The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-04-12
NfILLIuRNCE By fHR NAILS.
WASHINGTON, April 10, ls4s.


The bin of 500, 900 for the payment of claims
in California, arising out of the military and CT
vii acts of Lieut. Col. Fremont and Commodore
Stockton on the western coast, ending In
the conquest of that country, was up in the Sc
nate to-day.
MIR. Benton, in support of the bill, entered into
q minute recapitulation OF these military md
civil operations, from the first hostile attitude OF
Lieut.. Col. Fremont, in self-defence, down to
the establishment of United States provisional
government in Alta California. The recapitu-
lstion of Mr.. Benton was full of stirring Incl
dents, and
"Perlous accidents by food and field"
all OF which, however, are so well known as
scarce to need recapitulation here.
II Is understood that on the passage of the bill,
MIR. Fremont, (for he has assumed that title since
the acceptance of his resignation of his late COM
mission as Lieut. Colonel of the Mounted Ri
fes,) with corps of young men, including seve-
raj of his associates in his recent explorations,
and warlke and civil experience IN California,
will proceed at once to San Francisco, overland,
for the purpose of settling up with the creditors
of the United States in California, whose claims
are embraced in the appropriation aforesaid.
1t Is expected that In the interval TO the depar-
ture of 1t. Col. Fremont, the news OF the ratlh-
cation of the treaty will be received from Mexl-
~
fornia with avlew to fixed residence there, under
the idea that new Governor may soon be ap-
pointed, In the person OF the gallant desert ex
plorer himself And to say the least of his claims,
Fremont is certainly as well entitled to the ap-
polntment as any man in the Union.
Meantime, Fremont is engaged in closing up
the report of his third Typographical exploration
of the far West, including his passage through
san, and his explorations OF the mountains, VAL
!eys, and system of rivers, forming that region OF
lnhabitable country tributary to the bay OF San
Francisco; all of which Information will be of
great value to the public and to the world, espe-
clally to overland emigrants destined for the San
Joaquin or the Sacramento
The Senate, after the speech of Mr.. Benton,
went into executive session but after short
time, concluded to hold over their prisoner in
the matter OF the treaty, for, perhaps more
deliberate consultation upon the subject to-
morrow.
The opinion of the court will be forthcoming,
their decision having been already given, to
wit:-That they have no jurisdiction in the case;
or In other words, that the Senate possesses a
power OF arrestlDg and holding under confine-
ment the citizen at its option, and above the
reach of the law.
The world is progressing too rapidly at this
time In the concession OF the citizens rights
public opinion is becoming too powerful tor
this despotic excrescence long to remain attach
ed to either branch of the national legislature
an executive power as Unlimited over the liberty
OF the citizen, as that Of the Emperor Nicholas;
susceptible of the same corruptions as the an
cient Council of Ten, OF the olgarchy of Venice,
In the House, to-day, the French resolutions
from the Senate were passed, after a speech
each, from Mr.. Ashmun and Mr.. Bayly, on the
subject, and particularly she slavery question.
Mr.. Ashmun takes the Wilmot proviso view OF
the slavery Institutions of the South, though he
leaned somewhat to Cancellation to-day. Mr..
Bayly, on the other hand, from the south
eastern corner of Virginia, stood out for the
South on the constitution, while he also stood
up boldly and unhesitatlngIy for France, on the
broad ground OF constitutional liberty.
There were gentlemen in the Senate opposed
to the resolutions, who, notwithstanding, exer-
clsed that nice magnanImity OF Withholding their
votes, rather than the resolutions should have
the drawback oil dissenting voice. There were
two dissenting voices in the House, [see report,
and to this extent the moral force of the congra
tulatlons OF Congress are lmnalred.
meeting tor France, of the citizens, is called
tonight at the City Hall; Wednesday night is
named by the democratic association for torch
light procession. Ia the meantime we are
awaiting anxiously the news of the Hlbernia in
terrupted by the breaking of the wires.
The services in ST. Matthew's church, this
morning-of the requiem and mass for the souls
OF those slain In the recent brief and emphatic
French revolutlon-were solemn, tender beau
tiful and imposing. THE Doctor.