Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-02-22
TWENrY-EraMTm coNGREss--2d SEES.
Wednesday, Feb. 10, lo45.
SENATE

The CHAIR laid before the Senate commu
nication from the Treasury Department. being
the table Of articles free oil duty, and subject L
du:y, and the different rates, imported from The
3Olh of June, lS43, TO the Both Of July, 1874
The letter OF the Secretary OF the Treasury states
that the tables have required great care ana la
boz and have been delayed by waiting Tor The
returns from the various custom-houses.
On motion OF Mr.. EVANS, the report was or
lered To be printed, with 1000 additional copies
On motion OF Mr. CRITTENDEN, the Com
miitee were discharged from the further consite
ration of the resolutions OF the Alabama Legis
lature tor the establishment of national foundr,
at the South.
The committee wished TO be discharged, Mr.
CRITTENDEN said, chiefly from want OF time
10 act upon them before the close ofthis session
but had not rejected them.
HOUR OF MEETING.
The resolution heretofore offered by Mr.. bag
by, TO change the hour OF the meeting OF the Sc
nate for the remainder Of the session was taker
up; when
10 o'clock; which was carried-yeas22 nays2
And the resolution as amended was adopted
yeas &c, nays 20. So the Senate wilt hereafter
meet at 10 o'clock.
Mr.. ALLEN made a motion TO the effect, tina
the Texas question should be made the specia
order Of the day for each day at IL o'clock unit
disposed OF, which, after some conversation, wa:
agreed to-
ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
The Senate having resumed the consideration
OF the Joint resolutions from the House for The
annexation of Texas
Mr.. HENDERSON, who was entitled to the
floor, supported the consitutionaity Of these reso
lutions. lie examined the report of the Commit
tee on Foreign relations, and denied the correct
ness OF the conclusions therein arrived at. He
argued thatthere was nothing in the existing rela
tons between this country and Mexico, and moth
ing in the relations between Mexico and Texas
which rendered the adop ION of the joint resolu-
tons either breach of the national faith or vo-
la,ion OF any obligations, either political or moral
due from the United States 10 any foreign nation
whatever.
Mr.. H. recapi,ulated The different arguments
which had been used against the adoption Of the
resolutions, and concluded with expressing his
conviction that Congress was fully competent
10 adopt them, and that il was expedient and pro-
per 10 do so.
Mr.. BARROW denied that the election of Mr..
Polk was an evidence that the people OF the conn-
trv had expressed their desire for the annexation
of Texas, and had settled the question in the az
firmatiye. He argued strongly against the con-
stiutionaly ofthe joint resolutions. Besides The
constitutional objection, he entertained strong OBJ
iecions TO the e1pedency OF annexation; these
points Mr.. B. stated at considerable length and
with much force.
Mr.. B. said, that all the reasons which he had
heard in favor OF the annexation OF Texas, might
he reduced to five These were, to extend the area
of freedom, TO strengthen the delences ofNew Or
leans, toprevent England from gaining an ascen-
dency in Texas, to open market for Northern
manufactures and Western produce, and 10
strengthen the South.
He examined these different motives for annex
alton, and denounced them all as false in their
principles and calculated to be injurious in their
operation.
chen adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Mr.. BOWLIN asked leave TO submit the fol-
lowing resolution
Resolred, That the Secretary Of War be direct
ed TO communicate TO this House the present state
or condition of the report OF Lieut. Fremont's ex-
pedilion to the West Of the Rocky Mountains,
and whether the same can be prepared in time TO
be laid before Congress at its present session.
The resolution was received, read, and adopted.
The House proceeded TO the consideration OF
The resolution moved by Mr.. Mckay yesterday,
,ha. all debate on the bill making appropriations
for the civil and diplomatic expenses Of Govern
ment for the year commencing July ISL 1915,
shall cease at two O'Clock, P. NJ, on Thursday,
the Goth instant
The previous question having been movedyes-
ierday-
The SPEAKER was about TO ascertain whe-
iher it was seconded; when
Mr.. ADAMS inquired if quorum Of the
House was present.
The SPEAKER answered that he doubled it.
Mr.. ADAMS then said The resolution must mol
he acted on until quorum was present.
The CHAIR divided the House on the motion
for the question; and it was seconded-a quorum,
voting on the question.
And the question was put, under the operation
Of the previous question, that The House do agree
10 Mr.. McKay's resolution to close debate on the
appropriation bill at o'clock on Thursday, TO
morrow.)
And passed in the affirmative.
FURNISHING THE PRESIDENTS HOUSE.
Mr.. SLIDELL said, that yesterday he voted
in the negative on the question of the engross-
,nent and third reading Of the bill to provide for
furnishing and repairing the Presidents House,
for the sole object of placing himself in posi-
lion 10 make motion to reconsider the vote
Mr.. S. accompanied his motion by some remarks
in which he seemed to think tina! the President 5
House was too splendid an establishment for a
Government so simple and Republican as ours
but. as il had been erected and so long used, he
would not make an attempt 10 erect another which
should, in his opinion, correspond with our Re-
publican institutions, and to appropriate the pre-
sent house 10 some other public purpose. Mr. S
also went into detail OF the appropriations anc
expenditures for the accommodation OF the honse
holds of the several Presidents Of the u. States
Mr. HAMMETT did not vote against the
bill Yesterday because he was opposed TO the
principle; it was because the amount appropriated
was excessive; and because he was opposed &c
The high-handed manner in which the chair
man OF the Committee on Public Building;
(Mr. Pratt) has been in the habit of doing bust
ness here Mr. Fl. then went on to particularize
various instances in which, in his opinion thai
gentleman had transcribed his authority, and by
his acts committed this House and the Govern.
ment Among the cases enumerated were the
marble duck puddcs below the Capitol, and
some splendid, indeed magnificent, sets OF win
dow curtains which had recently been put mp in
the Presidents House. MIR. H. was very severe
on Mr.. Pratt.
Mr.. PRATT thought it small business, q
very small business, TO come here and talk about
the Presidents furniture; 10 take that as the sub
iect on which to make speeches for home con-
sumption, speeches for Buncombe-"talk abou
little furniture a little furniture. yes, lille
furniture!" and little bus mess it was.
Mr.. PRATT defended himself against the
CHARGES brought against him by Mr. Hammett-
I, was true he had directed set of curtains TO bt
pu, up in the Presidents House. because he wa:
ashamed, and every decent man ought to b
ashamed, OF those that were there He had di
rected the finest that could be procured; yes, lh'
finest and most becoming the place; and he told
the Upholsterer, that if the Government did no
pay for them, he would, and he meantto do it, He
did not give the order as Chairman Of the Com
,nitiee on Public Buildings, but as an individual
as private gentleman; he had taken the respon
sibiliiy, and he meant to stand by ii; and if The
Government did not pay for the curtains, he
would. He then turned to Mr.. H.. and very EN-
phatically asked of him: Now, Sir, have you
Mr. ySa' By moving hs
vious question.
Mr.. BRINKERHOFF inquired if the vote &c
reconsider passed in the affirmative, would the
bill be open to amendment?