Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-19
CON CIR ESS.
THURSDAY, JAM AIRY l., 1850.
IN 81 NATE.

will not lead any debate had the honor to submit TO the
Senate the other day two resolutions of this kind, and my
friend from New York (Mr DIcKISsos) also submitted one
! am DESTROYS that they should be taken up and
adopted will that they be taken up the order in
which they have been offered.
The VICE PRESIDENT. This only be done by
the unanimous of the Senate If there be obec
the resolutions referred will be taken up in the
der in which they presented for consideration The
Chair hears objection The resolutions will be read
The first resolution in order-the that was first offer
eds that relating California II read by the Secre-
tary follows
Resolved That the President OF the United States be
quesed inform the Senate early practicable whether
person has been by him appointed civil or military Gov
ernor of California the 4h day of March last and
who has been appointed and what compensation has
Also that he be requested the Senate whether any
agent has been appointed by the Executive OF the De-
partmens of the Government and California with in
rucons authority organize State Government for
that Territory aid and advise the people within its limits
nd further that he be requested Senate how
the delegates recently assembled in California calling them
selves Convention were elected by qualifications
the fixed and determined what those qual
cations and by what law the time places and manner
of holding said election was regulated
And further that he be requested inform the Senate whe
Their OF the nhab ants of said Territory has been
taken and if by what law, and under what authority
And further that he be requested to communicate to the
Senate all orders written verbal instructions,
spondenee by the preceding Administration the present
Administration with person civil or military Governor
of California agent the part OF the United States Gov
eminent in California
Their steps have been taken by the Executive De-
of the Government assemble Convention in New
application for admission into the Union and if that he
be requested communicate the Senate all ORDERS nstruc
tons, and papers in relation thereto.
And further that he be requested to inform the Senate
what ground he bases the opinion in his annual Mes
sage Of December H. si9 that the people of New Mexico
viii cat very distant period themselves for adms-
sion into the Union"
The VICE PRESIDENT. When this resolution
before under consideration, the Senator from New Jersey
moved to strike out so much of it as will now be read
And further that he be requested to inform the
upon what ground he bases the opinion in his annual
Message Of December H. si9 that the people of New Mexico
win at very distant period themselves for adms
sion into the Union.'"
Mr.. CLEMENS. stated the other day that thought it
probable that the information called TO- by this resolution
would be furnished in the resolution which has been
adopted by the House Of Representatives. If this should be
the case 1t would be unnecessary adopt this resolution
and thought better therefore wait and the to
that inquiry As is probable that shall have oppor-
tuny OF knowing what that answer is in very short me
will that the resolution be laid upon the table for the
present.
SEVERAL SENATORS Let it be passed by informally
Mr., DOUGLAS hope this resolution will not be pass
ed by.
The VICE PRESIDENT A motion has been made to
lay il upon the table.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. hope the gentleman will withdraw his
notion
Mr.. DOUGLAS. | trust the resolution will be adopted.
II the made the House the entire subject
will be very small afa-a matter OF very little difficulty to
send copy Of it to apprehend however, that this
solution goes further than the resolution of the House that
il calls for further information than called for by the
luton of the House and desire all the information that
be had upon this subject have in the newspapers of
the country portions of the country that the Ad
nisraon have adopted that calculated to
the people of California in their free action in forming
State Government true that any power of coercion,
either civil military has been used by the Administration
prevent the people from the free exercise of the cleo
tive franchise the free decision of any question affecting
their constitution, the people of the United States entitled
20 know that fache Senate entitled to know that
desire, sir, that this CALL the searching
which be adopted, shall be adopted that may
have all the facts upon the subject If it be untrue that the
Administration have used any such power MEANS is due
them that this call should be adopted that response
should be had in order that the country may know that they
have not used any such means think It due alike to the
country and to the Administration that these should
be set at rest either by showing their truth by showing
that they have no foundation in truth.
hope this resolution will be adopted-adoped now in
der that we may have speedy answer and know what has
been done on the subject.
Mr.. SMITH. AS inma,cd the Senate in making this
motion, desired bring before the Senate such resolutions
would excite debate. very sorry that the honor
able Senator from Illinois should insist upon the consideration
of this resolution at this tme If the resolution adopted
ALL it certainly, as it strikes ought TO undergo very
siderable notifications, and the subject will be likely to
gross the entire attention of the Senate during the morning
hour. But desire to state, for the information of the hon
orable Senator and Of the Senate that understand from
of information upon which rely that
pct communication has been made the House of Repre-
seRtstive this entire subject, and that the President and
heads Of Departments have been particular to
copies Of every single scrap scraw that is to be found
the archives relating to this subject that the honorable
Senator will probably learn and be fully satisfied to the
truth what regard to be most unfounded mputaton
the President and the present Administration. And VEN
ture to state further that when these papers before the
public the honorable gentleman will learn that the celebrated
proclamation that issued by Gen. Riley upon the basis
Of which this Convention authorized issued under
the authority Of the last Administration, and under the
authority by any instructions that given by the pre-
sent Administration
do not WISH Mr. President, occupy the time of the
Senate discussing this subject but think the honorable
gentleman before he ventured introduce into this body i'm
putaons upon the President and the present Administration
should have waited until the papers before Congress
and think that the which the honorable gentleman
from Alabama Mr CLEMESs proposes to take in reference
20 this subject entirely right and proper understand that
these papers exceedingly voluminous much that
when printed they will probably make entire
lume and for the Senate make another CALL and compel
the heads of Departments and their subodinates copy
these papers again. when they already the hands of
the House OF Representatives. and be printed the
OF the Government and copy according the prac
ce OF Congress- to be laid before every Senator would
70 TO be unnecessary consumption of the time of
the officers in the various Departments as an unneces
sary expense to the Government.
Without, therefore, Mr. President, occupying any more of
the time OF the Senate this subject and with the
consideration Of subject which feel assured will not give
occasion to debate aud conformity with what
the desire of the Senator from Alabama, wish
lay this resolution for the present the table and it. when
the papers in, there is full and perfect re-
Spouse every reasonable n,eogatory and complete an
TO unfolpded in he