The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-08-15
THE CLOSING SCENHS
THE
First Session Of the Thirtieth Congress.


First Session Of the Thirtieth Congress.
The sitting of the Senate, beginning at ten O'Clock
on Saturday, and continuing till near ten o'clock
Sunday morning, was the most extraordinary, and'
perhaps the most important since the adoption of the
constitution. Except during the morning hour and
the time occupied by Messrs. Webster and Reverdy
Johnson when associate relieved u.s. your reporter
was the witness the whole time, and wide awake.
We have sent rapidly written report by mail,
which is full of interest.
MIR. Webster made his speech between o and 10
o'clock, P. M. Mr.. Johnson of Ca, followed; then
MIR. Foote and then General Houston, in defence Of
his position in supporting, a last alternative, the
Wilmot proviso for Oregon. General Houston took
occasion to pay high eulogium to Henry Clay as the
great pacifcator; and so eloquently did he speak,
that the gallery gave him a round of three cheers.
This was at IL, Saturday night, when
| Mr.. TURNKEY moved to adjourn, and that the hour
be entered the journal. The motion was rejected.
The South were determined to fight the proviso to the
death If they could defeat Benton, they would the
North. The motion to recede and pass the House
bill was his motion. He planted himself upon that
position.
Mr. BUTLER referring to publication of matter Of
secret session. to which appeared the Senator from
Missouri was party, moved executive session.
Mr. BREEsE raised point of order.
Mr. BERRIAN sustained the motion for an executive
! session.
| debate ensued on the motion, involving the honor
of Mr.. Benton. In the of it, Mr. B. said, and
repeated several times that any man who would charge
him with dishonorable conduct would get the lie he
would get the lie in his throat sir and he would have
to swallow It," Loud cries of order. order!n all
around.]
MIR. BIZ TIER, wethought, made movement to Mr.
Benton, but was stopped. He afterwards explained
that he was wholly responsible for his motion. There
confederacy in it, and he still believed that the
required executive session. After some time,
the motion for executive session declared BY
the Chair to be out Of order.
Mr. Mason appealed from this decision, but the Chair
was sustained by the Senate.
Mr. FooTE then appealed to the Senator Of Missouri
to withdraw his motion to recede from the
to the Oregon BILL SO that a committee Of con-
ference with the House might be had
Mr.. BENTON repudiated the idea of recediug He
was ready to sit there from this time O'Clock
day morning, till twelve O'Clock Monday morning
MIR. FooTE then undertook to talk down time, and
continued for long time speaking about anything in
the world except the bill He also relieved in long
explanation by Mr.. Westcott and Mr. Atchison but
ne was finally ruled out Of order and compelled to
take his seat. -as
With frequent motions to adjourn the night passed
through and in the morning, Mr.. Yuee gave notice
that the South had agreed to let the vote be taken
Then it was that Mr.. Calhoun, Mr.. Butler, Mr.. Man
gum Mr.. Foote, and MIR. Downs, delivered their
funeral orations of the Union. To hear them a
stranger would have concluded that Washington city
had already been sacked and paged by the abolition
lists, and that the Mississippi had running
up stream. The vote TAKEN and with the Southern
votes Of Benton and Houston, the Oregon bill, as
passed by the House, agreed to by the Senate-2e
| to 25.
It being half past nine O'Clock, Sunday MORNING.
the Senate adjourned.
detailed report of the proceedings Of Saturday
night and Sunday morning will be found under the
head Of " Intelligence by the Mails"
| SESSION MONDAY
The Senate met at pam.
motion by Mr. Miller to suspend the rules to let
the Oregon bill 60 to the President was taken up
Mr.. TURKEY objected, and proceeded to make q
speech
Mr.. WEBSTER called to order.
The question was debated by Messrs. CALHOUN and
TrRSEr, who thought 1t proper to defeat the bill by
talking down the session
MIR. WEBSTER and Mr. BENTON fought for the bill
Mr.. RISK appealed, that, as the South had done
everything in their power to defeat this Wmot pro-
vice. they should give way and let the rules be sus.
pended, because the army bill, the post route and
forty other bills, yet to go to the President as
well as the Oregon bill. +.
IL was moved to amend Mr. Millers resolution, as
to suspend the rules in reference to all bills hand
Mr.. CALHOUN objected
Just at this moment, the very resolution wanted
came in from the House.
Mr.. BENTor-We have IL now, sir. ! move to lay
down the Senate resolution and take up that of the
House Agreed to- and the resolution was carried tri
umphantly, suspendingt rules upon all bills that had
not been sent to the Prea emit
The President was in the capitol waiting for them.
After some other business, a message was received
from the President; and motion, the Senate went
into executive session at quarter before l2ocock.
When they came out, the long session Of the 30th
Congress was at an end II Immediately announce
ed that the Oregon BILL with the proviso law Of
the lsnd-that Gen. Shields was Governor-that
Messrs. Turney, of Illinois, Brant, Of Indiana, and
Burnett of Oregon, judges &C.; and that all the
other necessary federal Offices were appointed and
hrmed. Quick work.
MIR. wEsrsoTr, in the debate on Sunday morning,
said the President would sign the BILL but Il hard
to reconcile idea with the fears of Southern Sena
tors that IL must dissolve the Union.
We are glad to learn to-day that the Union 10 still
alive.
The greatest confusion prevailed in the House this
morning. The various motions made by some Of tho
members, seemed TO be with view to waste time in
order that the Oregon bill might not become law
rule which permitted bills to be presented to the Pres
dent the last day of the session. however was sus
pended, to which tho Senate subsequently agreed and
the bill was signed shortly after by the President who
was in the Secretary's room.
message sent into the House few minutes sub.
sequently but which not read in consequences of
gentlemen insisting onlthe ayes and hayes on the