TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS-:


SECOND SESSION.
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WASHINGTON, Thursday, Jan. 8, lS45


Mr. CHoATE, from Boston, and Mr.. HUNTINGTON,
from Connecticut, presented remonstrances, nu-
merously signed, against the annexation of Texas,
unless under the most saving provisions as to the
debt OF Texas, and the extinction of slavery.
Read and referred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations.


Mr.. HUNTINGTON also presented a memorial for
the abolition OF slavery in the District Of Columbia.


Mr.. ARCHER presented further petitions from the
Native Americans OF Pennsylvania, for change
IN the naturalization laws. Referred to the Judi
ciary Committee.


THE HouMAH LAND CLAIMS.
The resolution OF MIR. JOHNSON, for directing n
enquiry, by the Judiciary Committee, iato the re-
monstrance OF III citizens Of Louisiana against
the issuing Of patents to a body of lands above
New Orleans, known as the Houmah Lands, pa
tents to which were authorized by law OF last
session upon the original Spanish titles-these
coming In conflict with the squatters or actua
settlers upon the lands This squabble a
small scale, threatens to assume the character Of
the dispute between the Lord and the tenantry of
the Heidelburgers. The .protestants above cited,
declare the illegaity and inyadity Of many Of the
patents issued from the General Land Office to
parcels of this Houmah tract.


Mr. JOHNSON entertained the Senate with long
explanation of the inexplicabe congressional en-
actments from time to time upon this Houmah dis
trlc', and disapproved Of the conduct of the Com
missioner OF the General Land Office In the premi-
ses.


The resolution was read, directing the Judiciary
Committee to inquire whether certain patents to





cretary OF the Treasury, were done in authority of
law.


Mr. DAYTON objected to the onerous burden
the resolution would impose upon the Judiciary
COMMITTEE, and therefore moved to amend go as TO
accord the discretion to the committee Of acting in
the case, according to their sense OF proprety, Of
ARA agnng and examining an officer of the execu-
tive government, as proposed by Mr.. johnson.


Mr.. JOHNSON most pertlnaciousy insisted on the
examination as proposed; but after submitting
wearlsome explanation, assented TO the amend
ment.


Mr. HANNEGAN absolved the Commissioner of the
General Land Office from anything reprehensibe
IN his relation to these patents He was compelled
to obey the mandates of the Secretary of the Trea-
sury, in all cases like these of contested pre-emp-
tion, and was entirely exempt from blame.


Mr.. JOHNSON assented to the correctness and JUS
tlce OF Mr.. Hannegan's defence but insisted that
the power to grant patents was expressly granted to
the Commissioner, and his was the duty OF acting
in obedience to the law and not to the Secretary


Mr.. BAeBY instituted an examination into the
nature OF patents, and the duty Of Congress, and
the power OF Congress-inslsting all the time
that if the patents issued and complained of were


illegal, they not lawful, and if not Law full, they
were contrary TO law and if contrary to law, they
were null and vod and oi course needed no action
of CONGRESS at all.


Mr.. JOHNSON insisted on the examination-the
logic of Mr.. Bagby to the contrary, nevertheless.


Mr.. MoREnEAD had no objection at all to the re-
solution


Mr.. DAYTON explained the necessity of his amend
ment, giving to the committee proper discretion
to the right and expedlency of the examination.


Resolution, as amended, adopted.


PUBIlctBUILDNes, &c.


Mr.. MILLER moved that the Committee on Pub
lie Buildings and grounds be instructed to report at
the session the public buildings and grounds to
be improved-Publlc expense, &c, as well as the
amount expended in this bureau, with specifca-
tons. Resolution adopted


Mr.. FOSTER, of N. Y. presented memorial ask
ing the remission OF duties on railroad iron recent
ly imported


SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.


The bill proposing TO found the National or
Smithsonian Institution, and TO provide tor it's sup
port from the late Mr. Smthson's bequest Of $685.
sl3, which il is suggested shall be augmented TO
capital sum of S600,0


Mr.. CHoArE Withdrew his amendment of yes
OF the fund 0or twenty years) for the purchase OF
library tor the institution; and moved II In mod
flied form, leaving the sum to future settlement.


Mr.. CklrrENpEN moved to amend by providing
that books OF the practical sciences should be
principal consideration in the purchase OF the LII
brary.


SMr. TApPAN objected to the amendment. We
had already large Congressional library, SO large
that new buildings would have to be provided tor
the books with which IT was overhowlng.


Mr.. CHoATE contended for the books generally.
Mr.. CRITTKNpEN demanded as "mincpal OBJ
ec the books OF the practical sciences, OF general
utility.


Mr.. RIvKs was in favor OF lectures, and Of books
on moral and political philosophy. 1.-The proper
study Of mankind was man." and he would give
him the preference over plants and animals. A
wise and judclous appropriation of thus fund OF
$500 1000, was calculated to be OF higher beneht to
the American people, than we can give them in
the appropriations of the twenty five or thirty mil
lions, which we make every sesslen, for the sup
port of the government.


Mr. PHELPS moved a modification of Mr.. Crit
tenden's amendment, so as to provide instead of
the "principa object" that "d due regard shall be
had in the purchase Of books to works OF practical
science" &C., which was agreed to by Mr.. c.


Mr.. BATHS conceived, that the purchase of these
books on science would be entirely useless.


Mr.. NILES was for limiting the sum appropriated
to books to five thousand year. he thought that
the Senate had in some degree misconceved the
object of the institution proposed by the donor.
Was library an institution--was u the most efi-
cient means of " dffusing knowledge among
men - As he estimated it, the purchase oi books
should be secondary consideration. The object
of the fund was not that il should be confined to
,.oJo of inc hn1x sado huffh af he.