The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-08-20
Doings in Congress.
Thursday, Aug. 9Th, 1916.
SENATE.


The Senate to day were nearly all day in
the Executive Session. It's that they agreed
to Mr.. Polk S proposal for special embassy
to Mexico to settle difficulties existing be-
tween the two countries.
is also said that two resolutions were OIL
cred to the Senate, and accepted. They
were drawn by distinguished member ofthe
opposition party from the North They au-
thorise the sending Of Commissioners to Mex
leo and the securing a free port for American
Commerce Oh the Pacific in California, but
not the acquisition of Territory.
This business it is said, will come before
the House tomorrow in Secret Session A
Secret Session of the House will be something
new. ] suppose the House will be called up
on to make the appropriations to pay the fld-
dler for this grand Spanish Polka dance over
Southern Territory. The old adage of Bis h
op Berkly is inappicable to the POLK mode Of
doing things-1ribune.
Mr. Webster again refuted the assertion of
The Union that duties are to be assessed upon
a Home Valuation under the new Tariff Bill.
A Message was received from the President,
announcing the ratification of the Oregon
Treaty, and recommending the adoption Of
measures for the government of the Terrific
Mr. Speight moved to refer the Message to
the Committee on Territories and have it
printed.
Mr. flanagan opposed the reference. He
could not see the propriety of attempting to
legislate for Oregon at this late stage OF the
season. 1t would lead to debate, and he and
others who had opposed the Treaty, would
have to take the opportunity which such de-
bate would offer to vindicate their course be-
fore the country. He wished now to say land
he wished the people to hear it, that the
Treaty was nothing more than a Convention
Of Joint Occupation South Of 40, whercas,b by
the previous Convention, we possessed such
Joint Occupation up to "a 40. 1t was Con
vention hluniliating to this country, and it
surrendered to England all the important
military stations South of 40, and the navi-
cation Of the Columbia River forever.
Mr. Sewer thought there was time to act on
the bill, which had already been reported.
Mr. Allen was in favor of legislating as far
as possible for our citizens in the little rem
nant Of Oregon that was left to us.
On Mr. Hanncgan's motion, the Message
was laid on the table and ordered to be prin-
ted; Yeas %, Nays 49,
The bill for the relief of the heirs of Robt
Fulton was then taken up and after debate
was finally passed Yeas 80, Nays Is,
After some unmportant business, the Sen
ate at II o'clock went into Executive Session.
on motion Of the Chairman of the Commit
tee Of Foreign Relations.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
A bill to surrender certain Public Lands in
Tennessee to said State, being the first bus
mess in order, was taken up and passed. A
Message from the President was read, an
nouncing the ratification of the Oregon Trca-
ty, and recommending the organization of a
Territorial Government, and that liberal
grants Of lands be made, to actual settlers,
and that Indian Agents be appointed,
Mr. Douglass of H., from the Committee on
Territories reported bill in conformity with
the Presidents recommendations
Mr. Thompson, OF Penn, from the minority
of said Committee, reported amendments to
exclude Slavery or involuntary servitude, ex-
cept for crime, from Oregon. The bill was
read twice and the whole subject referred to
the Committee of the Whole.
A Bill regulating Courts in Western New
York was taken up, amended and passed
The House then went into Committee of
the Whole, Mr. Cobb in the Chair, and took
upthe Naval Appropriation bill.
Mr. Stanton OF Tenn, advocated his amend
mcnt in relation to the disposition Of the APP
preparation forthe Navy Yard at Menu his
Mr. Crozier Of Tenn, followed in support
of the anendment,and i'll reply to an article
in The Union respecting bis vote on the Riv-
err and lIarbor bill, and in reply 10 Mr. Ilous-
ton Of Ala, in relation to previous speeches
made by them.
Mr. Houston of Ala. replied and explained |
Mr. Stanton'S amendment was rejected.
One or two OF the Senates amendments |
were not COncurred III, while one or two 9th !
ers were added by the House.
Bills from the Senate were then taken up
and appropriately acted on.
The House then went into Committee of
Whole, Mr. Henley in the Chair, and took up
Mr. Douglass Oregon Territorial bill.
The merits of the bill, its object and ten
1ency, the boundaries Of Oregon, the con-
quest of California, &C., were discussed with |
much spirit by by Mcssrs Douglass, John Q. I
Adams, Schenck, Thurman and others.
The Committee rose and reported the bill .
with sundry amendments.
One amendment excludes Slavery from the :
Territory for ever, and another limits the
mileage of its Members Of Congress to two I
thousand dollars in any one year
The House voted on the amendment eXclu-
ling Slavery as follows; Yeas l08, Nays 40.
The amendment was agreed to-
An amendment to give the widow of Capt
Grey, the discoverer of the mouth of the Co
umbia river, a township Of $4,000 acres of
and, was voted down: Yeas 73, Nays II.
The bill as amended was passed.
The Peruvian Indemnity Bill was next
considered in Committee and then amended,
ordered to be engrossed and then passed..
Adjourned.
Friday, Aug I, 1916.
SENATE.
The bill from the House defining the duties
Of Chief Clerk of the Patent Office was ia
Ken up and amended, and passed.
Mr. Cass submitted resolution directing
he Secretary of the Senate to procure
md publish the charter and privileges of the