Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-12-23
I HIRTIET TIL CONGRESS-.
MONDAY, DECEMBER ls, 1913.
IN SENATE.
SECOND SESSION.

IN SENATE.
Mr. DOUGLAS, in pursuance Of notice, asked and OBJ
tanned leave TO bring bill granting the right of way to the
State Of Illinois and donation of public auds for the pu
of constructing railroad the upper and lower
Mississippi with the chain Of lakes at Chicago.
The bill having been read the first and second time by its
title, referred to the Committee Public Lands, and
ordered 10 be printed.
Mr. DOWNS, in pursuance of notice heretofore gisen
asked and obtained leave to introduce bill authorizing
selections Of land in lieu Of worthless school sections
tons Of inferior quality, and for other purposes which
read the first and second times and referred to the Committee
on Public Lands
Mr. KING in pursuance OF notice heretofore given asked
and obtained leave introduce bill for the remission Of
duties equatorial telescope contracted for in by
order Of the trustees Of the University of Alabama
The bill having been read the first and second time
title, was referred to the Committee on Finance.
THE EVERGLADES OF FLORIDA.
On motion Of Mr.. WESTCOTT, the Senate took up the
bill authorize the draining of the everglades in the State of
Florida and to grant the to the said State for that pur
pose when s h
On motion of Mr. W., the further consideration of said
bill was postponed until Wednesday next for which day ii
Was made the special order.
ADMISSION OF CALIFORNIA AS A STATE
Mr.. DOUGLAS moved that the Senate take up the bill
for the admission Of California State into the Union,
with view to its reference which motion having been
agreed to, the bill was read second time
Mr.. d. then moved that the bill, with the amendments sub
sequeny offered by himself and printed, be referred to the
Committee on Territories.
dsposng of bill for the admission State so refer to the
Committee the Judiciary. struck the other day with
the novel direction which it proposed TO give to this bill
and have since requested OF the officers OF the Senate to
consult the Journal upon the subject Upon looking at the
Journal of the Senate find that the 18th Of February
ls45 the bill for the admission Of Florida into the Union
referred to the Committee the Judiciary On the 23d of
December, 1885, the bill of the House Of Representatives for
the admission of Iowa into the Union was referred the Com
mittee the Judiciary. On the 18th of February, ls47
the bill for the admission Of Wisconsin referred to the
Committee the Judiciary. Now, am not aware Of any
why the practice of the Senate should be departed from
in this instance Bills for the organization of territorial gov
have been uniformly referred to the Committee
Territories whilst those for the admission of States into the
Union have been invariably referred to the Committee the
Judiciary do not the chairman of the Committee on the
Judiciary in his place. and suppose he is absent or should
have submitted this matter to him.
Mr. DOUGLAS If the opinion Of the Senate that it
is for the general good that all bills for the admission of
States into the Union should go the Committee the Ju
dietary, would not be tenacious do not desire any de-
partue from the regular practice Of the Senate in behalf Of
this bill do think, however, that the Senator from Geor
ga (Mr. BERRIEN) has overlooked at least instance
which the Journal furnishes in regard to the reference Of bills
Of this class The history of the rule in regard to the refer
of such bills understand it. is this For many years
the Territorial Committee had existence in the Senate
There Committee Territories in the House of Rep
resenatves long before the establishment Of such committee
in the Senate and in the other House the province Of
the Territorial Committee to take charge Of all bills of this
description As far know this practice has been uniform
But there being Territorial Committee in the Senate the
practice obtained Of efeSing such bills to the Committee
the Judiciary And only few months after the adop
ton of the rule in the Senate for the establishment OF the
Committee Territories that the bill for the admission Of
Iowa Ito which the Senator has audd brought into the
Senate Last year bill passed for the admission Of Wis
conn into the Union and when that bill under consi.
deraon, without intending infringe upon the former prac
ce Of the Senate moved its reference to the Committee
Territories The objection then made that has now
made but the motion prevailed and the reference was
made With the assistance Of one of the clerks examined
report upon which that bill was considered and passed
therefore compelled say th the practice to which the Sc
from Georgia has referred overrued upon the last
reference by the Senate Of bill Of this kndthe reference
having been made 10 the Committee on Territories. merely
state this without any feeling whatever.
Mr.. BERRlEN inerposed here, and read from the Senate
Journal 29th Congress I'd session. p 200 the proceedings
BY which the bin from the House Of Representatives for the
admission Of Wisconsin read the first ard second time by
unanimous consent and referred 10 the Committee the Ju
dietary. This Che sadly in ls47
! Mr.. DOUGLAS, Yes sir; admit that But the bill
to which refer is the bill Of ls4S II there is the least
bauasment about this in the minds of Senator's and the Sc
cre,ary will bring in the record, it will be found that when
the bill Of S4s for the admission Of Wisconsin came in
from the other House, went TO the Committee on Terrific
res which afterwards reported upon il, and the bill passed
/ MI. JOHNSON, Of Georgia. II remember distinctly
the proceedings in the Of the bill Tor the admission Of
Iowa. the point this. depended the character Of
the question arise Of the bill referred The Senate did
determine that matter affecting the organization of territorial
governments should be referred to the Committee on Terrific
res But the bill under consideration Is for the sdms-
OF State into the Union, which presents the question
in very different point Of view Such bill involves the
consideration Of questions very different from those coming
before committee called upon to organize territorial gov
eminent consider il exceedingly proper that this bdl
should be referred the Judiciary Committee in accordance
with the decisions and practice referred to by my honorable
colleague, (Mr BERnIEN) The Senator from Illinois has
only established the point that the Senate has determined
that bills for the organization Of territorial governments should
go TO the Territorial Committee but where is proposed to
admit State into the Unon the question assumes different
character and should be referred TO the Committee the Ju
dietary consider it exceedingly proper that such bills
should be REFERRED in view Of the peculiar character Of the
questions which must arise upon their examination before the
respecting the and extent of the
powers be conferred The admission Of State into the
Union, to me- involves the consideration of matters
much delicate and responsible than those which pertain
10 the organization Of territorial government deci-
dedy in favor Of referring this bill the Committee the
| Judiciary.
Mr.. BUTLER. AS chairman OF the Judiciary Committee,
may be expected that should something the SUBJ
jet under discussion The precedent referred TO by the chair
Of the Committee Territories (Mr. DoUsLAs) in
reference the admission Of Wisconsin into the Union
State. That bill referred TO the Committee Terrific
res but under such circumstances give the precedent
little authority. Il is, by the Acknowledgements Of all, a
deviation from the uniform usages Of this body. not
present when this bill passed into law, and cannot
speak Of the discussion which may have taken place at the
time. recoect however, that at the time there
bill for the organization Of the territorial government Of
II 49,