Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-04-27
t0asbi,,eton Nrws.
Correspondence Of the Phila. Ledgcr.l
FROM WASHINGTON.

reason 10 suppose, owing TO the different vo-
ting on Benton's amendments the day pre-
vious.
The Committee have taken a fortnight for
their labor. They will report earlier, how
ever and in a single bill provide for the adj
mission of California as a State, and for the
establishment of territorial governments In
Utah and New Mexico. The other subjects
in controversy will be disposed of in separate
bills. There is not an earthly doubt that the
bill reported by the committee will pass the
Senate by a decided majority But what
shen! The bill will be sent down TO the
House and there a vain effort will be made
10 .eparate the two bills--the admission OF
California from the Territorial Bill Should
that effort succeed, which is extremely doubt
ful-the separate bills will go back 10 The
Senate. In that case the Senate will either
take up the Territorial Bill first and strike
out the Wimot Provso contained in it; or if
motion 10 take up California first should
prevail Mr. Clay stands pledged 10 hitch the
Territorial Bill 10 it. The vote on uniting
The two bills into one will be stronger one
than the vote for appointing Compromise
Committee; it will exceed that vote by at
least three-by seuen in full Senate. Mr..
Douglass has pledged himself to vote for the
union of the two bills.
Should the House agree to let the Senate
bill, providing for the admission of California
and the establishment of territorial govern
menis, stand, then it is not Improbable that
the Wimot Proviso will be added 10 il; but
if this be done, it will be more 10 satisfy con-
s,ituencies than the individual convictions Of
members. A great majority Of these want
the question settled; and as all sensible men
here in Washington agree that practically,
il does not matter three straws whether the
Wilmo, Proviso is attached TO the bill or not
no such desperate fight will be made on that
point as might be expected al distance
IT. however. the Wilmol Proviso be attached
TO it, and the bill goes back 10 The Senate, it
will be stricken out by very large majority;
aud the House will ultimately agree 10 the
Senate bill by what would now seem an i'm
possible majority. And thus the question
will be settled
caucus. Ii was agreed that CGss should be
proposed as Chairman of the Compromise
Committee, inasmuch as Cass was the first 10
stay the torrent, and his party the most pow
erfu in Congress. But the old General rose
and declined the honor which he conceived
due TO Henry Clay. Had Clay been in that
caucus and heard the voluntary tribute paid
to his genius and character by men, the most
prominent in the land, and opposed through
life 10 his politics and measures, how ii
would have warmed his heart and increased
his faith in the generosity and virtue Of his
counrymen. After the adjournment of the
Senate, Clay, being surrounded by ladies, IS
usnal-and women are better judges Of cha
rac,er than men-Scveral Senators passed
him, when, remembering the old adage,
s!busness first and pleasure afterwards" the
old Roman cried, 81 shall call the Committee
together tomorrow !"
OBSERVER.
WAsnIxGToN April 22d, 1850.
The two Houses are now in the best con-
di,on for a settlement, and il is with infinite
pleasure that can now say the bill icH pass
both Houses
Mr.. Douglas bill for the admission Of Cal
ifornia, which, together with the territorial
bill, will no doubt be adopted by the Com
promise Committee, is by some supposed
liable TO lead to the alienation Of the public
domain; but this, | believe, is a mistake.
The Supreme Court has oven and over again
decided that question IN favor of the United
States. To gnard against accidents, however,
(it being rumored that certain families had
pretty well ieaihered their nest that way.)
Mr. Douglas himself prepared and amend
ment TO this effect:
Section 3. That California shall be admit
ted into the Union upon the express condition
that said State shall do nothing TO impair or
question The title or the United States TO the
public lands within her limits, nor interfere
with the disposal of the same, nor impose
any taxes on the public lands and that her
navigable waters shall be public highways
for ever; free from taxes, &c.
This third section will be explicit enough
for all reasonable purposes, and completely
meet the case, Tne original bill had only
two sections.
la the House we have had MIR. Richardson's
resolutions up TO investigate the claims which
passed through the hands of the Secretary of
the Interior, by the appointment OF a commit
tee with power to send for persons and papers
have no doubt in my mind a third commit
tee will examine the State Department, and
the agency of certain persons with The Fran
cia claim.
The Convention with England; of which
wrote you on Saturday last, has actually been
signed. So the Nicaragua question is now
settled. The treaty was sent into the Senate
to-day, and read in secret session. l gave
great satsfactionj and will no doubt be rat
fed, mem con, gave you synopsis of The
treaty in my letter of yesterday.