Pacific Railway, as not only conducive, but absolutely essential to the integrity, perpetuity, and well-being of the Union: and

Whereas, The powers of Congress made the limitations of the Constitution, as understood by the members of this Legislature and their respective constit uencies, not only authorize, but actually require the exercise on the part of Congress, of such power as may be necessary to aid in the construction of works, national in their character, and which tend to advance the prosperity, and promote the welfare of the whole Union: Therefore, be it

Resolved, By the Senate and Assembly of California, that our Senators in Congress be instructed and our Representatives requested to urge upon Congress the necessity of establishing a Railroad from the Mississippi river to some point in the State of California, and they are furthermore specifically instructed and requested to use their utmost endeavors to procure from Congress, without delay, the passage of a law providing for the construction of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad by the donation of alternate sections or divisions of public lands, or by the direct appropriation of money from the coffers of the nation, and such other measures as may be deemed necessary to secure, at an early day. the completion of this great national work.

Resolved, That the right of way be, and is hereby granted to the general Government, for the location and construction of said Road through any portion of the territory of this State, where the location of such Road may be deemed necessary for the protection of our citizens, and the interests of commerce.

Resolved, That the Governor is hereby authorized and requested to appoint forthwith, six Commissioners, two of whom shall be from the North, two from the West, and two from the South, and to report the said appointees to the Senate for confirmation.

Resolved, That the said Commissioners be, and are hereby instructed immediately after their appointment and confirmation, to visit the Legislatures of the several States which may be in session, and request their co-operation and aidand afterwards to proceed to Washington City, and use their best endeavors, in accordance with the tenor and spirit of these joint resolutions.

Laid over one day.

The following resolution was offered by Mr. Taliaferro.

Resolved, That the Sergeant-at-Arms be authorized and instructed to cause to be purchased a flag of our country and placed over the Capitol.

Adopted.

Mr. Boring offered the following resolution.

Resolved. That the Sergeant-at-Arms be directed to procure from the Postmaster of this city five thousand three cent envelopes and ten thousand newspaper stamps, to be distributed among the members of the Assembly.

Laid on the table.

The Sergeant-at-Arms, in accordance with the directions of the House, made the following report:

To the Honorable Members of the Assembly of the State of California:

The undersigned Sergeant-at-Arms in accordance with a resolution passed by this honorable body, has received from the Postmaster, Wells, Fargo & Co. and Pacific Express companies, the following propositions for carrying the legislative documents for the House.

The Postmaster will agree to carry all the legislative documents, packages, papers and letters at rates in accordance with the U. S. Post Office laws, keeping the account himself and receiving his pay in March next, in cash or its equivalent in State Warrants at cash value.

The Express companies will agree to carry all documents, letters and packages sent by members of the Legislature, at eight cents each, receiving their pay in State Warrants at par-furnishing government envelopes if required: an account to be kept of the number of packages, &c. thus forwarded by any one this House may desiguate.

I would further report that I am unable to ascertain the number or kind of packages to be forwarded by this House. But, as far as I can understand, the government postage on most of the packages would be very heavy, and paying government postage on such packages was one means of swelling the large bills paid by the last Legislature for transportation, and taking into consideration the facilities offered by the Expresses, for transportation to points where there. are no Post Offices, or where there are only semi-weekly mails, and also the difference which is to be made in the payment of the Postmaster and the Express, which is the difference between the par and cash value of the State Warrants, amounting to over forty per cent. I recommend giving the contract to the Express.

E. GATES,

Sergeant-at-Arms.

Mr. Taliaferro moved that the report and whole subject in regard to Express and Mail matter, be referred to a select committee of three.

Mr. Stout moved to amend, so as to refer to the standing Committee on Accounts and Expenditures.

Adopted

Mr. Oliver offerred the following resolution:

Resolved, That the State Printer be directed to print two hundred and forty copies of each day's proceedings, for the use of the House, and furnish the same to the Sergeant-at-Arms, to be laid on the desks of the members.

Adopted.

Mr. Brent offered the following Concurrent Resolutions:

Whereas, The admission of this State into the union of the United States of America, manifested a practical illustration and recognition of the right of the

people of the Territories, to decide for themselves whether slavery or involuntary servitude should or should not exist amongst them: and

Whereas, Previous to our admission as a sovereign member of the Union, we enjoyed and exercised that right, by declaring that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude should exist within our limits: and

Whereas, We are unwilling to deprive our fellow-citizens of the Territories, of the noble privilege which we enjoyed and exercised, in determining for ourselves that important question of domestic policy; and

Whereas, Furthermore, we regard the Act of Congress organizing the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas, as embodying and enunciating, as far as the people of those Territories are concerned, the recognition of the same right accorded to us, and by the operation of which, we are now in the enjoyment of our present political position. Therefore, be it

Resolved, By the Assembly, (the Senate concurring,) that our Senators and Representatives in Congress, be requested to vote against any proposition made therein, denying to the people of any of the Territories, the right of deciding for themselves all questions of a domestic nature, subject only to the provisions of the federal Constitution.

Resolved, By the Assembly, (the Senate concurring,) that copies of this preamble and of these resolutious, be transmitted to our Senators and Representatives in Congress.

Laid over one day.

Mr. Oliver offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That no clerks shall be allowed to any of the committees belonging to or appointed by this House.

On motion of Mr. McFarland, indefinitely postponed.

Mr. Weir introduced the following resolution:

Resolved, the Senate concurring, That the joint State Prison Committee have full power to send for persons and papers.

Under the rules, laid over one day.

Upon motion of Mr. Dick the following resolution was taken from the table

Resolved, That one thousand copies of the Governor's Message and accompanying documeuts be printed in the Spanish language, for the use of the Assembly, and that the State Spanish translator be authorized to translate the same, and the Secretary and Controller of State audit his account therefor.

Mr. Wohler offered as an amendment that five hundred copies be printed in

the German language, provided, no additional charge be made for translating the same.

The resolution, as amended, was adopted.

Mr. Wagner offered the following resolution:

Resolved, That two thousand copies of the Governor's Message, with the accompanying documents, be printed in the English language, for the use of the Assembly.

Mr. Rhodes moved to strike out two and insert five.

A division of the House was called- Ayes 33, Noes 24.

Carried.

Upon motion of Mr. George it was ordered that the same number of copies of Governor Johnson's Inaugural Address be printed, as had been ordered of Governor Bigler's Message.

Mr. Lewis moved to adjourn, until 11 o'clock to-morrow.

Mr. Hawes offered as an amendment, to adjourn until 10 o'clock to-morrow.

Lost.

The question being upon the motion of Mr. Lewis, the ayes and noes were demanded by Messrs. Read, Gage, and Stout, with the following result:

AYES.

Messrs. Beatty, Blackburn, Brent, Brush, Bynum, Castro, Coombs, Covarrubias, Curtis, Downey, Ewalt, George, Gray, Holland, Hunt, Kendrick, Lamon, Lewis, Lippincott, McDonald, Meloney, Moulthrop, Pearson, Peck, Reynolds, Rhodes, Sherrard, Stephenson, Sterritt, Swan, Taliaferro, Winser, Wohler-33.

NOES.

Messrs. Andrews, Batchelder, Bell, Boring, Borland, Bowe, Brunton, Cartter, Callbreath, Cone, Dick, Dustin, Gage, Gaston, Haile, Hawes, Heald, Heiskell, Hoover, Kelly, Mathews, McFarland, McGehee, Oliver, Pugh, Rathburn, Reed, Sellick, Shearer, Stout, Taylor, Turner, Upton, Van Dusen, Wagner, Weir, Welch, White, Williams and Mr. Speaker—40.

Leave of absence was granted Mr. Hunter for one day.

On motion of Mr. McFarland the House adjourned at 11⁄2 o'clock, P. M.

17 A

Mr. Oliver introduced a bill for an Act amending an Act entitled an Act concerning Notaries Public, passed April 30, 1853.

Read first and second time, and referred to Judiciary Committee.

Mr. Castro gave notice of a bill amending an Act concerning Crimes and Punishments, passed April 16, 1850.

Mr. Sharp gave notice of a bill for an Act amendatory of an Act entitled an Act to exempt the Homestead and other Property from forced sale in certain cases, passed April 21, 1851, providing for the registry of homesteads.

Mr. Dustin gave notice of a bill for an Act proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of California, relative to the Jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace in civil cases.

Mr. Stout gave notice of a bill to change the name of Abijah Washburn Hough to Andrew Watson Hough.

Also, a bill for an Act to amend an Act to create a Board of Supervisors in the Counties of this State, and to define their duties and powers, passed March 20, 1855.

Also a bill to amend an Act entitled an Act in relation to Personal Mortgages in certain cases, passed May 11, 1853.

Mr. Weir gave notice of a bill for the protection of Settlers and Miners.

Mr. Taliaferro gave notice of a bill for an Act to provide for separating the Overflowed or Swamp Lands of this State from the Lands of the General Government.

Mr. White gave notice of a bill for an Act to amend section 17 of an Act en