Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-01-02
IN SENATE.

Friday, December %.
Petitions were presented by Mr.. Knight, OF citizens OIL
Rhode Island against the annexation oil Texas.
By Mr.. Morris, of citizens of Ohio, on the same sub
ject. Laid on the table.
By MI. knight, of the R.. Island Temperance Society,
to amend the laws app.opriating ardent spirits IN part oi
rations in the Navy. Referred.
The following resolution was presented by Mr.. DAVIS:
Rssoiced, That the Secretary Of War communicate 10
the Senate, all such information as he may possess reia,
tive to The Seminole war in Florida; the entire land ana
naval force, with the allies, employed IN mat service
The number Of Indians engaged, the number remaining,
number of prisoners, killed and wounded, &c. Adoptea.
The bill in relation 10 the punishment of certain crimes
against the United States, was taken up In Cominitlee
Of The Whole. -,
Mr.. Smith, of Indiana, moved 10 amend the bill, by
striking out so much Of The clause as relates 10 the pun
ishment of death for burning The public buildings and
records, and to make the punishment Imprisonment lor
ten years or for life, at the discretion OF the court.
MIR. Smith observed while in Europe they were doing
away with capital punishments for crimes other than
murder, in this country we were seeking new crimes 10
punish with death.
MIR. Grundy thought the crime of burning the public
records, &c, was Of SO enormo q nature, and calcu-
lated 10 do so much mischief 10 individuals, rs well as
the nation that he hoped the clause would be retained US
it was originally reported by the Committee.
MIR. G. asked for the yeas and nays; which resulted
yeas, %, nays II.
The bill was then ordered 10 be engtossed for a third
reading.
Mr.. Grundy from the Committee on the Judiciary re.
DOTteO Il Dill u SSltUIlSu ~ ""''''"S nav
claims of certain individuals against the U. States.
Read md ordered to a second reading.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. WhittIesey, Of Ohio, moved that the standing
committees have leave 10 report, and that the residue Of
the day {Friday) be devoted to the considering of private
bills bu, the motion was objected 10; the House re.
fused 10 suspend the Rules, and The entire sitting was &C.
cupied by the presentation Of memorials and resolutions.
Memorials were presented from
MAINE, by Nlessrs. Evans, Fairfield, Smith, Noyes,
Davee, and Ciley.
New HAMrsuIKE, by Messrs. Cushman and Williams.
MASSACHUSETTS, by Messrs. Reed, Briggs, Gushing,
Calhoun, Lincoln, Grennell, Boiden, Parmenler and
Adams.
TThe last named gentleman, after the presentation Of
a large number Of memorials praying tor other matters,
came, in order, to those in his hands relating to the abo.
lilion of slavery; and, having presented the hrsl OF them,
he said, that as he had declared in the face OF the House,
that he considered the resolution adopted by the House
in reference TO such memorials as unconstitutional, and
therefore null and void, he held himself not bound 10
regard it otherwise than as he would submit 10 physical
force; that he still retained all the rights and privileges
of freedom of speech, and was entitled 10 move that this
and the folio wing petitions for the abolition of slavery
take the same course with other petitions presented here,
and be referred TO appropriate committees. He stated
further, that he had in his hands q petition demanding
OF this House to rescind that unconstitutional resolution.
lie did not propose at this moment 10 offer 1t; but he
now gave notice that he should, on the basis OF that me-
mortal, offer u resolution to resclnd accordingly, lie
was happy that, as quick as the mails could travel, lie
had received lie memorial, dsHnnHuihS III tiat lHu'SHaHl
language which became irecmen
MIR. Lawler, of Alabama, here inquired of the Chair
what question was before the House:
MIR. Adams said he was giving a notice 10 the House
Of his mention to move 10 resclnd the Infamous resolu-
lion he had referred TO; thai he did not admit It's validity,
but held it utterly unconstitutional and oppressive.
Ms. a. then presented, seriatin,, sundry memorials on
the subject of abolition, each of which was laid on the
table, under the rule.
Mir. a. nexl presented a number of memorials remnn.
slraling against the annexation of Texas TO the Union,
and moved that they be referred 'to the committee for
making war upon MeIico-the Committee on Foreign
Affairs"
These were also laid on The table by a vote of the
House.
Mr.. A. asked permission 10 Offer at this time the fol-
lowing resolution
Res0lred, Tha, The President of the United States be
requested to inform this House, if he deem it not incom.
palible with The public interest, by what act oil this House
it appeared that the opinion of the Legislature colncid.
ed with that of the Executive at the second session oil
the last Congress, that any mode OF redress known 10
the law of nations might j~us,ifably be used in support
Of the claims Of the United States against Mexico, III
the present state Of their relations
The reception of the resolution being objected TO-. il
could not at this time he received.
From Rhode Island, petitions were further presented
by Mcssrs. 1illnglast and Ctanston.
TMr. Tillinghast presented, among other papers, GER
tain resolutions Of the State Of Rhode Island, on the
subject of the annexation OF Texas, which were laid OIL
the table, and ordered 10 be printed. Previously To the
motion to lay them on the table, Mr.. t. observed that
the main purpo!t Of these resolutions was to present
reasons against the annexation OF that country 10 the u
States, which were entirely flee from any suggestions
which could be w~oundiug 10 The feelings Ut gentlemen
placed in h peculiar situation in relation 10 n certain class
of our population. He could not yet concur III Tie OPP.
Mon. he would not believe that all who were SO situated
must be, ns a matter of course, IN favor OF Tie admission
of Texas: he could not believe this until he should &C
tually see il. For there was us much, and no more, rea-
son WHOLLY apar, from the mat;er,) for the ADMISSION OF
Texas, than for the admission Of Great Britain INTO OUT
Union
The Chair here inlerposed. and stopped Mr.. IT,, as he
seemed 10 lie going into the merits Of the paper. The
resolutions were then laid on the table.
From Virginia, by Mcssrs. Bcirnc, Johnson, bouidIn,
Taliaferro, Hopkins, and Morgan.
From North Carolina, by Mr.. DebeIry:
From South Carolina, by Messrs. Griffin and L"garc.
From Georgia, by Mr.. Owens.
q. On motion Of Mr.. Graham,
Les0tred, That The Committee Of Claims be instructed
TO inquire into the expectancy aud ~propriety OF amend.
ing The act entitled " An act TO provide Tor the payment
Of horses and other property lost or destroyed IN Inc mi
li,ary service Of the U. States, approved January IS,
1897. 30 as to extend the benefits of said act to all cases
of horses or other property of officers as well as other
soldiers, and to mounted Rangers, in the military SER
vice Of the U. States. lost or destroyed IN such service
since the 18th day of June, lol2; and,
On motion of Mr.. Waddy Thompson, a Senate bill for
the relief OF Captain Samuel Warren was read twice and
referred.
And then the House adjourned over to Tuesday next.
THE UsIrED STATES AND MExIco.-The debate
which begun in the House OF Representatives on Tues.
day last, upon the question of reference of the memo
rial of the New York Pence Society, was yesterday clos
ed by a reference OF that memorial to the Committee on
Foreign Relations.
We anticipate the full report of yesterdays proceed
inps which our readers may expect, SO far as to state
that Mr.. Howard, Chairman Of the Committee on 70.
reign Relations, rose in his place, and referring to the
statement, made BY him two days since, that no sueh o.
fer had been made 10 this Government by that OF Next
CO as is referred to in the memorial O.: the Peace Society,
informed the House that although that statement OF his
was, when made, strictly true, and made IN the utmost
sincerity. vet that, since then, q communication had
been received by this Government from that Of Mexico,
transmitting a copy Oft Decree, n translation OF which he
had had prepared, and which was read to The House; MIR
II. added, however, that i was still true that no direct