WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1861. The Vice-President laid before the Senate a letter from the clerk of the Court of Claims, returning the papers in the case of Louis Roberts, in compliance with a resolution of the Senate of yesterday; which was read. On motion by Mr. Rice, Ordered, That the papers relating to the claim of Louis Roberts be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. The Vice-President laid before the Senate a letter from the Acting Commissioner of Patents, communicating the agricultural portion of the annual report of that office; which was read. On motion by Mr. Trumbull, that the usual number, and ten thousand additional copies of the report be printed. Ordered, That the motion be referred to the Committee on Printing. Mr. Bigler presented two petitions of citizens of Pennsylvania, praying the adoption of the compromise measures proposed by Mr. Crittenden. Ordered, That they lie on the table. Mr. Bigler presented the petition of a committee of working men of Philadelpia, and the proceedings of a mass meeting of working men held in Independence Square, Philadelphia, on the 26th instant, praying the adoption of the compromise measures proposed by Mr. Crittenden. On motion by Mr. Bigler, that the petition and the proceedings of the meeting which accompany it be printed. Ordered, That the motion be referred to the Committee on Printing. Mr. Cameron presented a preamble and resolutions adopted at a mass meeting of working men held at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, on the 26th instant, in favor of the compromise measures proposed by Mr. Crittenden. Ordered, That they lie on the table. Mr. Trumbull presented a memorial of citizens of Chicago, Illinois, in favor of a continuance of the Union under the Constitution and laws as they are, and the redress of such grievances as may exist when the parties aggrieved shall have returned to their allegiance. Ordered, That it lie on the table. Mr. Trumbull presented the memorial of a committee of the Southern Illinois Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, praying that in adjusting the present sectional issues no person shall be proscribed on account of his religious opinions. Ordered, That it lie on the table. On motion by Mr. Grimes, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, Ordered, That the report of the Secretary of the Navy, of the 15th instant, in compliance with a resolution of the Senate of June 23, 1860, relative to various subjects pertaining to the naval establishment of the United States, be printed. Mr. Latham submitted the following resolution; which was considered, by unanimous consent, and agreed to: Resolved, That the Secretary of War be requested to transmit to this body a copy of the report of Captain J. H. Simpson, of the Topographical Engineers, United States Army, on his explorations across the great basin of Utah Territory for a direct wagon route from Camp Floyd to Geneva, in Carson Valley, in 1859. Mr. Bayard, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 356) for the relief of the creditors of Daniel B. Vondersmith, reported it without amendment, and submitted an adverse report thereon, (No. 275;) which was ordered to be printed. On motion by Mr. King, Ordered, That the bill (S. 550) to authorize the employment of volunteers to aid in enforcing the laws and protecting public property, be printed. Mr. Pearce, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 864) making appropriations for the consular and diplomatic expenses of the government for the year ending June 30, 1862, reported it with amendments. Mr. Pearce, from the Committee on Finance, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 892) making appropriations for the legislative, executive, and judicial expenses of the government for the year ending the 30th June, 1862, reported it with amendments. On motion by Mr. Wilson, from the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia, Ordered, That the report of the Secretary of War, communicating, in obedience to law, statements of the contracts made under the authority of that department during the year 1860, be printed. On motion by Mr. Wilson, Ordered, That the bill (S. 553) for the better organization of the militia of the District of Columbia be printed. Mr. Simmons presented a petition of importers of the city of New York, praying that the tariff bill now before the Senate may be postponed until the next session of Congress; which was referred to the select committee on the tariff bill, (H. R. 338.) Mr. Hale, from the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, to whom was referred the bill (S. 551) for the relief of Hockaday & Ligget, reported it without amendment. Mr. Foster presented a memorial of masters and crews of fishing vessels duly licensed under the laws of the United States, praying protection against exactions of persons claiming to act under the authority of the State of Florida; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Rice presented a petition of citizens of St. Cloud, Minnesota, and a petition of citizens of Superior City, Wisconsin, praying the establishment of a mail route between St. Cloud and Superior City; which were referred to the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads. Mr. Rice presented a petition of citizens of Stearns and Todd counties, Minnesota, praying the establishment of a mail route from St. Cloud to Jamesville, in that State; which was referred to the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads. A message from the President of the United States, by Mr. Glossbrenner, his Secretary: Mr. President: The President of the United States approved and signed, the 29th instant, an act (S. 321) for the relief of Robert A. Matthews. Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives thereof. Mr. Crittenden presented a petition signed by three thousand four hundred citizens of Massachusetts, praying the adoption of the compromise measures proposed by Mr. Crittenden; which was read. Ordered, That it lie on the table. On motion by Mr. Powell, The Senate proceeded to consider, as in Committee of the Whole, the bill (H. R. 919) for the relief of F. M. Beauchamp and Betsy D. Townsend; and, no amendment being made, the bill was reported to the Senate. Ordered, That it pass to a third reading. On the question, Shall the bill pass? Yeas It was determined in the affirmative, {Nays.. On motion by Mr. Trumbull, 40 2 The yeas and nays being desired by one fifth of the senators present, Those who voted in the affirmative are, Messrs. Anthony, Baker, Bragg, Bright, Cameron, Chandler, Clark, Clingman, Crittenden, Dixon, Douglas, Durkee, Fessenden, Fitch, Foot, Foster, Green, Grimes, Gwin, Hale, Harlan, Hemphill, Johnson, of Arkansas, Johnson, of Tennessee, Kennedy, Lane, Latham, Mason, Nicholson, Polk, Powell, Rice, Saulsbury, Sebastian, Seward, Ten Eyck, Thomson, Wade, Wilkinson, Wilson. Those who voted in the negative are, Messrs. King and Trumbull. So it was Resolved, That the bill pass. Ordered, That the Secretary notify the House of Representatives thereof. The Senate resumed the consideration of the motion to print additional copies of the message of the President of the United States, communicating a series of resolutions adopted by the legislature of Virginia, on the 19th instant, in favor of a peaceful settlement of the exciting questions which now threaten the Union; and On motion by Mr. Latham, Ordered, That the further consideration thereof be postponed to and made the special order of the day for to-morrow, at one o'clock. The Senate resumed the consideration of the bill (H. R. 701) to secure contracts, and make provision for the safe, certain, and more peedy transportation by railroad of mails, troops, munitions of war, military and naval stores, between the Atlantic States and those of the Pacific, and for other purposes; and, On the question to concur in the following amendment, made as in Committee of the Whole, to wit: in section 4, line 47, after the words "United States," insert: and no mortgage or construction bonds shall ever be issued by said company on said road, or mortgage or lien made in any way, except to the United States. On motion by Mr. Wilson, to amend the amendment by inserting at the end thereof the words: until thirty millions of dollars shall have been subscribed and expended on each of the roads provided for by this act. It was determined in the affirmative; and The amendment, as amended, was then concurred in. On the question to concur in the following amendment, made as in Committee of the Whole, to wit: insert the following additional sections: SEC. 17. And be it further enacted, That to insure the safe, certain, and speedy transportation of mails, troops, and public stores, any legal and duly authorized company, incorporated by any of the States or Territories through which the same shall pass, shall have power to lay out, locate, construct, furnish, maintain, and enjoy a continuous railroad from a point at Superior, in the State of Wisconsin, to the western border of Minnesota, at or near Breckinridge, on the Red River of the North; thence westerly, crossing the Rocky Mountains north of the forty-fifth parallel of north latitude, on the most eligible route to some point on Puget's Sound, with a branch diverging southerly within three hundred miles of Puget's Sound, and via the valleys of the Columbia and Willamette rivers, to Portland, Oregon, and to be called the Northern Pacific railroad and said company undertaking to build said road shall consolidate, confederate, and associate with any other legal and duly organized companies, incorporated by any of the States or Territories for the purpose, which may wish to aid in the construction of the road upon joint and equitable terms; and there is granted to said company undertaking to build said road, six alternate sections of land per mile on each side of such railroad line as said company may adopt, from Lake Superior to the western border of Minnesota, and from thence to the amount of ten alternate sections per mile, on each side of such railway line as said company may adopt, to the western termini of said route; and said company shall also construct a telegraph line along said line of railway, in the most approved and workmanlike manner. SEC. 18. And be it further enacted, That whenever said company, undertaking to construct said railway from Lake Superior to Puget's Sound and Portland, Oregon, shall have fifty miles of said railroad and telegraph line ready for the service contemplated, commencing on Lake Superior, Charles D. Gilfillen, of Minnesota, Nathaniel P. Banks, of Massachusetts, (but soon to be a citizen of Illinois,) and Isaac I. Stevens, of Washington Territory, are hereby constituted a board of commissioners to examine the same and report to the President of the United States; and if it shall appear by said report that fifty miles of said railroad and telegraph line have been completed in a good, substantial, and workmanlike manner, and in all respects as required by this act, and supplied with all necessary rolling stock, buildings, and depots for the use of said road, as a first class railway, and that the same are in good working order, then it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury, under the direction of the President, to issue to said company the bonds of the United States for the sum of ten thousand dollars per mile on said fifty miles, for the use of said company, as an advanced payment upon the contract authorized by this act. And for each and every fifty miles of said railroad and telegraph line ready for service, in running order, the Secretary of the Treasury shall issue to said company the like sum of ten thousand dollars per mile in bonds of the United States, until said road shall reach the western border of Minnesota; and after that the sum of fifteen thou sand dollars per mile for every fifty miles completed on any part of said road to Puget's Sound, until bonds shall have been issued to the amount of twenty-five millions of dollars, when no more bonds shall be issued by the United States; but said company shall have the right to contract with the British government for a loan of money or bonds giving a mortgage lien to said British government for security, subject to the mortgage lien to the United States, but, with the exception to the United States and the British government, no mortgage or construction bonds shall ever in any way be put upon said road. Any vacancies in said board of commissioners, caused by death, resignation, or otherwise, shall be filled by the President of the United States. SEC. 19. And be it further enacted, That said company shall commence the work on said road within three years from the approval of this act by the President of the United States, and complete one hundred miles per year after the fourth year, and every provision, condition, limitation or restriction in this act contained, shall be, and the same are hereby, applied to and imposed on the company undertaking to build the Northern Pacific Railroad from Lake Superior to Puget's Sound. SEC. 20. And be it further enacted, That whenever any railroad company embraced in this act shall, under the provisions thereof, be entitled to demand any installment of the bonds hereinbefore mentioned, to be issued and delivered in aid of the construction of any or either of the lines of railway contemplated by this act, such railway company, its associates, successors, or assigns shall, at the same time, as a security for the amount of such bonds and interest to accrue thereon, execute to the United States a mortgage on such portion of railway as shall from time to time be completed; on the completion of which all installments of bonds shall be due and demandable, covering the appurtenances, fixtures, rolling stock, motive power, and machinery, and telegraph line, which mortgage shall remain and continue a lien and charge thereon till the whole amount of bonds that shall be issued in aid of the construction of the entire line of such railroad shall be repaid, pursuant to the provisions of this act; and in case of the failure of any such railroad company, its associates, successors, or assigns, to complete the entire line of railroad and telegraph, the said mortgage shall contain a clause of forfeiture, right of foreclosure, or appropriation by the United States of the said property; which clause or condition, as to form and sufficiency, shall be approved by the Attorney General of the United States. SEC. 21. And be it further enacted, That no donation of lands nor appropriatian or loan of bonds, for the objects and purposes specified in this act, shall be granted to any railroad corporation, its associates, successors, or assigns for or on account of any railroad or line of telegraph that has been or may hereafter be constructed, or in course of construction, by any other corporation or parties, in any State or Territory, which |