On motion of Mr. Forward, ordered that 500 copies of the message and accompanying documents, except the correspondence with Messrs. Bronson and Marvin, be printed. Mr. Forward gave notice that he will at an early day, introduce a bill to be entitled "An Act in addition to an Act to organize Courts of Probate for the State of Florida." Also, An Act in addition to an act concerning Wills, Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, and the duties of Executors, Administrators and Guardians. Mr. Forward moved that a committee consisting of five, be appointed by the President to examine the Charters, and inquire into the proceedings of all associations claiming to exercise corporaet privileges in this State, and to report to this House, (at as early a day as practicable,) such associations as require regulating, restraining and controling, so as to guard, protect, and secure the interests of the people of the State, and to provide by bill or otherwise, such measures as may be necessary in the thus restraining and controlling said associations. Which motion prevailed. Messrs. Forward, Haughton, Bellamy, Mitchell and Carter, were appointed said Committee. On motion of Mr. Haughton, the rule was waived, and he moved that a Committee of three be appointed, to revise the rules of the Senate, and to act with a similar Committee on the part of the House in revising the Joint Rules. Which motion prevailed, and Messrs. Haughton, Forward and Bell appointed said Committee. On motion of Mr. Haughton, Ordered, that the Orders of the Day be postponed until the Committee on Rules report. The Senate adjourned until to-morrow morning, 10 o'clock. WEDNESDAY, November 19, 1845. The Senate met pursuant to adjournment, and a quorum being present the proceedings of yesterday were read and approved. On motion of Mr. Broward, Hon. William A. Kain, Senator elect from Franklin County to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Geo. S. Hawkins, presented a certificate from the Secretary of State and was sworn by Hon. Mr. Kelly, Justice of the Peace for Escambia County. Mr. Haughton gave notice, that at a future day, he will ask leave to introduce a bill so altering the Constitution of this State as to make the sessions of the Legislature biennial instead of annual. Also, a bill so amending the Constitution as to extend the elective franchise to all free white male inhabitants of this State who shall have resided therein one year, and within the county or election district in which he offers to vote, six months previous to the election; being, at the time, citizens of the United States. Mr. Haughton, from the Committee on Rules and Joint Rules, made the following report: The committee appointed to revise the rules of the Senate, and in conjunction with a similar committee from the House of Representatives, those, also, regulating its official intercourse with that body, have had the same under consideration and ask leave to report the following amendment, viz Strike out the 32d Rule of the Senate, which specifies the number and character of the Standing Committees, and insert the following: The following Standing Committees shall be appointed by the President, to consist of at least three members, who shall have leave to report by bill or otherwise :-A committee on the Judicia ry; a committee on Finance and Banks; a committee on the state of the Republic; a committee on Elections; a committee on the Militia; a committee on Schools and Colleges; a committee on Enrolled Bills; and a committee on Public Accounts. It shall be the duty of the last named committee to examine the accounts and vouchers of the Comptroller, Treasurer and Commissioner of the Tallahassee Fund, and all other officers having charge of the public funds or accounts. Strike out the word "superior," in the 4th line of the 39th Rule, and insert "supreme." Strike out the 15th Joint Rule and insert the following, viz:-No law embracing more than one object or subject matter shall be entertained by either House of the General Assembly. The committee do not perceive the necessity of any further alterations in the joint rules of the two Houses, or in the Rules of the Senate. Respectfully submitted. R. B. HAUGHTON, Chairman. Which report was concurred in. Ordered, that twenty-five copies of said amendments be printed. Mr. Haughton moved that the rules be waived and the orders of the day be put on their first reading. Which motion was lost, four-fifths not voting for it. On motion of Mr. Carter, the following bills, on their third reading were read and postponed until to-morrow, viz: A bill to be entitled, An Act to give effect to the provisions of the Constitution of this State respecting corporations and associations claiming to exercise corporate privileges within the State. A bill to be entitled, An Act to regulate, restrain and control a certain association called the Union Bank of Florida, claiming to exercise corporate privileges in this State, so as to guard, protect and secure the interests of the people of this State, and for other purposes. The bill among the orders of the day to be entitled, An Act to amend the act giving a lien to mechanics in certain cases, approved January 20, 1827, and in addition thereto, came up and was ordered for a second reading on to-morrow. The bill among the orders of the day to be entitled, An Act for the advancement of education and for the location of the land granted by Congress for Seminaries of Learning, came up on a second reading and was laid on the table. The bill among the orders to be entitled, An Act to provide for the election of two Majors General and four Brigadiers General of the militia of this State, came up on its first reading and was laid on the table. Mr. Kain offered the following resolution: Resolved, That in consequence of the non-attendance of Wm. S. Dinsmore, Messenger of the Senate, the said office be declared vacant. Which was read the first time, the rule waived, read a second and third time and adopted. Mr. White offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the offices of Sergeaut-at-Arms and Messenger be blended into one, and the present incumbent of the former office discharge the duties of both. Which was read a first time, the rule waived and read a second and third time. On the passage of the resolution, the yeas and nays were called for by Messrs. White and Haughton, and were: Yeas-Messrs. Bellamy, Bell, Broward, Carter, Forward, Haughton, Lorimer, Mitchell, Priest and White -10. Nays Mr. President, Messrs. Kain and Porter-3. So the resolution was adopted. Mr. Mitchell offered the following preamble and resolution: Preamble and Resolution respecting Pensacola Dry Dock. WHEREAS, the Government of the United States has long delayed building a proper Navy Yard on the Gulf of Mexico, for the refitting and repairing of vessels of war in case of need: And whereas, Pensacola having long since, after repeated surveys of the whole coast, been selected as the proper point for such a purpose: And whereas, the interests, not of Florida alone, but of the whole commerce of the Gulf of Mexico, depend, in case of war, on the facility with which vessels of war may be repaired and refitted, at least without making the long and circuitous voyage to a Northern Atlantic Port, when by having a Dry Dock, and other essential means at Pensacola Navy Yard, vessels may be kept on the station for years, and in case of necessity could be built at that point as well as any other, thereby giving a more easy and certain security to the Gulf Coast, and to the commerce of the great West and the South. Therefore, Be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Florida, in General Assembly convened, That in order to make the Navy Yard at Pensacola an efficient one for the pur poses set forth in the foregoing preamble, our Representative in Congress, and our Senators, are hereby instructed to use their efforts to have a Dry Dock built at or near Pensacola Navy Yard, and that copies of this preamble and resolution, duly certified by the Secretary of State, be forwarded by him to each of said Senators, and to said Representative. Which was read, the rule waived, read a second and third time, and adopted unanimously. The following message was received from his Excellency the Gentlemen of the Senate Capitol, Tallahassee, Nov. 18, 1845. and House of Representatives: I have the honor herewith to communicate a reply to my letter of the 27th ult., addressed to the Hon. R. J. Walker, Secretary of the Treasury, in relation to the five per cent. due this State, from the nett amount of the sales of the Public Lands, agreeably to the provisions of an act of Congress. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. D. MOSELEY, Governor of Florida. GENERAL LAND OFFICE, November 7th, 1845. His Excellency W. D. MOSELEY, Governor of Florida : Sir--Your communication of the 27th ult., addressed to the Secretary of the Treasury, having been referred to this Office for a reply, I have the honor to state that, the nett amount received for Public Lands sold in the State of Florida, from 3d March to 30th June, 1845, inclusive, is And deducting the expenses of such sales, Leaves the amount on which the State is entitled to cent., Five per cent. on which sum amounts to per $7,830 60 1,718 91 $6,111 69 305 58 It is the usage of the Treasury Department to make semi-annual Reports on the five per cent. funds accruing to the several States entitled to claim them; consequently the first report in favor of the State of Florida, will be in accordance with the above statement. The next report will be made for the last half of the current year, embracing the period from July 1st, to December 31st, 1845, inclusive. The nett amount received for Public Lands sold in Florida, during the quarter ending September 1845, is And deducting the expenses of such sales, $4,561 00 724 20 Leaves the amount on which the State was entitled to 5 Five per cent. on which sum amount to 3,836 80 191 84 Assuming as a reasonable estimate, that the sales of the Public Lands, during the fourth quarter of the current year, will be equal to those of the third, as first stated, the amount which will become due to the State of Florida, on account of said five per cent. fund, may be put down at about $383, for the half year ending on 31st December, 1845. I have the honor to be, With great respect, your ob't servant, JAS. SHIELDS, Commissioner. A message was received from the House informing the Senate of the appointment of a Joint Commitee on the part of the House to revise the Joint Rules, and of the concurrence by the House in the report of said committee. The Senate adjourned until to-morrow, 10 o'clock, A. M. THURSDAY, November 20, 1845. The Senate met pursuant to adjournment, and a quorum being present the proceedings of yesterday were read and approved. Agreeably to previous notice, Mr. Forward introduced a bill to be entitled, An Act in addition to an act concerning Wills, Letters Testamentary, Letters of Administration, and the duties of Executors, Administrators and Guardians. Which was read the first time and ordered for a second reading. On motion of the President, Ordered, that the Secretary of the Senate do carefully file away in the Senate Chamber, and take especial care of all Bills, Resolutions or other papers which may have been introduced in the Senate, or which may have passed the House of Representatives, but which have not passed or received the sanction of the Senate, for future reference, if need be. The President announced the following Standing Committees: STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE. Appointed by the President under the Rules of the Senate. |