The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-05
THIRTY-FIRsT CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
FRIDAy, January 4, 1850.
SENATE

SENATE.
FRENCH sPoLIATIoSs.
Memorials praying indemnity for spoliations by
the French prior 10 1900, by Messrs. MILLER,
HUNTER, Norris, BRADBURY, WHITcoMB, and
HAMLIN.
WITHDRAWALS
of papers now on file in the Senate were allowed,
on motions by Messrs SEWARD, FELcH, BALDWIN,
CoRwIN, YuLEE, FooTE, and SouLE.
RESOLUTIONS.
On motion Of Mr.. BERRIEN,
Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed
to communicate to the Senate copy of q survey
and examination of the river Savannah, made by
Martin l.. Smith, lieutenant Of typographical engi
neers, with view to the improvement OF the said
river; and the estimates accompanying the same.
Mr.. BENTON submitted the following resolu-
Resolved, That the Secretary Of the Interior be
directed to inform the Senate Of the number of
acres Of public land granted to different States for
objects OF internal Improvement, and the amount
Of public lands originally contained in such States
respectively and the number of acres necessary to
make the grants TO each State equal to the maxi
mum quantity now granted to the State which has
received the greatest quantity
PETITIONS
OF private character were presented by Messrs.
DOUGLAS, STURGEON, BoRLANp, WALKER, DIcKIN-
SON, FELcH, BENTON, FooTE, and DoDoE of Iowa.
BILLS ON LEAVE.
Pursuant to notice heretofore given, the follow
ing bills were introduced:
BY Mr.. MASON A bill to provide for the
efectual execution of the third clause of the second
section of the fourth article of the Constitution of
the United States
Mr.. CLAY asked that the bill might be read
1t was read, and provides additional means for
the recovery of fugitive slaves The bill was then
referred TO the Committee ON the Judiciary.
By Mr. DICKINSON: A bill to establish branch
mint of the United States in the city of New York
MIR. ID. moved its reference to the Committee
Finance.
Mr. BENTON acknowledged that the usual or
der Of proceedings was 10 refer bills TO committees
but with respect this bill there could be no ne
cessty Of reference Of tilt had been before the
Senate for the las, ten years.
The bill was, ever, referred TO the COM
Mr. BENTON 70 notice that, when this bill
came before the senate. he would offer amend
ment establishing branch mint at San Francisco.
He asked the printing oi his proposed amendment;
which was ordered.
Mr. BUTLER gave notice of amendment es-
tabshing branch mint at the city of Charleston.
MIR. BADG Err: A bill To refund to the State of
North Carolina moneys expended, and for trans
portaton furnished to volunteers during the recent
war with Mexico. Referred to the Committee on
Military Affairs.
Mr.. BORLAND: A bill to revive portion of an
act for the relief of widows of deceased soldiers.
Mr.. FETCH: bill to reduce the minimum price
ofmineral lands in the Lake Superior district, Mich
igan, and in the Chippewa district, Wisconsin.
Referred to Committee of Public Lands.
DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH AUSTRIA.
The joint resolution suspendng the limitations by
law of the expenses of collecting the from
customs, came up as the special order of the day,
but laid over till after the disposition Of the fol-
lowing resolution, heretofore offered by MIR. CAss:
Rssolped That the Committee ON Foreign Rela-
tons be requested to inquire into the expediency of
suspending diplomatic relations with Austria.
Mr.. CASS said:
Nh. PRESIDENT 81 do not know that this resolu-
ton will be opposed. 1t is OF inquiry only not
of action. But, as should not have introduced it
had not intended to ask the opinion of the Senate
upon the subject, whatever may be the report OF
| the Committee Foreign Relations, and the
measure is not usual one, deemit proper briefly
to state the which have induced me to pro-
| pose it
| The intercourse subsistng between the indie
pendent nations of the world, where not regulated
by special conventional arrangements, is regulated
by each for ITSELF subject to the established princi
Piles of the law Of nations. The great improvement
in the mechanical arts, and the general progress of
the age united TO that spirit Of enterprise, COM
| mercial and scientific, which never
tive in itself nor usefully employed than now
have given increased energy to this intercourse !;
and having in effect broken down the barriers OF
space which separated nations, have opened each
| TO the knowledge and business Of all
This general INSTRUMENTATION, especially
among the nations Of Christendom, creates a COM
munty OF interest, and, in some measure, Of feel
| ing, which becomes bond, however slight, unit
| ing them together inb one great political family
| The internal agitatons external dangers which
threaten one, cannot be indifferent 10 the other
| members of this widespread community The
age is an inquiring and an observing one and the
| facility and rapidity Of communication--among
| the proudest triunphs Of human knowledge-come
powerfully in aid Of this disposition 10 Judge, and
approve or censure passing events, their charac
ter and circumstances may justify. This public
opinion, embodied by the press in the daily Jour
mails il pours forth, is borne through the civilized
world, pronouncing the judgment Of the present
none 80 high as TO be beyond is censure-none 30
low not TO be encouraged by its appreciation.
The frontiers Of a country may be armed at its APP
proach, but IL will pass them. II may be checked,
but IL cannot be stopped. II IL stronger than the
bayonet--more vigiant than the suspicious Of des
| potism.
The diplomatic relations subsistng between two
| countries maintained only by political agents
such as ambassadors, ministers, or charges-re-
| ciprocally sent for that purpose. At the COM
| mencement Of this government we had but few Of
\ these functionaries, and those we had we're con-
| fined 10 the principal European courts. They have
been gradually increased in number till twenty
Of them authorized by the statute book 10
be employed. Still, there are important countries,
even in Europe, where no American representative
has ever been sent; and others, among which is
Austria, where they have been sent but recently.
| In some cases-and, indeed, they not few-this
interchange Of diplomatic agents IL rather matter
| Of courtesy than Of positive utility, either com
mercial or political. After a treaty Of commerce
is formed or after IL IL ascertaincd that satisfac-
tory one cannot be formed, the relations between
us and some Of these countries would go ON, as in
deed, they have gone on, with nothing 10 interrupt
their harmony and good understanding, because
| the points Of contact few and exposed 10 few
difficulties. Such IL condition with respect 10
Austria, which has but one port-that Of Trieste
where we have any commerce worthy Of the name,
the annual value Of which find IL about 8 ,7O0,
000 The ancient queen Of the Adriatic still looks
/ out upon the waters but she il herself a melan-
choly spectacle, her prosperity having departed with
| her independence. The iron rule Of Austria has
le TO Venice little but the remembrance Of her for
mer magnihcence and the oppressive sense Of her
| present degradation. But in these ports, and
wherever else, il any where, they may be neccssa-
/ ry, oonsuls would perform the commercial func-
tons, their positions not being al all affected by
any change Of diplomatic relations short Of state
| Of war
do not pretend, by This glance at intercourse
with Austria, that propose this measure on The
i ground that an American representative s usne-
cessary at the court Of Vienna. trust, II we carry
il 70 its practical result that shall be influenced
| by much higher considerations than that. ] allude
10 this topic merely 10 show that great act Of ma
tional duty may be performed, without the sacri-
4 fee Of any national interest whatever
II r. 49,