the extent of the services rendered, and the character of the claims thus made against the moneys which may be awarded the Cherokees under the treaty of August 6, 1846. On motion by Mr. Butler, Ordered, That the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of G. W. Norton and P. E. Norton. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (S. 152) to establish the territorial government of Minnesota; and having been amended, it was reported to the Senate, and the amendments were concurred in. Ordered, That the further eonsideration of the bill be postponed until to-morrow. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (S. 212) for the relief of P. Chouteau, jr., and Company; 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. 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, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (S. 169) for the relief of Frederick Dawson, James Schott, and Elisha Dana Whitney; and, On motion by Mr. Johnson, of Maryland, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow, and be the special order of the day. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the following bills: H. R. 295. An act for the relief of William Harding; H. R. 77. An act for the relief of Stephen Champlin; H. R. 121. An act for the relief of G. F. de la Roche and W. P. S. Sanger; H. R. 198. An act for the relief of Joseph Bryan; and no amendment being made, they were reported to the Senate. Ordered, That they pass to a third reading. The said bills were read a third time. Resolved, That they pass. Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives thereof. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (H. R. 270) for the relief of John Percival, captain in the navy of the United States; and no amendment being made, it was reported to the Senate. Ordered, That it pass to a third reading. It was determined in the affirmative,{ On motion by Mr. Allen, Yeas.... 28 13 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the Senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative are, Messrs. Badger, Baldwin, Bell, Bradbury, Clarke, Clayton, Davis, of Massachusetts, Dayton, Douglas, Downs, Fitzgerald, Greene, Houston, Johnson, of Maryland, Johnson, of Louisiana, Jones, King, Mason, Miller, Pearce, Phelps, Spruance, Sturgeon, Underwood, Upham, Walker, Westcott, Yulee. Those who voted in the negative are, Messrs. Allen, Atherton, Bright, Davis, of Mississippi, Dickinson, Dodge, of Iowa, Felch, Fitzpatrick, Hunter, Johnson, of Georgia, Metcalfe, Niles, Turney. So it was Resolved, That this bill pass. Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives accordingly. FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 1849. The Vice President laid before the Senate a report of the Secretary of War communicating, in compliance with a resolution of the Senate, a map of the valley of Mexico; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. The Vice President laid before the Senate a report of the Postmaster General, made in compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 15th instant, in relation to the conveyance of the mails of the United States in steam packets between the ports of the United States and foreign countries; which was read. Mr. Bell presented a petition of citizens of Tennessee, praying that the rates of postage may be reduced and the franking privilege abolished. Ordered, That it lie on the table. Mr. King submitted the following resolution, which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Relations be instructed to inquire into the propriety of allowing to Alexander Hammett the pay of a chargé d'affaires for the time he discharged the duties of that station at Naples. Mr. Sebastian submitted a communication addressed to him by A. K. Parris, Second Comptroller, in relation to the report of the Second Comptroller and Second Auditor of the Treasury, of the 15th instant, on the subject of the claims of the Cherokee nation; which was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. Mr. Phelps, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill (S. 241) for the relief of the West Feliciana Railroad Company, reported it without amendment, and that the bill ought not to pass. Mr. Phelps, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the petition of the Mexican Gulf Railway Company, reported "that the committee be discharged from the further consideration of the petition." Mr. Dickinson, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the petition of William Norris and Company, reported the following resolution: Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioners ought not to be granted. On motion by Mr. Jones, That the Senate reconsider the vote on passing the bill (H. R. 270) for the relief of John Percival, captain in the navy of the United States; Ordered, That the further consideration of the motion be postponed until to-morrow. The Senate proceeded to consider the motion by Mr. Clarke, the 11th instant, to reconsider the vote on the engrossment of the bill (H. R. 7) directing the mode of settling the claims of Charles G. Ridgely; and the motion was agreed to. Mr. Rusk reported from the committee that they had presented to the President of the United States, the 18th instant, the following acts: H. R. 59. An act for the relief of Mrs. Anne W. Angus. H. R. 195. An act for the relief of Marcus Fulton Johnson. H. R. 196. An act supplemental to the act approved the sixth day of July, 1842, entitled "An act confirming certain land claims in Louisiana." S. 373. An act to continue the office of the Commissioner of Pensions. S. 377. An act for the relief of James M. Scantland. A message from the President of the United States, by Mr. Walker, his secretary: Mr. President: The President of the United States approved and signed, this day, the following acts: S. 373. An act to continue the office of the Commissioner of Pensions. S. 377. An act for the relief of James M. Scantland. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (S. 289) to reduce the rates of postage, and for other purposes; and having been amended on the motion of Mr. Niles, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until Monday next. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (H. R. 113) for the relief of the owners of the Spanish brig Restaurador; and no amendment being made, it was reported to the Senate. Ordered, That it pass to a third reading. The said bill was read a third time. Resolved, That it pass. Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives accordingly. A message from the House of Representatives by Mr. Campbell, their Clerk: Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed a joint resolution (H. R. 20) for the relief of Samuel T. Anderson; also, a bill (H. R. 197) for the relief of the legal representatives of Antonio Pacheco, in which bill and resolution they request the concurrence of the Senate. The resolution and bill this day received from the House of Representatives were severally read the first and second times by unanimous consent. Ordered, That the resolution numbered, (H. R. 20,) be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs; and that the bill numbered, (H. R. 197,) be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. The Vice President laid before the Senate a report of the Secretary of the Treasury, made in compliance with a resolution of the Senate, showing the number of designated depositaries performing duties without specific compensation; which was read, and ordered to be printed. On motion by Mr. Atchison, Ordered, That when the Senate adjourn it be to Monday next. After the consideration of executive business, The Senate adjourned. MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 1849. Mr. Rusk reported from the committee, that they had examined and found duly enrolled the following bills: H. R. 20. An act for the relief of Edward Quinn. H. R. 60. H. R. 121. An act for the relief of G. F. De la Roche and Wil liam P. S. Sanger. H. R. 128. An act for the relief of Thomas Badger. H. R. 198. An act for the relief of Joseph Bryan. H. R. 277. An act for the relief of John Morrison. The Vice President laid before the Senate a report of the Secretary of the Treasury, accompanied by a communication from the Commissioner of the General Land Office, in relation to the mineral lands in Michigan; which was read. The Vice President laid before the Senate a report of the Secretary of the Treasury, accompanied by a report of the Register of the Treasury, containing the statements of the commerce and navigation of the United States for the last fiscal year, prepared as required by the act of the 10th February, 1820; which was read. Ordered, That it be printed; that five thousand five hundred copies be printed in addition to the usual number, five hundred of which for the use of the Treasury Department. The Vice President laid before the Senate a report of the Secretary of the Navy, made in compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 18th January, in relation to contracts for the transmission of the mail in steamers between ports of the United States and ports of foreign countries; which was read.. Ordered, That it be printed, together with the report of the Postmaster General on the same subject. The Vice President laid before the Senate a communication from the mayor of the city of Brooklyn, accompanied by the proceedings of the common council of Brooklyn, in relation to the establishment of a branch mint; which was ordered to be printed. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Campbell, their Clerk: Mr. President: The House of Representatives concur in the amendments of the Senate to the bill (H. R. 655) to supply deficiences in the appropriations for the service of the fiscal year ending the 30th June, 1849; with an amendment to the 5th amendment. The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed nine enrolled bills, I am directed to bring them to the Senate for the signature of their President. The House of Representatives have passed the bill (S. 351) authorizing the payment of interest upon the advances made by the State of Alabama, for the use of the United States government, in the suppression of the Creek Indian hostilities of 1836 and 1837, |