The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-02-02
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THIRD SESSION.
WEDNESDAY,, February !, lo43.
SENATE.

SENATE.
The PRESIDENT FRO tenn laid before the Senate
the annual report Of the Commissioner OF Patents
Mr. BUCHANAN presented memorial from
Philadelphia, asking for the issue of Government
stock of two millions of dollars, for the use Of the
States.
Mr. STURGEON presented memorial from AL
lephauy county, asking Congress to adopt the Tx
chequer bill. Also, memor'aiirom "es'nio'ei'H'
county, Penn, asking Congress to make amendments
to the Bankrupt law, and praying that II 1t be not
amended, it may be repealed
INTERCOURSE WITH FOREIGN NATIONS.
Mr. MERRICK introduced a joint resolution to
regulate commercial intercourse with foreign nations
by treaties.
The resolution was read and laid upon the table,
to be referred hereafter or to pass without reference,
il agreeable to the Senate
PRIVATE EXPRESSES.
The morning hour was occupied with the consd-
Grafton of the bill TO improve the mail service by
prohibiting private expresses.
The bill was debated by Messrs. HENDERSON,
MERRICK, PORTER WOODBRIDGECHOATE
HUNTINGTON, and WOODBURY..
Without taking any question, the further conside-
ration of the bill postponed by the expiration Of
the morning hour.
OREGON TERRITORY.
MIR. RIvES addressed the Senate at length upon
the merits of the bill
The first provisions of it met With his hearty appro
val, and were, he conceived, necessary. He was
willing to afford and it the duty Of the Govern.
ment to afford, military protection TO such of our
citizens as should 90 there. Without such protection
the territory never could be occupied. The clause
of the bill which made prospective grants of land
he could not support under any consideration /;
nor did he deem it necessary TO the great
objects Of the bill. The grants would not,
could not strengthen the claim OF every set
tier to the land lie held that any American
settler upon the territory as between himself
and other Governments could not have better title
than he now had, for Great Britain had no claim of
sovereignty. The United States had such claim,
and therein the superiority of title TO any Ame-
rican having possession and settlement lie placed
the high 81 value upon this territory. II was ours
BY the strongest claim which could be prescribed,
viz BY double title and II was important TO US
upon every high national consideration TO presented
its integrity TODD this every advantage Ought to be
afforded to the settler In conclusion, he expressed
the hope that the bill would be referred to the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations.
MIR. BENTON thought the bill should be recon-
mtted 20 the select committee from which II emana-
ted.
MIR SEWER called for the yeas and nays upon
the motion to commit, and they were ordered.
Mr.. ARCHER would have been willing that the
bill should go TO the select committee, If he had
not understood, by the rules Of the senate, the
select committee was discharged upon making
their report
After debate upon the question Of reference, in
which Messrs. ARCHER, CALHOUN, BUCllA-
NAN, WALKER and others, participated, I c mo
ton to refer to the Committee on Foreign Relations
was withdrawn by general con ent, and motion sub
stituted TO refer Il TO a select committee.
Upon this motion, MIR. BENTON rose to address
the senate but the hour being late, the bill was
passed over, and the Senate went into an Executive
session and subsequently adjourned.