Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-01-30
CONGRESS-.

." "0 ''"SS'' eSo'uuon was proposed by
Mr.. Burton, Of s. G. that the Judiciary Commit.
tee be instructed to enquire whether additional lie.
gisation is necessary to secure the more faithful
disbursement Of the public money but objection
being made, the resolution was not received
The case of c.. J. MNulty, the Clerk Of the
House. was then taken up. The chairman OF the
committee, Mr.. Taylor, said the committee had
nothing was heard from M'Nulty until between
III and IL o'clock, when his accounting clerk,
Mr.. hershaw, came into the room. Mr.. X. was
asked Tor the money, and as to his knowledge Of
the balance in the Bank. The accounting clerk
replied by saying that Mr.. M'Nul,y would an
swer that question for himself. Mr.. TAYLOR said
he was indignant at this. M'Nulty had declined
to go into an examination the day before on ac-
count Of the absence Of this clerk. Since he had
come into the House, Mr.. Tayior said he had re.
ceived note from M'Nuty stating that he had
deposited to his credit $4,000 IN the Bank of
America. New York. If this were true, Mr.. r..
said it did not materially vary the case-he had
no right TO make such d-posite. Mr.. Davis of
Ind asked what evidence there was of such depo-
site. None, said Mr.. Taylor, except the word of
MNnlty. Mr.. Weller, Of Ohio Zone of M'Nulty's
securties) then rose to vindicate himself for the
defence he had made of M'Nuliy the day before.
He said he had been deceived by the man. The
resolutions Of the committee were then adopted
unanimously, dismissing ul.y from office, and
directing the Secretary of the Treasury to take
measures to ascertain and secure the balance of
the public money due from him and also requir-
ing the President to institute criminal prosecu-
lions against him and all concerned with him in
the embezzlemcnt.
on Monday (the 20th) in the Senate. the reso.
lu'ions OF Missouri on the subject of annexation
were presented by Mr.. Benton. He commended
their conciliatoy spirit and said if the friends of
the measure should carry it out, Texas would be
annexed to the Union. Messrs. Archer and Bu
chanan presented memorials from Pennsylvania
praying for an amendment of the Naturalization
laws. Mr.. Buchanan also presented memorial
Tor the establishment of National Foundry at
Hollidaysburg (Pa.) Mr.. Porter and Mr.. Choate
presented circumstances from Ohio and Massa.
chusetts against the annexation Of Texas.
In the House, the Texas debate was resumed
IN committee of the whole by Mr.. Hammet,, in
favor OF the measure. His argument was rather
paradoxical. He conten6ed that Texas belonped
to the United States, and again that il had been
separated from Mexico by the bad faith of that
government. Mr.. Hudson, Of Mass followed
He presented some statistics to shew that the
commerce Of Texas had been greatly overra,ed.
lie argued further, that if Texas was the fertile
country it was represented TO be, the effect would
be to injure he producing portion of the country.
Mr.. Marsh of VT next spoke. He contended
that the annexation question was mere juggle
for political power. Mr.. Rhett, of s. C. then
obtained the floor, but the committee rose without
allowing him to proceed.
In the Senate, on Tuesday, several important
bills were passed to third reading among them
the Cumberland Road bill, granting $3.50 900 for
the completion of the road in Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois.
In the House, bill was reported for establish
ing "the Territory Of Nebraska" and referred TO
the committee of the whole. The Texas dsbato
was again resumed, Mr.. Rhett having the floor.
He contended that there was power to annex
Texas by the Legislature, and that the POSITION
was weaker one which assumed tlf Texas
could only be annexed by the Treay making
power. He argued that Congress hyd special
right 10 admit foreign States into the Union. 1t
was said in the Constitution that Congress should
admit new States. This Implied, (he said,) that
they were States already, and they were sover-
elgn and independent already, whether in the u
mon or out Of it. Being States, then, ne insisted
1t was foreign territory that was meant! IAN
extraordinary argument truly.l Mr.. Caldwell Of
Ky. followed on the same side of the question,
but his speech embraced nothing new. Mr. Gid
dIDgs, otOhio next spoke, opposing the measure
mainly on account Of its Identification with the
Slave question. Mr.. Johnson, of Tenn. conclud-
ed the discussion for the day, in support Of an
nexation, and undertook to read Mr.. Brinkerhoff,
OF Ohio, out of the Democratic family for his
speech against Texas, and for pronouncing the
scheme humbug.
On Wednesday, in the Senate, the resolutions
of the Ohio Legislature against the annexation of
Texas, and in favor of extending the jurisdiction
OF the U. States over the Oregon territory, were
presented by Mr.. Allen. The bill for completing
the National road through Ohio, Indiana and Hi
nois was passed, ayes 25, noes ID.
In the House, Mr.. Boyd, of New York, sub
mltted new plan for the annexation of Texas,
which produced considerable excitement, It's
principal features are that so much OF Texas as
shall not embrace larger than the largest Of
our States shall be admitted as State with two
Senators and TWO Representatives and that the
remaining territory shall be admitted upon such
terms as may be agreed upon hereafter; but that
Congress will not pay the debts of Texas, or take
the public lands belonging to her Mr.. Payne,
OF Alabama, made violent opposition to it; he
said he would rather resign his seat than vote for