Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-01-25
T.arsy-r1rst Conrre.s-F,r.e session.
WEDNESDAY,, Jan. 10th, 1850.

S SENATE.
After the disposal Of the morning business Mr.
Benton made his promised motion for leave to bring
bill for the reduction of the limits of the State
Of Texas and prefaced his motion with exposition
Of the principles of his bill.
The Bill proposes to reduce Texas to State Of
10000 square miles, to be again divided into two
States at future period. ALI land outside of this
is to be ceded to the United States for the of
SIS, 100000. Read twice and referred to the Com
mittee on the Judiciary.
Mr.. Foote, in pursuance of notice, asked and OBJ
tanned leave to introduce bill to provide for the Or
ganizaton of the territorial government Of California
Deseret and New Mexico, and to enable the people
of Jacnto with the consent of the State of Texas to
form a constitution and State government and for
the admission of such State into the Union upon
equal footing with the original States in all respects
whatsoever.
Mr.. Foote, in the course of his remarks, was very
severe upon Benton, who, towards the close, got up
and made for the door of the Senate Chamber, the
Senator from Mississippi applying to him the cele-
brated words of Cicero to Catalina The division pro-
posed by Mr.. Foote'S Bill will be found in another
column.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
A message was received from the Senate by A.
Dickens, Esq., Secretary, informing the House that
the Senate had passed joint resolution limiting the
expense Of collecting customs for the present fiscal
year. -
The resolution was read and referred to the Com
mittee on Ways and Means. .-.-
Mr.. HARRISON asked leave to introduce resolution
authorizing the employment of additional Clerks in
the third Auditors Office, to assist in adjusting and
settling claims against the United States arising out
of the Mexican war. Objections being made. the re-
solution was not received.
The Speaker declared the order of the day to be
the election of officers. The House then went into
the election for door keeper, and after voting five
or six times without choice, adjourned
THURSDAY, January II.
SENATE.
After the disposal of petitions and resolutions of
private character the Senate resumed the consdera
ton of the resolution submitted some time since BY
Mr.. Clemens, of Alabama, calling upon the Presi
dent for information as to whether any person had
been appointed civil and military Governor of Cali
fornia whether any agent has been appointed and
sent to California for the purpose of organizing
State government there, and what instructions haC
been given to such agent or correspondence helt
with him also, how the delegates to the Californis
Convention were elected whether census had beer
taken, and, if so, by virtue of what law. 49,
Mr.. Clemens said he understood that similar
resolution had been passed in the other House, which
would probably answer the purpose, he would there
FORE move that this resolution be laid upon the table
| Mr.. Douglas hoped it would not be laid the ia
ble The presumed interference of the Executive il
kbo of 70
agtated the country, and it was due to the countr
and the administration that this agitation should b
put to rest which could only be done by giving thi
| information. ..-.-=--.-
Mr. Truman Smith said that in answer to the Hous
roaol.4:o1. most full and explicit Communication
had been made He hoped that the Senator from
Illinois (Mr Douglas) would allow the resolution t
Law on the table Mr.. Smith said that the celebra
ted proclamation of Gen. Riley had been made be
fore he had received any orders from the present ad
minisration and while acting under authority dsri
we'd from the last administration. That the charge
of interference was most unfounded imputation up
on the present administration.
Mr. Douglas said that the Senator from Connect
cut had made charge against Mr. Polk. AS FRIEND
of President Folks administration he was determn
ed to have this information to at whose door tn
blame lies of having used undue means to coerc'
public opinion and corrupt the elective franchise D.
throwing The weight of Executive influence in favO
of particular form of constitution, with view o
getting them into the Union with that constitution
and thus evading the responsibility of settling til
agitating question of slavery.
Mr.. Smith commended that as the House resolution
+ called for all the documents, similar resolution
kho IF he IA
on the departments. ,...-..
Mr.. Douglas replied that the House resolution di
not cover the whole ground, and that he hoped tn
resolution would be passed. 1t was Of more impor
tance to the country that the charge involved shout
be properly sfted than that small amount of trou
BILE and expense should be saved. He said that tn
Senator from Connecticut seemed to speak as thong
he knew all about the matter; he (Mr. Douglas
wanted to know too.
Mr. Clay hoped that Mr.. Douglas would wait fo
the publication of the reply to the House resolution
and if that was not satisfactory he himself would ca
up this resolution.
Mr.. Foote said he had received printed speech
made by Mr.. Bolts, Virginia Democrat in Cal
forna which positively states that undue means ha
been used to coerce public opinion in California ths
threats had been held out, emanating from the al
thorities at Washington City, that unless ant
slavery constitution adopted the weight of Exc
cutive influence would be cast against its admission
Light he concluded, and the fullest, was wanted W
on this matter.
Mr. Dawson was in favor of laying tie resolutio
on the table The mover, Mr. Clemens, had reque
ted such course to be adopted, and he thought tn.
n courtesy would demand from the Senator from III
n -