Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-01-25
MoSpAy, JASuARy Il, 1850.

y y H.
Mr. Seward presented petition of citizens OF New ork
in favor of submitting arbitration Tor war IN national dis
pGteS. :, c, a., ::
Petitions presented by Mr. Bell III favor OF the I'M
Petitions were presented by Mr. Clay in favor Of Two
cent rate of postage on letters prepaid
Petitions from Pennsylvania were presented IN FAVOR o
Mr. Foote's resolution declaring that il is expcdicni for
Congress establish territorial governments tor California
Dcscrct and New Mexico, was taken up.
Mr. Cass spoke al length on the subject lie defined Ihe
duty and power OF Congress over territories ana me Gt
unce between insti,utng territorial government ana esS
rAp for territory The word territory, as used in the Con-
s'itu was intended be applied 10 SOIL and not 10 com
. nn insn- up on T. lhc Po~.r ~ 1n Esc
sive Jusdlc over land did not imply night To make laws
for Reog or 10 aSo,c Of people or ropG5 ,o,o Tho
right lord every thing, and the rights Of nothing
The clause in the constitution gave Congress simply the
right sell the land lie did believe that Congress had
the cedc territory unless in settlnsa boundary ne
but if the doctrine Of absolute and unlimited jurisdiction
would permit Congress 10 sen and ALLEVIATE territory the
powers of the States depended no Congress
than the powers OF the old States bo depended the
| siitutiun.
Congress could under the constitutional power to make need
full rules and regulations establish territorial governments;
when land sold the L. s. government had no
more mower over it, Ii power over public land gave =. Con
ress the people, then Congress would have pow
the States, where the government had public lana.
| Mr. Cas- without concluding, gave way 10 motion
ADJOURN The Senate spent time i'll executive session
| ana al ourned
HOUSE OF REPRES ENTATIyES.
The House al IL clock. The journal of Yesterday
was read and approved
Mr. Brown of Mississippi asked the general consent of
tho House 10 introduce resolution calling upon the Presi
dent of the United States to furnish to the House f not in
compatible with The public INTEREST," all the information
nected with the late alleged Cuban expeditions especially all
the correspondence and the instructions To Randolph
other naval military officer To suppress said expedition
Also the correspondence any, which took place between
the Governor of Mississippi and the President OF the United
States heads OF departments concerning the said cxpcdi
ton
Objection was made the Introduction Of The resolution
aud il pressed.
Mr.. Bur, called for the orders of the dav. when
The Speaker announced that the first thing in order
the proposition oil the gentleman from Massachusetts, Ir
Ashnun on The table the motion 10 reconsider the
by which the order tho election of the Doorkceper
and Postmaster postponed until the t March, 1851;
which motion he said the yeas and nays ordered
Mr.. Robinson Of Ia moved that there be- a call of the
House and that motion demanded the yeas and NAYS
which ordeed and,he question being TAKEN the House
refused 10 have a call, 10y yeas IS, nays l23.
Al this stage Of the proceedings Mr.. Mes Of Pa who had
been confined his home in Pennsylvania by indisposon
appeared and was qualified, Did took his seat.
The question lay the table the motion of Mr.. Ash
reconsider then taken and decided in c alir-
native By yeas of l06 nays l0l.
Mr.. Bari OF $. c. question of privilege The
hc said Just TAKEN postpones the election OF Door
keeper and Postmaster Ia period within but day or two Of
the constitutional term of this House lie submitted with
great respect the House that the meantime there would
be such officers the Doorkecper and Postmaster of this
House With that view he would oler resolution which
provided for tho contingency which had arisen.
Mr. b. then introduced his resolution asserting that the
House having postponed the election Doorkccpcr and
Postmaster until March, 1851 and providing in the absence
of such officer as Dookcepcr that the Sergeant, Arms be-
authorized perform The duties which pertain TO that Office
Mr. Ashmun objected the introduction OF the resolution
The Chair decided that the resolution in order
Mr. Ashmun appealed from the decleion o the Chair,
the ground that il was not privileged question: and that
required days notice before the resolution would be in.
introduced 4 lengthy debate ensued.
Mr. Crowel moved lay the appeal from the decision of
the Speaker the table, and that motion demanded the
yeas and nays. which were ordered.
Inquiry made of the Chair as 10 what would be the
,ffe of he
The Speaker decided that according 10 the precedcns of
the House. the effect would be TO sustain the decision of the
Chair.
The question then put and the appeal laid
the table-yeas l0l nays loi.
Mr. Ashmun moved the previous question the adoption
of the resolution II seconded; and the question
being sustaining the decision Of the Chair, Mr. Burt de-
manded the yeas and nays, which were ordered.
Mr.. W. j. Brown moved an adjournment; and the Honse
refused To adjourn by and nays OF 70 in the
atfrmayeto l72 in the negative.
The question recurring the question whether the dec
sion of the chair shall stand the Judgment of the House il
decided in the negative by yeas l0l, nays l02.
This decides finally the question of doorkccpe The door
keeper and postmaster of last Congress will now hold
their offices till iS March, ISL unless resolution hc intro
duccd and adopted election in face OF the dec
sion OF the Speaker heretofore that such motion would be
On motion OF Mr.. Gentry, the Executive messages
laid before the House as follows:
message and correspondence regard the action of
the Executive concerning the suggested expedition
lcve Sir John franklin The message ordered 10 lie
the table and be printed
Also the following from the President in
the resolution of Mr. Tenabe passed by the House the
3ls, December calling for information whether the admin
straon had interfered in the affairs OF California: 7
To The House Of Representatives, ofMe United States:
transmit the House of Representatives. in answer 10
resolution OF that body passed on the 3lst OF December
as, the accompanying reports of heads OF departments
which contain all the official information in the possession
he Executive asked for BY the resolution.
On coming into Office, found the military commandan of
he department of California exercising The functions civil
governor in that territory; and left, act under
he treaty of Guadalupe HdalCo without the aid of any e
.islave provision establishing government that terrific
" though, it best not 10 disturb that arrangement made
under my predecessor until Congress should take ac
ion that subject therefore did not interfere with the