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On motion by Mr. Underwood,

Ordered, That it be printed.

On motion by Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana,

Ordered, That Mr. Badger be appointed on the Committee on Private Land Claims.

On motion by Mr. Rusk,

Ordered, That Mr. Fitzgerald be appointed one of the Committee on Enrolled Bills.

On motion by Mr. Dickinson,

Ordered, That Mr. Sebastian be appointed one of the Committee on Manufactures.

On motion,

The Senate adjourned.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1848.

The honorable Daniel Webster, from the State of Massachusetts, attended.

The Vice President laid before the Senate a report of the Secretary of the Treasury, communicating a report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, exhibiting the operations of that branch of the public service during the year 1848; which was read, referred to the Committee on Public Lands, and ordered to be printed.

The Vice President presented a communication from Joseph G. Totten, chief of the engineer department, accompanied by a memorial of Isaac S. K. Reeves, an officer of the army, performing the duties of adjutant of the military academy at West Point, praying to be allowed the pay and emoluments of adjutants of dragoons.

Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, presented the petition of Ward Marston, late an officer in the marine corps, praying to be restored to the appointment which he held in the corps previous to its reduction in consequence of the termination of the Mexican war; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, presented a petition of registers and receivers of public lands in the State of Louisiana, praying to be allowed commissions on entries of military land warrants; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. Felch presented a petition of citizens of Michigan, praying an appropriation for the survey and improvement of the harbor at the mouth of the Ontonagon river, on Lake Superior; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce.

Mr. Dix presented the petition of James Foy and others, who were employed in the quartermaster's department of the army during the war with Mexico, praying to be allowed extra pay and bounty land; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Felch presented a petition of citizens of Michigan, praying that the pre-emption laws may be extended to the mineral lands of the United States on Lake Superior; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. Dix presented the petition of Nathaniel Webb, a pensioner

of the United States, praying to be allowed arrears of pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Hunter presented the memorial of A. G. Griman and the other heirs of Andrew Glassell, deceased, praying indemnity for French spoliations prior to 1800; which was referred to the Čommittee on Foreign Relations.

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

On motion by Mr. Westcott,

Ordered, That the petition of the administrator of Francis Cazeau, deceased, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

On motion by Mr. Underwood,

Ordered, That the memorial of Joseph Radcliff and the petition of John Bruce, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

On motion by Mr. Sturgeon,

Ordered, That the petition of Benjamin Miller, and the documents relating to the claim of William Parkeson, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Pensions.

On motion by Mr. Dayton,

Ordered, That Aaron Carman have leave to withdraw the documents accompanying his petition.

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

Resolved, That the Committee on Pensions be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reporting a bill providing for the confirmation of the claim of Benjamin F. Bosworth, for bounty lands. On motion by Mr. Badger,

Ordered, That when the Senate adjourn, it be to Monday next. On motion by Mr. Hale,

Ordered, That Pearson Cogswell have leave to withdraw his petition and papers.

Mr. Benton, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the memorial of William H. Aspinwall and others, reported a bill (S. 352) to make compensation for the transportation of troops and supplies, for a limited time, over the isthmus of Panama; which was read, and passed to the second reading.

On motion by Mr. Benton,

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to and made the order of the day for Monday next.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Cameron asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 353) to provide for taking the seventh census or enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States; which was read the first and second times by unanimous consent.

On motion by Mr. Cameron,

Ordered, That it be referred to a select committee, to be appointed by the Vice President; and

Mr. Cameron, Mr. Davis, of Massachusetts, Mr. Butler, Mr. Un· derwood, and Mr. Breese, were appointed the committee.

On motion by Mr. Underwood, the vote of yesterday for the printing a report of the Treasurer of the United States, communicating his account of receipts and disbursements of the Post Office Department, was reconsidered; and

Mr. Underwood had leave to withdraw his motion for the printing thereof.

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

Mr. President: I am directed to inform the Senate of the death of the honorable Alexander D. Sims, late a member from the State of South Carolina, and of the proceedings of the House of Representatives thereon.

Mr. Butler submitted the following resolutions, which were considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

Resolved, unanimously, That the Senate has heard with deep sensibility of the death of the honorable Alexander D. Sims, a Representative from the State of South Carolina.

Resolved, unanimously, That the members of the Senate, from a sincere desire of showing every mark of respect to the memory of the deceased, will wear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days. Resolved, That, as a further mark of respect for the memory of the deceased, the Senate do now adjourn.

Whereupon,

The Senate adjourned.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1848.

Mr. Dickinson presented the memorial of George Wilkes, praying the construction of a national road from the Missouri river to the Pacific ocean; which was referred to the Committee on Roads and Canals.

Mr. Dickinson presented a memorial of Barclay and Livingston, and other merchants in the city of New York, praying a reimbursement of the duties paid on merchandise destroyed by fire in that city the 19th July, 1845; also, the proceedings of the corporation of the city of New York in favor of the memorial; which were referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. Douglas presented the memorial of Henry O'Reilly, proposing, with the aid of the government, to establish a line of magnetic telegraphs from the Mississippi valley to Oregon and California; which was referred to the Committee on Territories.

Mr. Cameron presented a petition of citizens of Columbia county, and two petitions of citizens of Schulkill county, Pennsylvania, praying an increase of the duties on foreign manufactures; which were referred to the Committee on Finance.

Mr. Westcott presented the petition of Elizabeth Moss and others, heirs of Drury Ragsdale, deceased, an officer in the revolutionary war, praying to be allowed commutation pay; which was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.

Mr. Cameron presented a petition of citizens of Centre county, Pennsylvania, praying that newspapers may be made free of post

age for the distance of thirty miles from their place of publication; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. Sturgeon presented a petition of citizens of Centre county, Pennsylvania, praying that newspapers may be made free of postage for the distance of thirty miles from their place of publication; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.

Mr. Dix presented a memorial of J. Disturnell, a citizen of New York, praying that an appropriation may be made for collecting certain statistical information relating to North America and the West India islands; which was referred to the select committee on the subject of the seventh census.

Mr. Johnson, of Maryland, presented the petition of Julia Martin, praying that a pension may be granted to her brother Luther Martin, late a midshipman in the navy; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, presented the memorial of John Collins, praying compensation for his services as a boatswain in the navy; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs.

Mr. Davis, of Mississippi, presented the petition of William H. Shover, an officer in the army, praying to be allowed arrears of pay; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Davis, of Mississippi, presented the memorial of officers of the ordnance corps of the army, praying to be allowed double rations; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

Mr. Borland presented the petition of Leonidas Wetmore, an officer in the army, praying compensation for two horses lost in the military service; which was referred to the Committee on Military

Affairs.

Mr. Turney presented the petition of James M. Scantland, praying an increase of pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions.

On motion by Mr. Berrien,

Ordered, That the memorial of Moses E. Levy, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims. On motion by Mr. Yulee,

Ordered, That the petition of Isabella Stout, heir-at-law of James Samson, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims.

On motion by Mr. Yulee,

Ordered, That the memorial of John Tucker, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.

On motion by Mr. Johnson, of Maryland,

Ordered, That the petition of the representatives of Robert Sewall, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee of Claims.

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

Resolved, That the Committee on Finance be instructed to inquire into the expediency of establishing a mint in the gold region

of California to coin the gold offered by American citizens at such a rate as would pay the expenses thereof and remunerate the government for the use or digging on the mineral lands belonging to the United States, until the same shall be sold.

Mr. Miller submitted the following resolution for consideration: Resolved, That the President of the United States be requested to inform the Senate whether any and what negotiations or correspondence have taken place between this government and the government of Spain, or between any persons acting under the direction or authority of either government, in relation to the purchase of Cuba by the United States; and that he communicate to the Senate copies of such negotiations or correspondence so far as the same may be communicated consistently with the public interest. Mr. Atherton submitted the following motion, which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to:

Ordered, That so much of the message of the President of the United States as relates to a tariff of duties on imports; to the collection, custody, and disbursement of the public money; to the establishment of a branch mint in California; and to the revenues of the federal government generally, be referred to the Committee on Finance.

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

Ordered, That so much of the President's message as relates to the graduation and reduction of the price of the public lands and granting pre-emption rights thereon, and all other matters pertaining to the subject of the public lands, contained in the said message, be referred to the Committee on Public Lands.

Mr. Rusk reported from the committee, that they presented to the President of the United States, the 13th instant, the resolution (S. R. 41) for the appointment of regents in the Smithsonian Institution.

The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (S. 338) to authorize the draining of the everglades in the State of Florida by said State, and to grant the same to said State for that purpose; and,

Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to and made the order of the day for Wednesday next.

Agreeably to notice, Mr. Douglas asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 355) granting to the State of Illinois the right of way and a donation of public lands for making a railroad connecting the upper and lower Mississippi with the chain of lakes at Chicago; which was read the first and second times by unanimous consent, referred to the Committee on Public Lands, and ordered. to be printed.

The bill (S. 350) for the admission of California into the Union as a State, was read the second time.

On motion by Mr. Douglas, that it be referred to the Committee on Territories,

It was determined in the negative,

(Yeas.
{Nay's

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