The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-17
THIRTY-FIRsT CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
WEDNESDAY,, January i6, 1850.

Petitions of private character presented
| by Messrs. BoRLASD, UNDERWOOD, WHITcoMB,
BUTLER, BRIGHT, HUNTER, RUsK, DAVIS Of Massa-
chusetts, DAYTON, PEARcE, SEWARD, and BENTON.
| Memorials praying indemnity for spoliations by
| the French were presented by Messrs. GREENE,
DICKINSON, BUTLER, and FooTE.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD presented the proceedings
| of public meeting OF the citizens Of Louisville,
praying that Congress may grant TO the soldiers OF
the war of 1912 the quantity of land given to
the soldiers Of the late war with Mexico.
| cHAPLAIHs.
Memorials demonstrating against the employ
| ment of Chaplains by Congress, and in the army
| and navy of the United States, were presented by
| Messrs. HUNTER, ATcHIsoN, and TURNEy; and,
after brief conversation, they referred to the
| Committee on the Judiciary.
SLAVERY.
MIR. SEWARD presented the petition of large
number of citizens of the State of New York, pray
ing the abolition of slavery in the District of Co
| lumbia. Without knowing precisely the course
pursued by the Senate in relation to this matter
he moved the petition be received and referred to
| the Committee on the Judiciary.
| Mr.. BERRIEN moved to lay the motion to re-
ceive the petition on the table.
MIR. KING stated the practice of the Senate in
| lation to petitions Of this character.
Mr.. SEWARD asked the ayes and noes, which
were ordered.
And the question being taken, on the melton Of
Mr.. BERRIEN, it was decided in the affirmative
| AS follows:
YEAS Messrs. Atchison, Badger, Bell Benton,
Berrien, Borland, Bright, Butler, Calhoun, Cass,
Clemens, Davis of Miss, Dawson, Dayton, Dick
inson, Dodge Of Iowa, Douglas, Downs, Foote,
Houston, Hunter, Jones, King, Mason, Miller,
Morton, Pearce, Rusk, Sebastian, Soule, Sturgeon,
and Turney-32
NAYS-Messrs Baldwin, Chase, Clarke, Cooper
Corwin, Davis of Massachusetts,, Dodge of Wis
cousin, Fech, Greene, Hamlin, Norris, Phelps,
Seward, Shields, Smith, Spruance, Upham, Wales,
and Waker-l9.
ThevICE PRESIDENTla laid before the Senate COM
munications from the War and Navy Departments
and also from the Secretary of State, covering
portion of the annual report of the Commissioner of
Patents all Of which were laid on the table, and
ordered to be printed.
Mr.. BUTLER, from the Committee the Ju-
dietary, reported bill to provide for the efec-
tual enforcement of the third clause of the second
section of the fourth article of the Constitution ire
lating to fugitive slaves;) and it was read twice
and made the special order for Wednesday next.
| MIR. DICKINSON offered the following resolu-
| ton, which was adopted:
ResOlued, That the Committee on Military At
fairs be instructed to inquire whether the one hun
dred and twenty seventh paragraph of the regula-
/ tions of the military academy at West Point,
any interpretations thereof by the superintendent
| of said academy, or the War Department, inter-
eres with the rights guaranteed by the Constitution
to citizens of the United States concerning the free
| exercise of religious belief
| Mr. MASON submitted the following resolution
| which lies
| Resolved, That the Secretary pay out of the con-
tingent fund of the Senate, William Collins, late
| First Auditor, and Peter G.. Washington, late
Sixth Auditor, the sum of seven hundred and fifty
dollars each, for services rendered in examining
and stating the accounts in the case of Jennings,
Roddy and Carter, under resolution of the Senate
of the 18th August, 1913, reported by them to the
Senate the 18th February, lS49; and that he
also pay to William d. Bagnall the of one
hundred dollars; to - Pritchard the sum of
forty dollars, and to Moses M. Myers the sum of
twenty dollars, for services rendered by them in
| Norfolk, Richmond and Petersburg, respectively,
pertaining to said claim, and at the request Of said
\ Auditors.
MIR. HAMLIN submitted the following resolu-
i tons, which lie
Resolved That the Secretary of State be requested
4 to communicate to the Senate such information
i particulars may have come to his knowledge
| respecting the detention, imprisonment, and bar
barous treatment, by the Japanese imperial and
provincial authorities, Of American seamen who
had the misfortune TO be shipwrecked on the coast
i Of Japan and its dependencies, which are now
frequented by a large whaling fleet in the peaceful
pursuit of their lawful enterprise.
L Rssoiued, That the Secretary Of State be also
quested TO communicate 10 the Senate such recent
and reliable information in possession Of the De-
partment Of State relates TO the independent
Oriental nations, and their capabilities for profit
4 able American commences; and that no report ON
the expediency Of the appointment Of special d.
plomatic agent or commissioner of the United
States, to be vested with authority 10 open AMIGA
bic relations and make commercial treaties with
| the sovereigns of those nations
Resolved, That the Secretary OF State be further
requested 10 report TO the Senate whether the treaty
between the United States and his majesty the King
Of Siam, Of the goth March, 1885, has not been yio-
lated by the King, in the monopoly by his majesty
the trade in several of the staple products Of that
| country and which may require the intervention
/ Of our Government, in order TO place CONNER,
| cial intercourse with that kingdom, Astounding in
| all the elements Of n profitable commerce, upon
proper footing, and stipuate for the residence OF
United States consul at Bankok for the protection
Of American citizens and their lawful commerce in
Il SIAM
/ MIR. BENTON, pursuant 10 notice, asked leave
10 introduce bill proposing 10 the State Of Texas
the reduction Of her boundaries the cesson Of her
exterior territories &c, for a consideration 10 be
/ paid her by the United States and accompanied
the introduction Of the bill with explanation Of
i the objects contemplated by its provisions. The
| State Of Texas was too large. One corner Of her
| territory was in the region of perpetual spring
/ another in the land OF eternal SHOWS. Texas
too large TO be conveniently governed. He had
anticipated all the difficulties which have arisen In
relation 10 her boundaries, and unsuccessfuly
dcsvorcd 10 settle them previous 70 the annexation
i OF Texas. He now offered this bill a quiet mode
Of settling all the agitating questions involved in
the subject Of her boundaries, which, II not satis
factoriy arranged would lead 10 trouble and strife
He offered the bill In the spirit Of the old adagc
| that an ounce Of prevention was worth pound Of
l cure.
The reading Of the bill being called for, il wa,
Il read az follows
A bill proposing TO the State Of Texas the reduc-
ton Of her boundaries, the cession Of her exterior
territories, and the REIMBURSEMENT Of all her claims
upon the United States, for a consideration 10 be
paid her by the United States.
Il Bet enacted, &c, That the following propositions
shall be, and the same hereby are, offered TO the
i State Of Texas. which. when agreed 10 by said
State, in act passed by the General Assembly,
shall be binding and obligatory upon the United
l States and upon the State Of Texas.
4 First. The State Of Texas will reduce her boun-
/ daries the west 10 the 1922 Of west longitude
from the meridian Of Greenwich, and on the north
i TO the south fork Of the Red river, between the
parallels Of one hundred and one hundred and two
degrees Of west longitude.
Second. When the population Of said State shall
e1ual, exceed, one hundred thousand souls west
Of the line formed by the ninety eighth degree Of
/ west longitude, and by the river Colorado, from
the mouth Of its intersection by said parallel then
the State of Texas will further reduce her western
boundary 10 that linc and the part Of Texas lying
west Of that line reduced by the first article Of
/ this agreement, shall be and remain n separate
i State, entitled 10 immediate admission into the
federal Union, on equal footing with the origi-
/ nal States
| Third The State Of Texas ccdes 10 the United
States all her territory exterior 10 the limits 10
which she reduces herself by the first article Of this
| agreement.
Fourth The State Of Texas rclinquishcs all claim