The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-29
GWemtg=Sgoenth Congress.
SECOND SESSION
IN SENATE,
MONDAY, March %, 1912

before the SENATE a communication from the Navy
Department, in compliance with resolution OF the
18th instant giving information relative TO the war
steamers to be built Lake Erie also negative re-
DIV TO resolution of the oath instant asking whether
any of the clerical force in that Department could be
dispensed with.
Mr.. PRENTISS presented petition from Wind
county, Vermont, asking for revision of the Ia
riff with a view to the protection of American IN
dustry.
Mr.. EVANS presented petition from the State
of Maine, complaining that the opening of the ports
of the United States to foreign commerce was, III
certain cases. obtained by fraud.
Mr.. MILLER presented petition from New Jer-
sey asking for specific duty foreign windo" glass;
Also from Passaic county, IN the same State asking
for revision of the tariff and the protection OF nome
manu- features.
Mr. LINN presented a memorial from citizens of
the town of Washington, on the COLUMBIA rVer
Oregon, asking Congress to grant anu ami" 70 'he
the lands upon which they have settled ana lot the
immediate establishment of military posts and some
sort of territorial government at near their town,
to protect them from the insults of the Hudsons Bay
COMPANY; also a memorial from the State of Nilsson
ri asking for the settlement oil Oregon.
Mr.. SEWER presented memorial from citizens
of Arkansas, praying for modification OF the Pre-
empon law.
Mr. TALLMADGE presented memorial from
Albion, New York. asking for reform In the Post
Office Department, modification an adjustment
of the Thanking privilege, reduction of postage on
letters and the regulation of the postage newspa-
pers and pamphlets, according to their size Also
memorial from Rchland, New York, asking Con-
gress to adopt some measures for the organization OF
Congress of Nations for the adjustment of interna-
tional disputes without resort to the sword
Mr. KING presented memorial from the Cham
Der of Commerce of Mobile, Alabama, COM
planning of the great Inconvenience resulting to
the commercial community in consequence OF over
loading the mails with pamphlets newspapers,
&C., and asking for modification Of the ranking
privilege the regulation of the postage upon let
ters, newspapers, sc, transmitted by mail
Mr.. PRESTON presented petition from citizens
of Florida, praying indemn fcation for property de-
ytroycd by the Seminole Indians in that Territory.
Mr.. TAPPAN presented petition from Ohio,
asking for additional duties imported wooen
goods. He remarked that as he had been requested
BY the petitioners to say something upon this subject,
he would observe that in his judgment, the manuiaI-
turers of woolen goods did not need protection be-
You'd duty twenty per cent. al valorem. he great
difficulties of the wooilen man uacturers of this coun
try, and which had prevented them from succeeding
in their business, had resulted from the miserable
condition Of the currency; and many OF them had al
been broken up by trusting out their goods and re-
ceiving payment for them in deprecated medium
Therefore, all the protection which this interest
needed, was a uniform and sound currency.
Mr.. ALLEN presented petition from Ohio, COM
planning of the construction given to the law relating
TO newspapers, by the Postmaster General
Mr.TAPPAN gave notice that he would, tomorrow,
introduce bill for the apportonment of Representa-
tives of the United States according to the sixth CEN
sus.
Mr.. LINN gave notice that he would, tomorrow,
introduce bill to adjust the boundary between the
State Of Missouri and the Territory Of Iowa.
Mr.. YOUNG presented the memorial of Uriah
Brown, stating that he has invented fire inextin
guishable by wafer, and asking the Government to
purchase the discovery for the use OF the Navy
THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO.
Mr. KING said that he wished to submit the fol-
lowing ution because be thought that in the re-
Iatons which existed between this Government
and that of Mexico, It was proper that the Senate
should obtain all the information which it would not
be incompatible with the public interest for the PIesi-
dent to communicate upon the subject that they might
understand precisely what course should be adopted on
their part TO maintain the honor and dignity OF the
country and insure the protection of the rights and
properly of American citizens abroad. lie had ano-
ther object in view. Their minister Mexico had
been a.sacd by the public press on the alleged charge
of having neglected his duty of imbecllity and of
eyerv thing calculated sink him the estimation OF
honorable men. He believed, however, that the cor
respondence which the resolution called for would vim
dcaie the individual who unjusty assailed and
that his conduct would the appreciation of every
Senator. He also Wi nted to ascertain whether they
should put of longer what ought to have been done by
this years past to force to do
ticc the nation and 1t was his opinion that unless
they take other than those heretofore
adopted they would be able to obtain satisfac
ton from that petty power. He then submitted the
following resolution, viz:
Resolved That the President of the United States
be requested to to be communicated to the Sc
nate, if in his opinion it be not incompatible with the
public interest, copies Of the correspondence which
may have taken place between this Government its
diplomatic agents and the Government of Mexico
not previously communicated; and also copies of
such instructions may have been given to our di-
plomatic representative at Mexico.
MIR. PRESTON concurred fully in the remarks OF
the Senator from Alabama, and said that he salts
fled that, international point of view, the rumor
with regard to our Minister demanded an inspection
the part of Congress as to what he had DONE
The rumor had reached his ears through the public
prints but if it be the fact that Minister has been
permitted to see wicked distinction made between
American and British citizens by the authorities of
Mexico, far as justice concerned, without in
terposng his protest. it due to this country that
our Minister should be held responsible, and suffer
the disgrace which he merted. If however, the rll-
mors unfounded, and he trusted that they WERE
it due to the national honor and to the cha
racter of the individual that he should be excul-
pated from the charge. 1t also desiious know
whether what the newspapers farther said true
not for it had been published that all the obligations
of the Mexican Government had, except these with
the Government of Great Britain in the language of
the day. been repudated. Ii wei known to the
Senate that in spirit of compromise, joint commits
established for the investigation of the claims
Of citizens against Mexico; claims originating in
many instances, from the revolutionary condition OF
Mexico, and Government, in consequence OF
this state of things we'll as of the financial of
that country forebore to insist upon its just rights
This commission had expired by the terms ofits imta
ton, and rumor said that the Reputation" was
tend TO the drafts given upon the Mexican Treasury
in satisfaction of the awards made under the convsn-
tQn. Now if this true, the people should
know it. There another circumstance which
in his view, placed this Government in novel atti-
tude with sister Republic and it was this Six
years had passed since tho cessation of hostilities
ending with the battle of San Jacinto and ever
since, Texas had been supposed to have achieved
her liberties and her independence had been recog
nized by this country, well as by other nations
hit moi nd ,np this Mexico now came forwar,