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SENATE.]

Northeastern Boundary--Joseph Grant.

imprudent, that they ought not to have been passed; and they submit to the Senate whether they ought now to be suffered to be carried into effect, without proper amendments, as shall reduce the amount of their capital, especially that part which is contingent, abridge and reform the grants of extraordinary powers, and take away the guarantee of the Territory from their bonds and contracts; or, at least, from all bonds and contracts which have not been issued and sold, and passed into the hands of bonafide holders, before the day of the date of this report.

But it is not for Congress to make these amendments, though it should deem them necessary. The power of Congress is a simple power of disapproving the whole acts: and if nothing had been done under them, the committee would not hesitate to recommend such disapproval. Nor do they mean to say that such disapproval would be unjust; because Congress has had no earlier opportunity to examine these laws, and to act upon the question of annulling them; and it is hardly to be presumed that prudent men have ventured far, under such a charter, granted by a Territorial Legislature, whose acts were well known to be subject to the revision of Congress.

But it is competent for the Territorial Legislature, with the consent of the corporations, to amend the charters in any manner deemed proper; and the resolution which the committee report to the Senate, in relation to these two acts, will show that, in the judgment of the committee, it is expedient to give the corporators an option and an opportunity to obtain proper amendments to their charters, if they see fit.

In the session of 1836, the Territorial Legislature appear to have passed the following acts:

An act to incorporate the Bank of St. Joseph's, capital one million of dollars, and may be extended to two.

An act to incorporate a Florida Insurance and Banking Company, capital one million of dollars, and may be increased to two.

An act to incorporate the St. Joseph's Insurance Company, with a capital of one million of dollars, and may be increased to two millions.

The committee entertain no doubt that these three last-mentioned acts ought to be altogether disapproved and annulled.

Mr. WEBSTER gave a sketch of the history of the Florida legislation in reference to the incorporation of banks, and of the character of the charters which had been granted; after which,

The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

The Senate then took up the joint resolution, reported by the same committee, respecting certain acts of the Territorial Legislature of Florida; which was considered, and also ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

[This resolution provides "that the act of the Territorial Legislature of Florida, passed on the 14th of February, 1835, and entitled An act to increase the capital of the Bank of Pensacola, and to amend the laws incorporating said bank, and for other purposes,' and the act of the same Legislature, passed on the 14th of February, 1835, and entitled 'An act to incorporate the Southern Life Insurance and Trust Company,' ought not to be suffered to remain in force with the provisions which they at present contain; nor unless they be amended by a proper reduction of the amount of capital; by a proper abridgment and reformation of the pow. ers granted; and by taking away the guarantee of the Territory from their bonds and contracts, or at least from all such bonds and contracts as have not been actually issued and sold, and passed into the hands of bonafide holders, before the 20th day of June, 1836."

[JUNE 23, 1836.

On motion of Mr. CLAYTON, the Senate proceeded to the consideration of executive business. After taking up and acting upon several private bills, The Senate adjourned.

THURSDAY, JUNE 23.

NORTHEASTERN BOUNDARY.

Mr. CLAY stated that the Committee on Foreign Relations had examined the correspondence which had passed between the Governments of the United States and Great Britain, for the settlement of our northeastern boundary. It had been referred, it would be recollected by the Senate, for the sole purpose of ascertaining whether it might be published without prejudice to the public interests. The committee, thinking that the opinion and wishes of the Senators from the two States of Maine and Massachusetts, more immediately interested, ought to have controlling influence on the question of publication, had afforded them an opportunity of examining the correspondence, and they all concurred in believing it might be safely published.

The negotiation has not entirely closed, although the committee regret to find that it does not promise to result in any satisfactory adjustment of the boundary question. Various endeavors, during the progress of the correspondence, to accomplish that desirable end, have failed of success. Under all the circumstances, the committee believe that much more mischief might be done from misconception and misrepresentation of what has been attempted, by withholding the correspondence from the public, than by a publication of it. The committee, therefore, concur in opinion with the Senators from Maine and Massachusetts, that it is expedient_to publish it.

Mr. C. accordingly moved that it be published; which was ordered; and, upon the motion of Mr. SHEPLEY, three thousand copies were ordered.

JOSEPH GRANT.

On motion of Mr. KNIGHT, the bill to extend the patent right of Joseph Grant, for making hat bodies, was taken up.

Mr. KNIGHT rose and addressed the Chair as follows: Mr. President, this is an application of Mr. Grant for the renewal of a patent for his invention of a machine for making hat bodies. The history of the case, as I understand it, is this: Mr. Grant, some eighteen or twenty years ago, was a journeyman hatter, laboring every day to obtain sustenance for himself, wife, and family-a poor man, possessing nothing but his hands whereby he could obtain a livelihood. His business led him to the contemplation of the mechanic arts. Knowing the great labor of forming what is called the hat body, he determined, if possible, to invent something that should alleviate that part of his business. After much time and study, and many experiments, he brought forth the machine for which he now asks the extension of his patent. After he had invented it, he had not the means of putting it in operation. He showed it to several persons, and solicited their aid; but, for various reasons, none had sufficient confidence in his invention to aid him in his designs. A Baptist preacher, I believe, some connexion of Mr. Grant's, also poor, but well-informed, inspected it, and had confidence in it. He undertook, with the inventor, to carry into operation the new machine. These two men, both without property, after much trouble and perplexity, started the machine, and, to the astonishment of every body, saw the fulfil ment of their expectations. They continued their business for some time, when the gentleman associated with Mr. Grant, finding it required more capital to carry on the business than they possessed, sold out to a gentleman

JUNE 23, 1836.]

Hour of Meeting--Patent Office--Public Lands.

who was willing to advance a sufficient capital to give the machine a fair trial. They proceeded in their business, when, from some cause to me unknown, it was discovered the patent of Mr. Grant was void-that it did not, in fact, cover the invention. He then applied for a new patent, and a new one was made out, of the same date as the former patent. This date was taken, not, as I understand, by the request of the patentee, but by some fixed rule of the Patent Office. They continued their business until they discovered the market was full of hat bodies, made by machinery similar to the invention of Mr. Grant. He then endeavored to seek out the violators of his patent right. He did so, and found some of them in operation. With some he compromised; others refused, and he was compelled to prosecute them; and, after expending a large sum of money in the prosecution of those trespassers on him, he obtained judgment against them, which they were not able to pay. I understand, from the papers now before the Senate, that he expended about fourteen thousand dollars, and received about twenty-one hundred, leaving a balance of expenses against him of about twelve thousand dollars. These were not the only violators of his patent; a model of it was taken to Germany, and put in operation there, and hat bodies shipped to this country. At that time the hat body was not known in the tariff laws, and they entered into our markets, in competition with the patentee, almost without a duty. This machine is considered one of the most useful inventions that has ever been made in this country; considering its simplicity, the little expense to make it, and the labor it performs, it may be placed among the first class. The cotton gin, and the machine for making card teeth and cards, may be before it; but I do not recollect any other superior in usefulness. It performs the labor of thirty men, with very little cost, compared with the manual labor. I am informed it makes two hundred and fifty hat bodies per day, when a good workman makes but nine. Had Mr. Grant lived in Georgia or Carolina, they would have given him a fortune for his invention, as they did the inventor of the cotton gin; or had he lived in England, he would have been placed by the side of Sir Richard Arkwright, and the other great inventors of that country; but here he has been trespassed on, his rights violated, and that which was his own, and should have been secured to him, has been taken from him. And when he asks a renewal of his patent for the time that was lost to him, so as to make out his fourteen years, he is told his invention, his own property, has become the vested rights and property of others, and to grant him this patent is a destruction of these vested rights; and that the time has gone by for a renewal of the patent.

Mr. President, how are the facts? Before Mr. Grant's patent had expired, he gave notice, according to law, in several newspapers which are now on your table, that he intended to apply to Congress for a renewal of his patent. This was in the year 1834; his patent did not expire until August, 1835. He did apply in December, 1834, and the Senate passed the bill extending his patent, and sent it to the other House, but the mass of business before that House at the last session prevented their acting on it. He has continued his application to the present time; and if any persons have seized on this | machine since the expiration of his patent, they have done it since last August, and in full knowledge of all these facts. The patent to Oliver Evans, for manufacturing flour and meal, expired on the 7th of January, 1805, and he applied for the renewal of his patent on the 31st December of the same year, about one whole year after the expiration of his patent. His patent was renewed. I have been informed that exceptions to the renewal were taken to the Supreme Court of the United States, and that court decided in favor of the renewal of

[SENATE.

the patent. These are the facts of this case as I understand them, and I leave it to the Senate to decide as they think proper.

|

Messrs. WALL and NILES opposed it; after which, it was laid on the table.

HOUR OF MEETING.

Mr. SOUTHARD submitted a resolution providing for the meetings of the Senate, for the remainder of the session, at ten o'clock, A. M., and that the Senate take a recess from two to four o'clock.

Mr. KING, of Alabama, said he had no objection to meeting at ten o'clock, but he objected to the recess; and therefore asked for a division of the question. Mr. PRESTON also opposed the recess.

Mr. WEBSTER moved to lay the resolution on the table; which was carried.

PATENT OFFICE.

The bill to provide a building for a Patent Office being read a third time, and the question being on its passage,

Mr. CLAY objected to the passage of the bill. He thought that the total expenditure required, according to the plan proposed, would be 400,000 or $500,000. Four millions of brick would be required by this bill, and that quantity could not be supplied this season. He wished to know what had become of the project of purchasing the building northeast of the Capitol square. The House of Representatives had been better accommodated in that building than any where else, and it appeared to be particularly well adapted for a Patent Of fice. But, if a splendid edifice must be built, it would be well to wait till another session, and pass a bill at a time when there might be a collection made of sufficient materials.

Mr. RUGGLES stated that the building referred to would require to be rebuilt before it could be used for any purpose, and even then it would not be more fit for the Patent Office than the building now occupied. He stated what was the crowded condition of the Patent Office at present, numbers of valuable models being crowded into the cellar. It had become absolutely necessary that the Post Office should have the whole of the building now occupied by the Patent Office. He also stated that there would be a convenient arrangement in the new building for the exhibition of manufac turing models.

Mr. CLAYTON complimented the Senator from Maine for the labor he had employed in the investiga tion of the Patent Office; but stated that he should prefer the purchasing of the building near the Capitol; and, for the purpose of transferring the matter to another session, moved to lay the bill on the table.

Mr. RUGGLES asked for the yeas and nays; which were ordered.

The question was then taken, and decided as follows: YEAS-Messrs. Bayard, Black, Brown, Clay, Clayton, Crittenden, Cuthbert, Davis, Goldsborough, Hendricks, Kent, King of Georgia, Knight, Leigh, Mangum, Moi ris, Porter, Robbins, Swift, White-20.

NAYS--Messrs. Benton, Calhoun, Ewing of Ohio, Hubbard, King of Alabama, Linn, Moore, Nicholas, Niles, Prentiss, Preston, Robinson, Ruggles, Shepley, Tipton, Walker, Wall, Webster--18. So the bill was ordered to lie on the table.

PUBLIC LANDS.

Mr. EWING, of Ohio, moved to take up the bill to change the mode of conducting the sales of the public lands.

Mr. BLACK opposed the motion, and it was carried: Yeas 23, nays 17, as follows:

SENATE.]

Public Lands.

YEAS--Messrs. Bayard, Buchanan, Clay, Clayton, Crittenden, Davis, Ewing of Ohio, Goldsborough, Hubbard, Kent, King of Georgia, Knight, Leigh, Mangum, Moore, Prentiss, Preston, Robbins, Ruggles, Shepley, Southard, Swift, Tomlinson, Webster--23.

NAYS-Messrs. Benton, Black, Brown, Hendricks, King of Alabama, Linn, Morris, Nicholas, Niles, Page, Porter, Robinson, Tipton, Walker, Wall, White, Wright-17.

Mr. EWING, of Ohio, explained the nature and objects of the bill, which, for the purpose of preventing fraud, violence, and combinations, at the public land sales, substitute secret and sealed bids for the present open and oral bids, and offered some amendments to perfect the details; which were agreed to.

Mr. WALKER then moved the indefinite postponement of the bill.

Mr. CALHOUN said that this motion was intended to defeat the bill; but, as it was a measure of considerable importance, he hoped it would not be thrown aside without some discussion. He would be glad to hear the arguments for and against it before he gave his vote.

Mr. PORTER was perfectly willing to allow gentlemen an opportunity of perfecting the details of the bill, and he therefore hoped that the Senator from Mississippi would withdraw the motion. He was satisfied, however, that more frauds would be practised under the provisions of this bill than under the present practice. Mr. PRESTON feared that the bill could not accomplish the object intended. There was more danger of frauds being practised in secrecy than when the bids were open, and in the presence of hundreds. He had heard frequent complaints of frauds in the land offices, of which he professed to know nothing; but he thought that this bill would offer strong temptation to such frauds.

Mr. EWING said he had bestowed much pains and labor in the consideration of the subject, and, in common with the committee, had come to the conclusion that this was the only plan that could be adopted to prevent violence, if not frauds, at the public land sales. Mr. E., in the course of his remarks, described the combinations and violence used at the public land sales to prevent honest bids, and gave a history of the manner in which frauds of great extent had been successfully perpetrated. Mr. E. also explained at full length the manner in which the provisions of this bill would operate in preventing frauds, violence, and combinations, and argued to show that it would amply guard against the evils that now existed. Sealed bids, he said, were made in relation to every public contract, except for the public lands: for the Fost Office, for supplies for the navy and army, for the letting of contracts for roads, and, in short, for every thing but for the sales of the lands.

Mr. LINN said that, as much had been said as to frauds in the public lands, he wished to inquire particularly of the chairman whether any frauds had been alleged to have been committed in Missouri.

Mr. EWING replied that there was no doubt but that a great number of frauds had been perpetrated at the land sales; but he could not say that there were any charges that frauds had been committed in Missouri particularly.

Mr. LINN said his object was to have the skirts of Missouri cleared of any imputations that might indirectly rest upon her in consequence of the frauds that had been alleged to have taken place in the public land sales. He had travelled much through Missouri, and he had never heard of frauds and combinations there, and he felt warranted in saying that none had ever existed. Perhaps, if gentlemen from the other new States would rise and ask the same question from the chairman, similar answers to that given in relation to Missouri might be re

[JUNE 23, 1836.

ceived, and thus the frauds so much magnified might be narrowed down to a very small compass. He would suggest to the Senator from Ohio, who took so deep an interest in the public lands, that the best way to prevent frauds and combinations would be to abolish the present land system altogether, and reserve the public domain in the valley of the Mississippi for the purpose of making it an asylum for the poor man of every country in the world who may be disposed to come there and cultivate the soil for an honest support.

Mr. WALKER said that he had wished that the consideration of this subject might be postponed until the next session of Congress, when the subject might be more maturely considered, and some measure devised more calculated to effect the object in view than the one before them. Mr. W. entered at length into the various objections he had to the bill, and supported them with an argument of considerable force and ability. The abolishment of the present auction system, which had existed since the adoption of the constitution, and even prior to that time, and the substitution of a species of freemasonry in its stead, would, in his opinion, lead to frauds of incalculably greater extent than had ever heretofore been alleged to have taken place. He had attended a few land sales in Mississippi, and he most solemnly believed that no frauds or violence had ever taken place at the sales there; he had seen none, and had heard of none. If violence would ever be perpetrated under the present system, it would only be where the speculator purchased the farm in the possession of the honest cultivator, and deprived him of a home for his wife and children, and he had never heard of but one case of that kind. Among his various objections to the bill, Mr. W. referred to the strong temptations that it offered to the public officers. If it took effect, they must, he said, place archangels in the land offices instead of men, or they would violate that precept of holy writ, "lead us not into temptation." Of the whole one hundred and fourteen registers and receivers, if only two villains should be among them, they could make such a scene of fraud and violence as never was before heard of. It would give the whole control of the land offices to the registers and receivers, and the sales must depend on their honesty. A stronger temptation to villany could not be presented to the cupidity of man. Mr. W. took an extended view of the process of secret bids, and described the powers of the registers and receivers over them, and showed the various modes by which the laws might be evaded, violated, and set aside, and no human being but the registers and receivers, and the few interested with them, have the slightest knowledge of their proceedings.

Mr. KING, of Alabama, was fully aware that the Committee on the Public Lands had reported this bill with a sincere desire to guard against the various frauds at the public land sales, which he had very little doubt had been perpetrated. He did believe that it was possible to devise some mode by which these frauds might be guarded against, and that they might dispose of the lands beneficially to the settler, and beneficially to the Government, without the corrupting influence of those speculations and frauds that had heretofore existed. He had looked into the bill with a sincere desire to find that it was calculated to accomplish the object in view; but, after a careful examination, he was constrained to believe that it would open the door to greater frauds than had ever yet been perpetrated; that, under its operation, they would get less money for the lands, and that it would give great facilities to the speculating tribe, while it would operate less favorably for the actual settler. Mr. K. described the manner in which the combinations of sagacious and wealthy capitalists prevented a fair com petition from those who wished to purchase for actual

JUNE 24, 1836.]

Public Deposites-Texas.

[SENATE.

feeling on this subject in his State, that he doubted very much, if a stranger were to go into any neighborhood and purchase the land of an actual settler, whether he would be permitted to remain there. He believed that violence had never been committed at the land sales in his State to prevent fair competition, but to prevent the speculator from getting the home of the actual settler and cultivator. Combinations of speculators were generally composed of non-residents, as those in the States where the sales took place had not the funds for such purposes.

settlement, and contended that they would have stilling of this kind had taken place. So strong was the greater facilities under the present bill. Among his other objections, he said that if this system took effect, a general suspicion would necessarily be excited against the registers and receivers, no matter whether they conducted the sales fairly or otherwise. He was perfectly convinced, that to adopt this plan would work greater evils than at present existed. He would be glad, therefore, if the honorable chairman of the Committee on Public Lands would consent to let it rest until the next session, and that they would then take it up with a sincere desire of doing something-an object that they all had at heart--to cure the evils existing in the present system.

Mr. HENDRICKS rose to repudiate the allegations of frauds, so far as they relate to the State of Indiana. He was convinced from correct information that none have ever been practised there. Mr. H. then stated his objections to the bill, believing that it would occasion more frauds and combinations than had yet been complained of, and concluded by moving to lay the bill on the table. Mr. EWING then requested Mr. HENDRICKS to withdraw his motion; which was consented to, and Messrs. EWING and PORTER severally addressed the Chair in continuation of their arguments.

Mr. CLAY said he knew that the committee had been attentively considering this subject, and that they had been assisted by the co-operation of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, and that, after much pains and labor, they had agreed on a system which, though it might not be perfect, was yet calculated to do much good. What were the evils complained of under the present system? Fraud and violence. Gentlemen might get up and deny that there had been any; yet they spoke only of their own belief as to what had taken place in their respective States. But this fraud and violence had not been charged against any one State in particular; but the charge had been general, and that fraud and violence had existed to an alarming degree, in relation to the public land sales, there was scarcely room to doubt. They had abundant evidence on their tables to satisfy any one on that head. His friend from Louisiana knew that the frauds with regard to pre-emptions in that State had been so great that the Governor had thought proper to make them the subject of a special communication to the Legislature. It was in vain to deny the existence of combinations and frauds. These might not be perpetrated by individuals in the State where the land sales were; but by combined bands of wealthy individuals coming from other quarters. Mr. C. went on at length in support of the bill, contending that it was the best measure that could be devised to cure the evils existing in the present system.

If this bill would accomplish the object in view, and put down combinations, he would with great pleasure vote for it; but, from all the examination he had given to the subject, he was convinced that it would add to, rather than diminish, the present evils. One word as to these frauds. He was satisfied that they had been much overrated, and that the principal frauds arose from the pre-emption floats.

Mr. MORRIS differed with his colleague as to the principles on which the bill was based. His colleague looked upon the public lands as a source of revenue, while he thought the great object for which the sales should be made was the settlement of the lands and the security of the purchaser. After stating his objections to the bill, Mr. M. suggested that the best plan to cure the evils complained of would be to stop the sales at public auction and sell the lands to the actual settlers only in small quantities. This would, at all events, give them time to devise some system that would meet with more general concurrence than the present.

The debate was further continued by Messrs. BLACK, WALKER, and CALHOUN; after which the question was taken on Mr. WALKER's motion to postpone the bill indefinitely, and it was carried: Yeas 25, nays 15, as follows:

YEAS--Messrs. Benton, Black, Brown, Buchanan, Calhoun, Cuthbert, Hendricks, Hubbard, King of Alabama, Linn, Moore, Morris, Nicholas, Niles, Page, Porter, Preston, Rives, Robinson, Shepley, Tipton, Walker, Wall, White, Wright-25.

NAYS--Messrs. Bayard, Clay, Clayton, Crittenden,
Davis, Ewing of Ohio, Goldsborough, Kent, Knight,
Leigh, Prentiss, Robbins, Southard, Tomlinson, Web-
ster--15.
The Senate adjourned.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24.
PUBLIC DEPOSITES.

A message was received from the President of the United States, announcing his approval of the bill to regulate the public deposites.

Mr. ROBINSON was not so much opposed to this bill as some gentlemen who had addressed the Senate on the Mr. CLAY remarked that the message just communisubject; but still believing it to be exceedingly imper-cated by the President announced the gratifying fact fect, and liable to strong objections, he must vote against that he had approved the deposite bill. He (Mr. C.) it. He had risen, however, not to enter into an arguwas extremely glad of it, and it afforded ground for ment on the merits of the bill, but to say a word or two great rejoicing; but he could not refrain from observing as to the violence that had been committed at one of the that the same fact was announced this morning in the sales in his State. This violence had been confined to Globe, in an editorial article which bore an authorized cases where the actual settler and cultivator was anxious character; and that it was not according to established to procure the land which he cultivated. Combinations usage, nor respectful towards Congress, that his approfor this purpose had occurred. The settlers in that dis- bation of a bill passed by that body should be communitrict met some days previous to the sale, and selected a cated to the editor of a newspaper prior to the commucommittee of respectable persons to investigate the sub-nication of the fact to that House in which the bill had ject. This committee examined into the case of each originated. bonafide settler, and all such as they found embraced in that description they determined should have their lands, determining that they would cry "pre-emption," when-President of the United States: The following message was also received from the ever the settlement of such person was offered for sale, and prevent any one else from bidding for it. Where To the Senate of the United States: there was not an actual settlement and cultivation, noth

TEXAS.

In compliance with a resolution of the Senate of the

SENATE.]

Hour of Meeting—The Navy.

[JUNE 24, 1836.

18th instant, I transmit a report from the Secretary of other fact, and it was that concerning which he presumed State, with the papers therewith presented. Not hav- the President was now seeking information, and this ing accurate and detailed information of the civil, mili- was—whether there is, in fact, a Government existing in tary, and political condition of Texas, I have deemed it full and successful operation, so as to justify the estabexpedient to take the necessary measures, now in pro-lishment of intercourse and relations of amity. When gress, to procure it, before deciding upon the course to be pursued in relation to the newly declared Govern

ment.

ANDREW JACKSON.

WASHINGTON, 23d June, 1836.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
Washington, 23d June, 1836.

To the President of the United States:

The Secretary of State, to whom was referred a resoJution of the Senate of the 18th instant, requesting the President "to communicate to the Senate any information in his possession, not inconsistent with the public interest, touching the political condition of Texas-the organization of its Government, and its capacity to maintain its independence; and, also, any correspondence which may have taken place between the Executive of the United States and the Government of Texas or its agents," has the honor to lay before the President the accompanying copies of papers addressed to, and left at, the Department of State, by persons claiming to be agents of the republic of Texas; being all the information and correspondence called for by the resolution. No answers having been returned to any of these communications, they remain for further consideration, and such direction as the President shall hereafter give. All which is respectfully presented. JOHN FORSYTH.

The message having been read, Mr. CLAY rose and said it did not appear to him to be necessary that a reference should be made of this message, as the President himself states that he deems it requisite that he shall have further information on the subject before he determines on the propriety of recog. nising the independence of Texas. The Committee on Foreign Relations, in their report, had certainly thrown out no reflection on the President as having been too tardy in his movements, but had come to the conclusion that it would be proper to recognise the independence of Texas whenever it should be communicated that she had a Government able to sustain itself. As the President had signified a desire to wait for further information before he acts, there would probably be no necessity to move to refer these papers to the Committee on Foreign Relations. He moved to lay the message on the table, and print it.

ever the motion to lay the message on the table and print it was disposed of, he would move to make the resolution reported by the Committee on Foreign Relations the special order for a day next week.

The message was then laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.

zens.

Mr. PRESTON said he felt himself honored in presenting to the Senate a memorial from a portion of the citizens of Louisiana on the subject of Texas. The honor was the more conspicious, as he had been informed by one of the Senators representing that State, that it was signed by its most respectable and influential citiThe memorial purported to be from the citizens of Opelousas, Louisiana, and expressed the deep sensibility with which they had looked on the struggle for freedom going on in Texas, and the peculiar interest they felt, being on the very confines of that country. They expressed an anxious hope that this Government should, at the earliest period, recognise the existence of this new republic which had so gloriously achieved its independence. He felt that they had received from all parts of this Union, and from the most respectable sources, communications of this nature, showing that public opinion was fully prepared for any proceedings of the Government on this subject.

Mr. P. then moved that the memorial be laid on the table and printed; which motion was agreed to. HOUR OF MEETING.

Mr. TOMLINSON moved that when the Senate ad

journ, it adjourn to meet to-morrow at ten o'clock,

A. M.

Mr. KING, of Alabama, moved to amend the motion by making the meetings, for the remainder of the session, at ten o'clock, A. M.; which amendment was agreed to, and the motion as amended was adopted.

R. W. MEADE.

On motion of Mr. PORTER, the Senate took up a bill for the settlement of the claim of the executrix of Richard W. Meade; which was considered and discussed, and the yeas and nays were demanded by Mr. WRIGHT.

Mr. HUBBARD moved an amendment, providing for a reference of the claim to certain officers of the Government, to report on the subject at the next session. The other parts of the bill were stricken out.

The demand of the yeas and nays was withdrawn, and the bill was ordered to be engrossed.

C. J. CATLETT.

Mr. KING, of Alabama, moved the Senate to take up the bill for the relief of Charles J. Catlett: Ayes 15,

noes 11.

Mr. PRESTON stated that the only fact necessary to be established was, that the war in Texas had terminated; and that was proved by the documents accompanying the message. He would, however, concur in the motion of the Senator from Kentucky, merely reserving to himself the privilege to move further in the subject, if, on reflection, he should feel convinced that such course was advisable. The present inclination of his mind was to move to refer the resolution of the Commit-report on the principle. tee on Foreign Relations back to that committee, with instructions to report a resolution to recognise the independence of Texas.

Mr. CLAY said that if it should be considered by the Senator from South Carolina (or any other Senator) advisable to adopt such a resolution as he had suggested, he might do so when the resolution of the Committee on Foreign Affairs came to be acted on, and that resolution was the special order for yesterday. He did not concur in the opinion expressed by the Senator, that the sole fact to be regarded in acting on this subject was that of the termination of the war. There was also an

The bill was amended, on motion of Mr. CALHOUN, so as to refer the bill to the officers of the Treasury, to

The bill was then ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

THE NAVY.

On motion of Mr. SOUTHARD, the bill for the organization of the navy was taken up.

Mr. S. observed that the objections heretofore made to this bill were to the number of persons to be promoted to the grade of admiral. With a view to try the sense of the Senate, he would move to strike out the four rear admirals,

This motion was agreed to, leaving in the bill one admiral and two vice admirals.

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