Locomotive, Volume 32, Number 2, Indianapolis, Marion County, 3 March 1855 — Page 2

them, showing tigerinous teeth to tear them to titters but cover them with the comforting cloak of kindness cheer them with the chaste charms of charity, the daughter of Christianity warm them by the friendly fire of philanthropy, until their faces redden and radiate benign beams of benevolence for our bounty. Don't set before them the hog, hominy, hard bread and hard-cider of hatred, but feed them familiarly with the fragrant food or fine cut fodder of friendship; and pour out for them the pure porridge of politeness until they become hnle with happiness and hilarity until their hearts heave with heavy tokens of thanks to our whole household for our hospitality their bosoms bound with blessings upon our whole being; and they incline to our interests with the generous gravity of gratitude. Alethia.

' A STROLL TO THE LEGISLATURE." " The other afternoon we took a stroll down to the State House to see if we could not have a view of some politico-intellectual volcanic eruption from some one of the mighty wise men there assembled. It was a pleasant afternoon and we strolled pleasantly. Passing along down the street we saw hundreds of human beings going up and down, across, in and out, all intent upon some business. Some we saw, loafing on the corners,' with apparently nothing to do' but to gaze at passers-by. There were ladies upon the street too; all in their Sunday best and wearing their sunniest smiles. We wonder why it is that ladies will put the flour on their faces so thick? ' ' Coming to the State House yard we opened the gate and proceeded with all the dignity of some magnate, up the serpentine road toward the State House. As we passed along we looked in-; to the withered shrubbery that skirted the road, and thought of death.' That is, we thought the leaves had. died last autumn. , It was not the, spring-time but the winter-time; and instead of. the dark thick ffreen foliao-e which but a few months since gave such deep metling beauty to the spot, there was only the stripped and brown-' ed, dead looking trees and shrubs. There seemed to be no life there no beauty. The leaves had fallen. ' ' ' We approached that tremendous pile of brick and mortar, the State House. We looked up, and its walls and pillars too, looked cold and desolates The swallows that .'but a few months since built their nests under the eaves, and chattered merrily, were all gone. ' .' " 1 ''" We put our foot upon the stone step, and forwarded our body on through into the great hall that runs from one hole in the wall on the south, to another in the north; and vice versa. Before venturing up the steps into the law manufactory, we ventured into the place of books the Library Room. , We saw there a great many books, and a clock, and a little boy reading.' He seemed very intent upon his book, and we' thought perhaps he might some day come to be a great man. We . wondered, too, whether he was not more fortunate than some of the wise men in the law manufactory above, in being able to read. 1 : ' ' In the Library Room we saw other things still. We saw great cases full of daguerreotype pictures of great men. (Ov.er the left). Oh, vanity! "All is vanity," and so it seems. Poor deluded men! Some we suppose had their pictures taken to preserve their beauty; some to present an admiring public with a view of their great intellectual appearance; some to let futurity know what they had been; and some because the artist took the pictures cheap. . But we saw over the pictures of some of those great men, little bits of black crape.' Some of them had died. ' , j The great die, as well as the humble and obscure. The poor mendicant can breathe as much air, and breathe it as long, as the greatest and the richest. Such were our thoughts on seeinjr the .bits of crape. ,' ' . '. . "." ; ; '' We saw still other things in the Library RoomWe saw trophies of war. , We saw guns, and pistols, and sabres, and flags, and heavy armor,' that had been taken in battle by American soldiers of the star spangled banner. Wethoughtthen of the dead who had been left upon the battle field. We thought of the brave who had been buried with the honors of war far away in another land. Their bones are there, but we waved over them the flag of the free as' we buried them. We buried them there, but with their burial the lion cowering eagle of '76 once more in victory folded his wing upon our standard. We left them there, but we brought back the honor of their fall. .'..,..' . ; All that we saw in that Library Room we need not tell. We saw little things as well as great. ; We saw little bits of sheeps' wool sowed on scraps of paper. These were small things,' but not too small to find a place even in the State Library Room. Why?.. We suppose because some man wished to sell a few sheep. .. Well, we see no reason why sheep ought not to be sold. ' We see no reason why more sheep are not raised. We thought if the law manufactory above would' pass some bill entitled "a bill to. preserve sheep and kill dogs." and then go home and turn their attention to wool growing instead of politics, that' perhaps if they should ever visit the Capitol againl' they would come back better clad and perhaps with their clothes paid for; , Perhaps general politics would not suffer much from their retirement for a few years anyhow. ! But, we retired from the Library Room and wended our way into the law manufactory. The first thing we saw on entering the Lower House was a small boy sitting by the door with a basket of apples. ' We thought he was learning in time the most valuable part of man's education. We believe the apple trade for boys is more valuable than Greek and Latin. i , We walked round the lobby and saw that it was well filled.- The interests of Banks and Railroads being at stake,' it is easy' to guess what kind of men were pacing the lobby. . We heard' a gentleman inside of the bar say, "Mr. Speaker.", We pricked our ears. He reported a bill from a select committee to secure something to the State for her interest heretofore sold in the Madison Railroad. . (Over the left the State will get something).

j We looked through the House to see what kind of men were there. We came to tho conclusion they were pretty much one kind. We thought perhaps that like the Irishman's parrot which sure enough was an owl that although thev did not say much they kept up a devil of a thinkingWe saw some few men of respectable talent; but for the most, we thought they fused last fall and rather made a fizzle this winter. We backed out of the House and followed the indication of our proboscis into the Senate. There they had the bank bill, undergoing the patching ordeal. Some had one idea, some another, some a part of a one, and some none at all as to the best mode of fixing up the all important banking apparatus. 2 They reminded us somewhat of boys pinning scraps of paper on to some poor old unfortunate man's back. Perhaps they were playing tag, or blind man's buff with the thing: we don't know. We heard several

efforts at logic. We supposed eloquence was properly silent, for paper dollars don't ring much However, we thought, "a paper dollar is some times better than no dollar." We left the Senate and the House, the Library room and all, and moved our way back along the serpentine road to the city. We had found th Lower House what we had expected. . We found the Senate rather superior to the House, there beinsr fewer of them and their clothes beinr "a shade" finer. Sr. Paul, Feb.. M, 1855. Editor Locomotive: Since my last we have had considerable excitement, occasioned by an Indian skirmish, which took place about 25 miles from St. Paul, between the Chjppewas and a hunting party of Sioux. Some weeks ago a party of Sioux came down from their agency and requested -permission of Gov. Gorman to go to Rice Lake for the purpose of killing a supply of venison, 1 which is very abundant there, (there being none at all in their own country,) which request was granted; but they were strictly charged not to commit any depredations upon the Chippewas, (whose coun try lies in close proximity.) They declared that they had no intentions of molesting any one; they merely wanted to kill venison,, of which they were sadly in need. The Sioux and Chippewas are always at war, and kill each other whenever an opportunity occurs. The origin of their diffi culties cannot be traced back. ' They were successful in, their hunts, and, in the course of three or four weeks, had killed near ly five hundred deer., But, one morning, just before they;were ready to commence their return march, one of the young men, who had strayed off a short distance , from the camp, suddenly came upon three Chippewas, and was fired upon by them. He, however, saved himself by flight, and upon reaching the camp reported that he had been fired upon by the Chippewas., . According ly, six young warriors started out to find and punish the aggressors. After they had proceeded some distance, they came to a place where the earth had the appearance of having been removed for the purpose of hiding something. They commenced digging, and one of them, chancing to look up, perceived a Chippewa advancing directly towards them. When he had approached within sixty yards, he raised his gun and fired upon the Sioux at random, and turned to fly, but the Sioux rifles' brought him down.' ' One of the Sioux was shot with a charge of buckshot in the knee, another received a similar charge in his breast and wrist. It is thought that he cannot recover. ' One of the Sioux then ran to him and cut his head off and scalped him. I had seen Chippewa scalps before, but 1 never saw one so completely scalped as this one was. ' His head was litterally skinned, including lips, ears and all. The Governor sent word to them to return home, which they did a day or two ago. It was a singular spectacle for one unaccustomed to see such sights. There were about 400 of them marching through the streets of St. Paul, bearing the wounded men on litters on their shoulders. When they got to the river they stopped and performed the scalp dance, which was witnessed by a larsje crowd of citizens and strangers. ; ' ''- Hole-in-the-Day, and about 20 other Chippewa chiefs, have just started to Washington to make a treaty for all of their lands lying on the upper1 Mississippi. We are enjoying beautiful weather. ".: Yours' respectfully; .i -i.."!' ' ' Geo'. H. Spencer, Jr.- . . For the Locomotive. " Mr. J.' R.' Elder: No efforts to do good are lost. I have heard of some seeds " which will' sleep in the earth for ages, and have read of the . ' i young of certain insects which lie in a state like death, for eighty years together, and yet, when the hand that scattered the seed had been mingled with the dust, and when the insect which, had deposited the young had ended its flight for generations, the seed would come forth, a forest of mighty trees, and the slumbering insect would wake to life, and become the mother of an endless multitude. -.. And so it may be with us. , ; We are scattering the seeds of knowledge, and piety,! and immortality;' but we see not the seeds spring forth,' as it were. Our institutions seem at times to , be forgotten; 'the. fruits of our. liberalities seem to have perished, and our favors appear to have been in -vain. But we must be of frood courage the seed is still in the , earth, undecayed; and the time will come when it shall spring forth and yield a plenteous harvest. .. ; It is watched over by the God of Heaven,' and not a seed shall perish. ' The hands that scattered the seed may wither, but the seed itself shall swell, and send forth its germ and become a mighty tree.,: . ",'.,', .' .',':"' ; ',''..''( The voice that uttered the sermon may be silent, but others that received the truth shall come forth and declare it afresh to generations jet unknown. ' ' : ' c.'g".'' Lanesville, Ind., Feb. 25, '55. ., .- j5TThe regular meetings of the City Council are on the 1st and 3d Monday of each month, at early candle lighting. 1 . '

. For tho Locomotive. ... Mr.' Editor. I have regretted very much that any of our citizens should have attributed to any one of the Marion county Representatives, in the present Legislature, the honor of getting up our present temperance law. This, however, belongs to all the friends of the bill, and to no one in particular. The great principles of the bill are those adopted, some years since, by Maine, and all the States which have adopted them since, have only imitated this sister, Maine. Our law follows the plan in detail, of the Connecticut bill, with very few amendments or alterations. The only honor I can discover, growing out of the passage of this bill, is in the privilege of voting for a law .that had been discussed in every stump speech made in Indiana for the last three years. This, however, we freely accord to every friend who supported the bill by vote, or otherwise. The only honor, in either house, that was contended for at the time of its passage, was, as to which of the houses should pass it first, and this, however, must be, as it was at the time awarded to the Senate, by at least three days.' ' ' . '"'' ' ' 1 " 1 "' Three Days.'

': ! LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY. ' Thursday, February 22nd. Senate. Messrs. Anthony and McCleary obtained leave to record their votes on the engrossment of the Free Bank bill the former favored'it, the latter opposed it. The Senate bill to provide for election of U. S. Senator, was then taken up and passed by a vote of 26 to 24. ,' ' ' '" ' ' The Senate refused to take up the resolutions of the House to go into the election,' by a similar vote, it being contended that the resolutions were not in accordance with the bill passed.1 The House bill on the same subject was taken from the table and indefinitely postponed. On motion the Senate adjourned, until to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock. : "' '.' 1 .' ' : House. Resolutions were adopted inviting the Senate to go into the election of a United States Senator and other officers on to-morrow. 1 A bill was reported to apportion the State into Districts for the election of Senators and Represent atives. ' 'A bill was introduced to legalize the record of roads made by clerks in other books, than the order oookot the county commissioners. ' Bills 'passed. To provide for the sale of the unsold saline lands; the Free Bank bill ayes 66, noes 30. '' The' bill to allow railroad companies to create preferred stock was indefinitely postponed. Ayes 46, Noes 40. " 1 ' ' " Friday,' February 23. Senate. Report, was made against the expediency of , enclosing the mil itary grounds near the Capitol. , Several bills were introduced, and one providing lor the elec tion' of State Printer by the people, which was read three times and passed by a vote of 37 to 1 1. On a motion to take up the resolution to go into the election of U. S. Senator', the subject matter Was bostponed until Tuesday next, at 2 o'clock. A' bill to allowRailroad companies to compromise with mortgages, was passed. The bill to establish a Bank with branches,' was taken up and discussed Pending the debate on a motion to je-commit with instructions, the, Senate ad journed. ' ' ',','" ; ' ,' ' In the atternoon the debate' on the proposed amendments to the bill was continued at much Iunirth, when on motion they, together with the bill, were. laid on the tablej and made the order of the day for to-morrow morning at 9 o'clock! The bill authorizing the completion of the cells of the State prison was palsyd. House. A bill was reported for the support and better government of the Blind Asylum, by applying the provisions of the act over it, by which the Deaf and Dumb Asylum is now gov: erned. ' The cost of. each pupil in the Blind Asylum is $230, but in the Deal and Dumb, only $12o. ' Also a bill to provide for the disbursement of the appropriations for the support of the Insane Hospital. The provisions of this bill are the same as in the act for the government of the Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and the sum asked for the Hospital for' the next two years, is 35185,000, and its debts are from 76,000 to 880,000. . A bill was passed to prevent defalcations in certain county and township officers; and a bill relative to the sale of the franchises of plank road companies on execution, failed on its engrossment. On motion of Mr. Frazer, the consideration of the sohool bill was resumed the question being on agreeing to the amendment made in committee of the whole to strike out 30 cents on the 100 dollars, as the school tax, and insert 20, with an amendment, offered by Mr. Frazer, to insert 25 cents, wnich was lost. Ayes 21, Noes 63." Mr. Hume moved to concur with an amendment striking" out 20 cents; and inserting 10 cents, lost. Ayes Noes 53. ' Mr. Huffstettei- moved to strike out 20 cents and insert 15, lost. Ayes 40, Noes 49. ; The amendment of the Committee of the whole, ' to strike out 30 and insert 20, was concurred in. Mr. Buskirk moved to so amend the bill, that the Congressional township fund shall not be taken into consideration in the dis: tribution of school funds acquired from other sources. After( debate, Mr. Meredith moved to lay the amendment on the table, ' so laid! . Ayes 46', Noes 45. Mr! Test moved to so amend the bill tliat the ' funds raised by taxes shall be distributed in the counties where raised. "" ,' ',; . ' '" The amendment, after beinof discussed atlehgth, was lost'.' . Ayes 36, Ivoes 54. ' . ' , " ' ',. Mr. Clark, of Rush, moved to amend so as to allow persons, liable to taxation "for building school houses,' for fuel, &c, to make advances for these objects, and for such advances, to have a credit on their subsequently assessed taxes for these purposes, which was adopted. ' .' ' , ; Miv Humphreys moved to strike out all. which relates to the ten", Circuit Superintendents;' carried by an almost unanimous vote.' " ' '. Mr. .Hume moved to strike out all that part of the bill which authorizes the township trustees to levy a1 tax to build school houses and procure furniture and fuel therefor; lost. . ' '"' ',' Mr. Smith, of Lagrange, moved to strike out that part of the first section which exempts Free Black's from the payment of school taxes, and excliides them from the schools; lost. Ayes 19, Noes 63. : ,.'!' '".',' , , , Mr. Test moved to amend th,e 1st section so as to authorize the county Commissioners to levy taxes, not exceeding 20 cents on the 100 dollars, and a poll tax not exceeding 50 cents, to be expended ill the county, according to the number of children therein, which was laid on the table'.' ' '"'' : ; Mr. Smith of Latrransre, moved to amend so as ,,,, . O o ' . to give the control over the building of school houses to the people of each district, the taxes for this purpose not to exceed fifty cents on the 100 dollars in any one year; laid on the table.' l Mr. Brazelton moved to amend so as' to allow thii fines and forfeitures collected from Nesrroes or Mulattoes, to be expended for the education of that class; laid on the table. ' Mr. Jeter moved a substitute for the whole bill; laid on the (able. Ayes 54, noes 30. " - Mr. Hume moved to strike out that part of the bill which authorizes the Superintendent to pre

pare a list of tax books for schools, and of suitable works for the school libraries, and that part which gives to the State Board of Education the power to makq an approval of these lists; the amendment was lost. Ayes 36, noes 48. ' Nr. Trusler moved to strike out that part of the , bill which relates to levying a tax for a township library, lost. Ayes 30 noes 64. The bill was amended so as to make tjie State Board of Education consist of the officers of State. The bill was then ordered to be engrossed. Saturday February 24. Senate. The entire morning was consumed in the discussion of the bill to establish a Bank with branches. The Senate refused by a vote, to re-commit the bill, thereby preventing any amendments to be made to it. The previous question was moved and seconded, and the bill passed. ': '" 1 In the afternoon, the House Free Bank bill was taken up, read twice by its title, and referred. Bills passed: authorizing County Recorders and Surveyors to issue fee bills; prescribing and defining the duties of Constables. Pending the discussion on a motion to re-commit the bill providing for the election of the officers, and appraisement of the property of the State Prison, the Senate adjourned.- ':.: I i Hosue. Bills passed: , to require county Auditors to make out' poll books for inspection. Bills lost: To offer a reward for the discovery of the cause of milk-sickness;i to appropriate, five thousand dollars to the State Board of Colonization. Ayes 24, Noes 58; Senate bill to confirm the title to certain Swamp lands, for its indefinite postponement.! Ayes 63, Noes 23; bill to prevent, in this State, the circulation of notes of foreign banks of a denomination less than five dollars indefinitely postponed; bill declaring the entry of a house, &c, in the daytime, with a felonous intent, to be - burglary indefinitely postponed.! ,.'.'.,..:': : i i Bill reported, making general appropriations for Slate expenses, during the year 1855 and 1856., ...I I i i ' !...- . The amount appropriated to the Benevolent Institutions is as follows Blind Asylum, $68,i 064; Hospital for the Insane,- $101,350; Deaf and Dumb. Asylum,! $48,000; aggregate for two years, $209,434. :i ... . . ;. t Mr. Smith, of Perry, made the following explanation:', " In my remarks of yesterday, I may have given a wrong impression, touching the expenditures of the Hospital for tho Insane for the past year, and I desire to correct such an impression, and to do justice to the present efficient and economical administration of that institution. The debt, expenditures and estimates are as follows. , .- - -i -. . . 1 1 r - ... . .. r i An old. debt, incurred prior to : 1852, -!.' ! due the Sinking Fund,. . . . . i . . j ..... : $11, 000 A debt of same, -incurred for' Hospital " building in August last,. 12,000 Debt for current expenses up to 31st of ' ' 'October,. 1854,...;. 15,000 Amount advanced by Treasurer of State -.in 1854, .towards building Southwing, . . .'.i ....... ...- - .I..... 15,000 Amount required to furnish South ' '; . ..- -wing,.,.-. 16, 237,11 Amount required to furnish South wing ; when completed j.: : 4,000 For current expenses up to 1st April,..: 9,000 For current expenses for the succeeding - i ., two years,. . ( . . ........ . . ... 60,000 Appropriation asked for completing the , North wing, . . . . . . 65,000 ;,The appropriation asked for current expenses is based upon the presumption that there will be 225 patients, and the cost is calculated at $130 per annum, for the support of each patient, which certainly is a moderate and reasonable expense." A large number of bills were read a second time. : ,- : .. ,- - .; .7 ': ' ; ' ' Monday, Feb. -26. Senate. The' forenoon taken up in considering the Free Bank bill of the House, and whether Recorders' fees should not be reduced 25 cents 1 - The Bank Bill was recommitted without ammendments or instructions. Resolutions adopted limiting speeches to ten minutes on any one subject. '' Senate adjourned. ' - j In the afternoon bills were presented fixing the time of holding courts in the 5th judicial circuit,'

supplemental to the act for the suppression of the liquor traffic; to repeal an act preventing rail road companies from changing their depots; making valid certain deeds to swamp lands (passed); authorizing the Governor to publish a list of appointments to office, pardons granted, &c; to provide for empanelling jurors where the Sheriff tails to do the same.- Bills1 passed to provide for officers of the State Prison, and to appraise the machinery and property of the Lessee belonging to the same; to provide for government and discipline of the State Prison; authorizing swamp land Commissioners to pay the drainage of said land when done by private individuals; legalizing the sale of school sections by Auditors; to amend the act relative to serving process to amend the charter of the Madison Marine Insurance Company; to provide for the settlement of claims of the Lessee of the State' Prison; to provide for the fraudulent ' issue of stock; : author-' izing the Trustees of the State University to sell the lands belonging' to 1 the same; to authorize the transfer of stock to the State Bank of failing debtors. . 1 ,,! ' ' Bill to suspend the operation of a portion of the '.temperance Law, failed on its third reading. Also, bill for the relief of debtors. '' . " ' Senate adjourned. 1 : - . " ' House. The claims of Charles Woodward and David Miller,' Warden ; of the State Prison, for attorneys' were recommended for payment. A bill was reported to prevent' incompetent perJ sons from practising as physicians or surgeons. A report was made and concurred in, against attaching part of Pike 'county 'to Warrick. "' " - Bills Introduced To amend the act relative to the organization of Circuit Courts; to fix the times of holding Circuit Courts in Delaware and Blackford; to prevent - manufacturers of ardent spirits from taking it out of the" State for sale; relative to the assessment of "the ' property of railroad and other incorporated Companies for taxation; to provide for the education of colored children; to authorize appeals from; Courts of Common Pleas 16 the Supreme Court in cases of contempt;' to establish a State sub-treasury; to amend the 103d section of the practice act in criminal cases; to repeal the 2d and 3d sections of the act relative to compensation for animals killed by railroad cars, and to extend the exist-' ing law of partition fences to such roads. ' Bills Passed Senate bill for the better pro-; tection of the Sabbath; to raise a revenue for Slate purposes for the years 1855 and 1856. "; Tuesday',' Feb:' 26. Senate. Several ' bills' were reported back from Committees and orderJ ed to engrossment. The bill to amend the act authorizing the construction of Plank, Macadamized and Graveled roads, was reported back and passed. A number of bills were introduced and referred to the appropriate committees. The, following House bills were passed: to provide for the issuing of certificates in cases of the casual destruction of outstanding State Bonds; to provide for the trial of causes in the several Circuit Courts, where the Judge is an interested party,'

or unable to attend; providing for the punishment of persons interfering with Railroad trains; legalizing the settlement of decedents' estates under all amendatory acts; prohibiting adult persons from gaming with minors; amending the 54th section of the act to revise, simplify and abridge the rules, practice, pleadings, &c, in civil cases, in Courts of the State; to prohibit profanity; authorizing County Boards to sell the lands in which the school funds are invested, and to re-invest the same; amending section 71 of the act providing for the appraisement of property and collection of taxes; authorizing Educational Corporations to borrow money; providing for the Execution of securities on appeal bonds in the Supreme Court; amending section 21 of the act prescribing the duties of Justices of the Peace; amending seclion 9 of the act in relation to estrays and articles adrift; amending section 596 of the act to revise, simplify and abridge the. rules, practice, pleadings, &o., in Courts; providing for the sale of the Saline lands remaining -unsold. Senate bills passed:' to amend section 386 of the act providing for the election, and prescribing the duties of Courts and Surveyors; legalizing the organization of Railroad Compaq, nius;, fixing the time of holding the Circuit Courts in the 5th Judicial Circuit, i -.-. In the afternoon the House bill to regulate the fees of officers was passed. - Report was made

against the expediency of letting out the public printing to the lowest bidder, which was concur- . red in. The Senate School bill was then taken up, and after the adoption of several amendments, committed to the Judiciary Committee with instructions. . The following bill was also passed:' to amend sections 5 and 6 of the act providing for the election of a Reporter of the Supreme Court. House. Bills Reported, to provide for the appraisement of real -property; Joint Resolution directing the Attorney General to examine into the claim of Morehead, Hall & Co.; Joint Resolution constituting the, Governor, . Auditor and Treasurer of State a commission to examine into the condition of the Swamp Land Fund. ' ' Bills passed; to repeal section 50 of the act relative to the settlement ' of decedents' estates; to authorize the transfer of certain causes from the Circuit Court to the Court of Common Pleas; Senate bill relative, to. Plank, Macadamized,' Gravel and Tram roads; to increase the capital stock of the Ward Cotton Mills; to fix the times of holding Courts in the 9th Judicial Circuit; to fix the time of holding the March term of the Court of Common Pleas in Tipton; for the relief of Henry Wells, Treasurer of Lake county; to prevent, licenses to retail spirituous liquors from being granted, and declaring that those now granted shall not extend beyond the 12th day of June next; relative to the adoption of orphan children; to provide. for' the purchase of a site upon which to erect a House of Correction for juvenile offenders; to prevent fraud in the sale of pork, beef and flour. 1 ' ' 1 Bills lost: to repeal all laws relative, to the town of Clarksville; to amend the 21st section of. Art. 4 of the Constitution; to amend the act relative to Swamp Lands, so as to authorize the destroying of mill dams, when, they prevent the drainage of swamplands. , ;,' Reports were made recommending the allowance of the claim to the amount of ninety-six dollars, of Sheets and Braydon; against the Constitutional power of the House to grant State roads; both reports concurred in. . . Wednesday, Feb. 28. Senate. Several petitions were presented and referred. Bills passed, House Free Bank bill, providing 351.10 security on each dollar of issue; fixing the time of holding Common Pleas Courts, in the several counties of this State; providing for the leasing of county Seminaries in certain cases. , In the afternoon, the following bills were passed: to amend section 99 of an act providing for assessment and collection of taxes; to fix the time of holding Courts in the 7th Judicial Circuit; amending section 540 of an act simplifying the code of practice; amending section 22, of an act providing for the incorporation of towns; to cure the defects in the acknowledgement of deeds; providing for compromising the Slate's interest in the Madison Railroad; supplemental to the Temperance law;' providing' tor empanneling a jury when the Sheriff fails to do so; regulating Conductors and Engineers of railroads, and compelling them to conform to their time table; to amend the act for the, incorporation of Insurance Companies; to authorize the Commissioner of the Sinking Fund to settle the unadjusted accounts between the State and Merchants' Bank of New York; to provide for public peace and private security.- The latter bill declares Know-Nothing conspiracies illegal, and passed by a vote of ayes 33, noes 16. " ' House. Several bills were reported back', the following were finally acted on. Passed bill relative to the Colonization Board, (the ap-, propriation of five thousand dollars having been struck out;) to amend the act authorizing Trus-; tees to receive donations, &c. Lost bill relative to certain territory in Fulton county; to amend the practice act so as to declare .ownership of land derived by 20 years occupancy, to date from entry thereon, under any act or treaty of Congress, and not merely from date of patent; bill relative to the boundary line between Gibson and warrick counties. .The amendments of the ' Senate to the House free bank bill were concur-: red in. The Senate bill, to create a bank with branches, was so amended as to separate from all ; connection with any funds of the State, and then, engrossed. ;.: .',.,,'' " .... Bills Introduced. To authorize the officers of the State Bank to have bills signed when the President is sick; declaring Express Companies common carriers; to fix the per diem and milage of the members of the General Assembly. Bills passed. House School bill, after the tax thereon Was reduced from 20 cents to 15 cents; to divide the State into Senatorial and Representative dis-( tricts. " '",'...,, ; It is stated that the first locomotive ever seen in the United States, was purchased in Liv-' erpool, England, by Rogers, Ketchum & Grosvenor, of Patterson, in New Jersey, for six thousand dollars, and used by them as a pattern. She had ten wheels on engine and tender, drivers included, which bear but little resemblepce to the present locomotive wheels. She was regard-1 ed as the ne plus ultra of the present age, both in style and strength,, and in 1828, was used on the Patterson and Jersey City Railroad. Re- , cently she was sold to the-Carroll ton Branch1 Railroad of Ohio. . . jJSTAn important decision on the right of counties to subscribe to railroad stock was delivered in the Supreme Court of Tennessee on the 25th ult. The opinion was the cases of the 1 Louisville and Nashville Railroad companies vs. the county of Summer, and the same and other! Railroad companies, against the county of Davidson. It affirmed the judgments below, decided in favor of the roads upon all the points raised in' j me pieaaings. ine aecision gives to iour naiiI road companies, one million dollars in the bonds of Davidson county, and settles the question of the validity and constitutionality of county subscription in Tennessee to Railroads.