Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-02-11
PROCEEDINGS on CONGRESS-.

| We are again unfortunate with our Wash
ington correspondence, not having received
any letter or papers from Washington by the
mail Of Tuesday, our usual time of receiving
them. We observe, however, that a most in
teresting debate is going on in the Senate up
on the Three Million Blu, in which several OF
the leading Senators spon both sides have par
ticipsied. Mr.. SEWER Of Arkansas, explained
that the object ofthe three Million Bill was to
enable the President TO conclude peace with
Mexico. The President was OF opinion, from
information, that he had received from Mex
co that peace would be made, and he was will
ling to assent to it, provided Mexico would
cede to us New Mexico and Upper California.
Mr.. MILLER Of N. J., spoke in opposition to
the Bill in powerful speech, and declared
that conquest and spoliation were now the OBJ
jects Of this war.
DIR. BERRiEs, Of Ca, next obtained the floor
and gave his views at great length. He said
he could only find an excuse for the ex.raordi-
nary proposition submitted, in the fac, that
this money might really be asked for SANTA
ANNA, and that distinguished military chief.
tain could and would make peace with this
country on the receipt Of three millions of dol
lars. This, too, might be a clue given 10 the
Executive order for the enbarcation of SANTA
ANNA from Havana for Mexico. Santa AN
MA was now at the head Of a large army, and
it might be that he would consent to make
peace by being furnished with the means for
paying his army and others. But Mr. B. sug-
gested that il would be well TO secure the trea-
ty ofpeace, il there was to be treaty, before
there was any payment of the money.
To such treaty there could be no more OBJ
lection now than there was at the last session
OF Congress. Blu, it was said as basis OF
this treaty that the minimum of this peace
must be the acquisition Of California and New
Mexico. From that weak and distracted
country was to be taken the best part of her
territory. Nothing less than California and
| New Mexico.
Mr.. SEWER nodded assent to this.
Mr.. BERRIEN-And was il necessary for
us 10 do this in vindication of our national
honor2 He objected to any such idea. We
were the first among the nations Of the earth /;
made so by the gallan,ry of our fathers and
our own fidelity to the Constitution of the
country. What was Mexico, from whom we
cxacted all this "a weak and powerless ma
ton, with distracted counsels and impoverish
ed. We had population OF twenty millions,
and she not one half this number of people.
And what were we to do with this country
when it comes among us2 How were we to
govern this people, this country. if we had
both incorporated into the Union And sup
posing we had this territory annexed to our
dominion, what then? Did it not more than
any other question endanger the peace of the
Union2 Was it not connected with the in
stitution Of slavery? Would any proposition
tolerating slavery in this new territory be as
seuted to by this body2 Would the South
consent that its own people should be excluded
from the new territory. and with it the prop
erty guaranteed to them by the constitution of
the U. Statesl
He put the question to Southern men, for
TO them il was momen,ous one. He put it to
American Senators also, for it was question
affecting the whole Union.
Mr.. b. did not believe in demanding the
payment Of Mexican Bonds in Mexican blood.
He would continue the war until Mexico vel
ded justice TO US.
Mr.. BEnRrEs closed with an eloquent ap-
pealthat this Government should be more mer-
ciful than revengeful-more kind than stern
towards sister Republic.
The speech occupied two hours and half,
and was listened to with profound attention
through the whole Of ii.
Mr.. JOHNSON OF Nd, and Mr. MoREHxAp
of Ky, have followed on the same side with
powerful speeches Mr.. CALnouS at last
dates had the floor, and doubtless made strong
speech, and perhaps defined his position"
The House of Representatives are also in
Committee Of the whole On the Three Million
Bill and the Wiln,ot propiso. prohibiting the
introduction Of Slavery into the newly acqu-
|
red territory, has been moved, and an ANNA
ted debate has sprung up, and there is no tel
ling where or in wha, twill end. Long Jons
WENTWORTH of ILL.,, has been hitting his par
iy some hard ticks in the House, for which
independence, he has brought down upon his
head the maledictions Of the Strenuous party
men in the House, and also those Of the Off
clal Organ. He replied TO the structures of the
Union few days since in the House, and
was very severe upon its E1itor--Father
RIrcuIE replies Editorially in his paper OF
Saturday evening, and is now on his dignity to
JoHs! The Unions reporters has given q
carricature report of JOINS speech, intersper-
sed with variety Of indignties TO him, for
which MIR. DOUGLASS Of ILL.,, moved their ex-
pulsion from the House. The matter is refer
red TO Committee with power to send "lor
persons and papers" We hope we shall gel
a graphic account Of all these things from
Summers.
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