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


S,roas and Brown OF PENNSYLVANIA the tor
mer in opposition 10 The system OF mail steamers,
aut by The latter against The agitation oil the sa-
| very question in connection with the new terrific
ries, and in favor OF settlement by compromise
| Of the questions involved
| Without coming TO any conclusion on the bill,
the Committee rose, and The House adjourned.
"WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 81, l849
| SENATE
| The bill 10 create an additional District Court
| OF the United States in Texas, was taken up,
read The third time and passed.
The bill 10 grant the Stale OF Illinois The right
OF way through The public lands for railroads,
from The Mississippi 10 the Wabash rivers, and
from Cairo 10 point on the Illinois river, near
~ termination Of the Michigan Canal, was pass
4 Ell.
Mr.. Clayton submitted resolution, which
was agreed T., for the appointment of joint COM
mitiee loirepor mode ul examining the votes for
President and Vice President Of the United States,
and OF Notifying the persons elected of their cleo
lion. Messrs. Clayton, Davis, OF Mississippi,
and Davis, OF Massachusetts, were appointed
such committee.
The consideration OF the Panama bill was re-
suned, and Messrs Douglass, Underwood and
Benton addressed the Senate thereon.
Mr. Niles followed in opposition TO the main
features OF the BILL and moved TO strike out $780,
! 600, and insert $50 600, as The compensation 10
! be paid annually 10 the Messrs. Aspnwall & Co.,
for the transportation OF government supplies,
the mails, &c.
Mr.. Jefferson Davis moved 10 amend by s,ri-
king out, al oge,hef, the appropriation OF $780,
90.
Mr. Allen addressed the Senate briefly, in OPP
position TO the bill, and concluded by moving lis
| indefinite postponement.
| Mr.. Webster was opposed 10 dsposing of the
bill BY indefinite postponement. The public, he
believed, demanded some such measure. He had
preferred communication by Tehuantepec, and
| il proposition were before them for such COM
municaiion, he ehoud give j! his hearty support.
He thought communication should now be open
ei, without regard 10 any other railroad contem.
plated across the continent
Mr.. w. coIsiderei the progress of The country,
without reference 10 gold mines, as onward, and
that The latter would ultimately be accom-
plished. A road across the lsthmus was necessa.
~ Tor immediate use-tor The transportation Of
government stores, &C., in The shortest possible
period. He had no doub that we should ere long
nave a communication by railroad directly across
our territories to The Pacific, nor had he any
daubt tha. there would be communication through
Mexico, by the way II Tehuantepec.
But, Mr.. w. sad, there wee reasons. never:
| tlfiie., IL. Dna--- -aod desirable The object
contemplated is proper, practicable, auainable
| and important. He had no objections 10 amend
ments, but he was decidedly in favor OF the gene
raj objects of The bill. The contrac, proposed
with the government by the MessIs. Aspinwall
l. Co., was fair one, and he was disposed to en-
| ter INTO the arrangement.
Mr.. Butler argued against the powers of the
| Federal government 10 enter into such contracts
for public improvements, and could not vote for
| any such measure, unless an alteration was made
! in the constitution, so as TO give The necessary
| authority.
Mr.. Clayton supported the measure, and con-
sterei il disgrace 10 The age, that such a COM
municalion hal no, already been accomplished
lie preferred, like The Senator from Massachn-
se,tes, The Tehuantepec route, as best for this
| country, but he deemed it nevertheless important,
| that this contract, under all the circumsta noes,
should be entered into.
| There was no project which would so much
benefit this couDtry and the world even were il
10 cost so 1000, 900 instead OF two or three mil
| lioas.
Mr.. Jefferson Davis should be in favor Of this
measure, not only from commercial, but from
| political considerations, were il not that ne pre-
I tered combining our appropriations 70 surveys
w,ihin our own territories -tnr route directly
| across the continent. lie would not vote for the
| appropriations for eternal improvements. He
Was Ter combining all such appropriations TO OBJ
jec's If a purely national character.
| Mr.. Allen Withdrew his motion for an indie
| finite posiponement Of The bill-and by general
assent il was ordered 10 lie on The table until to-
| morrow.
| Executive session. Adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
| Mr. ]. r. IngeTsoi from Inc Judiciary Com
| mitlee, reported, with am-ndmcnls Senate bill
concerning testimony" The anne ndmenS were
agreed TO, and The bill was 'hen passed.
| Mr.. Edwards, Of Ohio, rom the committee on
The District Of Columbia, reported bill 10 pro-
hibi, the introduction o: slaves into the District,
| as merchandise, or uT ale or hire, which was
read, aud provides taai persons so offending shall
b. considered su!g II misdemcanor, and
punished by fine p $500 and all such contracts
| Shall be null and void.
| Members, and other non-resdents, however,
| are permitted 10 biIns their slaves into the Dis
lrict, Tor their own personal USE and also citizens
| To whom bequests ni slaves may be made The
| first Of August next is fixed as The period when
the law shall 60 uo effec.
Mr. Edwards moved that Tue bill be printed,
aud referred 10 The committee Of the whole on The
stale Of the Union.
Mr.. Wentworth was IN favor of immediate &C
ton, and hoped the gentleman from Ohio (Mr.
Edwards) would go with him, 10 an effort 10
secure the passage OF this bill, which he consid-
cred good one-ss guod a .ne as could be passed
al the present session and a better must be lett
| for future Congress
Mr. Chapman, OF Maryland, was opposed to
the bill in committee, aud was.opposed 10 il now,
as containing provisions upon which Congress
has no power 10 pass. And a, the proper time,
! he should Civ. his views as TO the constitutional
powers Of Congress TO legislale on the subject.
Mr. HARRISON alluded TO the remark Of Mr.
| Wentworth, that this was about as good bill as
could be passed al The present session, evidently
in,imaiing that il Was but an entering wedge for
still greater aggressions upon The rights Of the
South. he therefore moved to lay The bill on
the iabe-and refused 10 withdraw the motion,
even temporarily, though solicited to do oby Mr..
Robert Smih, 10 enable him TO make personal
explanation, IN reference to his course on this
question.
The yeas and nays were ordered, and the mo-
ton 10 lay on the table was decided in the mega
tive, II 10 l06
Mr. Robert smith was glad that the bill had
no, been laid Gu The table, aud should vote for the
reference 10 The committee OF The whole on the
state OF tie Union. He then proceeded 10 make his
| personal explanation, which was that he had III
| tended, on former occasion, 10 say that no man
had gone further 10 exclude slaves from the right
| OF voing IN the District than ne had whereas he
had been understood as using the word tex end
ing"
Mr.. Venabe referred to the offensive pream.
bic to Mr.. Cots resolution, and 70 the vote which
had been given 10 il on this floor by gentlemen
who were afraid 10 face their constituents alter
giving different vote-after voting down prop
oslion which contained on lis face an insult To-.
ward The South. There were men at The North
disposed 10 stand BY The rights Of the South, but
ageressions had all come from the Norh-never
had he South made any aggressions upon the
rights of the North.
Mr.. Hudson rose 10 repel the charge that gen.
tlemen on that side of The House had been com.
PEELED to vote contrary to their own convictions.