The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1850-01-25
TELEGRAPH DISPATCHES.
WAsHINGToN. Jan. %.
SENATE.

The bill making appropriations for repairs
to the Cumberland dam was discussed. Mr..
Cay spoke in favor OF the bill, which was
fin; lily passed over informally.
The special order of the day was taken up,
Mr.. Foote's resolution, " declaring it the duty
of Congress to provide territorial governments
for the Territories"
Mr.. Cass addressed the Senate at length
upon the Wilmot Proviso, stating that there
were two questions involved in the controver-
sy respecting the Wilmot provso. LIST, As
TO its con stitutionallty. I'd, As to it's expedi-
ency. He would confine himself principally
to the question of its constitutionality, and
afterwards to its expediency. He considered
it the general powers of Congress to Iegislate
over distant Territories quoting various au
thorities in favor of this claim of unlimited
legislation. He considered that it had led to
our revolutionary struggle. He had listened
with amazement to the subtle discussion on
the subject, as if rights of sovereignty were
everything and rights of man were nothing.
n is a revival of the dispute between Great
Britain and her colonies, in which we have
taken the place of Great Britain. He drew
distinctions between the rights of unlimited
legislation over distant regions which have
no representation, and the right to organize
a Government leaving the details to the peo-
pie In the District of Columbia Congress
has exclusive jurisdiction; but there were pc
culiar reasons for that, arising out of the stu
alton of the District and the nature of the orr
ginal federal compact. There is no clause of
the Constitution which gives Congress the
express power to pass any law respecting
slavery III the Territories. That authority
is derived from various sources. Every con-
structon of the Constitution which would
give foreign legislation power over slavery,
would equally give it power over every other
social and political question in the Territory.
fit was intended to give Congress unlimited
power of legislation over the Territories, it
would have been so expressed. Mr.. Cass
then entered into an analysis of various claus
es of the Constitution from which it has been
attempted to derive this power.
Ats P. NJ, Mr. Cass gave way for Execu-
tive session.
House-A lengthy discussion ensued rel
alive to the temporary appointment of new
or the continuation of the old door-keeper.
The President sent in message in answer
to the resolution Of inquiry respecting the
government of California. &c. The Pres-
dent says after some explanation, II did not
hesitate to express to the people of these ter
rItores my desire that each should, if prepar-
ed, comply with the acquisitions of the Unit
ed States Constitution and apply for admis
sion into the Union; but did not authorize
the establishment of any such government
without the consent of Congress; nor did 1
authorize any agent of the United States to
influence the election of delegates, or control
any convention IN making or modifying their
domestic institutions"
An Intellectual attempt was made to recon-
slider the vote postponing the election Of door
keeper.
The Speaker decided it would be out of
order but that motion to appoint for time
door keeper and postmaster would be enter
tanned, but no election could be had until the
time, March, 1851, expired.
PtTTsBURaH, Jan. D. M.
There are IA feet water in the channel and
rising. Weather very cold
CINCINNATI, Jan %, M.
The river is slowly falling. Weather pleas