Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-02-02


Concklin, TO send for persons and paPers,) was
taken up and adopted.
Al 10 minutes past P. NJ the House ad.
journed.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 80 ls49.
SENATE.
The Vice President laid before the Senate COM
municalions from the Treasury anu navy pe-
paumeots, which were ordered 10 be printed.
Memorials and petitions were presented by
Messrs Allen, Davis Of Massachusetts,, Dickiu-
son, Rusk, Butler, Mctcalie, Niles, breeSe, and
Colamer.
Adverse Ieporls were made by MIR. Alchison,
from the committee on Indian Affairs, on sevc-
raj memorials from the city and county OF Phil
adelphia in regard to the Indians and upon others
from the Poua walamies, Chippewas. &c.
The resolution submitted few days since by
Mr.. Badger, insIrucling the committee on the
Contingent Fund 10 inquire into the expedency
OF disseminating the present contract for the pub
fishing OF The debates ana proceedings Of The Sc
nate, was then taken up
Mr.. Badger referred 10 the gross mistakes in
the reports, 10 their frequent occurrence and TO
number which had been made 10 his own case,
and though, it important that some plan should
be adopted TO secure greater accuracy. The Sc
major from Louisiana had seemed 10 think his
case hard one, but 1t was nothing compared
with his own (Mr. Badgef's.) He had been ire
gently unsupported, and made to say foolish and
ridiculous things. He had found the Unions
generally more accurate than the lnlelligencers
report
His resolution was simply one OF inquiry; Tor
II il was important that the country should be put
In possession OF what is said here, IL was also
important that they should be correctly reported.
Mr.. Westcou had changed his opinion, and
was in favor Of the piesen, system for the reason
thai il had deprived The papers employed oil their
party character, and would compel them, IN
times of high party excitement, 10 report Sena-
tors fairly, even if they were disposed 10 act diff
ferenly. II was impossible to avoid ludicrous
mistakes, even when The reports were corrected
by The speakers themselves but the system he
considered good one.
Mr.. Niles thought no system could be adopted
which would prove perfectly satisfactory, unless
the speeches were submitted TO Senators for cor
rection. Al present no dependence was TO be
placed upon the Teports-some Of the reporters
could not hear The speakers, and others could not
understand what they did hear He thought the
Senate had gone much too tar,-everylhing was
now embodied, and The publishers expected to be
paid for il. The arguI.lent of The Senator from
Florida, (Mr Westcot0 about disciplining the
editors of the Union" and "in,eligencer," and
making them behave like decent men, he thought
extraordinary.
MIR. Niles said the Inteligencer lad been what
II is for forty years-what, as the organ oil par
~, il ought 10 be. The other, he was sorry 10
say, had recently changed Tor the wo!se-from
being the organ OF party to being the organ OF
a section Of a party. He was opposed 10 the
whole sys,em,-he could not see that any good
could result, from such guardianship.
Mr. Cameron was in favor OF referring The re-
solution 10 the commilIee on Contingent E1pen-
ses. The difficulty probably arose from report
ing everything. He vas, however, opposed to
the whole system.
Mr.. Bright opposed the resolution, and was in
vor OF the system; though, seldom as ne spoke, he
had had some cause oil complaint-had been
placed, at least on one occasion, in very ridi-
culous attitude before The country-had been
made to say that a certain person named had
gone ''poSom bunting" whereas he had said "tos-
sill hunting" And this was not tn only in
stance, though he considered this system good
one.
Mr.. Dickinson concurred substantially in opin-
ion with Mr.. Bright; but desired 10 say word
In regard 10 The erroneous character OF the tele-
graphic reports 10 the Western press. No reli
ance was 10 be placed upon the greater portion
OF these telegraphic reports. He stated insa noes
in which he had been himself thus mis-reported,
errors were of every day practice. they go out
10 The country nress. who -c1y anon them exclu-
couuuy Always niaccuIdte IN them.
MIR. flanagan took the occasion 10 correct An
error in his own case which occurred in regard
TO memorial from his own constituents, which
had been reported IS coming from "lree colored
persons"
Mr.. Butler explained that the error had been
caused by an erroneous endorsement on the me-
mortal. He bore testimony TO the general accu-
racy OF the reports
Mr.. Butler said that il any fault should be
found with the system, it was probable that il
serves as = ptoyoca!ion 10 long speeches. He
also referred 10 errors, in regard 10 himself made
by elegf aphic reporters.
MIR. Borland corrected an error in the report OF
his remarks yesterday on Mr.. Whitney's bill,
though Mr. Foote stated thai he had understood
him As reported.
Mr.. Befrieu proposed 10 amend by inserting
'or modifying" in the resolution of Mr.. Badger,
and II was agreed TO.
The debate was iudhei continued by Messrs.
Foo:e, Bradbury, Cameron and Walker, when
the resolution, as amended, was adopted.
A great number OF private bits, from the
House. were read twice and referred.
On motion Of Mr.. Butler, the bill more effec.
tually TO carry into operation he provisions OF
the 81 clause OF the 2 section oi the 4h article
OF the cons;iuion, was made The special order Tor
Monday.
Ga mol. 4. -. Denton, the consideration Of
lass's substitute was read.
Mr.. Fooe moved 10 re-commit the bill 10 the
Military COMMITTEE with instructions 10 inquire
and report, win all possible dispatch, as to the
relative advantages OF the Panama and Tehuan-
tepec routes.
MI Benton conceived that such re.commitment,
al this late day in the session, would BE- tanta-
mount 10 a rejection of the bill. No commitlee,
called upou in this exlemporaneous manner,
coul1 report inteigently and satisfactorily at the
present session. They would have no time 10
send 10 Mexico, or anywhere else for informa-
ton, either legal or political.
Mr.. Foo,e said that The motion had been made
after much deliberalion and reflection. From
the outset he bad looked upon the subject as one
OF much compiexty--as one which should be
considered in all its bearings-and he should be
satisfied with a select committee, il that was
deemed more advisable. He could agree
with the Senator thai The Information could not
be obtained al the present session.
He was informed that there were facts within
the reach OF the Senate, which would place This
plan in very different altitude from that which
j, now occupies before the Senate. There was a
great deal OF documentary and other evidence in
relation 10 this and the Tehuaniepec rou,e, upon
when the Senate would be called 10 act under
standingly in regard 10 the relative advantages Of
the two.
Mr. Benton said it was we'll known that we
had no treaty with Mexico for the right OF way
across the islhmus OF Tehuantepec and further,
that Mexico, during the negotiations for The trea-
ty of peace, peremploriy refused 10 grant such
right Whether this was better or worse Than
the Tehuantepec route was not question which
had anything TO do with the subject but whether
we shall. avail ourselves OF the rights acquired
from the Republic of New Grenada
The want OF legal and poltical.risht derived
from Mexico, he considered more impossible
barrier than The Rocky mountains, to the accom-
plishment OF The connection by the Tehuantepec
route, suggested.
But he MIR. B. was for no measure connec-
ted with railroad or canal ACROSS the Panama,
or Tehuantepec, or any where else on The 18th
mus of Darien, but only Tor temporary mea-
sure-a communication for immediate and