Mr. NORTON, the Senate, as in ComWhole, proceeded to consider the bill (S.No.156) maing an additional grant of lands to the State of Minnesota, in alternate sections, to aid in the construction of a railroad in said State. It proposes to make a land rant of ten sections in width on each side to t ie State of Minnesota for the use and benefit of the Southern Minnesota Railroad Company, for the purpose of aidin in the construction of theirlnanch railroad from some point on their present located line of railroad east of range ten, westerly through the counties of Fillmore, Mower, freeborn, and Faribault, to the western boundary of the State. The ComPubLands reported the bill with various amendments. The 1st amendment was in section one, line 37, to strike out the words “subject to the approval of the POTUS ” and to insert " provided the U.S. has yet in possession the title thereto;” so that the proViso Will rend: Provided "rib", That any and all lands heretofore reservedto the U.S. by any act ofCopm ess, or in any other manner by competent authority. lor the purpose of aiding in any obicct of internal improvement, or other purpose whatever, he, and the some are hereby, reserved and excepted from the operationsof tllkt act, except so lar as it may be found necessary to locate the route of said road through such reserved lands. in which ense the right of way shall be granted, provided the U.S. has yet in possession the utla thereto. The amendment was agreed to. The next amendment was in section 2, line 13, after the word " law” to insert "who shall make entries after the passage of this act, upon the sections numbers by even numbers, and;” so that the proviso will read: and vided "In, That settlers under the provisions of the homestead law who shall make entries after the passage of this act. upon the sections numbered by even numbers, and who comily With the terms and requirements of Eltldact shal be entitled to patentsfor an amount not QXmdlDI 80 acres each anything in this act to the contrary notwithstanding. The amendment was agreed to. The next amendment was in section 4,line 11, after the word " completed “ to insert and lying contermine us to said completed section often miles;" so that the section Will read: SEC. 4. Abife: That the landshereby granted shall be disposed of by said State for the purposes aforesaid only, and in manner following, namely: when the Governor of said State shall certify to the SecyInterior that any section of ten consecutive miles of said road is completed in a good.substantial and workmaiilike manner, as ii.lirstclassrailroad, then the SecyInte prior shall issueto the State patents for all the lands in alternate sections, or mrts of sections designated by odd numbers situate! within 20 miles of the road so conipleted and lying contermine us to sajd complated section of ten miles and not exceeding 100 sections, for the benefit of the road having completed the ten consecutive miles nauforesaid.6:0. The amendment was agreed to. The next amendment was to strike out the 7th section of the bill, in the following words: SEO. 7. Abife: Thattho timefixed and limited for the com1lution of the railroad from LaCrese ent, via.Target akc. up the valley ltoot river, to a point of junction with (the now ine na and Saint Peter railroad. out of range 17, said railroad being one named in the act of Congress approved March 3. A. D. 1&37 entitled "An act making a grant of land to the Territory of Minnesota, in alternate sections, to aid in the construction of certain railroads in said Territory and granting public lands in alternate sectionsto the state of Alabama to aid in the construction of a certain railroad in said State, ” be and the same is hereby extended to a pinged of 5 years from and after the expiratipn of sai ac. The amendment was agreed to.