The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-09
THE REPUBLIC.

| A communication from the Secretary Of the Urea.
sury was read, in answer 10 resolution Of the
House, calling for the amount of money appropri-
ated by Congress, and expended In the District OF
Columbia, for public buildings, grounds, satuary,
bridges, canal, etc; which was laid upon the table
| and ordered to be printed
The House resolved itself into Committee of
the Whole ON the state of the Union, Mr.. SrRoNd
IN the char.)
OREGON LAND ELL.
Mr.. BAYLY moved that the California message
be laid aside; and the question being taken il was
decided in the affirmative. He moved that the
committee take up the Civil and Diplomatic Appro-
printion bill.
Mr.. TilURSTON moved TO resume the consid
GRAFTON oil the Oregon land bill, lie remarked that
Governor Lane has left his post and that Major
Gaines, his successor had not been heard from at
the latest dates. The Territory was in perfectly
distracted state; and he appealed to gentlemen TO
90 something Tor the people residing in it,
Inc committee agreed 10 the motion, and took
up the bill, which creates the office of surveyor
general OF the public lands in Oregon, to provide
lor the survey and TO make donations to settlers of
the said public lands. Amendments were made;
when the committee rose; and they having been
concurred in, the bill was passed.
CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATIONS BLL--THE
PRESIDENTS LATE MESSAGE.
The House again went into Committee of the
w hole on the state of the Union Mr.. BuRr in the
Chair.)
On motion OF Mr.. BAYLY, the California mes.
sage was laid aside; and he moved to take up the
bill making appropriations for the civil and diplo.
matte expenses of the Government for the wear
ending June 80, 1851
Mr. BROWN, of Mississippi, proposed to speak
with reference TO the message of the President of
the United States, communicated on Tuesday, in
relation to New Mexico &c. When it was read
he sald, itstruck him as being the most extraordi-
nary that ever emanatcd from American Presi-
dent and having since perused it carefully, that
opinion had undergone no change-on the contra
ry, It had been very greatly strengthened 1t was
the hrs time in the history of our Government that
the Chief Magistrate of the nation had deliberately
set himself down to compel a sovereign State to
base surrender of her rights. II the first time
that n Chief Magistrate had undertaken to settle
grave question of dispute between one member of
the Confederacy and the Federal Government, and
to threaten that unless she submits to his decision
both the army and the navy will be brought to bear
upon her, to make her submit. He knew that the
friends of Inc message would say that nc such
menance nor threat was intended by the message of
the acting President. II there was no menace no
threat, why we're the martial forces of the United
States paradad' Why did he say, IL am command
crin-c hief OF the army and navy" and that In a
particular contingency he would call out the mill
tia to enforce his dutyi Need members of Con
gress be informed what the constitutional powers of
the President are? In all cases of this kind when
one party says these my weapons Of offence and
defence, we know he means to appeal to the sword.
There could nave been no occasion for making use
OF language like this. Ii was not for our instruc-
without his telling u.s. If, when the northeastern
boundary negotiation pending, the American
Secretary of State had been told by the British
plenipotehtiary that her majesty had many ships
OF the line and military forces, &c, would not this
have been considered an extraordinary introduc.
ton TO the diplomatic correspondence! And what
would the Secretary OF State have thought of lam
guage like tlat; Suppose that Lord Aslburton had
rephed to MI. Webster's notes in this manner, il
would have been retorted and he would have been
told that the American Government would not
negotiate with the British arms over it. And now
the Presdentand Mr.. Webster assumes TO saw to the
Governor OF Texas, Here are our arms-the navy
on one hand, and the army on the other. If these
be insufficient TO induce you to submission VIC
give you noice that the President has power 10
call out the militia of the country. WHY should
there not be such a construction in one case as in
the other Ii vas an attempt TO browb beat and hum.
BILE Texas into submission to the President lie
(Mr. b. had no threats; and he was not author.
lied TO speak for that gallant State III she strikes
IN defence OF her rights, she will not strike alone
Mr.. MOORE. would ask whether Texas has
not already threatened to use her arms against the
United Statesl
Mr.. BROWN replied If my friend will be quiet
will come to it, and will show how far she has
been provoked TO that course. He repeated the
President has assumed TO himself the right of set
Ting the boundary. The President Gays that the
Santa re country Is within the limits of Mexico,
and part OF the territory acquired by the treaty
OF Guadalupe HIdago, and that il never was a part
OF Texas IL MOI this settling the whole controversy?
he says he will defend and protect it from Texas
suppose IT Is dputed boundary, and there are rea-
sons on one hand why it belongs To Texas and
reasons on the other why IT belongs 10 New Mcxi-
co or the United States; what was the duty of the
President To have held the country, not for either
party 70 exercise jurisdiction over it,. He knew
there were those who set up such prctence for the
late and the present Executive; but IL was not true
IL was true, however, with reference 10 MIR Polk
The people who claimed to be within the iuris.
diction Of Texas assumed 20 set up an independent
State government, and, in virtue Of a proc amation
issued by a colonel OF the army, delegates we're
elected To form a constitution. When the Presi.
dent saw that preceding did he say, you are tres.
passing, and doing that which yon have no right TO
do, Did he counttrmand the ORDER No The
President and the Secretary OF State approve OF the
proceedings Of Colonel Monroe The President
claims 70 be acting in pursuance of the treaty with
Mexico, but was II not worth his while before ne
dared 10 threaten sovereign State 10 have first
respected Pror treaty-thc resolutions Of annex
atom
Mr.. B. entered into a defence of the .oundaries
as claimed by Texas, from the mouth TO the source
of the Rio Grande and he repeated that the accu.
mulatcd wrongs upon the South, with no guarantee
that there will be end of these things will produce
the melancholy event, disunion, sooner or later He
did not say that II would be brought bout this or the
next year, but these continual agpres.iops are
weakening the cords which bind US together. No
northern man feels the same devotion to the South
that he did; no southern man feels the same devo.
ton 10 the North. These are evidences of decay
The South ask for the rights which she enjoyed un
der the Constitution, down 10 1919. She asks that
the protection be given 10 her property a. TO
that OF the North; she demands the same political
equality. These secured, she will assist the North
in unfolding the Constitution, the Union, and tho
national flag II not, then she will declare against
the Union, the Constitution, and that flag.
Mr.. STEPHENS, Of Georgia, obtained the floor
when the committee rose and the House ad iourncd
RoADrRon LAKE SUPERIOR TO TIE MISSISSIPPI
bill has passed one branch Of Congress, and will