S. 258. An act to grant to the parish of Point Coupee, Louisiana, certain tracts of land in said parish. S. 260. An act for the relief of Mrs. Agatha O'Brien, widow of Brevet Major J. P. J. O'Brien, late of the United States army. S. 73, to the Committee on Invalid Pensions; S. 258, to the Committee on Public Lands; and S. 260, to the Committee on Military Affairs. Mr. Houston moved that the vote by which the bill of the Senate No. 73 was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Mr. Hamilton, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 325) to provide for the execution of mesne and final process of courts of the United States; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. On motion of Mr. Scott, by unanimous consent, Ordered. That the Committee on Military Affairs be discharged from the further consideration of the bill of the House (H. R. 167) to establish a communication by railroad and telegraph between the Atlantic States and California, and for other purposes, and that the same be referred to the select committee on the Pacific railroad. On motion of Mr. Scott, by unanimous consent, Ordered, That leave be granted for the withdrawal from the files of the House of the papers in the case of Dent, Vantine & Co., for the purpose of reference in the Senate. The said papers were thereupon delivered to Mr. Scott. On motion of Mr. McKean, by unanimous consent, Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the claim of Oliver Bascom, assignee of Edward Lusher, for services in taking care of a dredge-boat for the United States at Whitehall, in the State of New York, and report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Vallandigham having called up the motion heretofore submitted by him to reconsider the vote by which the bill of the House (H. R. 65) to amend the act of April 23, 1808, entitled "An act making provision for arming and equipping the whole body of the militia of the United States" was referred to the Committee on the MilitiaAfter debate, Mr. Vallandigham, by unanimous consent, withdrew his said motion to reconsider. So the bill stands referred to the Committee on the Militia. The Speaker having announced as the regular order of business the call of committees for reports, and as first in order in that class of business the bill of the House (H. R. 304) "inviting proposals for carrying the entire mail between the Atlantic and Pacific States on one line," heretofore reported from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads; the pending question being on the motion of Mr. Colfax to recommit the same to the said committee After debate, Mr. Colfax moved the previous question. Mr. Reagan moved that the bill be laid upon the table; which motion was disagreed to. The question then recurring on the demand for the previous ques tion, it was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the motion to recommit was disagreed to. Under the further operation of the previous question the bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time. Mr. Colfax moved the previous question; which was seconded and the main question ordered, and under the operation thereof the bill was passed. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate therein. Mr. Colfax moved that the vote last taken be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Mr. Green Adams, from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, reported a bill (H. R. 326) to establish mail-routes in the Territory of Kansas; which was read a first and second time. Pending the question on its engrossment, The bill having, by unanimous consent, been amended by striking out the second section, Ordered, That it be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate therein. Mr. Green Adams moved that the vote by which the said bill was passed be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Also, from the same committee, to whom was referred the bill of the House (H. R. 106) to provide for the election of deputy postmasters by the people, reported the same with a recommendation that it do not pass, accompanied by an adverse report in wriitng thereon. Ordered, That the bill be laid upon the table, and that the report be printed. On motion of Mr. James Craig, Ordered, That the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads be discharged from the further consideration of the following bills and memorials, and that the same be referred to the select committee on the Pacific railroad, viz: H. R. 173. A bill for the purpose of aiding in the construction of a line of railroad across that portion of the public domain lying between the Mississippi river and the eastern boundary of the State of California; H. R. 110. A bill to provide for the transportation of the mails and all other government service by railroad from the Atlantic States to the Pacific; The memorial of the Pacific Railroad Convention held at San Francisco, in September, 1859; and The memorial of the legislative assembly of Utah Territory, for the construction of a national central railroad, via Salt Lake City. Mr. Colfax, from the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, reported a bill (H. R. 327) to suppress the unlawful collection and delivery of letters, accompanied by a report in writing thereon; which bill was read a first and second time. After debate, Ordered, That the said bill be committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, and that the bill and report be printed. Mr. James Craig, from the same committee, to whom was referred the petition of Peay & Ayliff, made a report thereon, accompanied by a bill (H. R. 328) for their relief; which bill was read a first and second time. The House having, by unanimous consent, proceeded to its consideration, After debate, Ordered, That the said bill be engrossed and read a third time. Being engrossed, it was accordingly read the third time and passed. Ordered, That the Clerk request the concurrence of the Senate therein. Mr. James Craig moved that the vote by which the said bill was passed be reconsidered, and also moved that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; which latter motion was agreed to. On motion of Mr. Sherman, by unanimous consent, the following communications, addressed to the chairman of the Committee of Ways and Means, were referred to the Committee of Ways and Means, and ordered to be printed, viz: I. A letter from the Postmaster General, transmitting certain statements in regard to the postal service, and an estimate of the sum of money required for the transportation of the mails for the present fiscal year. II. A letter from the Secretary of the Interior, in regard to appropriations for the Ponca Indians, &c. III. A letter from the Secretary of the Interior, in reference to appropriations for the Indian service in Utah. Mr. Sherman, by unanimous consent, reported the following resolutions; which were severally read, considered, and agreed to, viz: Resolved, That the Committee on Expenditures in the Treasury Department be instructed to inquire into the mode of expending the fund for the relief of sick and disabled seamen, under the several acts of Congress for the relief of such seamen, and of appropriations to supply deficiencies in said fund, with leave to report by bill or otherwise. Resolved, That the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds be instructed to inquire into the mode and manner of lighting the Capitol and President's House, the public grounds around them and around the executive offices, and Pennsylvania avenue, Bridge and High streets in Georgetown, and Four-and-a-half and Twelfth streets across the mall; the annual expense thereof; and if lighted by gas, how supplied, and on what terms; and whether a contract cannot be made for a supply of gas on better terms than it is now furnished at; with leave to report by bill or otherwise. On motion of Mr. Sherman, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union; and after some time spent therein, the Speaker resumed the chair, and Mr. Ellihu B. Washburne reported that the committee having, according to order, had the state of the Union generally under consideration, and particularly the annual message of the President of the United States, and bills of the following titles, viz: H. R. 4. A bill making appropriations for the consular and diplomatic expenses of the government for the year ending the 30th of June, 1861; and H. R. 215. A bill making appropriations for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian department, and for fulfilling treaty stipulations with various Indian tribes for the year ending June 30, 1861, had come to no resolution thereon. Mr. Aldrich, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 329) to establish an Indian agency in the Territory of Jefferson; which was read a first and second time, and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. And then, On motion of Mr. Leake, at 6 o'clock p. m., the House adjourned. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, 1860. The following petitions, memorials, and other papers, were laid upon the Clerk's table, under the 24th rule of the House, to wit: By Mr. Curtis: The memorial and joint resolutions of the legislature of the State of Iowa, in behalf of James B. Thomas-heretofore referred March 16, 1858; which were referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. By Mr. Jackson: The petition of William J. and Maria McIntosh, praying half pay for the services of Christopher Hillary, a revolu tionary soldier; which was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims. By Mr. Hickman: Petitions of citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, praying an appropriation to reconstruct the piers at Marcus Hook, Delaware county, Pennsylvania; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce. By Mr. Reagan: The memorial of James Harrington, praying that he may have the benefit of the joint resolution of August 18, 1856; which was referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. By Mr. Curtis: Two joint resolutions of the legislature of the State of Iowa, relative to the Des Moines improvement-heretofore referred June 14, 1858; Also, the petition of Charles Mason, R. P. Lowe, and H. T. Reidheretofore referred May 10, 1858. By Mr. Fenton: The petition of citizens of the State of New York, praying Congress to pass a law to prevent the monopoly of the public lands. Ordered, That the said resolutions and petitions be referred to the Committee on Public Lands. By Mr. Ferry: The petition of Abia Judd, formerly widow of Moses Cass, praying a pension on account of revolutionary services; which was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions. By Mr. Curtis: The memorial and joint resolutions of the legislature of the State of Iowa, praying for a mail-route from Des Moines, in the State of Iowa, to White Cloud, in the Territory of Kansas. By Mr. John B. Clark: The memorial of citizens of the State of Missouri, praying for a mail-route from Fort Henry to Callao. Ordered, That the said memorials be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. By Mr. John Cochrane: The petition of citizens of New York city, praying for a uniform bankrupt law; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. By Mr. Hoard: The petition of Joshua Dewey, praying a pension for services in the revolutionary war; which was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions. By Mr. James M. Leach: The petition of James Floyd-heretofore referred January 28, 1858; which was referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Gooch: The petition of Samuel Remick-heretofore referred April 1, 1836. By Mr. Longnecker: The petition of citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, praying pensions to soldiers of the war of 1812. By Mr. Killinger: Two petitions of citizens of the State of Pennsylvania, praying pensions to soldiers of the war of 1812. Ordered, That the said petitions be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Maclay: The memorial of William W. Woodworth, praying for the extension of the "Woodworth patent;" which was referred to the Committee on Patents. By Mr. Pennington: The joint resolution of the State of Texas, in favor of incorporating Captain J. G. Tod, of the late navy of Texas, into the navy of the United States; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. Also, the petition of the "Free Land Club, of Bergen," New Jersey, in favor of the homestead bill; which was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. By Mr. Somes: The petition of William Hammond, asking for his pay of twelve hundred dollars per annum from the year 1856 to the present time, in lieu of nine hundred dollars now paid him; which was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. By Mr. Boteler: The memorial of old soldiers living in the State of Virginia, praying pensions for services in the war of 1812; Also, the memorial of Jesse Frier, praying a pension for services in the war of 1812. Ordered, That the said memorials be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. Mr. Moorhead, by unanimous consent, introduced a bill (H. R. 330) to prevent and punish fraud in the use of false stamps, brands, labels, |