The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-02-02
CONGRESSIONAL.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %.

Naval establishment of the United States,
which was referred to the Committee on
Naval Affairs.
MIR. Westcott presented petition to Con-
gress, in favor of purchasing the Mount Yer
non estate.
Mr.. Pearce, from the Library Committee,
reported bill, to authorize the purchase of
the Hamilton papers.
The House bill, making further provision
for the surviving widows ard soldiers of the
Revolution, was read a third time and passed.
Mr.. Miller of New jersey offered resolu-
ton requesting the President to inform the
Senate whether he had caused to be laid or
had collected duties on goods of citizens of
the United States, by them imported into
Mexico; and if so, what rate or amount had
been collected, and under what authority inn
posed. The resolution was laid over.
The special order of the day being the Ten
Regiments bill was then alluded to by Gen.
Cass who said he was instructed by that side
Of the Senate Chamber to say to the other
side that an important bill was to be disposed
Of and that other important bills and SUBJ
jects were to follow, and that he sincerely
hoped, that Senators hereafter to speak would
conclude their speeches as speedily as possible,
and on the same day. He would be happy to
hear them. and listen to their remarks with
great pleasure, if time permitted, but he hop
ed that if the debate did not terminate to-
morrow, it would do SO early next week.
Mr.. Phelps of Vt. said he had felt great
reluctance to speak, and the only apology he
had to offer was, that he considered the sub
ject almost inexhaustible. He should con-
fine himself to few additional remarks re-
gardng the inadequacy of Treasury Notes to
afford any substantial relief, and that issuing
them, with the adoption of other similar ex-
pedients, would lead ultimately to direct
taxation. He always regarded the raising of
revenue in Mexico as chimerical. How could
that country, with itsindustry and everything
else deranged, and the people highly exas-
perated, the enemy would succeed in starving
our army. He considered that indemnity by
territory amounted to nothing but that poll
teal jurisdiction over the Mexicans who main
tanned only perpetual war would be still
worse. To hold the Mexican States as so
many provinces would result in certain an
nexation, to which he was utterly opposed,
and proceeded to condemn in the strongest
terms. If, said he, thirty new States are to
it will be beyond our power to hold the Union
together. He agreed with Mr.. Johnson that
if military glory was indemnity we had had
enough of that already. If military renown
were the object, it surely should have been
satisfied ere this, by the wholesale butchery at
which he revolted.
He said that the real object was developing
itself, and that was, to conquer Mexico, and
whether permanently to hold it, he supposed
must be left 20 farther decision.
Mr.. Cass said the object was to conquer
peace.
Mr.. Phelps replied, that if it were only to
conquer peace by conquering the country,
the President should have asked Congress and
the people, whether it was undertaken for
conquest before commencing it. Failing to
do so was little short of treason. By pursu-
ing the conquest by his self-will, he said that
the President at this moment was welding
absolute sovereignty unauthorized as it was
sumption of power must be resisted. The
Presidents levying contributions was I'M
constitutional. This country had advanced
with unprecedented rapidity. 1t had passed
through national youth, and was rapidly pas
sing through successive stages of maturity,