The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-08-12
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGR ESS
WAsHINaroN, August |.

WASHINGTON, August 1.
! HOUSE. On motion of Mr. Smith of IN
diana, the House resolved itself into Com
m ttce of the Whole on the state Of the L.
Mon, and took Lup the Oregon bill with IL
mendments.
An amendment was offered relative 10 Civ
ing the territorial governor of Oregon the
UetO pOtCer over territorial Legislative acts
This gave rise to Il heightened debate in
which MIR Smith of Indiana, Mr. Clark and
Taylor of Ohio participated, The veto pow
or was stricken out by the committee. The
committee rose and reported the bill to the
House with amendments.
WASHINGTON, August 9.
HOUSE. A message was received from
the President, in reply TO II call for intorma-
ton rs to the strength of the army after its
| reduction.
! lie repeats the opinion that the army
should be the same us helore-l6,O 900, eXclu-
! sivc ofoflicers-relerred to the Committee of
! the Whole
Another message was received from the
President, in which lie refuses to commnni-
cate the Instructions given to Mr. Sewer and
Mr. Clifford, because deemed incompatible
with the public interests--reerred TO the
! Committee on Foreign Relations.
The Oregon bill was then taken up. The
| House refused TO strike out the ordinance of
| 1887, and the bill was passed without the
| Governors veto power, 1919 to II.
The House then went into Committee OF
the Whole on the Army Appropriation bill.
! Mr. Johnson of Tennessee made an admin
istra;iun speech. The debate was to close
on Saturday, at ~ O'clock.
WAsuINGToN, August 3.
SENATE. A message was received from
the House with the Oregon Bill passed yes
tGrday.
MIR CLAYTON ofDelaware, rose and addressed
the Senate at some length, and chiefly in eX.
PLANTATION ofthe defeated Compromise Bill.
Mr. Badger of n orth Carolino,spoke briefly
and expressed his surprise that any Northern
man should have opposed the Compromise
| Bill, or that any Southern man should have
supported it.
mir Phelps of Vermont, said that he was
prepared to go home and face his consttu-
ency, and to vindicate his course on the
| Compromise Bill. Aud that unless he was
gricvously mistaken they would unhesitatng-
| Iy give him their approval.
The Senate then took up the Civil and Di-
pomatic Appropriation Bill. The first ques-
! ton before the Senator was the amendment
! in favor of striking out $4,000 for the inn
provement of Savannah river. Yeas 35nays
! Is. So the clause was stricken out. The
! u2yt question was on an amendment TO pay
! $40 600 for the &t1istad slaves. The amend
ncnt was adopted 10y yeas 81, nays -. $500,
! HOUSE. The Army Appropriation Bill
was taken up.
Mr. Marsh of vi. made speech OH the
Northern side ofthe slavery question. lie
said that he was unwilling to leave the decs-
ion to the Supreme Court ofthe United
States; that as it was now constituted, it was
composed almost entirely of Southern men
and IN orthern men with Southern princi-
PIES He said, that lie had authority for de
claring that slavery now exists in the terrific
ry of Oregon.
Mr. Wilmo, of Penn, followed in an elo-
quent speech in which he took occasion 10
advocate his pr0riSo
He was followed by Mr. Cro2ier, of Tenn
cssee, who defended The House majority for
killing the Senate's Territorial Compromise
Bill lie denounced the said Bill as no COM
promise ut all, and said that it was deceptive
in its character, and settled nothing.
Mr. Nj. p. Gentry, of Tennessee, made sim
liar declarations in reference to the Compro-
mise BEL. lie said that, had the bill been
put upon its final passage majority ot'twen-
iy five would have defeated it,
WASHINGTON, August 5.
In the Senate, amendments to the Civil and
Diplomatic Appropriation bill were adopted,
providing for the purchase of the Jefferson
ard Hamilton papers nj SZU,UUU caCll, anu
appropriating $780, 900 for running the houn-
Diary line between the United States and Mex
leo.
The Senate continued in session until 1lo's
clock, having under consideration the Gener-
al Appropriation bill, which was finally pass
ed.
In the House, after some amendments TO
the Army bill, the Committee rose and rcpor-
ted it, and it was ordered to be engrossed. A
motion to reconsider, for the purpose OF adj
ding new section for the Improvement of
rivers and harbors, was made,but after some
discussion, was laid upon the table.
WAsHINGToN, August z.
In the Senate. Mr. Johnson, of Maryland,
introduced resolution calling on the Presi-
dent for information with regard to the pro-
iect of revolution in Northern Mexico A
dopted.
The Oregon bill was taken up, and de-
bate ensued upon the Wilmot proVlso.
NJ Unconstitutional favor of Van Buren,
Gure taking place in various parts of Pennsyl-
vania. A large and enthusiastic meeting Of
"Free Soil Republicans" as thoy style them
selves, was held in West Chester, on tho list
instant. 1t was composed exclusively of
Democrats favorable to Van Buren,, of whom
it is stated there are no less than 1900 or 1000
in Chester county alone. Van Buren, bids