The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-10
THIRTY-FfRsT CONGRESS.
THuRspAv. May 9, 1850.
SENATE
FIRST SESSION.

SENATE.
Petitions were presented by Messrs DicKiSsoN'
CHASE, and CLEMENS.
Mr. COOPER presented several petitions from
the Slate of Pennsylvania, praying mobilization
of the tariff OF 1910,
THE KoscIusKo cAsE--M. Oh BoDlsco
MIR. WALKER moved, and the Senate proceeded
10 the consideration OF the following resolution:
Rssolpsd That the Secretary of State be required
10 inform the Senate what measures he has taken
upon the memorial of Ladislaus Wapkowitz, great
grand nephew of General Thaddeus Kosciusko, and
laspard Tochman, attorney of the heirs OF General
Kosciusko, against Alexandra de Bodisco, minister
from Russia accredited to this Government
Which, after some remarks by Messrs. WALK
Err, SHIELDS, FOOTE, and BERRIEN, was adopt
ed-yeas 90 nays 10.
THE COINAGE OF THE UNITED sTATEs-THE MINT
MIR. SMITH submitted the following resolution,
which was considered by unanimous consent, and
agreed 10.
Resolued, That the Committee ON Finance be di-
rected to inquire into the expediency of SO amend
ing the Sth section of the act entitled IAN act sup
Elementary to the act entitled San act for estab-
fishing mint and regulating the coins of the Uni
ted States" approved 18th January, 1897, so to
allow the alloy to be used in manufacturing the
gold coins Of the United States to be of silver only,
or of much copper, in addition to the silver which
exists in combination with gold, as the same is
found in California, as shall bring said gold coins
to the standard at present established by law; and
also into the expediency of establishing mint in
California, or, in lieu thereof, more depots
for assaying the gold bullion there found, and Of
making an appropriation to enable the United
States purchase said bullion, and 10 coin assay
the same, to render Invaluable to the mines, with
little loss as possible.
CALIFoR NIA-oREGoN.
MIR. YULEE moved, and the Senate proceeded to
the consideration of the following resolutions sub
NIT al hvh few dava
Resolved, That the President of the United States
be requested TO furnish to the Senate copies OF all
correspondence between any of the Executive de-
partments and Gen. Pcrsifer +. Smith and Brig.
Gen. b. Riley, either of them, relating to aggres-
sions in California, which has not been heretofore
communicated to the Senate.
Resoiped further, That the President be requested
10 furnish to the Senate all information existing in
any of the Executive departments respecting the
transactions of the convention in California by
which the project Of State government pre-
pared, and particularly a copy OF the journal Of
said convention, and of such of the ordinances
adopted by it as may in any way have been com.
municated to any of the said departments.
RssoIpsd, further That the President Oft United
States be requested TO inform the Senate if the
render Of Gen. Riley to the jurisdiction and civil
authority of the government, made by the afore
said convention, was by order of the Executive Of
the United States, and if not, whether the procla
nation of Gen. Riley, recognising the said State
government and submitting to Its jurisdiction, has
received the sanction of the Executive
Resolved further, That the President of the United
States be also requested to furnish to the Senate
whatever intelligence may have been received in
the Executive departments respecting the condition
of civil affairs in the Oregon territory.
Mr.. YULEE said that since he had presented
these resolutions important information had reached
the country from the Pacific coast which has rem
dered the information called for by these resolu-
tions more necessary for proper consideration of
some subjects to come before the Senate II would
appear by the information just received that the
government TO which General Riley had surren-
dered his authority as governor were about to de-
mand the revenues collected by the United States
officers under the authority of act of their leg
islature. Also that some steps have been taken in
the country towards the establishment Of an indie
pendent government.
These facts all rendered more necessary the in
formation sought for by the resolutions. He would
submit in addition resolution calling for informa-
ton respecting Oregon. He had received a letter
from friend in Oregon, which said that there
not single civil officer remaining in that Terri
tory. The judges and other civil officers had all
gone off TO California, seeking gold. His additional
resolution was to know whether this state of things
was known to the Government. He then recapitu-
lated the course of proceedings in California, and
the conduct of General Riley in surrendcring his
functions as Governor TO the State government set
up in that State. He cited an opinion rendered by
Mr.. Attorney General Butler upon certain questions
submitted to him by the President, upon what he
considered an analogous case. territorial gov
eminent was in operation in Arkansas, and the
there a movement in that State to have dele
gates elected by the people 10 convention 70 frame
a constitution and State government; that Con-
gress had not given its sanction or any authority
for such movement, and the Governor had doubts
whether, If such thing done, il would be
legal or justifable under the laws Of the United
States; and whether the territorial government
would be superseded by any authority established
by such convention.
The Attorney General had given his opinion that
sllsuch movements were not justfable legal and
he advised that IL the duty of the governor and
the executive 10 oppose all such illegal movements.
IL was true that there Territorial govern
ment in California, but there a government
there, and the Administration, in Of its commu-
nications 10 Congress, said that there was govern
ment de faeto in that country. He could not be-
heve that the Administration sanctioned the con-
duct OF General Riley in surrendering his authority
20 the government established the Pacific, and
hoped that such dsapprovsl would appear in the in
formation sought for by the resolutions.
The resolutions were then modified (as given
above) and were adopted.
MIR. FOOTE read letter received by him from
some person in California, enclosing some docu-
ments in the Spanish language touching the estab-
hshment Of Territorial government for the south
ern portion Of California. Also, letter received
by DIR. Gwin (Senator elect from California; from
a member Of the California Legislature, in which
the movement was pronounced a failure, and got
up by that portion Of the population who were old
Spanish Californians. He moved the documents
be laid on the table and translated.
Mr.. TURNEY objected TO the reception Of the
papers.
The CHAIR decided that the papers, not being
addressed TO the Senate, could not be received II
objection made
THE CENSUS BILL.
A message received from the House Of Rep
resentatves, announcing the passage Of the Senate
bill providing for taking the seventh census with
amendments.
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Massachusetts, moved that the
bill be referred TO a select committee and the
ton was agreed 20.
Mr.. HALE moved, and the Chair was authorized
TO appoint the committee, and the amendments oi
the House ordered to be printed.
THE REPORTER YEsTgRpAY.
Mr.. CLAY moved to take up the bill reported
yesterday by the select committee Of thirteen "to
admit California a State into the Union, 10 cs-
tablish territorial governments for Utah and New
Mexico, aud making proposals TO Texas for the e.
adjustment Of her western and northern bounda-
ries," with view TO some final disposition Of H.
The motion prevailed and the bill was, then read
second time, and made the special order Of the day
for Monday next.
TIVE BOARD ACCOUNTS.