The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-01-01
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-.
WAsHNaToN, Dec. 81,

WAsmNGToN, Dec. 81.
HOUSE. The States were again called in
order, and numerous memorials, petitions,
resolutions and notices ofintenliOns TO intro
duco bills wero offered. MIR Giddngs pre-
scented memorial from nineteen citizens of
this district, ia favor Of the repeal ofall laws
recognizing slavery in the District Of Column
bin. a motion to lay the regular order Of
business on the table 10 refer this memorial,
was rejected, 81 to %, the Speaker giving his
casting vote in the negative. 1t lies over,
Mr. Cobb, of Georgu, intimutiug an intention
to debate the question Of reference.
MIR Bolts offered resolution calling on
the President for information relnting to the
war with Mexico.
Mr. Adams Introduced n resolution, calling
on the Secretary of State for information rel
alive to claims ON Mexico, under the Conyen-
ton Of 1929, which was adopted.
Mr. Ninton, from the Committee Of Ways
and Means, reported u bill making appropriu
lions for subsistence for the volunteers, for
the year ending June, 1913. Referred TO the
Committee of the Whole, and, with the let
tcrs of the Secretary of War aud the Com
missary General, ordered to be printed. Mr.
Vinton gave notice that he would move to-
morrow to go into Committee and take up
this bill. a,
The resolutions which MIR Richardson do
COZ offered yesterday, again came up, declar
ing the war with Mexico Just and necessary,
and in favor of indemnify for the expenses
Of the war, The previous question having
been moved, the following substitute was OF
fered by Mr. Stevens, (Whigl of Georgia. viz,
Whereas it is 10 less desirable that the
interests and honor Of our country should
he cordially sustained and defended so long
us the present war with Mexico continues to
exist, than that the conflict should not be I'M
necessarily prolonged, but should be termin-
ated us soon us an honorable peace can be
obtained; and whereas it is believed that a
diversity Of opinion prevails to Il considcra-
BILE extent as TO the ultimate aims and objects
for which the war should be prosecuted; and
it being proper that this 'nntter should be
settled by tie clear expression Of the egisa-
tive viii, solemuly proclaimed to the world:
BE it therefore resolved by the Sennte and
House ofReprcscntatives ofthe United States
in Congress assembled, That the present
war with Mexico should not be waged or
prosecuted "witIl view 20 conquest" either
by the subjugaton or ACKNOWLEDGMENT ofthat
Republic.
Be it further resolved by the authority Il
ioresaid, That it is the desire of the United
States that hostilies should he terminated
upon terms honorable TO both parties, en-
brucing mutual settlement Of the questions
growing out Of the 'proper and rightfup
and proper provision on her part to be made
for all the Just claims ofour citizens against
that country-the whole to be adjusted by
negotiation, 10 be Instituted and effected ac-
cordng 10 the constitutional forms of each
Government respectively.
The substitute was warmly supported by
Mr. Bolts, of Virginia, who spoke at some
length He argued with much earnesiness
and warmth against the war, declaring it 10
ho mi, al al hot il
provoked by American aggression brought
about by the unauthorized acts of the Frcsi-
dent, whose conduct in the whole affair lie
severely commented upon aud censurcd.
Mr. Thompson, Of Indiana, proposed nego-
tialing for Upper California and Monterey,
with the Bay of Snu Francisco, and marking
out a boundary suitable 10 the views Of the
United States.
Mr. Toombs, of Georgia, spoke against all
territorial acquisitions, or conquest of any
portion of Mexico; and said the movements
of the American army, directed by the Pres
ident, produced the war; After some fur
,her discussion, the question was laid over
MIR Wentworth offered resolutions, dcClar-
ing that the General Government has power
10 construct such larbors aud improve such
rivers as may be necessary and proper for
the protection of our navy aud commerce,
and for the deicnces of the country. lie
sustained, and the resolution was adopted,
ayes 1873, nays 81.
a bill was introduced by MIR Robert Smith,
for the completion the Cumberland road
through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri.
WAsHNGToN, Dec. %.
SENATE. MIR Hale presented two anti
slavery petitions and made strenuous efforts
to induce the Senate to denart from its set
led practice uT not receiving petitions of
that import. The question of non-reception
being put, Mr. Berrin moved to lay that ques
ton on the table, which was decided in the
aflrmative-ayes 80, nays 10.
Mr. Cass, from the Military Committee, re-
ported bill TO raise, for n limited time, an
additional military force and gave notice
that he would call it up at tie earliest oppor-
tunify
Mir Lincoln, of Ill., offered Il series of eso-
utions relating to the several Messages of
the President on the Mexican war, s. request
ing of him informiou on numerous points
touching the causes of the war and the right
of the United States TO territory between the
Nueces and the Rio Grunde; also, when and
where the blood of American citizens was
shed by MeXicans on American soil during
the present war,
On motion ofMr Vnton the House resolv-
ed itself into Committee ofthe Whole on the
state of the Union, and took up the bill APP
propriating million of dollars TO supply de-
ficiency in the appropriations for the subsist-
ence department. Mr. J. II. Ingersoll i'm the
chair. Mr. Vinton stated that the estimated
deficit for the year is II fraction under four
millions, but this bill is intended only to meet
drafts daily expected from the South, amount
ing to half million, and for half n million
expected by the first train from Mexico to
Vera Cruz. There was only about 100000