Washington telegraph., 1850-03-20
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY
WASHINGTON, Feb O.

were taken up.
Mr.. Benton took the floor and snoks
at grea; length. He read from the con
stitution of Mexico. adopted in 1sa9
which declared that slavery did not ev;.,
ia the territory Of that nation. He ep,s'
ed at some length into an argument ;.
show that had slavery not beeu aboIisbsS
no man would think o. taking slave ,bos
under the law governing slavery, un,o..
for the purpose Of freeing him; becads:
that law favored the slave so mnch ~
than the master. as 10 make slavery na
safe and unproftable. He coutendaa
that nothing was to be gained and ,o,b.
ing lost 10y the pressure of the WiImo,
proviso III connection with the terrjror;o.
of New Mexico and California.
Mr.. Rusk next took the floor and al
dressed the Senate in vindication of ,be
rights of Texas to all the territory claood
by her East ofthe Rio Grande, and onro'
ing the third resolution Of the series =
troduced by MIR. Clay. Tie reviewed Tho
entire question. quoting from various doc.
uments for the purpose OF proving the
title of Texas to the territories claimed
Without concluding Mr.. Rusk eav.
way TO a motion TO adjourn
House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Johnston, of Temuessee, introduced hin
to give homestead to every head of =
family, or 10 any widow css mother of =
mnor clild, who shall become pern,apep,
occupiers of rhe soil thus granted Re.
ferred to the committee on agriculture.
The House then went into a COMMITTEE
of the whole on the Presidents Calilorm,
message.
The discussion took a rambling turn
and continued until adjournment
Feb %.
SENATE.-Mr. Bell spoke upon series
of resolutions for the formation of A slave
State Of portion of Texas He thought
that would satisfy the South and put an
end to the extension of slavery lie also
advocated the admission of California
with her present constitution.
House OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Doty's resolutions for the admission Of
California were ordered 10 be printed.
The bill ordering The Secretary of the
navy to purchase American water-rotted
hemp alone. when equal to the foreign
article, was disc ussed aud passed over IN.
formally.
They then went into committee of the
whole on the President annual message,
Mr.. Conrad having the floor.
March |.
SENArE.-Afer the transaction Of the
usual morning business they went into
executive session.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
ed the consideration of The resolution re.
curing the Secretary of the Navy Io pur.
chase American rotted hemp. &c. Ia
connection with this, was debated The
resolution already referred, 10 give The
contract for supplying the hemp 10 BN.
lings, who would monopolise the entire
market, If tue last resolution passed.
The House then went info committee
| OH private bills. After some time Speut
therein they rose, reported sundry bulls,
and then adjourned till Monday.
March s.
SENATE.-A long discussion took place
between Foote aud Calhoun; relative TO
the speech of the latter yesterday.
The Senate then resumed the consid.
Grafton of the Presidents California ines:
sage, Halnlin having the floor
HoUsE.-A message was received from
the President transmitting the corres2on:
dence between the Secretary OF State aud
the British Minister BuIwer among
o her things, demonstrated against the
contemplated increase of dnty OH iror..--
Referred 10 the Committee OH Foreign
Affairs
The House then Went into Commit
tee of the Whole on the President Cali.
fornia message.
March g.
SENATE A lengthy discussion took
place Oh the Presidents Message received
yesterday, transmitting the corresPon-
dence with the British Minister The
message was finally referred to the com.
mittee on Commerce
The Senate then resumed the conslde'
ration of Mr.. Clay's resolutions.
MIR. Walker having the floor. first re-
piled to Mr.. Cass's argument upon the
power of Congress to legislate for the
Territories, aud to Clay's second resolu'
ton, contending that slavery does mol
exist i'll recently acquired Territories.
HoUsE.-After the reception OF reports
the House went into Committee OF the
whole on the Presidents California Mes
! sage.
Mr.. Featherston having the floor sala
any scheme which would settle the whole
question aud not degrade or dishonor the
South. would receive hi, support.
A CHEERING SiGN.-I esIerday, IN ihe