The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-23


session excepting that giving government 10 the people
Of California have tried State bills. and Territorial
bills all kinds OF bills in all shapes, the hope that some
one bill would suit the Senate. make this final effort
to give government TO that people at this session. and
feel 1t my duty to call Tor the yeas'and nays.
Mr. HAMLlN., wish to make single remark in re-
ply to the honorable senator from Texas 1t very
that We have project in of our bills for govern
ment for California; but il grants almost unlimited pow
ers to me Executive OF TINS govemmensuch powers as
have seldom been granted bslore-powers which should
consider despotlc ii know the meaning of the word
despolism We have bill here which defines clearly
the rights of the governed and the duties which the gov
ernnen 10 the people of that territory | apprehend
that every senator understands that is nothing
less than territorial bill conforming the universal
practice OF this government should advocate it, If for
other than that it defines clearly the rights Of
the people there, aud the powers OF the government
them. am in favor Of taking up and voting upon it,
One word sir, in relation to the suggestion OF the hon
orable senator from South Carolina, AIR BUTLER. |
hold that if members OF committee do not fit at
tend the meetings OF the committee it is good reason
government from the people OF these territories
Pondng to the uniform action OF the government hope
sav reeve s Il A. Ssa n.y.
Mr. DAVIS OF Massachusetts. rise 10 question of
order--whether il is competent TO discuss the merits OF
bill before il is taken up
Mr. BUTLER stand subject to the decision of the
Chair, holding that il IS hardly the time to raise obsc
tons after the debate has assumed character which
ritoria Committee, am also chairman Of the Judiciary
Committee 1t was utterly impossible for me to
attend the meeting Of the Territorial Committee for
my own committee required my attendance. had no
disposition to withdraw from the Territorial Committee
for did not wish to avoid any of the responsibility of
its action The senator from Maine Mr.. HAMLIN says
upon the President OF the United States illimited and
despoc powers That very bill as il seems to me, must
necessarily restrict the powers which the President now
has the territory He has the sole power of govern
ing California at this day Without the bill it must be
necessarily governed by Executive poverty the sword.
by martial law. The extension of the constitution of
Tho Tuifeu hat lInfs
his power that territory.
Mr. DAVIS renewed his question OF order.
Mr. BUTLER yielded the floor
The question being then taken on the motion by Mr.
DOUGLAS postpone the prior orders for the purpose of
taking up the California bill, it was determined in the
negative by yeas IS, nays 2S as follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Baldwin, Bell Bradbury, Breese
Dodge of Iowa, Douglas, Felch, Greene Hale Hamlin
Walker, and Webs,sr- 225.p'' 0iA''' "''''
NAYSMessrs. Alchison, Badger Berrien, Bright, But
gerald Fitzpatrick Hannegan, Houston, Hunter, Johnson
Of Louisiana, Johnsoa Of Georgia King Mangun, Mason
defwood WestcoIt, and Yuee--2S.
MARY b. RENNER
The Senate proceeded to consider, in committee Of
the whole, the House bill for the relief of Mary b. Rem
ner; which, on motion, was laid on the table.
THE SEVENTH CENSUS.
The Senate proceeded to consider as in committee of
the WHOLE the bill from the House make arrangements
Mr. WESTCOTr moved that the bill be laid on the
table; which motion was not agreed to-
Mr. w. said: This bill is almost identical with
the bill reported the other day. and contains the
clause and that the Secretary Of the Interior, provided
is established, and in said officer is not establish
ed" &c, will not go over the argument urged the other
day with reference 10 the proprety OF referring TO the
ecut've officers what IS appropriately our duly and ma
king them the instruments OF Congress to prepare its
legislation for it. We should fulfil own response
biiiy and own duty There is too much inclination
to refer everything the departments upon important
But there other objections which be
urged to this bill, to which will briefly refer 1t is the
entering wedge OF new species OF legislation, and
utterly unconstitutional, bringing under the supervision
control, and legislation of Congress the local
of the States. Sir object to all this legislation in
sst that have right in our local matters, to be
cure from the departments Congress has right to go
any further, in taking the census, than the mere
ration OF the inhabitants That is all that is wanted and
for two purposes; for the purpose of fixing the ratio OF
the representation of the Staes and for the purpose of
direct taxaton-shoud such system be resored to- We
tiers OF the States. We have volume after volume OF
these local documents do not any propriety in it.
Mr.. DAVIS of Massachusetts,. do not propose any
thing which should create any alarm This is only to
require these gentlemen TO make bill and send it to
nothing else in the world.
MIR. KING. | should prefer that the bill should be
amended so as 10 say nothing about the Home Depart
Mr.. DAVIS. LISA House bill, and do not wish to
trouble them with again, or should be perfectly will
Mr.. KING. move to strike out that provision and to
insert the words "and the Attorney General"
Mr.. WALKER | hope that the bill may not be
amended and sent back TO the House. The Senate has
not yet determined whether there shall shall not be
Department of the Interior. This clause is favor
of or in opposition to that bill
Mr.. DAVIS of Mississippi. move to take up the bill
to establish the Home Department
Mr.. DAVIS OF Massachusetts That bill is not before
the Senate hope the senator will not nterpose to de-
feat this bill
Mr. DAVIS of Mississippi That is not my object
merely wish to pass it informally by for the purpose of
taking up another BILL with which connected in a
measure. | now move that the committee be discharged
from the further consideration OF that BILL and that be
brought before the Senate.
The question being stated upon the motion to take up
the bill to establish Department OF the Interior,
Mr. TURNEY said This is the las day of the session,
and do hope that the Senate will postpone all other
business to take up single BILL which will require
much discussion, and one which, in my judgment, ought
not to pass.
Mr. UNDERWOOD Ipresume that debate will not
change the mind of solitary individual, and am per-
ecly content, myself, to have the question taken at
once
Mr. KING. There is another bill before the Senate,
and under consideration.
The PRESIDENT. Tha, has been passed by infor
mally.
Mi KING. objected and could not be passed by
without unanimous consent made the objection at the
time.
The PRESIDENT. The Chair did not understand the
senator as Directing.
The question being then taken taking up the bill to
create the Department OF the INTERIOR it decided In
the negative.
The question recurring upon the census bill,
Mr. CALHOUN said: Census bulls have not heretofore
passed the short session. but early IN the next succeed
ing one If it is the desire OF the Senate to go back TO
uracce of the Senate, and adopt simple