The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-01-27
TUESDAY, JANUARY %, ls4s.

TUESDAY, JANUARY %, lsiS.
REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT
The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate
port of the Secretary of War, made agreeably TO law,
showing the names and compensation OF the clerks and
other persons employed in that department during the
year 1877.
Mr. DICKINSON presented memorial of S. j Bow
en- praying remuneration for services in the office of the
Second Auditor of the Treasury; which referred to
the Committee on Finance.
Mr. D. also presented memorial of citizens of Clyde,
Wayne county, New York, praying the adoption OF
for peetuatng the growth OF the potato in the
mittee Agriculture
Mr. ATHERTON presented two petitions of citizens
Of patent granted 10 William w. Woodwork which
were referred to the Committee on Patents and the Patent
Office.
Mr. DIX presented Join, resolutions of the General AS
semby of the State OF New York. in favor OF restricting
the ranking privilege of members OF Congress, and
modification OF the rates OF postage on newspapers;
which wad, referred to the Committee on the Post
Office and Post Roads, and ordered TO be printed
Mr.. YULEE presented memorial of citizens OF Fori-
da, demonstrating against the removal OF the land office
from Newnansvle, IN that State; which was referred
to the Committee on Public Lands.
Mr.. FETCH presented the petition OF Peter Godfrey Tor
leave to locate section OF land IN lieu OF seeiGn SIX
which reserved him BY Indian treaty. but has since
been parted with TO Harriet w Smith; which refer
| red to the Committee on Public Lands.
Also, the petition of Peter w. Knaggs for leave to To-
cate section of land in lieu Of two sections which
reserved TO him by Indian treaty. on the Flint and Sha
wassee rivers, in Michigan, but which have since been
patented to other persons; which was referred to the
Committee on Public Lands
MIR. WESTCOTT presented the memorial of A. A.
Frazier and Alvin Baker, of the brig Douglass
praying indemnity for losses sustained by them in
qqence Of the illegal seizure and detention OF their YES
sci by the British government while pursuing their law
full commerce which was referred to the Com mittee on
Claims.
On motion by Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi, it was
Ordered, That the petition OF Oscar f. Pman, on the
be 10 m on
Office and Post Roads
,cou1s1rroN or rrppropy
Mr. RAcpy snhn;,,.J Tho foIonr;nr roso,,,.;o,. g..
consjerat;on '''''u "e 'o"o"n's 'e'oiuuohs ioi
ps.o,'.a Th,, corar.,. h,. 80 .,;,,,;o,, ,o,.
,hI;sh or 70 nrohi, siavev IN am, S,, o r. p o, 10
hi, n or 70 r0io' " any 'e OF Territory IN
Resoiped That conquest is legitimate means of acoui
ring territory, and recognised BY the laws the uni
versai practice of civilized nations.
Rescued That territory Is hereafter acquired by the
United states, elmer by treaty or conquest shall not be
slavery r from such Or bv TO
iaon or NV ac Of CONGRESS hny snch ip;, rua h "
equally free and open To- the citizens oa The United States
without any Limitation, prohibitions restriction in re-
ever.
Before presenting the resolutions
Mr. BAGBY said Mr.. President, perhaps there is
something in the nature of free and happy political in
stutions to justify departure from what under differ
en form OF government, might be considered the proper
course for us, IN our Legislative capacities, TO pursue Ii
is admitted, at least by me, general rule that all
propositions introduced into legislative bodies ought to be
such intended 70 be followed up by some act OF
pracuCal legSlaOn On the other hand, II Is OF the
axoms OF the republican creed that frequent recurrence
to rst principles ndlspensaby necessary to the prese
walton OF liberty The resolutions which hold in my
hand and which shall presently ask leave to Introduce
relate to subject of very great moment conceive,
the prosperity and OF still more transcendent Importance
to the tranquility of the country and one which is
peculiarly desirable ut this time to have clear and dec
ded expression of opinion and to see if possible defn
itvely and forever The first of these resolutions simply
asserts what understand to be the true position in eIa
on to the powers OF this government over the question
OF slavery Inc second contains a proposition from
me correctness OF whch apprehend no one will dis
before body SO enlightened as this, but for the ex
Taordnary remarks made here repeatedly AMI contin
uay IN regard TO the acquisition CT territory, If any
should be acquired by conquest In the in which we
are now engaged with Mexico stranger TO the history
OF this war; and one ignorant OF the provisions of our
constitution and principles OF government and OF the code
OF haons 10 read speeches almost daily delivered by
aiors IN lhe oppeslon would think that the acquisition
OF territory was thing forbidden by the laws of nations
prohbited by the constitution, and unsanconed by the
great principles OF an elevated national morality So far
from these things being repeat in the language OF
the second resolution, that conquest IS legitimate mode
OF acquisition and so recognised by the laws and the
universal pracuce Oh cviized nations IL any seRator is
u9loseu ~ IohtoVert lhis dstihct SUBSTANTIVE PROPOSE
viii no Much hi htr mr, @ anu ms arguments
with o,bar m,ter ~ Which ~ 49, y s si1H ~; up
l.; ~ onar,i J:, ",.il .LoJ nav ~ pioPe auliy
war and the manner in which il sboud ha conJnn,aJ
,nnraband bn,uouar 49, III = V ~ VIC .chuuo'Iu
,rp,J M ,I . lii wnen the queSu'oh = iairly
m t q, toa ~ a u,ssese none WIZ oe lound OF
; 20 ~ ~ ii X, ~ M sit ~. ~ n4' h'ehi nov,
do intend however with The nern E nf th snat
before the debate is closed upon the b now nenJn 10