Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1836-01-21
TWENTY-FOURTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
M SENATE.
MONDAY. January IL.
SPECULATION IN INDIAN CLAIMS.

= NNNts AN~& - &R&HotWN ~ iNQ3NUk q A4U
mortal from a numher Of the citizens az
Mississippi. residing in the Northern part
Of that state. on an important subject. IL
related 70 extensive frauds said toS be r..
bout to be practisod on the Government
10 relation 70 tho public lands, involving.
as the memofiaIists suppose, at least the
quantity Of upwards of two millions acres
Of the public land.
Mr. WEBSTER. from the COMMITTEES
on Finance, reported a bill making appro-
priation for supervising the hostilitics with
the Seminole indiana, with On ameud-
ment
Mr. WEBSTER explained briefly tho
necessity for acting ON this bin NJ once,
and explained that tho amendment incrca-
sed the appropriation from $4,000 to 100,
900 dollars.
The amendment was ordered 10 be en-
crossed, and the bill 10 be read . third
time.
THE UNITED STATES AND FRANCE.
Mr. CLAY rose aud said, ii must be
obvious 70 every observer ofpassing events
that our affairs with France arc becoming
more and more serious IN their character,
and are rapidly tending to 4 crisis. Mu-
tual irritaiions are daily occurring, from
the animae versions OF The public press,
aud among Individuals. in and out Of Of
flee IN both countries. And a state of fee.
ling. greatly 10 be deprecated, if we arc
to preserve the relations Of peace, must
certainly be the consequence
According 10 the, theory Of our Constitu-
ton. our diplomatic concerns with foreign
countries are entrusted 10 the President
OF the United states, until they reach u
certain point involving The question Of
peace or war, and hen Congress ia 10 de-
seiniInc on tia. momeniuons questions -
Ia other words, the President conducts
our foreign intercourse. Congress aloi.c
can change that intercourse from q peace
able 10 a beiliserent one. This right, 10
decide the question Of war, carries along
with II the tight TO know whatever has
passed between our own Executive and
The Government Of any foreign Power
No matter what may be the nature OF the
correspondence whether official or not
whether formal or iniornal--C Congress has
the right 10 any and all Information what
ever which may be 10 the possession Of
the ether branch OF The Government. No
Senator here could have failed TO have
been acquainted with the Tact that tho
contents Of 4 most important overture
canyassed in the different ne~wspapsrs-in
private and political cifeses--by iudis idu.
als: every body, IN fact. knows what has
taken place, except The Congress Of the
United States. The papers friendly 10
the Administration - indeed, the whole cir
Gle OF the Auer'can press-are in possess
sion Of the contents Ola paper which this
body has not yet been allowed 10 sec Il
| baye one journal, a Southern Admins.
tIation journal, before me, which states d
new and imporian. fact in reference to il.
! have said thai our situation wiihilfrance
grows every day more embarrassing
the aspect OF our relations with her moro
and moro dark and thrcatning. / could
mol therefore longer dclaysin making tho
following motion. | should have done SO
brtore. but for a prevalent rumor that
the President would soon make d commu4
nicati6n 10 Congress, which would do A.
way the necessity Of the resolutions which
! now submit, by laying before Congress
The Information, which is The object Of
my motion. He has not, however done
so /; and probably will not. without q call
from the s nate.
Mr.. CLAY then offered The following
resolutions, which lie upon the table for
one day:
Kesoirsd, That the President be reqncs-
ted 10 communicate 10 the Senate (if il tie
not, in bis opinion, incompatible with the
public INTEREST," whether since the fermin-
alton Of the last Congress. any overture
formal or Informal, official or unofficial.
has been made by the French Government
10 the Executive Of the United States to
accommodate the difficulties between the
two Governments respecting the execution
Of the con invention Of The 4sh Of July 1881 ;
and particularly whether a dispatch from
q 81 F o"a as k Rfiss,'s, 10 ri ihe Fieneh Charge
d'Affairs at Washington. was read, and
a copy oft furnished by him to the Sec
rotary OF State, for tina purpose OF indica-
ting a n,o1c in which these difficulties
might he removed.
Resolpcd, also. under the resolution a.
bove mentioned, in the event Of any such
overture having been made, That the Pre-
sidcnt be requested TO inform the Senate
what answer was given TO Il; and u a CO.
py Of any such despatch was received,
| that be be further requested to commuBi-
cate a copy OF il to the Senate.
The resolutions lie one day under the
rule,
MIR BENTON offered The following re-
solutions, which lie one day under the Ia
BILE.
Rssotved, That the surplus revenue Of
the United States, ought to be set apart
and applied TO the general delsnce and
permanent security ofthe country
Resoirtd, That the President be reques
ted 10 cause the Senate to BIZ Informed OF,
LIST The probable amount hat would DO
necessary for lortilying The take. maritime
and gulf froutier OF the United States. and
such points OF The land frontier as may re
unire permanent foftiijcation.
I'D Tine probable amount that would be
nccs ssarv TO construct an ADEQUATE num-