The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-12-26
CONGRESS-.
THIRTY.FIRST CONGRESS- SECOND SESSION
SENATE.
TUESDAY. DgcrvrrR II 1SJO

TUESDAY, DECEMBER II, lSJU.
The only subject discussed in the Senate to-
day, was the motion Of Mr. Gwn TO print the
Presidents message in the Spanish language, for
the benefit specially Of the Spanish population in
California and New Mexico.
Mr.. Walker Of Wisconsin moved to amend by
directing the message to be printed in German
and Norwegian and Mr.. Chase moved to amend
the amendment, by striking out "and Norwe-
gian" After some discussion, in which the
usual arguments were repeated, the amendment
OF MIR. Chase was adopted and then, on motion
Of Mr.. Bradbury of Maine, the resolution and
amendment were laid upon the table
YEAs-Messrs. Atchison, Bell, Borland, Brad
bury, Butler, Clarke Clay, Davis of Mississippi,
Dayton, Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge Of Iowa,
Downs, Felch, Greene, lIamliu, Hunter, Jones,
King, Miller, Norris, Pratt, Smith, Spruance,
Sturgeon, Turney, Underwood and Walker-27.
NAYs-Messrs Badger, Baldwin, Benton, Ber-
rlen, Cass, Chase, Clemens, Douglas, Ewing,
Foote, Gwin. Phelps, Seward, Shields, Wales and
Whitcomb-l6.
"WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER IS, 1850.
Various memorials and petitions were present
ed. Mr.. Pearce presented the report of the action
of the Maryland Constitutional Convention, now
in session, in favor of the measures Of the last
session on the Slavery Question. On his motion,
it WAS ordered to be printed.
The following resolution, submitted by MIR
Cass on the 10th Instant came up for considera-
| ton
| ResOlred, That the President be requested, il
not incompatible with the public interest, to com
muBicate to the Senate copies of any correspond
ence, if any has taken place, between the Depart
ment Of State and the Austrian Charge d'Affaires
respecting the appointment or proceedings Of the
agent sent out to examine and report upon the
| 80 L. l.
| during their recent struggle for independence.
Mr.. Cass. Mr.. President, let that resolution
lie on the table for a day or two. have received
information from the Senator from Connecticut
| Mr. Smith which affords me pleasure. and
doubt not it will the Senate as it may be an indi-
cation of the Executive action. | am informed that
the Charge d'Affaires to Vienna, Mr.. McCurdy,
though some time appointed, has not yet taken
his departure. hope, therefore, that this resolu-
ton will lie over for the present. 1t was laid
| over accordingly
The following resolution, reported by Mr..
Hunter, from the Committee on Finance, came
up for consideration:
No amendment shall be received to any gene
raj appropriation bill unless it be made to carry
out the provisions Of some existing law, or some
D.. STveSoiatisa PTo5s2aee r. ss,e3ky aeSseieite
during that session, OF in pursuance Of an esti-
mate from the head of some Of the Departments
and no amendment shall be received whose object
is 10 provide for private claim, although the
same may have been previously sanctioned by
the Senate
The resolution was agreed to.
Another tiresome barren discussion took place
on MIR Bradbury's resolution in relation to re-
movas from Office; and theDsthe Senate, without
coming to any conclusion, adjourned
THURSDAY DECEMBER 10, 1850.
Mr. Jones of Iowa presented the memorial Of
John Plumbe, asking the construction of q rail
road from the valley Of the Mississippi to the
Pacific, and claiming for himself the paternity o
the scheme.
Mr. Pratt submitted the memorial Of merchant
and other citizens of Baltimore, stating variou
objections to the bill passed by the House Of Rep
resentatves at the last session, providing for tn
better security of passengers on steamboats,, AM
recommending that, owing to the difficulties o
wise legislation on the subject it be left to tn
enterprise and common sense of proprietors, &c
The amendment to the rules adopted yesterda,
was reconsdered amended so as to read as fol
lows, and adopted
"No amendment proposing an additional ap
preparation shall be received to any general ap
preparation bill, unless it be made to carry ou
the provisions Of some existing law, or some &C
or resolution previously passed by the Senat
mate from the head of some of the Departments
and no amendment shall be received whose objec
is to provide for a private claim, although tn
same may have been previously sanctioned by tn
Sensten
Mr.. Douglas, at his request, was excused fror
serving on the Committee on Foreign fairs an
Mr.. Dodge Of Wisconsin was appointed in IA
place.
MIR Phelps in pursuance Of notice, asked an
- IL Al
place of holding the Circuit and District Cour
Of the United States for the District of Vernon
which was read first and second time by its It'll
and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
MIR Badger You had better have bill
remove them from the State, since your late la,
Mr. Phelps We will do that ourselves
The amendment to the rules offered by M
Badger yesterday, came up in its order for cor
sideration.
MIR Badger / ask the Secretary to read tn
rule as it will stand if the amendment be agree
to.
The Secretary read it as follows, the amend
ments being in brackets
"A Committee on Printing, to consist of tire
members, to whom shall be referred every ques
ton on the printing of documents, reports, o
other matter transmitted by either Of the FIX
ecutve Departments, and all memorials peti
tions accompanying documents together will
all other matter, the printing of which shall b,
moved, excepting bills originating in Congress
resolutions offered by any Senator, communi
cations from the Legislatures for Convention
lawfully called Of the respective States, and mo-
tions TO print by order Of the standing committees
Of the Senate, and excepting also messages and
other communications from the President of the
United States, and such reports and communica-
tons from the heads of Departments az may be
made to Congress or TO the Senate in obedience to
law, or in answer to calls from the Senate and it
shall be the duty of such Committee on Printing
to report in every case in one day, or sooner il
practicable
Mr.. Badger The precise effect Of the pro-
posed amendment is, that the Senate may have
control of the messages Of the President and OF
reports made by heads Of the Executive Depart
ments. in obedience to law or in answer to a call
Of the Senate, and to extend the same courtesy to
| Conventions called by the several States the
| rule now does to the communications from State
| Legislatures.
A resolution from The Committee on Printing,
! proposing to bind report from the War Depart
ment in "a superior" Style at a cost not exceed
ing 80 cents the copy, the present cost being ~ y
cents gave rise 10 n brief discussion, In which
Mr.. Benton opposed the resolution, and it was
laid upon the table
After some unmportant business, the Senate
adjourned over till Monday.
HOUSE or REPR EsENTATivEs.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER II, 1850.