The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-08-08
HOUSE, OF REPRESENTATIVES.

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
After prayer, the journal of the preceding day s
proceedings YVES read; when,
MIR. RICHARDSON notified the House of his
intention to introduce bill granting lands to the
White Hall Female Academy in Illinois.
Mr.. HOLMES, by the unanimous consent of
the House, introduced a resolution inquring Of
the President for Information relative to the char
acter and amount of the claims of the United
States against Portugal, and of those of Portugal
against this Government; and for transcripts of
all correspondence between the two Governments
on the subject, if not incompatible with the public
interest
MIR. McCLERNAND called the attention Of
the House to newspaper rumors saying that fleet
of this Government had been despatched to per-
emptorily demand Of Portugal payment Of the
amount claimed OF her by the United States. As
Cairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, he
had no official information on the subject. Yet,
if these stories were correct, the Administration, in
despatchng fleet in any such manner or for any
such purpose, had perpetrated gross usurpation
of the powers and duties of Congress, which
alone had the power to make war, under the Con-
stitution. He was strongly impressed with the
belief however, that single ship, or, it might
be, two vessels of war had been ordered to visit
an ordinary demand for this payment had been
directed to be made, but without the threats
which, according to the newspapers, it was ex-
pected our agents would utter if the money was
not forthcoming.
Mr.. JAS. G. KING, of New Jersey, said that
the newspapers contained accounts of recent cor
respondence between the two Governments, such
as would probably soon make it proper that the
Administration should communicate ample infor-
nation to Congress on the subject, unasked.
Under these circumstances, he could see neither
necessity for, nor proprety in enacting the reso-
luton of Mr.. HOLMES. He therefore objected to
the introduction of that gentleman s resolution.
The SPEAKER remarked that the unanimous
consent Of the House having already been granted
ton came too late. @ sl.
Mr.. ASHMUN had drawn from the tone Of
the public journals on the subject, the impression
that it was one Of great delicacy He therefore
suggested to the of the resolution, the pro-
priety Of permitting il to lie over one day.
Mr.. ASTIMUN conceived that the manner in
which the last speaker had arraigned the late Adj
ministration for endangering the peaceful char
acter of our relations with Portugal, made the
enactment of the resolution under consideration,
proper. IF the suspicious of that gentleman were
well founded, it was the duty of the House not
only to act on his recommendation, but to vote
censure upon the act, similar to that voted against
the administration Of Mr.. Polk, in case nearly
parallel with this.
Mr.. billiard saw no reason to dissent from
the views on this subject spoken by the gentle
men last addressing the House, and he should
therefore hesitate not to vote for the resolution.
He had no disposition to generate an impression
that in so voting, he was actuated by confidence
in the truth Of the accusations of Mr.. HOLMES
against the late Administration, or in the news
paper rumors concerning the existing condition
Of our relations with Portugal He believed the
presence of Mr.. Webster in the State Department,
to be a guarantee that these relations would be
found all right while he is there.
Mr.. STANTON, Of Tennessee, inquired wheth-
err the last speaker derived this conclusion, that
there was no danger Of our being plunged in war,
from the principles announced and the doctrines
advocated in Mr.. Webster's recent reply to the
Governor of Texas.
Mr. billiard did not conceive this occasion
appropriate for entering into the Texas and New
Mexico controversy.
Mr.. McCLERNAND taking the floor, main
tanned that the claim for indemnity on account of
the privateer General Armstrong, was rightfully
against England, rather than Portugal.
Mr.. ROOT calling Mr.. McC. to order,
The SPEAKER decided that his (Mr. McC 81
remarks were not in order.
Mr.. billiard again. taking the floor, de-
clared that he had been assured that the conduct
of the Administration in the matter of this con-
troversy with Portugal had been in all respects
correct and statesman-like.
Mr.. STANTON, of Tennessee, remarked that
in questions of this sort, he felt every confidence
not only in Mr.. Websters experience, but in his
patriotism. .... 1919. .
The previous question having been called,
Mr.. McCLERNAND trusted that this call
would not be insisted on He desired to make
few remarks on the subj ect. .m...
But the call not being Withdrawn, the previous
question was seconded by the House, and then
On motion of Mr.. BAYLY the House went
into a Committee Of the Whole on the state Of the
Union, Mr.. Borp in the Chair.
The annual Post Office Appropriation bill hav
ing been again taken up in the Committee, vari
Gus amendments thereto were offered and advo-
Gated in five minutes speeches, by Messrs. Ca
sEy, BRowN, of Indiana, TAYLOR, PorrER, ASH
NUN, JONES, CARTIER, FOWLER, VENABLE, VIN-
ron, PHELPS, STANTON, of KY, and HOLMES.
On motion, the Committee next rose, and the
bill as amended having been reported to the
House, with recommendation that it be passed.
Mr. BAYLY proposing further amendment
''to insert proviso after the first section-moved
The previous question, which was seconded by the
House.
Whereupon the question being on agreeing to
the amendments reported from the Committee Of
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