Mr. Horace Greeley Richard K. Meade Mr. Gideon Reynolds Frederick A. Tallmadge Bannon G. Thibodeaux Mr. Jonathan D. Morris Charles H. Peaslee Augustine H. Shepperd John Wentworth Mr. John A. Rockwell, from the Committee of Claims, reported the following resolution, which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That House bill No. 412-a bill to provide for the settlement of claims against the United States-be the special order for the first Tuesday in January, and so continue from day to day until finally disposed of. Mr. John A. Rockwell moved that the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union be discharged from the consideration of the bill (No. 479) " to authorize an increase of the number of clerks in the Treasury Department," and that it be laid on the table; which motion was agreed to. On motion of Mr. Alexander Evans, Ordered, That the papers of Elizabeth McLean be withdrawn from the files of this House, in order that the same may be put upon file at the Pension Office. In pursuance of previous notice, Mr. Alexander Evans obtained leave and introduced a bill (No. 663) to authorize the appointment of an officer to grant enrolments and licenses, to reside at Chesapeake city, Maryland; which bill was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Commerce. On motion of Mr. Gregory, Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce inquire into the expediency of establishing a light to be placed at Bergen point, at the mouth of Kill Van Kull, and a light at the mouth of the Passaic river, in aid of the commerce of the Passaic and Hackensack rivers, the Staten island sound, and Newark bay. In pursuance of previous notice, Mr. Greeley obtained leave and introduced a bill (No. 664) to discourage speculation in the public lands, and to secure homes thereon to actual settlers and cultivators; which bill was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on the Public Lands. Mr. Pollock, from the Committee of Ways and Means, reported the following resolution, which was read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of repealing so much of the existing laws relating to public lands as requires all patents issued from the General Land Office to be signed by the President of the United States, and also so much of said laws as authorizes the President to appoint a secretary to sign said patents; also, to inquire into the expediency of amending said laws so as to require all patents for public lands to be signed by the Commissioner and countersigned by the Recorder of the General Land Office, or to be executed and issued in such manner as will be most compatible with the public interest, without the signature of the President, and as will avoid unnecessary delay in the issuing thereof. On motion of Mr. Grinnell, Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing for the erection of a fort and other works for the defence of the city of New Bedford, according to surveys made under the direction of the Secretary of War. On motion of Mr. Belcher, Ordered, That the petition of Palmer Branch, for a pension, and the accompanying papers, be taken from the files, and referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. Mr. Goggin offered the following resolution: Resolved, That House bill (No. 653) further to amend the act entitled "An act to reduce the rates of postage, to limit the use and correct the abuse of the franking privilege, and for the prevention of frauds on the revenues of the l'ost Office Department," approved 3d March, 1845, be made the special order of the day for the first Wednesday of January next, and continue from day to day until disposed of. The resolution being read, Mr. Goggin moved the previous question, which was seconded; and the main question was ordered and put, viz: Shall the said resolution pass? And decided in the affirmative. Mr. Barringer offered the following resolution, which was read, and laid upon the table one day under the rule: Resolved, That the President of the United States cause to be -communicated to this House the amount of moneys and property received during the late war with the republic of Mexico at the different ports of entry, or in any other way within her limits, and in what manner the same has been expended or appropriated. On motion of Mr. Wallace, Resolved, That the Sergeant-at-arms be directed to cause the remains of the honorable James A. Black, late a member of this House, to be taken from the Congress vault, where they now lie, and have the same decently interred in the State of South Carolina, in such place as his family shall direct. Mr. Howell Cobb submitted the following as an amendment to the rules and orders of the House: "It shall not be in order to consider or act upon any order, resolution, or motion, whereby it is proposed to create a charge upon the contingent fund of the House, or dispose of any portion of the same, except in cases of printing, until the same has been considered and reported upon by the Committee on Accounts; and all such propositions shall, on their introduction, be referred by virtue of this rule to said committee; nor shall this rule be suspended, except by unanimous consent. Ordered, That the same be referred to the select Committee on Rules and Orders. Mr. Crozier offered the following resolution, which was read, and debate thereon, it was laid upon the table under the rule: Resolved, That House bill No. 80, entitled "A bill to promote the education of the indigent deaf and dumb," be made the special order of the day for next Tuesday. On motion of Mr. Cocke, Resolved, That Mary Martin, widow of Salathiel Martin, deceased, have leave to withdraw her petition and papers from the files of this House. The papers of Mary Martin were forthwith delivered to Mr. William M. Cocke. Mr. Duer gave notice of a motion for leave to introduce a bill to provide for the revision, consolidation, and methodical arrange. ment of the statutory law of the United States. Mr. Pollock gave notice of a motion for leave to introduce a bill extending the provisions of existing laws granting bounty land to the officers and soldiers of the late war with Mexico to the officers and soldiers engaged in the Indian wars prior to the treaty of Greenville, 1795; also, to the officers and soldiers of the late war with Great Britain who have not been embraced in laws in such case made, or who have not received bounty land. Mr. Phelps gave notice, under the rule, of a motion for leave to introduce a bill to pay to the State of Missouri the two per cent. upon the proceeds of the sales of the public lands, which have been sold within the limits of said State, and which have been reserved for the purpose of constructing a road leading to said State. Mr. Albert G. Brown gave notice, under the rule, of a motion for leave to introduce bills of the following titles, viz: A bill to grant a quantity of land to the State of Mississippi for the purpose of improving the navigation of certain rivers in that State. A bill to provide for the graduation of the price of the public lands. Mr. Giddings, under the rule, gave notice of a motion for leave to introduce a bill to authorize the people of the District of Columbia to express their wishes as to the continuance of slavery and the slave trade within said District. Mr. Palfrey, in pursuance of previous notice, asked leave to introduce a bill of the following title: A bill to repeal all acts of Congress establishing or maintaining slavery and the slave trade within the District of Columbia. Objection being made to the introduction of said bill, the question for granting leave was put, Yeas. And decided in the negative, Nays... 70 82 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are, Mr. Richard L. T. Beale Thomas S. Bocock Mr. David Rumsey, jr. Daniel B. St. John Frederick A. Tallmadge James Thompson Mr. Jasper E. Brady Mr. Aylett Buckner Chester Butler Williamson R. W. Cobb Mr. Isaac E. Holmes Richard K. Meade Mr. Root offered the following resolution: Mr. David Outlaw Robert Smith Frederick P. Stanton Bannon G. Thibodeaux Resolved, That the Committee on Territories be instructed to report to this House, with as little delay as practicable, a bill or bills providing a territorial government for each of the territories of New Mexico and California, and excluding slavery therefrom. The said resolution being read, Mr. Root moved the previous question. Mr. Willard P. Hall moved that the resolution be laid upon the table. Mr. Giddings moved that there be a call of the House; which motion was agreed to: and the roll being called twice, one hundred and eighty-seven members answered to their names. On motion of Mr. George W. Jones, further proceedings in the call were dispensed with. The question then recurred on the motion of Mr. Willard P. Hall to lay the said resolution on the table, Yeas... And decided in the negative, Nays 80 106 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are, Mr. Green Adams Archibald Atkinson Lucien B. Chase Mr. Asa W. H. Clapp Thomas L. Clingman Mr. John P. Gaines Andrew Johnson |