The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-12-23
THlR rIETH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
Senate.

Few visiters In the Capitol day Prayer by the Rev
Henry siiesr Journal Of yesterday.
Pending the morning business,
ON motion OF Mr. DIX the papers In the case Of Asro
Ieggstt, (ths chief of the Mexican olsmantsJ wsr
taken from the files Of the Senate and referred to tn
Committee on Foreign Relations.
OREGON.
MIR BEEEsE gave notice NJ n bill to authorize the ap
poiutpent of Surveyor General for Oregon, to gran
donation rights therein and for other purposes.
Mr. DIX introduced two bills ist A bill to repeal thu
act the 2ud March 1887 entitled au concerning
pilots. 2nd bill concerning testimony. Referred
FoRsIGN rREArIEs
On motion. by Mr. DAYroN. the Judiciary COMMITTEE.
u'horzsd 10 inquire If any legislation we're re
Quired the suhject of our existing treaties with
France aud Great Brit ain for the OF criminals
and If sxpsdisnt, to report bii upon thesubjeot.
ROCK ISLAND roRTREss
Mr. BaEEsE moved to inquire Of the secretary Of War
how happened that Fort Armstrong, Rock Island
has been abandoned; what Is its present condition So
Aud after some other preliminary business in notices
inquiries. reports 60,
Adjourned
House or Representatives
WARRINGTON, Dec. 81, lef
SLAVERY IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The srEAxss called the States for petitions. When
Mr. GIpprsos presented the petition Of Joseph SEQ
nsd and eighteen Others Of this CITY setting forth that
the District of Columbia and praying that the laws OF
Congress may be examined He did not ask this body
COMMITTEES on the Judiciary into the consti
nationality Of the laws OF this District the subject
Hs wished TO be uoderstood moving refer thu Pc
titou 70 the Comm t.ee on the Judiciary inquire
into tn. conitutiopaty of the laws OF Congress which
are now in free, by which slaves are held
The spgAKsR-Ths gentleman from Ohio presents q
petition the subject stated aud asks that 1t be-
hrrsd to the Committee on the Judiciary. with instruc
tons Will the gentleman be good enough to reduce
his proposition to writing
Mr. JONES, OF Tennessee-I move to lay the petition
on the table e. Yes there's where it ought to 20 ~
The srs.xEn The paper is not endorsed. e. Read
It," "r-adr'" read !'D
Mr. Opposes Well, I'll endorse IT. that's soon done
Ut was returned to him for that purposs.)
Mr. GArLE Il ak that the petition be endorsed before
It ia read.
the order II the House.
Mr.. j. r. IrornsoLL-I would take the liberty to sus
gest that the pstton described by the gentleman from
Ohio seems to be abst tract In IT'S character.
THE sPeAKkR-Dsbate 10 not in order
air tsGeasoLL-I rise to a question OF order The
petition related TO abstract question
The SPEAKER -The Chair 10 OF the opinion that o
QUESTION OF order cannot be raised on subsct Of this
kind The House decide the question before H.
MIR CLISsMAN- Has a motion been made to lay the
resolution on the table
The spEAKERThe gentleman from Tennessee has
made such motion but II is not debatable
Ma CLiSoaAN 4 was about to ask The gentleman from
Tennessee to withdraw his motion. and let the committee
on the Judiciary they think proper petition
! viii vote against the instructions, OF course.
Mr. THOMPSON of Mssissippi--Is the petition with
drawn? We understand 30 over this way.
tbs spEAxER- 1t was Withdrawn temporarily that II
might We endorsed. The gentleman from Ohio pre-
Mr. TuohrsoS Of Mssissippi-I ask for the reading
THr srEAxER-The endorsement will first be read:
The Clerk read the endorsement and then the petition
Mr. KINo, of 9eorga-Mr Speaker
tbs SrEAkEa-lt IL moved to refer the petition, to
Inquire into the constitutionality of
MIR BRopHEAp i ask for a discussion of the question
The spEAKER-The question Is on the motion to lny
on the table.
The yeas and nays were taken, ana the result was
yeas 81. nays GA tie
THx srExxra-The occupant of the chair has uni
fornly voted the floor Of the House, for the respect
full consideration OF all petitions respectfully presented
and therefore this occasion he votes in the negative
The result is yeas 81, nays 9s The motion to lay on
Mr. GrpDIsos AT the suggestion of friends, ] will
Withdraw my instructions and let the petition go to the
Mr.. CsarMAr-I move that It be referred to the Com
mttee the District Of Columbia as it refers to af
fairs of the District.
The SPEAKER -Tae first question Is on referring the
petition to the COMMITTEES on the Judiciary.
the question: aud accordingly,
The sPEAKsR announced, that under the rules, the
petition would 90 over.
Mr. GAYLE, Of Alabama, gave motto, OF his intention
60 Introduce bill TO reduce and graduate the price OF
the public lands in favor of actual settlers.
Mr.. MURPHY gave notice of his intention to introduce
n bill constituting Brooklyn port Of entry
THREE MILLIONS
Mr. Borrs asked leave offer a resolution requesting
the President OF the United States to communicate to
the House the specific object Of asking at the last
sisn Of Congress for three millions OF dollars and tue
terms which could, by the expenditure of the
money. peace with Mexico Also state whether
any part Of the appropriation has been disposed Of
any overtures made by the Executive or any of his
agents. for the disposition Of said fund, any part
thereof; aud that he com nuncats all information in
his possession In relation thereto
The SPEAKER remarked, that IL any objection be
raised, the resolution will go over
Mr.. Boris moved the previous question. But there
objection.
Mr. ADAMS asked leave to submit resolution calling
upon the Secretary of State for list of the claims made
commission under the convention Of 1889 and that he
detail such action as has taken place since the subject
was before the Committee Foreign fairs In 1912.
The SrEAkEa The resolution will lie over, unless
general consent be given
Mr. ApAMs-I ask for general consent at this time.
The request was conceded, and the resolution was
passed.
SUPPORT OF THE ARMY.
Mr. VIyror, from the COMMITTEES of Ways and Means,
reported bill making appropriations to supply in part
dedcn,y for suosist mes in KIDD for the army and
voluuesrs for the year ending the sOth of Juoe s4s
thar &c oe committed the Commit of The Whole on
the State OF the Union aud stated portant
into q COMMITTEES Of the Whole he proposed to read
communication feom the war Department. which he do.
sir-d might be committed with the bill
The sfsAKxH-Does the gentleman ask that the bill
be made the order Of the day for to morrow
:. Mr. viSroN-No sir; for this day.
The sPEAxgn-A bill making appropriations cannot b,
acted the same day 1t Is introduced, unless by sus
pension Of the rules
Mr. PILLsBunY-I hope we will 60 through the busi.
ness f calling fr reports &c) 1t will take but shor,
time
Mr. Prrrir Tin his seat)-It's an opriation 70,
M visros Il AK that the communication bs read
Afsr the House shall have heardit, will the unen
NOUS consent to TAX. mp the bill
Mr. G J INoEssoLL-Win the gentleman suffer Other
Commuters to report? Then, presume, there can b.
no objection.
The bill was referred TO the COMMITTEES Of the Who'll,
on ths State OF the Union
THE WAR THE WAYS To IT--pIvgRsIrY OF OPINION
PROPOSITIONS
The sseAKER tsfer having called all the committee
for ,rs) said that the mex. business the resou
tous " MIR. Richardson, Of Illinois, offered yesterday
vizi-
Resolved That the existing with Mexico was jus
and necessary part aud has been prosecuted wit
YUO ap al i0ti iuU
honor aud Of securing an honorable peace.
Resolved That the rejection Of our repeated over
lures peace leaves this government alternative bu
tine vigorous prosecution OF the war such
sistent with the law Of nations will make the
feel all its celsmites and burdens, md until Mexio
shall agree to a Just and honorable peace providin
satisfactory indemnity Ia money territory for pas
injuries including the expenses OF the
Resolved, That the amount of indemnity must neces
sariy depend upon the obsnaoy Of the enemy and tb
duration Of the war.
Mr. srErHEss previous question, believe :