Simpson; which was read the first and second times by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution, submitted by Mr. Foote the 19th instant, relative to the appointment of the superintendent of the ante-room; and the resolution was agreed to. The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the Committee of Claims on the petition of Arnold Naudain; and, in concurrence therewith, Resolved, That the prayer of the petitioner should not be granted. The bill (S. 349) granting to the States of Alabama and Florida the right of way and a donation of public land for making a railroad from Montgomery, in the State of Alabama, to Pensacola, in the State of Florida, and from thence to the waters of the Tensaw river or Mobile bay, in the State of Alabama, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and, On motion by Mr. King, Ordered, That it lie on the table. The bill (S. 298) for the relief of George Poindexter was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and, On motion by Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, Ordered, That it be recommitted to the Committee of Claims. The resolution (S. R. 39) of thanks to Colonel Doniphan, his of ficers, and men, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and, On motion by Mr. Atchison, Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. The resolution (S. R. 38) of thanks to Brigadier General Price, his officers, and men, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and, On motion by Mr. King, Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (S. 152) to establish the territorial government of Minesota; and, On motion by Mr. Douglas, Ordered, That it be recommitted to the Committee on Territories. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (S. 170) to establish the Territory of Nebraska; and, On mation by Mr. Douglas, Ordered, That it be recommitted to the Committee on Territo ries. The bill (S. 289) to reduce the rates of postage was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and, On motion by Mr. Niles, Ordered, That it be recommitted to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (S. 3) to reduce and graduate the price of the public lands, and for other purposes; and, On motion by Mr. Breese, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to and made the special order of the day for the second Monday in January next. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of 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, On motion by Mr. Westcott, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (H. R. 405) to establish a collection district in New York; and having been amended, it was reported to the Senate, and the amendment was concurred in. On motion by Mr. Upham, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (H. R. 471) to admit certain articles of the growth or production of Canada into the United States free of duty upon the condition that the like articles of the growth or production of the United States are admitted into Canada free of duty; and, On motion by Mr. Dix, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to and made the order of the day for Thursday, the 4th day of January next. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the following bills: H. R. 378. An act for the relief of Eliza A. Mellen; H. R. 484. An act for the relief of Philip J. Fontain; 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 accordingly. Mr. Rusk reported from the committee, that they had examined and found duly enrolled the bill (S. 147) for the relief of Jean F. Perry, Josiah Bleakley, Nicholas Jarrot, and Robert Morrison. 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, I am directed to bring it to the Senate for the signature of their President. The Vice President signed the enrolled bill (S. 147) last reported to have been examined; and it was delivered to the committee, to be presented to the President of the United States. 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, the 19th instant, the enrolled resolution (S. R. 41) for the appointment of regents in the Smithsonian Institution. Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives accordingly. After the consideration of executive business, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1848. Mr. Atchison presented the credentials of the honorable William K. Sebastian, elected a Senator by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of the honorable Chester Ashley; which were read: and the oath prescribed by law was administered to Mr. Sebastian, and he took his seat in the Senate. Mr. Hunter presented the petition of John B. White, heir of Robert White, deceased, a revolutionary, officer, praying to be allowed arrears of pension; which was referred to the Committee on Pensions. Mr. Upham presented a petition of citizens of Orange county, Vermont, praying the establishment of a mail route from East Corinth to Washington, and a post office at East Orange, in that State; which was referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. Mr. Dickinson presented the petition of Hugh W. Dobbin, an officer in the last war with Great Britain, praying remuneration for his military services; which, with the papers on the files of the Senate, relating to his claim, was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Yulee presented a memorial of the warden and vestry of Trinity church, of St. Augustine, Florida, protesting against the claim set up by the Catholic Church in that city to the lot on which their church is erected; which was referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims. Mr. Underwood presented the petition of John S. Devlin, administrator of Elijah J. Weed, deceased, late quartermaster of the marine corps, praying an equitable settlement of his accounts; which was referred to the Committee of Claims. On motion by Mr. Felch, Ordered, That the memorial of Thomas L. L. Brent, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. On motion by by Mr. King, Ordered, That the petition of C. G. Gunter, on the files of the Senate, be referred to the Committee on Private Land Claims. Mr. Niles submitted the following resolution, which was considered by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Postmaster General be directed to communi cate to the Senate a copy of the report made to him by S. R. Hobbie, Assistant Postmaster General. Mr. Clarke 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 a list of all the treaties of reciprocity in navigation which have been concluded between the United States and other nations, with the date of the execution of each; also, a statement of the trade and commerce of such nations, respectively, together with the population of each, and the effect of such treaties comparatively, upon the commerce and navigation of the United States. Mr. Bright 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 (if in his opinion not incompatible with the public service) a copy of the despatches transmitted to the Secretary of State in August last, by the resident minister at Rio Janeiro, in reference to the service and general conduct of Commodore G. W. Storer, commander-in-chief of the United States naval forces on the coast of Brazil. On motion by Mr. Clayton, that the Senate reconsider the vote concurring in the resolution reported by the Committee of Claims, on the petition of Arnold Naudain, Ordered, That the further consideration of the motion be postponed until to-morrow. On motion by Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, Ordered, That the Committee on Pensions be authorized to employ a clerk. Mr. Underwood, agreeably to notice, asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 362) for the relief of Theodore Offutt; which was read the first and second times by unanimous consent, and, with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee of Claims. The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution submitted yesterday by Mr. Niles, relating to the construction which has been given to the revenue act of 1846; and the resolution was agreed to. The Senate proceeded to consider the report of the Committee on Revolutionary Claims on the petition of the heirs of Gustavus B. Horner; and, On motion by Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, Ordered, That it lie on the table. Mr. Dix, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (S. 258) concerning the pay department of the army, reported it with amendments. The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill (S. 349) granting to the States of Alabama and Florida the right of way and a donation of the public land for making a railroad from Montgomery, in the State of Alabama, to Pensacola, in Florida, and from thence to the waters of the Tensaw river, or Mobile bay, in the State of Alabama; and, On motion by Mr. King, Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on Public Lands. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (H. R. 110) for the relief of Reuben Perry and Thomas P. Ligon; and, On motion by Mr. Westcott, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow. The bill (S. 116) to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury, with the approbation of the Attorney General, to purchase for the United States the interest of Baylie Peyton in the tract of land upon which the light-house stands at the Southwest Pass, at the mouth of the Mississippi river, was read the second time, and considered. as in Committee of the Whole; and, On motion by Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to, and made the order of the day for, Wednesday next. The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill (H. R. 405) to establish a collection district in the State of New York, as amended; and, Ordered, That the amendment be engrossed, and the bill read a third time. The said bill was read a third time, as amended. Resolved, That this bill pass, with an amendment. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives in the amendment. The bill (S. 348) for the relief of the captors of the frigate Philadelphia, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and, On motion by Mr. Underwood, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (S. 139) for the relief of John P. Baldwin, owner of the Spanish brig Gil Blas; and, . On motion by Mr. Underwood, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (S. 44) for the relief of Cadwallader Wallace; and, On motion by Mr. Corwin, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of 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. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole,. the bill (H. R. 28) for the relief of Calvin Emmons; and, |