New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-08-08
HOUSE or REPREsENrArIvss

HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. HOLMES asked and obtained eave to int-o.
duce resolutions that the President be requested
to communicate to this House, il not incor sistent
with the public interests, the amounts Of the sew.
eral claims Of the United States against Portugal
az well as the nature OF them the correspond nee
on the subject between the two Governments, ct
Wpthne ton and Lisbon, and also the amount and
nature Of the claims presented by Portugal to tse
United States snd all the cores pondence between
the two Governments.
Mr.. King Of n J said that the House would
probably have a communication from the Presi-
dent unsolicited thereto.
Mr. AsBnUS suggested 70 lay the resolution over
for day or two.
Mr.. HoLMEs declined ard spoke warmly upon
the necessity Of knowing the steps Of Government
in alters Of peace, war and peace, aEd was IN
derstood TO imply that the Executive had been
guilty Of prevsrication in the use of war power.
M AsHMUN replied that Mr.. HOLMES in defend
ing the Executive hoped that the resolution would
pass now.
Mr. billiard seconded bis views and spoke
highly Of the late Administration and Of the present.
particularly Mr.. WEBSTER.
Mr.. STANTos, Of Tenn desired to know If Mr..
billiard approved OF Mr.. Webster's answer TO
Gov. Bell, but Mr.. billiard declined answering
the question as impairment
Mr. srAs1oS finally got the floor and announced
his total dissent 10 the w ebster letter and his utter
loss OF confidence in him. The Resolution was
adopted. The House then went into Committee
Of the w hole on the Post Office bill.
Mr. McCLERNAND, the Chairman Of the Com.
mittee Of Foreign Affairs, said he had seen it
stated in the newspapers that squadron OF the
American Navy had been ordered to Lisbon 70 en-
force the demand of indemnity by force of arms.
BE did not deem it necessary to make serious in.
qury into the truth Of these reports, because, I'm.
darg ba Ton <tifufinn tha ipclarA
and block sde belongs to Congress, and it would be
an assumption by the President TO do go. In con-
sequence Of the generalization Of Portugal, as
intimsted in the Annual Message, our Diplomatic
Agent was instructed to make demand OF the Gov
eminent for payment by certain time, and In the
event of payment being refused, to demand his
passports and Withdraw from the country. One
Of the vessels there may have been sent TO receive
him, bring him home in the contingency mentioned
and he presumed this was the extent of the fact
Mr. king, Of New Jersey, said that it might be-
come necessary for the President to lay before
Congress all the papers in relation to tue SUBJECT
therefore it was unnecessary to anticipate the
event he felt it TO be his duty TO object TO the re.
cepton OF the resolution.
The SPEAKER said the objection came too late
the resolution has been received.
Mr. AsHMUS suggested with aview OF consider.
ing the propriety Of the resolution that Il lie over
until 10 morrow.
Mr. HOLMES said that though we all know, as
remarked by the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Nc
Cerpandl that the President cannot enforce the
claim by arms, yet it was 10 the knowledge OF all
~ So -. have been made in the British
Parliament which have aisi1Iic" Nnoree and cre-
sted belief that thers is likely to be collision Of
arms between the United States and Portugal Ii,
therefore, becomes the United States to know what
the Executive, who is entrusted with great func.
tiops is doing 1t would be well, on the rece ption
ba N amna inkn tha clams QQainat
Portugal. The British cut out the priyateer Gene
raj Armstrong in the harbor OF Fayal and now
Portugal is applied TO for indemnity, aft r lapse OF
nearly forty years
Mr.. AsHMUS understood the gentleman as not
only charging that the President had taken i'm
proper steps, but had alarmed Europe 1t it could
be found by probing into the Executive Depart
ment that such steps have been taken, incompas
IDLE with the Constitution, he, and be hoped every
man, would vote ceDsure. There was however,
10 approach toward war.
Mr.. HILLIARD concuned in the remarks OF the
gentleman, and said if this Administration had
been distinguished for anything, The alluded par
tcUlsrly to the past, it was for scruPuous bear
ance to uIurp any authority whatever which would
involve this couhtry in collisions with foreign pow
ers therefore be earnestly hoped that the resolu
ton of Mr. Holmes would not only be adopted, but
promptly responded to- 1t gave him great pleas
ured TO hear tributes TO the high, honorable states
manlke manner IN " nicn tue foreign aUalfs OF our
country have been conducted. He did not think
that there was the slightest danger from the pres
ent Executive usurpng any such power. The
Constitutional adviser OF the President, Mr. Web
ster stands ct the head Of the Administration next
to the President, and this gives sufficient guarantee
that war ia not likely 10 occur.
Mr. STANTON, Tennessee, asked whether the
gentleman referred to the states nanlike views Of
Of Mr.. WEBSTER in the document communicated
yesterday.
Mr.. billiard replied that he would disclass
that matter when it came up. The Secretary OF
State will amply vindcate himself Il has
been said that this country had been arranged In
the British Parliament; it would be well for Eng
land to review its own course on the Greek ques.
ton which has been condemned by the liberal par
ty in that country. He hoped that this Govern.
mint would always settle affairs by example Of
order moderation and forbearance, and the most
scrupulous Of power in enforcing any OF It's
claims ainst foreign governments.
Mr.. MCCLERNASD rose to reply to MIR. II Jlmes. de
insisted that the Gen Armstrong claim was jast
and gave b'story Of the vessel to prove this.
MI STANTON Of Tenn. made an explanation OF
bis question to Mr. billiard and said that he entire
" dissented from the views expressed by Mr. w eb-
ster in the letter to Governor Bell and had no con
fdence in bis prudence and propriety in relation TO
it. Under the operation OF the Previous Question
the resolution passed.
The House went into Committee Of the Whole
on the Post Office Appropriation. Various amend
ments were offered and discussed In fifteen min
ute speeches. Then the Committee arose. Among
others concured in was that making the expenses
of the Post Office Department charge on the
Treasury instead Of on its own revenues, by vote
Of IS TO 70. The House disagreed to the amend.
ment, IS to 40 sppropnating specifically instead OF
in gross An Appropriation was made for fifteen
clerks, and the bill passed-Yeas III Nays a..
The House adjourned.
Less Of the Nathan Z. Ely.
Rv the Cherokee from Chagres we hear Of the