Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-12-15

MIR. Clayton did not rise TO take part in the de-
bale though associated with The Senator from
Missouri in the dury OF presenting this memorial.
He should have said nothing had he not feared
that The rights of the petitioners might be preju
diced by The remarks Of the Senators from South
Carolina and Florida. The petition had come
10 them with its eenuneness vouched for by re-
specially names, and there was not The slightest
reason to suppose that any imposition had been
intended or practissd.
He earnestly suggested to the Senator from
South Carolina TO reconsider the charge Of in
science. There was nothing either insolent or
disrespectful in it, for if there had been he
should have opposed its reception. They had
expressed the wish that slavery should not be
introduced there, but that could not be consider
ed either insolent or disrespect(ul; and be re.
GREETED that any thing should have been said
here to prejudice the cause of the petitioners.
Mr.. Calhoun explained that he had, on pre-
vious occasions, repeatedly appealed to the Sc
nate to exclude petitions which were disresPect'
full 10 the South but he had been uniformly
voted down. And he repeated that he consider
people-the people of territory which belong
ed both TO the North and the South-to come
here with such an application.
IT.
South Carolina had reiterated the charge Of in
science, he would give that Senator an opportu-
nifty to vote for its reception or rejection. And
if he (Mr. Calhoun) did not make the motion,
he (Mr. Benton) should, for the yeas and nays
on the question Of reception
MIR. Calhoun declining, Mr.. Benton made the
motion accordingly.
Mr.. Foote inquired whether either of the
Senators had received any evidence, other than
the petition itself, that any such convention Of
the people of New Mexico had been held.
Mr.. Clayton said that he had received two or
three letters stating the fact, and urging him to
use his influence for the establishment of civil
government there. OF the fact that such con-
vention had been held there could not be the
slightest doubt, or of the genuneness Of the pc
tition.
Mr.. Foote wished to know from them whe.
Their there was undoubted evidence received
that this convention was the result Of various
meetings in New Mexico, at which delegates
were elected by the people, and that this docu
ment emanated from a convention entitled to
represent the people Of Mexico2
Without such evidence, and upon the mere
assertion of the petition itself, he was not for
going the extent here, which seemed to be the
"
that honorable Senators had been imposed upon,
but it did not appear that they had mt been
imposed upon, or that any such convention, pro-
pery constituted, had been held.
+, Mr.. Westcott did not intend 10 intimate tina
the paper was either forged, or spurious pa
per; and if the Senator from Missouri had so un-
ders!ood him he was mistaken. He simply
wished the evidence that the convention had
been properly called and convened.
Mr.. Clayton had several letters, and the petit
lion cane TO him as well authenticated as are 81
m,lar memorials presented to Congress. The
lishea The whole proceedings. memorial and all
weeks ago, as authentic They had been pub
lished here, in the ln;eigencer. He had no idea
that the memorial was humbus. and had nc
! doubt that there had been very large meeting o.
| the people on The occasion He did mol know
that all the people OF New Mexico had been rep
resented there, or were there themselves, but The
memorial was respectfully worded, aud should
receive The same considerations as il Was cuslo
mary 10 award to similar memorials.
MIR. Hale said that, though he too might II
charged with incidence, ne sould move TO amend
The motion OF the Senator from Missouri, so a
10 refer the memorial 10 committee, with IN
slIuclions 10 report bill in accordance with The
prayer Of The petitioners He commended lha, IN
people oil New Mexico were entitled 10 a gov
yernmenl, and entitled TO il now. The people o
New Mexico had come here now upon The Nich
olson piatiorm-in The spirit OF the Nicholson
letter, and he asked Congress 10 give them III,
first dose OF the Nicholson medicine-and he
trusted that those here, who believed in the doc
trines OF The Nicholson letter, would mol now kick
over their platform, but give 10 the people OF New
Mexico such government as they ask Tor, anc
which they could have applied for with grea
confidence had the author OF the Nicholson lei
Ter been elected President.
Mr. Foole replied 10 Mr.. Hale, and the discus
sion between these gentlemen here turned upoI
the relative merits uf political conventions-th
Utica aud Buffalo conventions in particular.
Mr.. Calhoun said he should vote against TIT
reception, Tor The reasons stated heretofore, AM
because OF the reasons now assigned by the Sena
tors from Florida and Mississippi.
The qeestion was then taken, by yeas and nays
and the ms"nfial received, 80 TO Id. as follows
AYEs-Messrs. Allen, Atchison, Alherton
Badger, Baldwin, Benton, Bradbury, Breese
Butler, Cameron, Clarke, Clayton, Corwin, Day
ton, Dickinson, Dix, Dodge, Douglass, Felch
son OF La, Metcalle, Miller, Niles, Pearce, Spru
ance, Sturgeon, Underwood, Upham and Wal
ker-33.
NAYs-Messrs. Berrien, Borland, Calhoun
Davis OF Mississippi, Downs, tzpatrick, Foote
Houston, Hunter, King, Rusk, Turney, West
colt and Yulee-l4
| II was then referred 10 the committee on terri
tories and ordered to be printed
Mr.. Douglass offered an amendment to hi.
California bill, fixing the number of delegates tc
the Legislature al IS, to be elected by the free
white male citizens Of the State. and moved q
reference Of the bill and amendment TO The ter
ritorial committee.
MIR. Butler said this was bill for the admis
sion of State, and not for the organization of a
Territory, and should, therefore, by uniform
practice go to the judiciary committee
MIR. Douglass had no particular objection
though the uniform custom of the House, for
several years, had been 10 refer such bills 10 the
territorial committee, and it had been for this
reason that he had made the motion.
| The bill and amendment were accordingly
referred 10 the judiciary committee
Several memorials and petitions were present
ed-auong them one by Mr.. Reyerdy Johnson,
from J. S. Skinner, asking for the establishment,
| of an agricultural department Of the Govern
ment, which, after debate, was referred 10 the
committee on agriculture.
| Mr. King introduced his bill providing for the
payment Of interest on advances made by the
State OF Alabama 10 the United States Govern
ment, for the suppression of Indian hosti!itles.
The bill was read three times and passed.,
The Vice President laid before the Senate y
municaion from the Treasurer of The United
States, with the pos;-oiti.e accounts. Adjourn
ed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The consideration OF Mr. McLane's resolution,
10 refer nee 10 the printing OF the iournal was
resumed. A motion OF Mr. ] mes, OF Tennessee,
| 10 lay the resolution on The table was LOST and
The resolution was then adopted by III" casting
vote of he Speaker, the voe sanding 81 70 ST.
Mr. McLane moved a reconsideration and TO lay
his own motion on the table, which was decided
in the affirmative, So to 81. So The resolution
stands passed.
The States were called Tor petitions, &c, and
a number presented. Among them was an ap.
plcation from Messrs. Brooks, OF The New York
Express, 10 publish the debates, &C., for 10000
dollars per session; and another, from Mr.. Fen
I r ael. r.Iu nnhl iah han, al