persuaded these facts will not only convince the House that the destruction of the raft is highly desirable in a military point of view, but that it will add some eight or ten millions to the value of the public domain on the waters of Red river, and eventually be productive of incalculable agricultural and commercial advantages.'

"In the report of the Select Committee of the House of Representatives in 1844, (1st sess. 28th Cong., No. 538, page 7,) it is stated: 'It is in evidence from the annual report of the Secretary of War in 1840, that the removal of the great raft in Red river caused a saving every year, in the transportation of the supplies for the troops at Fort Towson, of $85,000; and the snag-boat, by the removal of obstructions, has saved, and will save, to the government immense sums in transportations, not only on that but on the other great western rivers.' That committee say: 'If, by his inventive powers, a large sum of money has been saved to the treasury in the accomplishment of important improvements, it is but just that he should be paid for the product of his genius.'

"The notion that the memorialist is not entitled to compensation for the past use of his invention, as against the United States, because he invented it while in the public service, is a doctrine too manifestly inadmissible to require comment. It involves the monstrous doctrine that, while every other employé is free to use the product of his genius, the employé of the United States must be held to have sold himself, body and mind, to the government, and that while acting merely in a civil capacity:

"The rapid rivers of the west often undermine their banks, and whole acres of forest are constantly caving in-hence the necessity continues, and ever will continue, for some machine to uproot and extract the trees imbedded in the stream. That of the memorialist has alone proved effectual, and no doubt is entertained by the committee of the propriety of securing it for the government. The proper price to be paid for this invention is variously estimated by the witnesses from $50,000 to $200,000. Former committees, while recommending $40,000, have admitted it to be a very inadequate consideration."

JOHN L. SMITH AND JAMES MCGAW.

FEBRUARY 9, 1855.-Laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. WALLEY, from the Committee of Claims, made the following

REPORT.

The Committe of Claims, to whom was referred a "joint resolution for the relief of John L. Smith and James McGaw," have considered the same, and report:

That it ought not to pass. Your committee have looked in vain for any precedent which would justify them in making a favorable report, while it is manifest that the passage of the joint resolution referred to them would be claimed as a precedent authorizing any members of territorial legislatures, exposed to attacks from Indians on their way from their homes to their respective seats of government, to employ an armed guard at the public expense, and that Congress should be expected to pay for the same. Your committee are unanimously of opinion that it would be unwise for Congress to provide a guard for members of the legislatures, or to pay the expense of such guard in whole or in part.

ARMY APPROPRIATIONS.

[To accompany bill H. R. No. 562.]

FEBRUARY 9, 1855.-Laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. PHELPS, from the Committee of Ways and Means, made the fol

lowing REPORT.

The Committee of Ways and Means, to whom were referred the amendments of the Senate of the United States to House bill No. 562, "making appropriations for the support of the army for the year ending the thirtieth of June, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six," beg leave to report:

They recommend that the House of Representatives do agree to the first, second, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, twelfth, fifteenth, sixteenth, eighteenth, and twenty-third amendments of the Senate. That they do agree to the fifth amendment of the Senate with an amendment-strike out the whole of the amendment of the Senate, and insert in lieu thereof as follows: For repairs, preservation, and contingencies of arsenals, fifty thousand dollars, and for continuing the construction of the arsenal at Benicia, California, forty thousand dollars. And it is hereby provided, That the annual compensation of the civil superintendents of the national armories be twothousand dollars, without perquisites, allowances, or additions of any kind, and that the same be paid out of the appropriation for the national armories. That they do agree to the twenty-first amendment of the Senate, with an amendment-strike out the whole of the amendment of the Senate, and insert in lieu thereof as follows:

SEC. And be it further enacted, That the President, for the purpose of maintaining peace with the Indian tribes, of protecting the citizens on the routes of emigration in the Territories of the United States, and the citizens inhabiting said Territories, and to suppress Indian hostilities in the same, be, and he is hereby, authorized to call for and accept the services of any number of mounted volunteers not exceeding in all three thousand, officers and men, to be organized as hereinafter directed, who shall, as circumstances may direct, be employed as rangers, scouts, and spies, and serve for twelve months, unless sooner discharged: Provided, That the number of privates for each company of volunteers herein authorized shall not exceed sixtyfour: And provided further, That the said volunteers may be required to serve on foot, if circumstances should render such service necessary.