The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-08
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
MONDAY, January 7, 1850.
SENATE.
FRENCH spoLIATIoNs.

FRENCH sPoLIATIoNs.
Memorials praying indemnity for losses by spo
iations by the French presented by Messrs.
HALE, CLAY, GREENE, HUNTER, YuLEE, MASON,
STURGEON, PEARcE, and STEUART.
Petitions Of private character were presented by
Messrs. HALE, DICKINSON, BERRIEN, FooTE, YuLEE,
MILLER, MASON, ATcHIsoN, STURGEON, PEARcE,
BRIaHT, UNDERWOOD, CHASE, CooPER, DAVIS Of
Mississippi, DAVIS of Massachusetts,, DODGE of
Wisconsin, DODGE of Iowa, STEuART.
Memorials now on the Senate files were permitted
to be Withdrawn on the motions of Messrs HUNTER,
Dickinson, YuLEE, MASON, ATcHIsoN, PEARcE,
DOUGLAS, BRIdBT, SEBASTIAN, COOPER, DAVIS of
Massachusetts,, DAVIS of Mississippi.
REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA.
Mr.. CLAY presented petition from citizens of
Portland, Maine, stating that the independence of
the Republic of Liberia had been recognised by sew
recognise that republic. On notion it was referred
to Committee on Foreign Relations.
AUSTRIA.
MIR. DICKINSON presented several petitions pray
ing that no appropriation be made by Congress to
defray the expenses Of any mission to Austria.
Bills were introduced, on leave, by Messrs. w.
LEE, UNDERWOOD, DowNs, WALKER, and SEBAs-
TIAN; and notices Of bills were given by Messrs.
CLARKE and BENTON.
Mr.. HOUSTON moved to take up resolution in
troduced by him the 9th ult., calling upon the
President to communicate all correspondence that
has taken place between the Government and the
military authorities stationed at Santa Fe; and also
to state the reasons why the judicial authority of
Texas has not been recognised by the said military
authorities.
Mr.. BADGER had no objection to the resolution,
but the latter clause assumed it fact that the
United States military forces had recognised the
Judicial authority, when perhaps such was not the
fact.
Mr.. RUSK said the fact was undeniable; but,
if it not so, the President in replying
the resolution could say SO.
The resolution then adopted.
Mr. FOOTE offered resolution providing for the
election of chaplain. His conscience was not easy
upon the subject. (The resolution was read and
MIR. +. said:) He hoped no one would object TO its
immediate passage. He had been very patient about
the matter, and he hoped Senators would have re-
gard for conscience somewhat disturbed.
Mr. HALE objected, and the resolution lies over
Mr. DOUGLAS moved and it was ordered, that
the prior orders be suspended and that the several
resolutions heretofore Offered might be taken up
they simple resolutions of inquiry, and could
not lead to debate
The resolution submitted on the oath ultimo, by
Mr. BRADBURY, calling upon the President for CO.
pies of charges preferred against persons removed
from office, &c, was first in order, and was laid
over for the present.
The next in order was the resolution offered on the
9th ultimo, by Mr.. CLEMENS, calling upon the
President to communicate to the Senate copies of all
correspondence between the Government and its
agents in California, touching the holding of
vcntion in that place to frame constitution /;
whether any person had been appointed civil or
military governor OF the territory, and his compen
sation, and the date of appointment; whether any
person had been sent there by the President any
of the departments, with instructions authority
to organize State government; whether the Gov
ernment has taken any steps to organize State
government there; and further, that he state his
for stating in his message that the people of
New Mexico will cat no distant period present
themselves for admission into the Union"
MIR. DAWSON moved to amend by inserting-and
oft lwta
ter; which amendment was accepted.
Mr. MILLER hoped the resolution would be al
lowed to lay over for few days. He was opposed
TO the last clause calling upon the President TO give
his reasons for the statement in his message.
Mr.. FOOTE hoped the request would not be ac-
coded to.
MIR. CLEMENS would like action upon the reso
luton now. He had no objection TO strike out the
last clause.
Mr. RUSK saw no reason why the clause should
be stricken out. The information asked for was
important. There were great questions involved
in the matter. From reports in the papers and
otherwise, it had been learned that the people of
New Mexico and California had by express direc-
ton OF the President moved for admission into the
Union. The questions of boundary between Texas
and those territories unsettled, and the great
question whether one branch of the Government
can by its direction urge the people to rise against
the authority Of sovereign State was involved in
the issue.
MIR. DOUGLAS expressed desire that the rcso
luton, leading TO debate, might be allowed to lay
over.
Mr.. CLEMENS said the resolution was now be-
fore the Senate, and he intended to have vote upon
il If possible The subject was one in which his
constituents felt interests IL had been specially
called 10 his attention by the governor of Alabama
There was nothing in the resolution TO which the
President could object There was nothing asked
for by the resolution but what should have been in
his message; and II the President had put in his
message all that should have been there this reso-
luton would not now be on the table. The resolu-
ton had not been got up for partisan purposes.
IL was offered 10 obtain piorma ton which his
stituents desired. He wished 10 have no DISCUSSES.
They were told that they should not have the Will
mot proviso forced upon them; but he wished that
that provlso should not be presented in an indirect
way. II they obliged 10 take a medicine in
the shape of the Wilmot proviso, very well but
don't take the medicine and roll IL up in sugar
candy, and ask us TO swallow it. Let il come
openly. Would any Senator get up here and say
that California would be ready TO be admitted into
this Union If il had not been for the slavery ques.
tom Would any Senator vote for her admission,
save ON the ground Of avoiding the slavery ques-
tionl Well, he was opposed 10 doing that indi-
recty which could not have been done directly.
He intended no the President nor the
Wing party; allhc desired 10 defend the rights
OF the South
MIR. DOUGLAS said, in moving 10 postpone the
prior orders, IL was his intention that only those
resolutions which would lead 10 debate should
be taken up. lie moved that the resolution lie on
Mr.. MASON hoped the motion would be with
drawn; there might well be a vote upon IL now
at any time.
MIR. DOUGLAS was explaining his reasons for
the motion, when
Mr.. BUTLER called him TO order.
Mr.. DOUGLAS asked why he had not called the
Senator from Virginia TO ORDER
Mr.. BUTLER again called 10 order. The rules
OF the Senate were his answer TO the question.
The question laying the resolution the
table was takch by yeas and nays, and resulted
yeas %, nays -; and the VicVPrcsident voting in
the affirmative, the motion adopted.
Mr.. PHELPS moved 10 take up the joint rosolu-
ton suspending the limitation Of the expenses Of
collecting the revenue.
Mr.. DOUGLAS asked the Senator TO allow the
remaining resolutions 10 be taken up.
Mr.. PHELPS explained that the joint resolution
had been made the special order Of the day for Fri
day last, and be bad given way then TO enable the
resolution Of the Senator from Michigan 20 be taken
up. He had shown great courtesy, and now ex-
pccted a slight return.
Mr.. BRADBURY thought if one thing was at
tended 10 at time, IL would be better. AT the
adjournment on Friday, the resolution Of the Sen
ator from Michigan was under consideration. Why
not dispose Of that at once' The joint resolu-
ton win lead 70 long debate. II is important,
and will be much discussed.
Mr.. PHELPS agreed with the Senator. II was