Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-07-20
3Nlh CONGRESS, LIST SESSION.

Mr.. Uphlm OF Vermont presented petition pray
ing Congress to purchase Mount Vernon for a site for
National Botanic Garden. Referred to the Commit
tee on Agriculture.
The Oregon bill was then taken up, and Mr.. Rev
erdy Johnson addressed the Senate at length, with
much ability.
House. Mr.. Stephens moved that the rules be sus
pended to enable him to offer resolution calling uron
the Executive to communicate more accurate inform
alton respecting the boundaries Of California and New
Mexico as described in the recent treaty and asking
whether civil government had not been already esta-
blished there; whether trials and convictions had not
taken place under administrations Of Gen. Kearney
and Commodore Stockton and if SO, upon what Gu-
thority.
Upon this motion the yeas and nays were demand
ed and the rules were suspended Mr.. Stephens then
addressed the House in an excited manner upon the
Presidents inconsistency and dupicity in claiming
the Rio Grande from its mouth to its source-n his
message of l846-as the boundary of Texas, and stat
ing in his instructions to Mr. Slidell, that Texas had
not established that boundary.
Great excitement in the House, and on leave given
Mr.. Stephens was interrupted and Intercepted many
times by Mr.. McLane, Mr. Pisbury and others. Mr.
McIane maintained that there was no Inconsistency
in the declarations of the President Mr.. Stephens
replied with vehemence, and said that no honorable
man would declare there his belief that Mr.. Polk was
consistent or could tell the truth.
TUESDAY, July IL.
SENATE. Mr. Jefferson Davis, from the Committee
on Military Affairs, reported favoraby on the propo
sition to increase the number of cadets at West Point
The proposition was agreed to.
The Oregon Territorial Bill next came, upon which
the Hon. r. NJ T. Hunter of Va.,.s addressing the
Senate at length
House. The remainder of the resolutions of the
Committee on Commerce, in relation to harbor ant
river improvements ETC., came up on the question o
their final passage.
The first resolution of the series, it will be recol
lected was adopted last Wednesday by the overwhelm
ing vote of 1913 to IS, as folows:-
l. Resolved That the Constitution of the United
States vests in Congress the power to appropriate mo
ney to open and improve harbors and remove obstruc
tons from navigable rivers, in all cases when sucf
improvements are necessary to the protection and ia
cty of commerce, with foreign nations, or the com
merce ameng the States.
The second resolution of the series was now adopt
ed as follows, by a vote Of ll2 to So:
2 Resolved, That the interests of our national com
merce the common defence, and the general welfar
of the United States require judicious exercise 0
the foregoing power.
The third resolution was then passed as follows, b,
a vote of 80 to II.
s. Resolved, That the reasons assigned by the Pre-
sident in his veto message of Dec. 18TH 1S47 for hi
refusal to approve and sign the bill passed March 81
1847, making appropriations for the improvement O
harbors and rivers, deemed insufficient and unsa
tisfactory.
The fourth resolution was next passed by vote o
100 to 50.
A. Resolved, That it would be inexpedent and con
trary to the principles of the Constitution, to give tn
general consent of Congress in advance of Legislation
by the States TO the imposition Of tonnage duties b.
the several States as q means of improving the port
and harbors at which such duties may be levied
The fifth resolution was next passed as follows:
s. Resolved, That the report of the Committee o.
Commerce. on the memorial of the Chicago Conven
ton respecting Harbor Improvements, the President
message, of Dec. 18th, 1S47, on the same subec
and the bill referred to said Committee in relation
tonnage duties with the minority report on the sam
subject, be printed and that the Committee on Print
ing be directed to enquire into the expedency print
ing - extra copies of said report.
THE blank is yet it to be fed.)
The Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation Bill wa
taken up and discussed.
WEDNESDAY, July H.
SENATE. A message was received from the Pres
dent, communicating the proceedings of the Court
Inquiry held at San Patrico, in Mexico, which, wit
accompanying documents was ordered to be printct
Mr.. Davis of Miss. being entitled to the floor, ros
and addressed the Senate at length on the Orego
bill. He supported the extreme Southern view of tn
BILL and directed his argument against the propose
compromise He said, however, that he would be So
tisfed with the Missouri Compromise, if it should
accompanied by guarantee that the question shout
thus be put to rest forever.
Mr. Clayton of Del. moved to commit the bill an
amendments to select committee of eight, to be con
posed of four members from the North and four fro
the South to be also equally divided as to party
the members also to be elected by ballot, who sha
report what propositions, if any, can be accomplished
After very long debate Mr. Clayton's motion wa
adopted.
The Committee is to be balotcd for to morrow. TIL
result nsures the success of the proposed Nilsson
Compromise The yeas and nays were demanded an
resulted in the affirmative by the following decsiy
vote. Yeas 81, Nays a.
HOUSE. Committee of the Whole, took up the Civ
and Diplomatic Appropriation Bill, Mr.. Root, of Obi
in the chair.
Several amendments were proposed and considere
THURSDAY July 13.
The Senate elected the following as the Select Con
mittee of Eight on the subject of Slavery in the TIE
, ritores, viz:
JOHN M. CLAYTON, Del. Jesse d. Bright, Ind.
John c. Calhoun, S. C. Jos. R. UNDERWOOD, X
SAMUEL S. PHELPS, VT DaUid r. .Gtchison, Mo.
DanL s. Dickinson, N. Y JOHN II. CLARKE, R. |.
House. Before proceeding to regular business, M
Hudson of Mass. rose he said, to privileged questo
He said that some forty members were absent la
, evening, who were fined So each. The Sergeant-a
, arms was ordered to bring them before the Hous
AS many of them were inexperienced he moved
I dispense with the whole proceeding
j Mr.. Hilard moved that the arrested members
allowed to take their seats on paying their fees of
rest, excepting such wished to offer excuses. WhC
motion was carried with a scene of excuse makir
r following, which proved somewhat amusing.
: Mr. Sims of S. c., Mr.. Lahm of Ohio, and Mr.. Ii
. coin, INDUCED in some jocuar remarks, which pr
duced laughter and confusion.
Mr. Lincoln moved the reference of the subject to
= Committee.
Mr. Conger of N. Y. moved the concurrence of Il
House.
The question on motion aking by Yeas and Nay
and resulted in the affirmative by Yeas 60, Nays S.
8 all the members present voting.
e Mr.. Henley of la. made motion which was deer
ed to be out of order and disrespccul to the Speak,
who ordered the Sergeant-at-arms to take him in
custody, which order was forthwith executed.
n A dozen members were excused, and the renal
:. der paid up the fees.
FRIDAY, July Ia.
n SENATE. Mr.. Dickinson of New York moved
r, take up the bill in favor of establishing Branch Mi
d in New York, which was agreed to. Mr.. Dickins
y spoke briefly in support of the bill.
n Mr.. Butler offered an amendment to the bill, in
vor of establishing Branch Mint at Charleston, Sou
Carolina
J. After some further debate the amendment was ado
l. ed.