1 Mr. Ashley, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (S. 170) to authorize a term of the circuit and district courts for the district of Illinois to be held at Chicago, Illinois, reported it without amendment, and that it ought not to pass. Mr. Mason, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the memorial of James Pennoyer, reported a bill (S. 173) for his relief: which was read, and passed to the second reading. Mr. Ashley, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the memorial of Edmund J. Forstall, in behalf of Hope and Company, and others, of Amsterdam, submitted a report, accompanied by the following resolution: Resolved, That the memorial of E. J. Forstall, for Hope and Company, of Amsterdam, with the documents accompanying the same, and a copy of the report made thereon, be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Attorney General and Secretary of the Treasury, and that those officers be directed to examine into said case fully, and collect such authentic information as they can obtain in relation thereto, and make report on the same to the Senate on the first day of the next session of Congress. Ordered, That the report be printed. Mr. Rusk, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the petition of Hola-to-Emathla, and other Seminole warriors, submitted a report, accompanied by a bill (S. 174) for their relief. The bill was read, and passed to the second reading. Mr. Bright, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the bill (S. 157) relinquishing to the city of Madison, in the State of Indiana, all the right and title of the United States to a certain strip of unsurveyed land lying within the limits of said city, and bordering on the Ohio river, reported it without amendment. Mr. Pearce, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom was referred the petition of David N. Smith, submitted a report, accompanied by a bill (S. 175) for his relief. The bill was read, and passed to the second reading. Ordered, That the report be printed. The amendments to the bill (H. R. 596) making appropriations for the naval service for the year ending the 30th June, 1848, having been reported by the committee correctly engrossed, the bill was read a third time, as amended. Resolved, That this bill pass, with amendments. Ordered, That the Secretary request the concurrence of the House of Representatives in the amendments. The bill (S. 137) to exempt certain articles imported by literary institutions from the payment of duty was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole; and no amendment being made, it was reported to the Senate. 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 in this bill. Mr. Greene reported from the committee that they had examined and found duly enrolled the following acts: S. 114. An act to regulate the exercise of the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the United States in certain cases, and for other purposes. H. R. 193. An act for the relief of Ray Tompkins, and others, the children and heirs-at-law of the late Daniel D. Tompkins. H. R. 637. An act to regulate the carriage of passengers in merchant vessels. H. R. 52. Joint resolution for the relief of John and Charles Bruce. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. French, their Clerk: Mr. President: The House of Representatives have passed the following bills and joint resolution: in which they request the concurrence of the Senate: H. R. 177. An act for the relief of the legal representatives of Simon Spaulding, deceased. H. R. 189. An act to grant a pre-emption right to the heirs or legal representatives of John Smith T. H. R. 191. An act for the relief of the Bank of the Metropolis. H. R. 412. An act for the relief of Elizabeth Converse, widow of Josiah Converse. H. R. 417. An act for the relief of the legal representatives of the late Joseph E. Primeau and Thomas J. Chapman. H. R. 419. An act for the relief of the legal representatives of James H. Clark. H. R. 423. An act for the relief of the widow and heirs of the late Silas Duncan, deceased. H. R. 476. An act for the relief of Joseph Gideon. H. R. 477. An act for the relief of David Myerle. H. R. 479. An act for the relief of Captain James Pennoyer. H. R. 502. An act for the relief of Lewis C. Sartori. H. R. 43. Joint resolution for the relief of M. A. Price and E. A. White. The House of Representatives have passed the following bills of the Senate: S. 112. An act to authorize the issuing of a new register for the American barque Pons, of Philadelphia, by the name of the Cordelia. S. 166. An act in addition to an act to establish a court at Key West, in the State of Florida. They have postponed indefinitely the bill from the Senate (S. 59) for the relief of Ray Tompkins and others, the children and heirs at-law of the late Daniel D. Tompkins. The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed three enrolled bills and one enrolled resolution, I am requested to bring them to the Senate for the signature of their President. The bills and resolution this day received from the House of Representatives for concurrence were severally read the first and second times, by unanimous consent. Ordered, That the bill numbered 191 be referred to the Committee on Finance; that the bills numbered 177 and 412 be referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims; that the bill numbered 185 be referred to the Committee of Claims; that the bill numbered 417 be referred to the Com mittee on Indian Affairs; that the bills numbered 200, 419, 423, 476, 477, 502, be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs; and that the resolution (H. R. 43) for the relief of M. A. Price be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. The resolution (H. R. 58) granting certain unserviceable brass cannon to the Jackson monument committee was read the second time. Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia. The bill (S. 160) making provision for an additional number of general officers, and for other purposes, was read the second time, and considered as in Committee of the Whole: and having been amended, On motion by Mr. Sevier, Ordered, That it lie on the table. The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (S. 152) supplemental to an act passed the 9th day of July, in the year 1846, entitled "An act to retrocede the county of Alexandria, in the District of Columbia, to the State of Virginia;" and no amendment being made, it was reported to the Senate. Ordered, That it be engrossed and read a third time. 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. The Senate proceeded to consider the resolution submitted by Mr. Chalmers, the 18th instant, in relation to furnishing the members of the Senate with certain books; and the resolution was agreed to. The following message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. Walker, his secretary: To the Senate of the United States: I communicate herewith a report of the Secretary of State, with the accompanying documents, in answer to a resolution of the Senate of the 2d instant, requesting the President to communicate such information in possession of the Executive departments in relation to the importation of foreign criminals and paupers as he may deem consistent with the public interests to communicate. WASHINGTON, February 20, 1847. The message was read. Ordered, That it be printed. JAMES K. POLK. The Senate resumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the consideration of the bill (S. 105) making further appropriation to bring the existing war with Mexico to a speedy and honorable conclusion: and, After debate, On motion by Mr. Soulé, The Senate adjourned. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1847. The Vice President laid before the Senate a letter from the honorable George Evans, resigning his appointment as one of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution: which was read. On motion by Mr. Breese, Ordered, That a member be appointed to fill the vacancy in the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution; and that the appointment be made by the Vice President. Whereupon, Mr. Pearce was appointed. The Vice President laid before the Senate a memorial of John P. Heiss, one of the printers to the Senate, stating that he is one of the publishers and proprietors, and not the editor, of the Union, a newspaper published in the city of Washington; and inquiring whether he is included within the terms of a resolution passed by the Senate the 13th instant, in relation to the "editors" of the Union. The memorial was read. Mr. Webster presented a memorial of citizens of Boston, Massachusetts, praying the adoption of pacific measures for terminating the war with Mexico. Ordered, That the memorial lie on the table. Mr. Breese presented a preamble and resolution passed by the legislature of the State of Illinois, instructing the Senators and requesting the Representatives of that State in Congress to use their exertions to procure the adjustment and payment by the United States of the claims for advances to the troops in the Illinois campaign under the command of General George Rogers Clarke, in 1778 and 1779: which were referred to the Committee on Public Lands, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Breese presented a resolution passed by the legislature of the State of Illinois, instructing the Senators and requesting the Representatives of that State in Congress to use their exertions to procure a grant of land to aid in the completion of the Northern Cross and Central railroad in that State: which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands, and ordered to be printed. Mr. Dix presented the memorial of the Chamber of Commerce of the city of New York, praying the establishment of a bureau of hydrography and longitude: which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. Mr. Cilley presented a petition of citizens of Newport, New Hampshire, praying the adoption of pacific measures for terminating the war with Mexico: which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Mr. Mason presented a preamble and resolutions passed by the General Assembly of the State of Virginia, in favor of the adoption of vigorous measures for the prosecution of the war with Mexico, and tendering the thanks of the General Assembly to the President of the United States for the justtice, firmness, and eminent ability with which he has conducted the war with Mexico. The preamble and resolutions were read. Ordered, That they lie on the table, and be printed. Mr. Mason presented a memorial of a committee of the Faculty of the University of Virginia, praying the establishment of a bureau of hydrography and longitude: which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, and ordered to be printed. On motion by Mr. Evans, Ordered, That the Committee on Finance be discharged from the further consideration of the petition of Martin Renehan, and that it be referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. Woodbridge, from the Committee on Public Lands, to whom was referred the report of the Acting Commissioner of the General Land Office of January 1, 1847, in relation to damages sustained by the purchasers of certain of the public lands by reason of erroneous or false and fraudulent surveys, submitted a report: which was ordered to be printed. Mr. Rusk, from the Committee of Claims, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 185) for the relief of the legal representatives of William Bunce, deceased, reported it without amendment. Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom were referred the memorial of George Petty, the petition of Nehemiah Brush, and the petition of Isaac Davenport, submitted an adverse report in each case. Ordered, That the reports be printed. Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, from the Committee on Pensions, to whom the following bills were referred: H. R. 440. An act for the relief of William Causey; H. R. 512. An act for the relief of John Van Slyck; reported the same without amendment. Mr. Ashley, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 648) for the admission of the State of Wisconsin into the Union, reported it without amendment. Mr. Johnson, of Louisiana, by unanimous consent, asked and obtained leave to bring in a bill (S. 176) to authorize the relinquishment of the 16th section in certain cases, and the selection of other lands in lieu thereof, in the State of Louisiana, and for other purposes: which was read the first and second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the Committee on Public Lands. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. French, their Clerk: Mr. President: The President of the United States approved and signed, the 20th instant, the following acts: H. R. 604. An act making appropriations for the payment of revolutionary and other pensions of the United States for the year ending the 30th June, 1848. H. R. 206. An act for the relief of Joshua Shaw. H. R. 528. An act granting a pension to Patrick Kelly. The Speaker of the House of Representatives having signed three enrolled bills, I am directed to bring them to the Senate for the signature of their President. The House of Representatives have passed the bill from the Senate (S. 10) to establish a land office in the northern part of Michigan, and to provide for the sale of mineral lands in the State of Michigan and Territory of Wisconsin, with amendments: in which they request the concurrence of the Senate. They have passed bills of the following titles: H. R. 84 An act to provide for continuing a certain public work in the Territory of Wisconsin, and for other purposes; H. R. 296. An act to repeal the 20th and part of the 31st section of the act to change the organization of the Post Office Department, and to provide more effectually for the settlement of the accounts thereof, approved July 2, 1836; H. R. 369. An act creating a collection district in Maine, and constitu. ting in said district a port of entry and delivery; H. R. 387. An act extending the privileges granted by the 7th section |