The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-10
THIRTY-FIRsT CONGRESS.
SATURDAY, June s, 1880.

FIRST SESSION.


SENATE.
Petitions presented by Messrs. sEBAsriAs
and SEWARD.
SLAVERY.
MIR. CHASE presented some of the usual series Of
petitions on the subject OF slavery and fugitive slaves
PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN OREGON AND mIsNEsoTA.
MIR. DOUGLAS from the Committee Terrific
res reported back the bill from the House, entitled
IAN act making further appropriation for public
buildings IN the Territories OF Minnesota and Ore
gon."
Mr.. ID. explained the bill, and after some de-
bate upon its provisions by Messrs BuTLER, KING,
JONES UNpEnwooD, FooTE, and DouoLAs,
The question was then taken, and the bill was
read n third time and passed.
REMTTING MONEYS 70 CALIFORNIA.
Mr.. BENTON moved, and the following resolu-
ton was taken up, considered and adopted:
ResoIUed, That the Committee ON Finance be in
structcd to inquire into the cxpedency Of refund
ing to California the amount collected for duties in
the ports Of California by authority Of the United
States officers, from the conquest OF the country in
lS46-'47, to the time Of the arrival of the United
States collector at San Francisco in the month of
November, lS47
MILITARY RgcoNHoIssANcEs.
MIR. CASS moved, and resolution offered by
him few days ago was taken up for consideration,
and, after notifications, it was adopted as fol-
lows
ResoiUed, That the Secretary of the Department
of War furnish the Senate, practicable,
with copies of the journals of all Reconnaissance
returned to the Typographical Bureau by officers
Of the United States making such surveys within
the last year and not heretofore communicated, to-
gether with copies of the maps and sketches be-
longing to said "Reminiscences; also the report of
Captain French, OF the Quartermaster's Depart
ment, designating route for military road from
San Antonio to FL Paso
cALIroRSIA-TERRITonIALG GOVERNMENTS.
The Senate then resumed the consideration Of the
bill reported by the select committee of thirteen,
IIaiff falt Sfat.
tablish Territorial governments for Utah and New
Mexico; and making proposals TO Texas for the es-
Enlistment Of her western and northern bound
aries.
/ The question pending was OH an amendment to
part of the 18th section, containing the proposed
boundaries of Texas The portion of the section
reads thus:
First. The northern boundary of said State
[Iexasl shall be follows: Beginning at the point
on the Rio del Norte, commonly called FL Paso,
and running up that river twenty miles, measured
by straight line thereon, and thence eastwardly
to point where the hundredth degree of west
longitude crosses Red river, being the southwest
angle in the line designated between the United
States and Mexico and the same angle in the line
Of the territory set apart for the Indians by the
United States.
Mr.. FOOTE moved to amend by striking out the
words commonly called FL Paso and running up
that river twenty miles, measured by straight
line thereon, }" and insert in lieu thereof the words
'wherc the thirty fourth degree Of north latitude
crosses said rivcr;' and to add, at the end of the
BILL certain provisions that the rights ofTexas shall
not be impaired by any thing in this bill, in
Texas does not accept the terms proposed and also
that the Missouri compromise line established in the
resolutions OF annexation OF Texas shall not be dis
turbed by any thing in this bill.
Mr. CLEMENS moved to amend the amendment
by adding some provision thereto, but we
able TO obtain a copy of 1t.
Mr. FOOTE explained his amendment, and ac
cepted the amendment ~ MIR. CLEMENS as a modi-
Mr. CLAY defended the bound airy as reported by
the committee.
Mr. RUSk supported the proposition to make the
gath parallel the southern boundary OF New Mex
Messrs. MANG UNI, CLAY, RUSK, DOUGLAS,
FOOTE, and PRATT continued the debate.
Mr. FOOTE then Withdrew his amendments.
Mr.. DOUGLAS moved to strike out the whole
Of the above provision, and insert the following
The northern boundary of the State of Texas
shall be line drawn due east from the Rio Grande
at the southern end of the tornado del Muerto, or
Journey of the Dead, to the Red river, and thence
down the centre of said river; and the boun-
Diary of the Territory Of New Mexico shall be the
range ofmountains dividing ridge separating the
waters flowing into the Rio Grande from the waters
flowing into the Arkansas and red river
MIR. PRATT gave notice OF the following amend
ment:
"Procided, That nothing herein contained shall
be so construed as 10 annul, abrogatc, affect the
resolutions OF annexation, il being the true intent
and meaning of this act that the said resolutions
shall not be altered, annulled, affected by any
thing herein contained"
MIR. DAVIS, of Mississippi, opposed the principle
OF buying this territory at all. He denied that
there was any constitutional power 10 purchase
this territory from Texas: the powers Of the Gov
eminent 70 purchase territory within the States
were clearly and definitely limited.
Mcssrs. CLAY, BERRIEN, and DOWNS all ex-
pressed different opinion.
Mr.. DAVIS replied, and Mr. DOWNS rejoined.
MIR. FOOTE followed in support Of the amend
ment and in reply to a circular lately issued by
General Wallace of South Carolina. lie spoke Of
the effect Of this bill in wise determining the
question Of slavery.
MIR. HALE followed in response
Mr.. DAWSON replied to the Senator from New
Hampshire, and read from several New Hampshire
papers TO show that that Senator in 1895 ultra
in his opposition TO Abotionists and warmly sup
ported Mr.. Van Buren," the northern man with
southern principles"
Mr.. HALE rejoined;
And then, ON motion, the Senate adjourned.