The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-01-20
q birtirtb q onaress.
lST SESSION.
TUESDAY, Jan. II.

nlcated the report OF the Secretary OF War
on the application of the contingent funds of
the Department.
Mr.. Cass, from the Military Committee, re-
ported bill to increase the medical staff of
the army.
Mr.. Ashley, on leave, introduced bill to
amend the Judicial system of the United
States. Read twice and referred.
Mr.. Davis submitted resolution calling on
the President to communicate certain letters
from Generals Taylor and Scott on the sub
iect of forced contributions in Mexico. Lies
over.
Mr.. Baldwin offered a resolution calling on
the President for the correspondence Of MIR
Trist while Commissioner to negotiate peace
during the arnlistice last year.
Mr.. Mason's resolution for admitting the
editors of the Union, Messrs. Richie and
Heiss, to the floor of the Senate, was agreed
to.
The Senate then proceeded to tho consider
alton of the Ten Regiment bill.
MIR. Reverdy johnson resumed his remarks
in reference 10 his second proposition. Mr.
johnson condemned the course pursued by
the President He was defective in vigor in
not availing himself Of the means placed at
his disposal by Congress for prosecuting the
war. He had thus protracted the contest and
become responsible for the blood and treas
ure expended. On the third proposition, he
stated that he disliked the project proposing
the withdrawal of our troops and taking up
defensive line. He would favor vigorous
prosecution of the war, until, by the vindica
ton of our national honor, he had obtained
security against any renewed treaty viola
tons on the part of Mexico. On the fourth
proposition, he suggested that the war might
be carried on, without any additional cost to
the United States, by appropriating the re-
sources of the Mexican Government to the
payment of the war expenses.
After Mr.. johnson had concluded, the dis
cnsson was continued by Messrs. Clayton,
Crittenden and Cass. Adjourned.
In the House several private bills were re-
ported from the committee on Claims by Mr..
Rockwell of Conn. Referred to Committee
of the Whole.
| Mr.. Rockwell, Of the same committee, re-
ported resolution for the preparation of an
alphabetical list Of private claims, from the
! fourteenth to the twenty ninth Congress- in
elusive, and to employ an additional clerk for
that purpose.
Pending a motion by NJ. Pollock to re-
commit, with instructions, on motion of Mr..
Vinton, the House went into Committee of
the Whole on the State of the Union, MIR. j.
r. 1ngcrsol in the Chair, on the Annual
Message of the President.
Mr.. Stewart of Penn. addressed the Com
mittce, in reply to Mr.. McClcllard, review
ing and condemning the measures of the Adj
ministration generally. He called attention
to the Secretary of the Treasury's~ Report,
and the calculations of recei pts Of Revenue
for 1913. Instead of being $S,000,0o0 more,
the rece pts were actually 100000 less
than they would have been under the tariff
of 1912. He also pointed out numerous 9th
er alledged errors in the Secretary's calcula-
ton. He said he did not blame the Pres-
dent, as he did not understand the subject.
Mr.. Vcnable followed in support of the
doctrines of the late veto message denying
the power of Congress to make appropria-
tons for internal improvements. He sup
ported the war. If it was unnecessarily and
unconstitutionally commenced by the Presl-
dent, let the ma ority of the House impeach
him. He was in favor of taking New Mexico
and California as indemnity and opposed to
making peace, until we had secured indemni-
ty for the past, and security for the future.
Mr.. Rockwell of Conn. examined briefly
the late Veto Message, and its many posi-
tons, which he proceeded to show were I'M
sustained by facts and prccedents
On motion of Mr.. Pollock, the Conn ittec
1850 and the House adjourned.
WEDNESDAY,, Jan. -.
In the Senate, petition WAS presented by
Mr.. Hale, signed by 1900 Unitarian clergy.
men and laymen, asking for the Withdrawal
of our troops from Mexico, and for the APP
pointment of Commissioners to treat for
peace.
Several petitions and memorials, relating
to various subjects, were presented by differ
ent members.
Mr.. SEWER from the Comnittc on Foreign
Relations, reported Joint resolution cstab-
fishing Board of Commissioners, to ascertain
and determine the amount Of claims of Amer
lean citizens against Mexico. An amend
ment was adopted that in no case should the
United States become liable for such claims
Mr. Yulcc, for the Committee on Naval
, Affairs, reported bill for the relief Of officers
of the Exploring Expedition,
MIR. Dickinson moved to tako up the reso-
luton previously offered by him, which was
agreed to. He gave his views at length on
the subject. lie declared himself in favor Of
the annexation of all territory now in our
possession leaving the question of slavery tc
be determined by the people inhabiting the
> territory
NIcssrs. Yulcc and Hale submitted substi-
} tutes, which they intended to offer at the pro-
per time.
Mr.. Clayton resumed his speech on the
9 Ten Regiment bill, after which concluding
tho Senate adjourned
| In the House, the Speaker announced the