effect the existing compacts with the States of Alabama and Mississippi with regard to the five per cent. fund and school reservations. The bill (H. R. 791) declaring Fort Covington, in the State of New York, to be a port of delivery, and for other purposes, was read the first and second times by unanimous consent. Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Commerce. The bill (H. R. 792) exempting Spanish vessels from discriminating duties in certain cases, was read the first and second times by unanimous consent. Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Finance. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Campbell, their Clerk: Mr. President: The President of the United States approved and signed, the 22d instant, the following bills and joint resolutions: H. R. 24. An act for the relief of George Newton. H. R. 61. An act for the relief of Nancy Tompkins. H. R. 62. An act for the relief of James Glynn and others. H. R. 589. An act for the relief of Thomas Gammage. H. R. 776. An act granting five years' half pay to certain widows and orphans of officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, both regulars and volunteers. H. R. 14. Joint resolution concerning the settlement of the accounts of William Speiden, purser in the navy of the United States. H. R. 18. Joint resolution for the relief of H. M. Barney. H. R. 50. Joint resolution for the relief of John B. Nevitt, of Adams county, Mississippi. H. R. 53. Joint resolution authorizing a settlement of the accounts of Thomas M. Howe, late pension agent at Pittsburg, upon equitable principles. The House of Representatives have passed bills of the following titles: H. R. 635. An act to aid the State of Louisiana in draining the swamp lands therein. H. R. 754. An act making appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department for the year ending the 30th of June, 1850. The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed an enrolled bill, I am directed to bring it to the Senate for the signature of their President. The Vice President signed the enrolled bills reported to have been examined and signed, (S. 366, 470, H. R. 525, 684,) and they were delivered to the committee, to be presented to the President of the United States. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (H. R. 692) making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of the government for the year ending the 30th of June, 1850, and for other purposes; and, after debate, On motion by Mr. Atchison, The Senate adjourned. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1849. Mr. Spruance presented the credentials of the honorable John Wales, elected a Senator by the Legislature of the State of Delaware, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of the honorable John M. Clayton; which were read, and the oath prescribed by law was administered to Mr. Wales, and he took his seat in the Senate. The Vice President laid before the Senate a report of the Secretary of the Navy, in compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the 8th instant, communicating a report by Lieutenant William F. Lynch, of the United States navy, of an examination of the Dead Sea; which was read. Mr. Miller presented a resolution, passed by the Legislature of the State of New Jersey, in favor of appropriations by Congress for the erection of a light-house at the mouth of Maurice river and beacon lights in Newark bay: Ordered, That it lie on the table. Mr. Dickinson presented the memorial of Edwin Williams, praying the patronage of the government for a work prepared by him containing a compilation of the messages of the Presidents of the United States and other public documents from the formation of the federal government, in 1789, to the present time; which was referred to the Committee on the Library. M. Dickinson presented the memorial of William K. Ashard, praying compensation for the use by the United States of his invention of a cannon lock and primer; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. Dix presented a memorial of citizens of Attica, New York, praying that a law may be passed authorizing Hartwell Carver and his associates to construct a railroad from Lake Michigan or the Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Dix presented a petition of citizens of Toledo, Ohio, praying the establishment of a reciprocal free trade between the United States and Canada: Ordered, That it lie on the table. Mr. Dix presented the memorial of Charles Wilkes, an officer in the navy, praying to be indemnified for expenses incurred in'defending suits instituted against him on account of certain official acts while in command of the exploring expedition, and to be allowed extra pay for the scientific duties performed by him whilst engaged in the said expedition; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Mr. Bradbury submitted the following resolution for consideration: Resolved, That the rules of the Senate be so far amended that, for the residue of the present session, a vote to lay an amendment upon the table shall not carry with it the bill or resolution proposed to be amended. ་ Mr. Atherton submitted the following resolution, which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That on this day and each succeding day during the present session, the Senate will take a recess from four o'clock, p. m., until six o'clock, p. m. Mr. Dodge, of Wisconsin, presented resolutions, passed by the Legislature of the State of Wisconsin, instructing the Senators and requesting the Representatives of that State in Congress to oppose the enactment of any law establishing a government in New Mexico or California, or in any other territory belonging to the United States, unless it shall provide that slavery or involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, shall be forever excluded therefrom; to oppose the admission of any more slaveholding States into the Union, and to exert their influence to procure the abolition of slavery and the slave trade in the District of Columbia, and to prohibit the traffic in slaves in all other places under the control of Congress: Ordered, That they lie on the table and be printed. Mr. Rusk reported from the committee that they have examined and found duly enrolled the joint resolution (H. R. 14) concerning the settlement of the accounts of William Speiden, purser in the navy of the United States. 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. 57) in relation to foreign officers or seamen who shall render relief to American vessels in distress, in which they request the concurrence of the Senate. They have passed the bill from the Senate (S. 295) to allow subsistence to certain Arkansas and other volunteers, who have been prisoners of war in Mexico. The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed an enrolled resolution (H. R. 14) I am directed to bring it to the Senate for the signature of their President. The Vice President signed the enrolled joint resolution last reported to have been examined, and it was restored to the committee to be presented to the President of the United States. On motion by Mr. Niles, That the vote on the resolution to regulate the publication of the debates and proceedings of the Senate be reconsidered. Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow. On motion by Mr. Atherton, Ordered, That a member be appointed on the Committee on Finance to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr. Clayton, and that the appointment be made by the Vice President; and Mr. Webster was appointed. The joint resolution (H. R. 57) in relation to foreign officers or seamen who shall render relief to American vessels in distress, was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent. Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Commerce. The bill (H. R. 635) to aid the State of Louisiana in draining the swamp lands therein, 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 pass to a third reading. The said bill was read a third time. Resolved, That this bill pass. Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives accordingly. Mr. Johnson, of Georgia, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 184) amendatory of an act entitled "An act amendatory of the act entitled 'an act to incorporate the Provident Association of Clerks in the civil departments of the government of the United States, in the District of Columbia," approved 3d March, 1825, 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. The said bill was read a third time. Resolved, That this bill pass, Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives accordingly. Mr. Underwood, from the committee to whom was referred the bill (S. 353) to provide for taking the seventh census or enumeration of the inhabitants of the United States, reported it without amendment, and submitted a report on the subject; which was ordered to be printed. Mr. Borland, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom the petitions on the subject were referred, reported a bill (S. 483) to authorize the allowance of compensation to the registers and receivers of the several land offices of the United States, for locating military bounty land warrants, Choctaw land scrip, and for other purposes; which was read the first and second times, by unanimous. consent. The Senate proceeded to consider the said bill as in Committee of the Whole; and having been amended, it was reported to the Senate, and the amendment was concurred in. 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 therein. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (S. 258) concerning the pay department of the army; and having been amended, it was reported to the Senate, and the amendment was concurred in. Ordered, That it pass to a third reading. The said bill was read a third time. Resolved, That it pass, and that the title thereof be as aforesaid. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives therein. Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the following bills: H. R. 549. An act for the relief of William Whitcher; H. R. 629. An act for the relief of John Gawney; H. R. 646. An act for the relief of William Lynch; H. R. 679. An act for the relief of John McIntosh; reported the same without amendment. On motion by Mr. Rusk, Ordered, That a member be added to the Committee on Enrolled Bills on the part of the Senate, and that the appointment be made by the Vice President; and Mr. Dodge, of Iowa, was appointed. The bill (H. R. 754) making appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department for the year ending the 30th of June, 1850, was read the first and second times by unanimous consent: Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Finance. Mr. Rusk reported, from the committee, that they had presented to the President of the United States the following bills and joint resolution: S. 366. An act in addition to the act entitled "An act to incorporate the Washington, Alexandria, and Georgetown Steam Packet Company." S. 470. An act to extend the provisions of an act approved the 3d of March, 1847, for carrying into effect the existing compacts with the States of Alabama and Mississippi with regard to the five per cent. fund and school reservations. H. R. 283. An act for the relief of John Hibbert. H. R. 530. An act for the relief of James Y. Smith. H. R. 14. Joint resolution concerning the settlement of the accounts of William Speiden, purser in the navy of the United States. Mr. Dodge, of Iowa, reported from the committee that they had examined and found duly enrolled the following bill and joint resolution: H. R. 359. An act for the relief of A. C. Bryan and others. H. R. 43. Joint resolution for the distribution of the Official Register or Blue Book among the several States. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Campbell, their Clerk: Mr. President: The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed an enrolled bill and an enrolled resolution, I am directed to bring them to the Senate for the signature of their President. The Vice President signed the enrolled bill (H. R. 359) and the enrolled resolution (H. R. 43) last reported to have been examined; and they were delivered to the committee, to be presented to the President of the United States. |