The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-26
THIRTY-FIRsT CONGRESS.
THURSDAY, April rs, 1850.
FIRST SESSION.

FIRST SESSION.
THURSDAY, April rs, 1880
SENATE.
The VICE PRESIDENT laid before the Senate
the following communication from the Secretary of
State:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
WAsHINoToH, 23d April, 1850.
TO the Se,1ie Of the United States
In compliance with resolution Of the Senate of
the 2lst OF February last requesting the Secretary
of State to communicate to the Senate "such in
formation or particulars, as may have come TO his
knowledge, respecting the detention, imprison-
ment, anc barbarous treatment by the Japanese,
imperial and provincial authorities, of American
seamen who have the misfortune to be shipwrecked
on the coasts of Japan and its dependencies, which
now fequented by a large American whaling
fleet in the peaceful pursuit OF their lawful enter
prises - also, " such recent and reliable informa
ton in the possession of the Department of State
relates to the independent oriental nations and
their capabilities for profitable American com
merce;" and also to report, whether the treaty
between the United States and his majesty the King
of Siam OF the Goth March, 1888, has not been vio
lated by the king in the monopoly, by his majesty,
of the trade in several Of the staple products OF that
country, and which may require the Intervention
the honor to transmit to that body the accompany
ing documents, which contain all the information
which appears TO be called for by the resolution.
Inc trft portion OIL tneSc papers CONSISTS OF cor
respondcnce furnished chiefly by the Navy Depart
ment, and relates to the barbarous treatment, by
the Japanese, of the crews OF the American whaling
ships "Lawrencc'' and "Ladoga"
The second portion comprises series of valua-
BILE documents, compiled with great research and
industry by Aaron II. Palmer, esq, of New York,
and communicated, at different periods by him, to
the Department Of State; the whole accompanied
by chart of the principal maritime countries of
the cast These papers, it is believed will be found
to contain great amount of useful recent informa
ton respecting the sndependent oriental nations,
and their capabilities for profitable American
commerce." In addition to these documents the
Secretary of State has the honor to submit copy of
portions of the correspondence of Messrs Everett,
Parker, Davis and Roberts, relating to China and
Japan.
of Joseph Balestier, esq., United States Consul for
Singapore, who is now in the East in the capacity
of special Diplomatic Agent of the United States to
Cochin China and other portions OF southeastern
ASIA and who, it will be seem has received special
instructions respecting our relations with Siam.
In this connexion, reference is made to MIR. Pal
mer's paper on :" SIAM" No. 10, on the subject of
our treaty with that kingdom.
In view of the important information presented
in the accompanying documents, and the CONNER
cial and political interests now existing, In conse-
quence Of the extension Of our possessions on the
Pacific, the Secretary OF State would respectfully
suggest the expediency of placing the consulate at
Singapore-an important station to our naval and
commercial marine-upon higher and better
footing than it is at present This consulate, for
many reasons, deserves to be supported by a COM
petent salary. The annual fees of the consul at
Singapore have averaged, for the last fourteen
years, during which Mr.. Balestier has filled that
Office, sum varying from Ss25 to $ 90 per annum
In all that period he has discharged the consular
functions with great honor to himself and advan-
tage to his countryadvancing the interests of the
United States, and dispensing generous hospital
ity from his private resources
The documents herewith submitted will also
illustrate the importance OF special mission to
such oriental nations as are not embraced by the
instructions to Mr. Balestier, for the purpose Of
opening commercial intercourse with them, and Of
raising the grade Of mission to China to one Of
a higher class, with the rank of envoy extraordi-
nary and minister pleniPotentiary.
These changes are, it is conceived, demanded by
the prospect OF increased commercial intercourse
with the eastern portion OF the world.
All of which is respectfully submitted
JOHN M. CLAYTON.
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
Private petitions were presented by Messrs.
COOPER, CHASE, and FELcH.
sLAvERy-FUeITIvE SLAVES.
Mr.. CHASE presented the usual series of petit
tons on this subject.
MIR. CLAY said that some weeks ago he had pre-
scented some petitions sent 70 him from Lewis coun-
ty Kentucky, upon the subject Of slavery; and that
at the time he had said that the petitioners did not
express the sentiments of any considerable portion
of the people Of that county. He had, since then,
received presentment by the grand Jury of that
county, and the proceedings OF public meeting
held there, in which the opinion expressed by him
was fully sustained.
BOARD OF ACCOUNTS.
Mr. HUNTER moved, and the bill to establish
a Board of Accounts was taken up and then post
poned till, and made the special order OF the day
for, Tuesday next
THE PUBLIC PRINTING.
Mr. BORLAND moved, and the Senate pro-
ceeded, TO consider joint resolution, reported by
the Committee on Printing, "to insure more expo
dition in the public printing! The question pend
ing was on substitute for the joint resolution sub
mittcd by Mr. BoRLAYD.
MIR. BORLAND said the general object of the
joint resolution and the proposed substitute was the
same, but differed in the measures to effect that
result
amendment was not the best means of obtaining a
prompt execution of the public printing He was
in favor of amending the joint resolution as re-
ported, by adding provision that proper legal
steps be taken for the recovery Of the penalties for
feited by the contractors by failure to comply
with their contracts. He was in favor Of prcserv-
ing the contract system, and Of holding the con-
tractors TO their bond, and the faithful performance
He moved to amend the original joint resolution
by adding thereto:
"And that the proper legal steps be Immediately
taken to recover the proper penalties for the non
performance OF the contract or contracts made for
.he performance Of the public printing of the pres
ent Congress"
MIR. B0RLAND opposed the amendment OF the
Senator from Wisconsin unnecessary, because
the remedy proposed was now in the power of the
proper officers. lie defended his substitute the
most advisable measure TO be adopted.
Mr.. WALKER said that he would never consent
70 sanction what the substitute proposed the Senate
would do. The substitute proposed that the Senate
would release the public printers from their con-
tracts provided they would release the Senate from
any claim for damages. Either tho contractors or
the Senate were TO blame II said that the
contracts were taken at rates too low They either
knew or did not know, when they made the bid,
that the prices were too small and that they could
not perform the work. In any such case, they
committed a fraud upon the Senate, and he, for
ono would never yield to them. II they could not
do the work. be would re-et IL, and institute suits
for the recovery Of the penalties forfeited by the
| public printers. lie was for making example
of the present printers, and he ventured TO say that
| subsequent contractors would not bid at such low
rates as prevented compliance with their contract
If the Senate released the printers from their con
tracts he was satisfied from experience that they
would be here session after session, and day after
day, dunning the Senate for damages; and they
would getit.
/