The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1850-03-13
WAsHINGToN, Feb. II

WASHINGTON, Feb. II.
The great topic to-day was the rejection o
James Watson Webb as Minister to Austria. [
has all along been supposed that the Senate
would not confirm this wonderful appointment
ofthe Cabinet, but the public were scarcely pre-
pared for such an ignominious execution. In
deed, the journals of the Senate furnish no par
allel to it. There were only seven for him
Bell, Berrien, Dawson Mangum, Spruance, Sc
ward, (of course) and Wales. Mr. Clay spoke
against him, and manfully stood up against sucl
an appointment; while the wings were scattering
and running in every direction. Thirty-four vo
ted against him, and thus the whole affair ends
Not Democrat voted in favor of the nomna
ton.
The Cabinet received another thrust to- day ir
the House, when the Revenue bill came up, and
it will not probably, be the last.
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE, Feb. Is, 1S50.-Several petitions
and memorials were presented in favor ola cheap
postage: in favor of granting portion of the
public lands to actual settlers; and asking Con-
gress to abolish the spirit ration in the Navy.
Mr.. Bentons amendment to motion to refer
the Presidents California Message to the Com
mittcc on Territories, instructng that Commit
tee to briug in bill in favor Of admitting Cali
fornia into the Union-was the order of the day
After some unimportant conversation, the sub
jjcct was laid over.
HoUsE.-Aftcr the usual preliminary business
the House resolved itself into Committee of
the Whole on the State of the Union. The Sla-
very question was the topic, as usual.
Several petitions were presented during the
day.
SENATE, Feb 1Sth.-Pettions and memor-
ais were presented in favor of abolishing the
spirit ratiou in the Navy; in favor of establishing
tribunal, to be called the Congress of Nations;
and one from the Legislature of New York, in
favor ofcxpending some of the public money in
the construction of hnrbors, &c: also, several
others in favor of reduction in the rates of post
age.
MIR. Dodge, Of Iowa, presented petitions from
citizens of Iowa and Illinois, asking the removal
of the instructions to the navi CATION of the Mis-
sissippi River. Petition referred to Committee
on Commerce.
Petitions were presented by the same Sena-
tor, from citizens Of Cedar county, Iowa, asking
a grant of land to aid in the construction of
Rail Road from Davenport to Council Bluffs
Also, petition from citizens of Clayton county,
osli fl,,frT 7 init tl,o
Indian farm at Yellow River be confirmed.
Mr.. Dodge, of Wisconsin, offered the follow
ing resolution:
Res0lrcd, That the committee on the Judicial
ry be instructed to enquire into the cxpcdiency
ofestsablihing Circuit Courts of the u States in
Wisconsin and Iowa.
Mr. Downs took the floor in opposition to Mr..
Clays Compromise, and spoke for two hours,
and without concluding his speech, gave way
Tor adjournment
HoUsE.-The States were called for Resolu-
tons, when Mr.. Doty, of Wisconsin, offered
resolution, instructing the committee Terri
tories to bring in bill admitting California into
the Union as q State, and on this he demanded
the previous question Mr.. Inge moved to lay
the Resolution on the table-not agreed to.
Here commenced series of motions to adjourn
to lay on the table, to be excused, and appeals
from the decision of the chair which terminated
only by the close of the legal day, az o'clock
at night,) when they could be entertained no
longe;. This days proceedings shows clearly
that minority can prevent any action of the
House upon any question against the passage
which that minority may be disposed to act
The rules of the House are SO feeble, that licen-
tiousness, and not liberty, is the rule of action.
1t may be set down as settled fact, that with
out compromising with the South, California
will not come into the Union.
SENATE, Feb. 19.-Mr. Jones presented Pc
titions from citizens of Iowa, in favor of grant
of land to aid in the construction of the Dubuque
and Kcokuk Rail Road. Also, in favor of con-
structng Rail Road from the Missouri to the
Pacific Ocean. ~
Mr.. Borland, from the Committee on Print
ing, made report in favor of printing some doc
uments and maps relating to the draining of the
vallies around the city of Mexico.
lI Mig, VI fAld.s uohcu WlldL ROOu was 10 De
accomplished by the printing ofthese documents
Are we to give our labor, our time, and our mo-
ney, to drain any portion of the valley of Mexi-
CO? If not, he should like to know what was the
use in printing these documents? After an in
teresting debate in which Mcssrs. King, Bor-
land, Douglass, Hale, Butler, Hamlin, and Bad
ger participated, the recommendation of the COM
mittee was not agreed to-yeas Is, nays lG
An act to extend the time for taking up Vir-
ginia land Warrants.
| The Compromise.
| Mr.. Downs resumed and concluded his speech
on Mr.. Clay's Resolution. Mr. Miller next OBJ
tained the floor, but gave way for executive ses-
sion
HoDsE.-After the reading of the journal, Mr..
Littlefield asked leave 10 introduce bill to pro-
hibit tho sale ofintoxicnting liquors in the Public