The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-04-11
TWENTY.NINTH CONGRESS-.


as Senator from Texas. The credentials
were presented by Mr. Rusk. Ballots were
drawn for the relative term of service. MIR
Rusk serves until 1851, and MIR Houston
until lS47.
Mr. Benton reported back the bill for the i'm
crease ofthe rank and file of the army, as
pissed by the House. The only amendment.
agreed TO was the extension Of the term of
enlistment from three TO five years.
The Resolution calling upon the President
of the u. 5. for an additional correspondence
upon the Oregon question, was the promi-
nent business IN order before the Senate dur
ing the morning hour.
Action OH it was delayed at the request of
Mr. Webster, for whose remarks see another
column.
The Oregon debate was then renewed up
on the main question of notice, and Mr. Bar
row of Louisiana, addressed the Senate in a
strong, patriotic, aud common sense speech
on the whole subject.
He was in favor of compromise upon the
49th parallel, and gave very searching re-
view of the policy of the Administration.
HOUSE. The House, Immediately after
the reading of the journal, went into Com
mittee of the Whole OH the Bill in relation 10
arrearages due in former appropriation. The
Bill asked for more than million and a hail
ofdollars, and not one of the items was eX-
planned in Committee--the House having adj
opted an order 10 close discussion on the bill
after debate of three hours.
The Committee however, in the spirit of
reckless majority, adopted amendments to
violate contracts with individuals, when the
contracts had been most solemnly made by
the presiding officers ofthe General Govern
ment.
The bill was then reported to the House
without further amendments, when Mr. Nc
Kay here explained some OF the provisions
ofthe bill,--but 10 man was allowed 10 reply
and no man allowed TO obtain the necessary
information upon the bill.
Mr. Stewart ofPennsylvania, could not even
obtain AN answer TO the fact whether the IL
mount appropriated was an extra Charge up
on the Treasury.
Mr. Mckay had no time to answer so plain
an inquiry, and the bill was then passed, in IA
hurry, amendments violating contracts, and
all.
The House on motion of Mr. Dromgooc,
of Va. then went into Committee OF the
Whole on the Sub-Treasury bill-Mr john
son of Va. in the chair.
The bill was read, and Mr. Caleb Smith OF
Indiana followed in an able speech upou the
merits oithe question. MIR Wick of Ia, re
piled and the debate was continued until about
) O'Clock by Mr. Lealle DIVA, aud Chapman
of Michigan.
SENATE. TUESDAY, March 81. After
some ordinary business, the Oregon question
was taken up, and Mr. Cass spoke at length
on the subject, and in favor of the notice.
He said he would not discuss the question
ofihe American title to Oregon, rs that was
not property before the Sennte,an had more
over, been very ably and satisfactorily eXanl-
.,,,H l.x.g lTs
ofState and many others.
He next adverIed to the different PROPOSE
tiuus for compromising this dispute. lie could
not perceive what claim the tayorite parallel
of 40 deg had over any other. His own o.
pinion was, that our claim was good and per-
iectly teuahlc up to "a 40.
HOUSE. On motion of Mr. Drumgoole, n
resolution was adopted for terminating the
debate in committee of the whole upon the
Independent Treasury bill, ut l o'clock on
Thursday next.
The Committee Of the Whole was then
formed, and the debate upon the lndeper-
dent Treasury was continued by Messrs Chip
man, Holmes, c. J. Ingersoll, and others, in
favor of the bill, and Mr. J. II. Ingersoll and
others, in opposition to it,
Mr. Holmes, offs. &. supported the bill Oh
the ground that il would check the eNtrava-
gunt issues otthe banks, aud retain sutiic-
lent quantity of specie in the country to pre-
vent sudden and ruinous fluctuations in the
currency. Asto the safety ot'the public mon
cv, he believed it would be as safe in banks
as anywhere We could not lose much, for
there would be but little money on hand at
any one time.
Mr. Milton Brown replied, aud opposed
il on the ground that il would abstract specie
from the business ofthe community and shut
0 =. Il. al. oil.
would be unpopular with the country. 1t
had been put down 10y vote of two-thrds
ofthe people ofthis country.
SENATE. WEDNESDAY, April |. The
Oregon question coming mp for consideration,
the floor was given to Mr. Benton, for an eX-
PLANTATION in reply to Mr. Cass's speech of
Tuesday.
Mr. Benton then rose, not for the purpose
ofmaking speech, but OF clearing up a sing
! le point in the remarks of Mr. Cnss yesterday.
He did this for the purpose ofmaking an APP
| peal TO history, aud indicating the character
ofthe Senate for Intelligence, and thus pre-
vent its being cheapened in lhe eyes of the
world. The Senator from Michigan had
promised that he would be governed in this
question by the fact of the establishment or
non-establishment ofthe line of 40 by the
| Treaty of Utretcht.
Mr. Benton then proceeded to show thai
this line tcds established by that Treaty. The
very first despatch to our Minister in London
Mr. Rufus King, by Mr. Madison, then Score
tary of State to Mr. Jefferson,-in the very
first dispatch written after the acquisition of
La, it was assumed as certain that the line
of49 was established, but, ignorant of the
particulars, our Minister was told to examine
what had been done by the Commissioners
who were appointed to run the line. At thai
time an object was had in view christening