Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-02-10
Congress-.
TUESDAY, FEBRu

TUESDAY,, FEBRUARY 1.
| Tn the Senate The resolutions of Mr..
Miller, calling upon the President for lnforma-
ton as 10 whether duties had been levied on
goods imported into Mexico, and if so, by what
authority was taken up, and adopted.
The resolution of Mr.. Benton in regard to
the Fremont testimony was also agreed to.
The Ten Regiment Bill was then taken up,
and Mr.. Douglass addressed the Senate. lie
defended the war and the President.
In the House, in Committee fthe Whole, on
the subject of the Presidents message, Mr.,
Morse defended the administration.
Mr.. Vinton moved to refer the message to the
appropriate committees.
Mr.. Wilmot moved to amend by instructing
the committee Of Ways and Means TO lay a
direct tax of five millions Of dollars. The
amendment was agreed to by a vote of 90 TO 20.
The House adjourned before taking the main
question on referring.
Washington, Wednesday, FEB. ..
SENATE.
! On motion Of Mr.. Benton, seconded by Mr..
Mangum, Mr.. Atchison was appointed Pres-
dent pro tenn. of the Senate, and conducted TO
the chair Oy Mr.. Mangum and Mr. Cass.
Mr.. Mangum called the attention of the
chairman of the committee on public buildings
to the fact that the Capitol and the public
grounds were left nightly in darkness, and
suggested prompt action to remove the evil.
Mr.. Hunter concurred, and Immediately re-
ported a bill to pay Mr.. Crutchett So 900 for
lighting the Capitol and the public grounds,
which passed.
Mr.. Johnson, Of Louisiana, presented reso-
lutions from the Louisiana Legislature, on the
subject of donations of land to volunteers also
in favor of bill making compensation for
French spoliations and asking a grant for
school lands.
/ Mr.. Jefferson Davis, from the military COM
mittee, reported bill to extend the provisions
of the existing pension laws to enlistlng men
of the ordnance corps. Read three times and
passed.
Mr.. Ashley, from the judiciary committee,
Ieported a bill providing for the purchase and
distribution of the decisions of the Supreme
Court among the several States and Terrific
res.
The ten regiment bill coming up, Mr.. Bell
addressed the Senate in opposition.
HOUSE.
After some time spent in personal explana-
tions, Of no public interest, the resolution refer-
ing the Presidents annual message to appro-
pirate committees was taken up.
Mr.. Cobb of Georgia, having the floor yield
ed it to Mr.. Ninton, who sand that he had on
Saturday given notice that he should call up
the loan bill to-day, as it was very important
that it should be acted upon mmcdaty.
His object in taking the floor at this time
was to express hope that the debate on the
Presidents 5 message would be concluded to-
day, or early tomorrow. If not, he would
move tomorrow the previous question on the
resolution now pending.
Mr.. Cobb said that members Of his side
were ready TO close the debate yesterday, had
not the remarks Of the gentleman from Yer
mont required an answer. lie then proceeded
with his speech.
Mr. Wilmots amendment was as follows
"And that said committee be instructed to
report bill raising, annually, during the CON
tinuancc of the war with Mexico, and until the
payment of the public debt, the sum of" five
millions of dollars, to be assessed on person
al property, stocks and money at interest, and
apportioncd among the several states, as pro-
vided by the constitution"
In conclusion, Mr.. Cobb moved TO amend
this amendment by inserting the words " and
others" after the word personal.
Mr.. Stevens replied to MIR. Cobb and Mr..
bio"h Va NlN'hia, lOPh'N w -'''
Washington, Thursday, Feb. g.
IN SENATE.-Mr. Bell ofTenncssee, resum-
ed his speech on the Ten Regiment Bill. lie
charged the Administration with having no IN
tention TO make a treaty of peace with the
present Mexican Government but that II was
rather the intention to create new Govern
mcnt with which TO enter into negotiations
Mr. jefferson Davis interrupted Mr.. Bell
and said that for his part he was willing and
ready to consent to any fair treaty OF peace
which might be concluded with the present
Government of Mexico.
Mr. Bell replied that MIR. Davis entertained
views at variance with the Executive and the
friends of the Administration.
House. OF REPR EsENTArlvEs.-lhe House
resumed the consideration of the resolution (of
Mr.. Ninton) directing reference OF the Presl-
dents annual message TO appropriate Commit
tees
Mr.. Smith made spirited speech IN opposi-
ton to the Administration.
The call for the previous question having
been sustained, the main question was ordered
TO be put, and Mr.. Wilmot ; amendment rela-
tive TO direct tax of $1,000, 600 having been
rejected, the original resolution OF reference as
offered by Mr.. Ninton, was adopted.