Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-03-08
CONGRESS-.
MONDAY. Fob. Y6.

In the SENATE, Mr.. Underwood of Kentucky,
reported the bill for the next census, which was
not considered.
Mr.. Wales presented his credentials as Sena-
tor elect IRON Delaware, was qualified, and took
his seat.
The chair appointed Mr.. Webster member
of the Finance Committee, in place OF Mr.. Clay.
ton.
The bill relating to the Pay Department OF
the Army was amended and passed. The bill
allowing compensation to registers and receivers
for locating bounty land warrants, was also am.
ended and passed.
The general appro priation bill was then taken
up.
House.. On motion of Mr.. vinton, the House
went into Committee of the Whole, and the
California bill was considered Mr.. Stewart OF
Pennsylvania, first addressed The Committee, and
he was followed by Mr.. Gayle, of Alabama, who
advocated the right Of the Southern people to
take their property OF all kinds to lands which
they might purchase in the new territories.
Mr.. Root of Ohio took the ultra Northern
ground on the same subject. lie was followed
by Mr. Evans of Maryland, in opposition.
The Senate bill, allowing for the subsistence
and pay of certain Arkansas and other volun-
teers, was passed.
The resolution of Mr.. Smith for stopping the
debate on the California bill, Two hours after it
TUESDAY, Feb 81.
In the SENATE, to-day, a resolution was adop.
ted that committee be appointed to make ar
engagements for the reception OF President Tay.
or, and Vice President Fillmore, on the 9Th of
March.
The bill regulating the pensions of officers,
seamen, and soldiers, disabled 10 the public ser
vice, after brief consideration, was passed
The civil and diplomatic bill came up, and the
proposal to increase the salaries of the Ministers
to Pussia, England and France was debated
After long discussion the whole subject was
Withdrawn Various other amendments TO the
bill were adopted, iuclpding All appropriation OF
100000 for compensation of mileage Of mem
bers OF Congress.
The General appropriation bill having been
taken up the Senate then proceeded to the CON-
slderaton OF various minor amendments, several
of which were adopted. An amendment appro-
priating the sum of 100000 to delray the ex.
penses of the mileage Of members OF Congress,
was adopted An amendment, making provision
for an outfit for the Commissioner OF the Sand
wlch Islands, gave rise 10 some debate, and was
finally rejected, ayes 9, noes %. An amendment
was submitted by Mr. Dix of New York, giving
to the widow of Commodore DE Kay, SS000
was discussed at length and lost without di-
vision. An amendment for appropriating S20,-
600 for purchasing the papers OF George Wash
iugtcn, and n like SUN to purchase the papers OF
the late James Monroe was debated for some
time, and then passed, yeas %, nays IA. An
amendment approptiating $500 to pny for GER
tain expenses incurred IN notifying John Tyler
of the death of General Harrison, late President
of the United States, was agreed to. An amend
ment proposing to increase The salary Of the
chief clerk ia the Pension Office, called forth a
brief debate, when it was lost. An amendment
giving to Judge Cranch the SUN Of $500, in con
sideraton of his series OF appeals in the Patent
Office, after some debate, was rejected. An
amendment in favor of purchasing Catlln's gal
ery of Indian paintings, at an expense not ex-
ceeding $4,000, payable in ten years-s'5OOO
annually gave rise to a lengthy debate.
The House, after some uninportant business,
went into Committee of the Whole on the Calf
tornia bill.
Mr.. Rowan of Maryland took the floor, and
concluded his speech in favor of tariff for pro-
lection. He compared the manufacturing and
mining business of England and America, and
considered that the latter had greatly the advan-
tage.
An amendment was offered by Mr. Sawyer oil
Ohio in favor of striking out the Wmot provl-
so or 18th section -contendng that it should be
left with the people of the territories of Califor-
MIA and New Mexico, whether or not slavery
should exist there. Snndry other amendments
were offered and briefly discussed.
The proposition of Mr.. Preston, of Virginia,
was rejected and no essential amendment was
agreed to. The committee rose, the bill was re-
ported, and ordered TO be engrossed.
Mr.. Meade, of Virginia, moved to lay it on
the table. The yeas and nays were taken, and
the motion was negatived. The bill then passed
yeas 126 nays 81. The House is considering
the bill for mint Tor California, as the despatch
closes.
The committee on tho subject adopted sundry
Land and other bills. One of these, giving to
each settler farm, was briefly advocated by Mr
Greeley, of N. York, and then laid on the table.
The House then resolved itself into commit
tee OF the Whole on the State OF the Union, Mr.
Cranston in the chair, and took up the bill max
ing provision for the government OF the territory
of New Mexico.
Mr. Vnton, of Ohio, offered an amendment,
giving the settlement Of the boundary question
to the Supreme Court and offered few cogent
remarks in support OF 1t.
Mr. Greeley of New York, made speech in
opposition to the amendment on the ground that
the majority of the Judges of the Supreme Court
were Shareholders, and in favor Of the bill.
Mr. Toombs of Georgia, made vehement
speech in opposition to the Bill, replying to the
remarks of Messrs Vinton and Greeley, with
much severity.
Mr. Schenck of Ohio, followed. His remarks
were listened 20 with marked attention. He de-
MED that Texas had any claim upon New Mex
ico and denounced in strong language the whole
annexation business. He was supposed to Mr..
Vinton's amendment.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 70
SENATE. The President communicated, in
obedience 10 call, list of all treaties and nav
igation laws with foreign nations, also a list of
proclamations having force of treaties,-2000
copies were ordered to be printed. The bill
from The House, on the territorial government of
California, was read and referred TO the commit
tee on territories.
Mr.. Benton, from Select Committee, report
ed in favor of oppropnating $4,000 to test Pro-
lessor Pages electromagnetic invention. The
report ordered TO be printed.
The Civil and Diplomatic Bill came up, and
all the amendments 10 which, against which no
special objection was made, were concurred in
collectively. The amendment for paying the
Mexican lnstalment under the treaty of peace,
was stricken out, having been provided for in a
separate bill.
MIR Webster's amendment for a temporary
government in California came up, and MIR Dix,
of NewYork, proceeded to make an elaborate
speech on the general subject of providing a
government for the new territories.
House.. Mr.. Goggin, Of Virginia, from the
Committee on the Post Office, reported resolu-
ton declaring 1t nexpedient to take any action,
81