The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-10

blind tenacity but with a firm resolution 10
maintain them; and, whilst wisely admitting i'm
provement, rejecting impracticable aud diugerous
projects, often originating in honest though mis-
taken views. Let us not fear the progress Of
opinion The world is probably yet very far
from its extreme point Of improvement. Before
that j. reached, many project will be proposed
and rejected, many an experiment tried and fail
ed aud n spirit Of investigation will be abroad,
dangerous only when met by force instead Of ar
gument
Mr.. Cass closed his speech by personal allu-
sion to James Watson Webb, recently appointed
TO the Austrian mission, who, without awaiting
the confirmation Of the Senate, had left the couu-
try precipitately, with the Presidents appoint
ment in his pocket intimating that although he
had always cherished the most friendly feelings
towards that gentleman, and believed him compe-
tent for the station, he could not, in view of the
fact referred to- vote to confirm his appointment
Mr.. Seward rose TO express his profound regret
that this particular subject had been introduced
in open Senate He found himself exceedingly
embarrassed as the friend the personal friend
the unwavering friend, the devoted frieud of this
foreign representative. lie had in his possession
documents to extenuate, and he believed 10 re-
move the accusation of precipitate fight from
before the Senate Of the United States and yet
they were of that nature which in Justice to the
domestic relations of that individual. he was not
at liberty to give to the world He could only
say, that he hoped the distinguished Senator from
Michigan, and all others who declare <heir opin-
ions to be against the confirmation of this individ-
ual, would suspend their Judgment until he could
have an opportunity, within the custom and
practice of the Senate, to remove the objections
if it was in his power to DO 70, which were made
the basis for refusing the confirmation.
Mr.. Foote replied to the remarks of Mr.. Sew.
ard with great severity bringing up letter pub.
lished by that Senator in the National lnteligcn
Ger, last spring in which he explained his consul.
tation with a member of the Cabinet in relation
to Walkers and Webster's amendments concern
ing California, and stated his action in the case
MIR Foote commented on this letter at length
alternately satirizng, denouucng and riiiculiug
the Senator from New York
MIR. Hale, intimating his intention to discuss
the resolution submitted by Mr. Cass moved its
postponement till Monday.
The motion prevailed, and
The Senate adjourned till Monday
HOUSE OF REPRE- SENTATIVEs.
The Speaker having announced the general
order OIL the day to be. the election of a Clerk
Mr. Hampton moved its postponement till next
Monday The yeas and nays were demanded
and the vote stood-yeas 9s nays 81.
After the announcement of the vote, Mr.
Thompson of Mississippi reminded the Speaker
that he had right to vote and wished him tC
exercise it. The Speaker declined, stating that
the vote had been announced.
Had the Speaker voted as he had right to 1C
when his vote would make tie, the motion o
Mr. Hampton would have been lost, and thu
House would have proceeded to elect a Clerk
As The interests of Party seemed to require thi
exercise Of his right it may be well to remind tn,
reader, that MIR. Roots resolution the final actor
on which was deferred last Monday by vote t,
adjourn, might come up next Monday, provide,
the regular order of business was observed Blu
the pOstponement of the election of Clerk til
that day would postpone the Finances of
consideration of Mr. Roots resolution in re
lation to the Territories. Did Mr.. Cobb Sc
this, and did he risk mere party interests, for III
sake Of defeating an ant-slavery proposition
Mr. Williams of Tennessee having risen to pre-
sent petition, the Speaker decided that the frs
thirty days Of the session having expired pet
tions were not in order
Mr.. Winthrop raised the question whether tn
House could he said 10 have been in sesso,
when for three weeks it had no Speaker, an
Mr.. Stanly appealed from the decision of II
Chair. The Chair was sustained by vote
l0l to 81.
The House voting in fact that the session ha
commenced on the first Monday in Decembe
and was in regular session, from that time, a
though it was not till the 22i that Speaker WI
elected
The House adjourned Til Monday