New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-03-30
By Telegraph to The New- York Tribune
xXx,h CONGRESS $500. FIRST Session.


SENATE. WASHINGTON, March 81.
The Senate being convened, Rev. Mr.. SHAW per
formed the customary devotional services.
A large number OF petitions were presented and
reported
Mr. REvERDY JOHNSON presented the resolutions
adopted by the Legislature OF the State OF Mary.
land. respecting the Improvement OF the barber OF
Havre de Grace they were ordered to bs printed
aud referred To the Committee on Commerce.
Mr. DAVIS of Miss. from the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs. reported bill to establish Military
Asy lum for invalid soldiers.
Mr.. TURSEY of Tenn. submitted resolution IN
structng the Committee on the Judiciary to make
an INQUIRY as to the expedency OF providing by law
for the adequate punishment OF such persons as
shall ptltiousy obtain and publish any execu-
tive document before the H. junction OF secrecy with
regard To il shall have been removed. This was
unanimously adopted.
Mir. RUsK of Texas submitted resolution calling
upon the President for information respecting the
merits of Colts repeating fire arms, and as n
whether or in what respects they are superior to
ordinary weapons, and whether they cannot advan
tageously be introduced for use in the army The
resolution was adopted.
Mr. REvERDY JOHNSON presented the petition OF
Charles Lee Jones for redress in the matter OF the
appointment Of Col. Hughes to the command OF the
Battalion of Volunteers raised in the District Of
Columbia. Referred to the Committee on Military
Affairs.
Mr. CAss then moved TO take up the bill pr0vld-
ing for ascertaining and paying the claims upon the
United States growing out of the operations of our
forces in California. The motion being acceded
to, Mr.. CAss spoke in support OF this bill. The
claims 10 question he was convinced were founded
10 strict Justice The claimants ought promptly to
be satisfied. Obvious propriety dictated the max
ing sufficient provision for their immediate pay
ment The bill was then laid aside.
On motion the Senate then laid aside the morn.
ing business and proceeded to the consideration OF
the Loan bill.
Mr.. PHELPS of Vermont addressed the Senate in
an elaborate and detailed examination OF the pres
ent condition of the National Finances The state
of the Treasury he argued TO be very critical one,
attributing the whole difficulty to the mismanage-
ment OF the Administration. He set down the debt
of the Government at nnetytwo millions oil dollars
When Mr. PHELPS had concluded the vote was
taken upon the BILL when it was ordered to a third
reading by a vote of "a Yeas 10 Nays
Mr.. ALLEN of Ohio, gave notice that he should
tomorrow ask leave TO introduce a bill rendering
the congratu latiOns of Congress to the people oil
France for their brilliant success IN estabiishnga
Republican form of Government.
Mr. CAMERoS of Pa. then moved that the Senate
now 60 into Executive Session. This was agreed
to- and after time spent in Executive Session,
the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Mr. COCKE, of Tennessee, moved that the vote
of the House on Monday, by which the resolution
Of Mr.. GAINES, of Ky for the appointment OF Be
ect Committee was adopted, be considered. The
motion prevailed the resolution was reconsidered
and ON motion of Mr. Cooke was laid on the table.
On motion, the House went into Committee OF
the Whole on the State of the Union, MIR. KING, OF
Ga. in the chair, and took up the bill for the ap
pointment of Governor OF Oregon, and the reeu'
lar organization of that territory.
Mr.. GAYLE of Ala. spoke at length III terms OF
the most decided opposition to the bill in its pres
ent form Certain provisions Incorporated IN II
were direct aud palpabe violation OF the great
principles on which the Constitution was founded
The bill rode the right OF the people, and thus
established the grOssest and most lntolerable OPP
preston. What authority had Congress to go into
any territory and say what the domestic lnstitu'
ticns of the Inhabitants should be He denied any
such authority and should oppose the operation OF
such authority To the utmost II the bill had no
other Objectionable features this single one, called
in common language the Wimot Proviso, must con
denim it in the ewes of sll who were not blinded by
prejudice or carried away by the hot and dangerous
impulses of do-philantbropic fanatleism There
were dangerous impulses indeed Tor they threat
ened 10 create fatal dssensions between the
branches of one political family, and to make ali
discord where there should be only harmony and
peace And all this was to be done for the sake OF
mere distractions, which must disappear like mist
before the day light OF practical truth lie trusted
the bill would never pass. 1t was not only uncon-
sttutional but unnecessary. Let this question, II
possible. be pat aside, and not suffered to do Its
work of evil.
Mr. SMART of Me replied to Mr.. GAYLE in
speech of great power and spirit IN which he ar
gued belief Of both the Constitu.ionality and ex'
pediency OF the Wilmot Proviso. He said that
this was the great question now before this coun,
try and on the way in which it should be decided
momentous issues were depending. 1t was the
question whether Liberty or Slavery should be the
predominating power in this Republic. Nor could
it be pat aside or avoided it must be met and met
manfnlly. In the constitutional argument, Mr..
stuart was very forcible and happy.
MIR HuLIARD having obtained the tioor Tor To-
morrow, on this question. it was aid aside
The SPEAKER then announced the regular busi-
ness in order upon the SPEAKERS table nancy
the Reports Of Committees.
Sundrv bills were reported and committed 70 the
Committee Of the Whole, after which the House
adjourned.