By Mr. Rice Garland: The petition of the heirs and legal representatives of John Grimball, heretofore presented January 16, 1837. The petition of A. L. Debleux, heretofore presented February 9, 1838. The petition of Nathaniel Amory, heretofore presented March 9, 1838. The petition of Henry Stoker, heretofore presented March 5, 1834. The petition of Victoria Metoyer, heretofore presented January 3, 1832. The petition of the heirs of Christopher O'Brien, heretofore presented February 9, 1838. Report on land claims in Opelousas land district, Louisiana, here- The petition of Madame Rosalie Prudhomme, heretofore presented The petition of William W. Frizzell, heretofore presented February Papers relating to the land claims between the Rio Hondo and Mr. Chapman presented a petition of Isaac Morrow, of Marshall County, in the State of Alabama, praying to be allowed a pre-emption right in lieu of one of which he was deprived. Mr. George W. Jones, of Wisconsin, presented sundry papers and documents relative to the application of the Portage Canal Company to enter, at the Government price, certain lands at the Wisconsin and Foxriver portage, in the Territory of Wisconsin. Mr. Downing presented a petition of Harrison R. Blanchard, of the Territory of Florida, praying, for reasons set forth at great length in his petition, that he may be permitted to enter 2,500 acres of pine land, in the Territory of Florida, at Government price. Mr. Yell presented a petition of Maurice Wright, of the State of Arkansas, setting forth certain facts by which he came into the possession of a tract of land in Arkansas, paying therefor a large sum of money; and setting forth, also, his belief that the claim of one Benjamin Harden, under whom the petitioner claims, is spurious and fraudulent; and praying that he may be authorized to enter the said land at the minimum price for which the public lands of the United States are sold. Mr. Harrison presented a petition of Z. Martin, of the State of Missouri, praying that, in consideration of services rendered to the Government by him, he may be allowed a pre-emption right to a certain tract of land in Missouri. Mr. Lyon presented a petition of the Selma and Tennessee Railroad Company, heretofore presented September 18, 1837. Mr. Casey presented a petition of citizens of Edwards county, Illinois, praying for a grant of land to aid in the construction of the Mount-Carmel and New-Albany railroad. Mr. Word presented a memorial of the Legislature of the State of Mississippi, praying that Congress will pass an act confirming certain preemption claims in said State. Mr. Rice Garland presented a memorial of citizens of the State of Louisiana, praying for an appropriation of seventy-eight thousand six hundred dollars, to be placed in the hands of Hezekiah Bagerly, of said State, for the purpose of making a levee on the south bank of Red river, from Alexandria to the high land of the Avoyelles prairie, a distance of about forty miles; the said Bagerly to receive the money as the work advances. Mr. Goode presented a petition of Simon Whetstone, of the county of Allen, in the State of Ohio, praying for a right of pre-emption to certain lands. Mr. Goode presented a petition of Samuel Washburne and George W. Cochran, of Putnam county, in the State of Ohio, praying for a pre-emption right to certain lands in said State. Mr. Goode presented a petition of T. O. Dahling, of Putnam county, in the State of Ohio, praying for a right of pre-emption to certain land in said State. Mr. Taliaferro presented a petition of Cadwallader Wallace and others, claimants of lands under Virginia military warrants, lying between Roberts's and Ludlow's lines, and between Roberts's line and the Sciota. river, in the State of Ohio, proposing to exchange the lands thus claimed by them for other lands of the United States of equal value. Mr. Shields presented a petition of John Campbell and others, of the State of Tennessee, heirs of William Williams, senior, deceased, a soldier in the army of the United States, setting forth that the said Williams received a grant of 160 acres of land in the Territory of Arkansas, which has been proved unfit for cultivation, and praying to be granted "a float," or the privilege of lifting said warrant, that they may lay it on some other unappropriated land fit for cultivation. Mr. Sherrod Williams presented a petition of Isaac Atkins, of Pulaski county, in the State of Kentucky, praying that, in consideration of injuries received by a blast while engaged in the public service, he may be granted a section of land in some of the Western States. Ordered, That the said petitions, memorials, and papers, be referred to the Committee on the Public Lands. The undermentioned petitions, heretofore presented, were again presented, and referred to the Committee on the Public Lands: By Mr. Harrison: The petition of Airs Hudspeth, heretofore presented March 12, 1838. By Mr. Chapman : The petition of Isaac Morrow, heretofore presented December 18, 1837. The petition of citizens of Benton county, in the State of Alabama, for the removal of the land office from Mardisville to Jacksonville, heretofore presented January 23, 1837. The petition of inhabitants of Jackson county, for the same, heretofore presented March 19, 1838. The petition of citizens of Cherokee county, for the same, heretofore presented February 13, 1837. The petition of Elisha Moreland and others, praying for confirmation of a pre-emption right to land in the State of Alabama. heretofore presented in the Senate May 14, 1836, and acted upon in the House March 31, 1838. The petition of inhabitants of Cherokee county, praying for a new land district and pre-emption rights, heretofore presented February 14, 1838. By Mr. Chapman : The petition of inhabitants of same county, for same object, heretofore presented December 14, 1837. The petition of inhabitants of Cherokee county, protesting against a grant of land in that county to General Taylor, to build ironworks, heretofore presented September 26, 1837, and referred December 14, 1837. By Mr. Ewing: The petition of D. S. Chambers, heretofore presented January 15, 1838. By Mr. Herod: Papers relating to certain lands in the State of Indiana, accompanied by a resolution of the House of March 26, 1838, referring the same subject to the same committee. By Mr. Lyon: The petition of inhabitants of Clark county, Alabama, praying that certain lands reserved for naval purposes may be disposed of as other public lands, heretofore presented April 26, 1838. By Mr. Jones, of Wisconsin: The memorial of the Legislature of Wisconsin, praying that the right of pre-emption may be granted to the occu pants of mineral lands, heretofore presented December 29, 1837. Mr. Toland presented a memorial of citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, manufacturers of starch, praying that a duty of seven cents a pound may be imposed upon imported starch; which memorial was laid upon the table. Mr. White, of Indiana, presented a memorial of citizens of Milwaukee, in the Territory of Wisconsin, remonstrating against the confirmation of Levanture, Childs, and Thompson's claim to certain lots of land at Milwaukee; which memorial was laid upon the table. On motion of Mr. Mercer, Resolved, That the case of James B. Rice, referred, at the last session of Congress, by resolution, to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims, be again referred to the said committee. On motion of Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reducing the fees allowed by law to the clerks, marshals, and district attorneys of the United States courts for the State of Louisiana, so as to correspond with the fees allowed for similar services in the State courts of said State. On motion of Mr. Garland, of Virginia, Resolved, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be instructed to inquire into the expediency of paying John Housewright, a contractor on mail route No. 1965, in Virginia, for expenses incurred by a change in the arrival and departure of the mails on that route, made after the contract was made and the commencement of his services. Two messages, in writing, were received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Martin Van Buren, jr., his private secretary : FIRST MESSAGE. To the House of Representatives: I have the honor to transmit herewith additional letters and documents embraced in the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 17th instant. M. VAN BUREN. WASHINGTON, December 20, 1838. The said message was read, and ordered to lie on the table. SECOND MESSAGE. To the House of Representatives : An important difference of opinion having arisen concerning the construction of an act of Congress making a grant of land to the State of Indiana, and in which she feels a deep interest, I deem it proper to submit all the material facts to your consideration, with a view to procure such additional legislation as the facts of the case may appear to render proper. The report of the Secretary of the Treasury, and the documents annexed from the General Land Office, will disclose all the circumstances deemed materal in relation to the subject, and are herewith presented. M. VAN BUREN. WASHINGTON, December 20, 1838. Ordered, That said message be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Speaker laid before the House a report from the Secretary of the Treasury, with statements, required by the act of 20th April, 1836, for carrying into effect the treaties with the Chickasaw Indians; which letter and statements were laid on the table. Mr. Sherrod Williams, by leave, moved the following resolution : Resolved, That the Committee on the Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the propriety and expediency of granting to all the settlers that may have heretofore settled or may hereafter settle on the public lands, pre-emption rights to one quarter section of said land, according to the provisions of an act approved June 22, 1838, entitled "An act to grant pre-emption rights to settlers on the public lands." The said resolution being read, A motion was made by Mr. Chapman, delegate from Iowa, to amend the same, by adding thereto the following resolution: Resolved, That the Committee on the Public Lands be instructed to inquire into the expediency of amending the pre-emption law so as, 1st, to permit settlers to enter timbered lands to make and support their farms on the prairie; 2d, to include young men who had farms but were not house-keepers; 3d, those whose establishments were made prior to the surveying of the lands whereon such settlements were made, and who, by subsequent surveys, are made to occupy different quarter sections than those upon which their farms are situate; 4th, those whose settlements were made within the four months specified in said law; 5th, those whose settlements were made subsequent to the passage of the said law, and so as to require six months' notice of the sale of the public lands: That said committee also inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the sub-division of the mineral lands into lots corresponding in size with lots laid out under the rules and regulations of mining, and for the sale thereof to claimants: That said committee also inquire into the expediency of providing by law for the appointment of a commissioner to adjust the title to said lots. And, pending the question, The House, at four o'clock past meridian, adjourned until to-morrow, twelve o'clock, meridian. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1838. The Journal of yesterday being read, A motion was made by Mr. Cushing to amend the same, by inserting therein the following words: "Mr. Cushing presented the petition of Joseph Young and others, of Salisbury, in the State of Massachusetts; which was laid on the table, under the resolution of the House of the 12th December: and, on presenting the same, Mr. Cushing protested that, in submitting to the application of said resolution to this petition, he yielded not to right but to power, conceiving said resolution to be unconstitutional, and, therefore, in itself, purely null and void: which protest he moved to have entered on the Journal; but the Speaker decided that the motion was not in order." And, after debate, The previous question was moved by Mr. Wise, and being demanded by a majority of the members present, The said previous question was put, viz: Shall the main question be now put? And passed in the affirmative. The main question was accordingly put, viz: Shall the Journal be amended as aforesaid? The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. John W. Allen Hugh J. Anderson Bennet Bicknell C. C. Cambreleng Mr. Zadok Casey John Chambers George C. Dromgoole Horace Everett Mr. David Potts, jr. Edward Robinson Mr. James Farrington Robert H. Hammond Albert G. Harrison George W. Hopkins |