The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-08-29
"WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 81, 1850.

~
the bill making appropriations for civil and d.
plomatic expenses Of the Government for the year
ending June 80, 1851.
Debate took place on the item appropriating
FIVE thousand dollars for the purchase Of Green
woods island, near Psscagouls, Mississippi, late
ly made by the Surgeon General, under the or
der of General Twiggs, for the location of mill
tary hospital and various Intellectual efforts were
made to amend 1t.
The Committee, after disposing of preceding
clauses proceeded to consider those relating TO in
tercourse with foreign nations.
Mr.. McClerDand submitted an amendment, APP
propriating 81, 500 for the salary of assistant
dragoman and secretary to the Legation TO Tur-
kew. He said that he understood that Mr. Brown
was on his way home, but il he should remain
with our minister resident, the money was absolute
ly necessary.
The question being taken, the amendment was
agreed to.
Mr.. Bayly said that he was instructed by the
Committee of Ways and Means to offer an amend
ment, viz: For outfit for charges des affaires to
Portugal, New Grenada, Guatemala, and Ecua-
dor. sis 900. He would make an explanation at
once. The Secretary of State informed the CON-
mittee that there will be change Of charges des
aft aires in these four instances and that others will
be sent out in their places II so, this outfit will
be necessary He might be asked, what necessity
is there for this He did not know and, further
than that he did not think that was his duty to
inquire The foreign affairs Of the country are in
charge of the Executive and the Senate; and, ex-
cept ia very strong case, be could not where
the House could interfere. But in the ordinary
manner Of changing ministers, unless there be
reason TO believe that there is some improperly,
the House, he thought, ought to vote what the
branch of the Government in charge of our for
| eign affairs coneeiyes tn he necessary
| Mr. MoClerpand lchairmaB of the Committee
| on Foreign Affairs) said that the Committee and
the country were aware that reports were In cir
culation that Mr.. Clay, our charge to Portugal,
| was instructed to enforce the demand for inden-
nifty on that Government, and on the failure OF
that Government to comply, he was instructed to
withdraw and come home. II this be true, since
these instructions were given, and since the de-
mand was made, an arrangement has been entered
| into between the Portuguese Minister and the
American Secretary of State by which ninety-one
thousand dollars will be paid by Portugal, and the
balance of the claims, including that for the pri-
vateer General Armstrong, will be referred for
arbitration to the King of Sweden. He under
stood that the whole matter is in the train Of set
Element; whether it would be contaminated here or
in Lisbon, he could not say a, In view of this, the
/ Secretary Of State wanted sahutft for new min
( is(er
Mr.. Carter said that the amendment contem-
pfsteotrSfsS administrator small maKe'nrS DC
lections II was large outfit and Unfit. The Ad-
ministrstion wanted the money for the purpose of
feeding and fattening set of political paupers and
it was under the necessity of calling On the Com
mittee OF Ways and Means to get up political
| fund, by which it could swap off patronage at
pleasure.
Mr.. McClernand remarked, that with regard
! to the missions at Ecuador and other places, he
had been informed, on such authority as met with
his confidence that the gentlemen occupying those
stations intended to return home by act OF
| their own volition.
After some further remarks of Messrs. Garter
and Stanton,
! Mr. Stevens of Pennsylvania said he should
like to know on what authority the gentleman
stated that the late Administration clustered il
this matter What authority had the gentleman
for stating that part of the Mediterranean
| squadron was sent to Lisbon to intimdate tn,
Portuguese Government
| Mr.. Stanton Information of an authentic char
acter and that the Portuguese Government, il
yielding to the claims, said that they did 50, mo-
because the claims were right, but because they
yielded to force.
Mr.. Stevens Where did it come from Is i
in any document furnished by the Administration
or is it newspaper authority, so powerful in these
| tlucbi II III lTUm cuitOro UT icttcT-WEi
tiers, it was false from beginning to end
Mr. Stanton. Is the gentleman authorized Il
contradict
Mr. Stevens. When gentleman rises to make
a charge, he ought at least be prepared to prove
it and unless he does prove it, it is q fabrics.
ton. And until the authority was produced he
so pronounced it. 1t came from that prolific race
Of HAIRS
Mr. Stanton. From the very highest author.
ity.
Mr. Stevens. With some, the letter-writer
are held to be high authority some hold thu
Union as high authority; others hold the Republic
as high authority. What the gentleman holds al
high authority do not know Ipresume some vii
lage newspaper of his own district should like t.
know on what authority it was stated that the late
Administra ion so far violated the Constitution OF
the country as to make war on q foreign power
| do not believe that General Taylor's admins
traton authorized intimidation to be resorted to-
and, if Portugal did not submit, to bring naval
force against her Until high authority be pro-
| duced, such as no gentleman can question, new
er can consent to believe it. | know nothing Of
the matter personally. ! have no official infor-
nation. do not 60 about the Departments to
| seek information or court the confidence of the
| Administration; bat ] have such confidence in
| General Taylor and his Cabinet, that have no
hesitation in saying that disbelieve it, Unless
some gentleman says that he has seen an anthem
tic document, ought not to believe it,
Mr. McClernand was aware that statements had
circulated TO the effect that the claims TO be
enforced by a cannonade, if necessary He un-
dertook to say this was not true. On the CONTRA
ry, a vessel was merely ordered into the Tagus
to receive Mr. Clay, our charge if his demands
were not complied with by the Portuguese Gov
eminent.
Mr. Stevens had no doubt that the gentleman
had made correct statement Was il TO be sup
posed that our minister at foreign court did
not know our Constitution better than 10 order
bombardment Of towns and reprsals to be made
The report emansted from the mere ignorance of
letter-writers and editors
The amendment proposed by Mr. Stanton to
the amendment Of Mr.. Bayly was then rejected.
MIR. McClernand proposed to add For salary
and outfit for a charge dafaires at Nicaragua,
$4,000.
He said that authentic information had been
received that the present agent was about to re-
turn home: and he referred to the Importance Of
having q charge in Nicaragua; in part that a
short time since the United States and Great
Britain entered into treaty in relation To the
ship canal, TO be conducted on principles agreed
upon by these parties. The design Of this work
was to increase the facilities for commercial inter
course between the Pacific and the eastern portion
Of our country therefore, it was important that
we should have a charge in Nicaragua.
Mr. Jones raised the question, whether this
amendment was not to create new charge
dafaires
The Chairman pronounced it to be in order.
Mr. McLape said that we should wait until the
public service required this appropriation.
The amendment Of MIR. McClernand was agreed
to and that Of Mr.. Bayly, as thus amended, was
adopted
Mr.. Brown Of Mississippi by instruction from
the Committee for the District of Columbia,
offered two amendments, which were severally
agreed TO, namely
For grading gravelling, repairing sidewalks,