The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-14

minister al the Brazilian court certain original papers re-
alng TO me claims our citizens upon that government
that present minister there had been inrusted
with similar documents TO considerable extent He did
not know what might be the operation of this bill In ela
ton 10 that matter and he wished 10 draw the attention
of the chairman OF the committee TO the subject and to be
informed whether il might not be necessary to
amendment to the BILL BY which all such documents now
in the hands Of the American minister at Rio should be
transferred 10 the commission here
Mr.. KING replied assuring the honorable senator that
any such amendment was quite unnecessary. II was
competent the part OF our government e require that
all papers, those in the hands OF the Brazilian gov
ernment, should be laid before the commission. These
papers could be transmitted through the State Depart
nent, where it probable that some of them have
already been deposited. There will be no difficulty in
bringing them an before the commission here;
Mr.. HAMLlN expressed himself perfectly satisfied
with the explanation OF the honorable senator.
Mr.. PEARCE stated that he had received commu-
nicaton from certain parties interested in the amount
10 be paid under this commission; the substance of
which he wished to submit 10 the Senate and 10 the
committees before the bill should be finally acted up
on. The correspondence to which he referred was
sion might sit at Rio. in sder to give opportunity to
procure testimony the spot, which would be difficult
to procure here He wishedto know whether the com
mtee had taken that subject into consideration He be-
ieved that the act contemplated that the commission
should sit in the city OF Washington only.
Mr. KING explained that to make provision for the
the course heretofore pursued in any Of claims by
citizens of the United States against foreign govern
nernment that the committee had considered the ques
u0n and had come to the conclusion that it
say and they had therefore thought best to pursue the
ordinary COURSE as more consistent with what was due
to the interests OF the claimants II was believed that
there would be no difficulty in obtaining, through the
American minister, any testimony which might be
sary for the proper adjustment Of their claims The
mttee had therefore preferred to adhere to the ordinary
course.
Mr. PEARCE had no desire to press the point, but
only ascertain whether the committee had had the su
gestion before them and given il their consideration
said N he he hniiny ha
had made important omission. He had failed to insert
any Limitation OF the time for which the commission
amend by limiting the period to one year and no more
The question being taken on this amendment, it was
agreed 70.
The bill and amendments were then reported to the
ordered to be engrossed for third reading, read
third time BY unanimous consent, and passed.
ADMISSION OF CALIFORNIA
The VICE PRESIDENT LAID before the Senate the
following message from the President OF the United
States
TO the Senate Of The United States:
transmit herewith the Senate for the information Of
that body authenticated copy oil the constution oil
the State OF California;, received by me from the Hon
WAsHMaros February 10. 1859. z. TAYLOR.
Mr. DOUGLAS moved that the message and accom-
panyng document be referred 10 the Committee on the
Territories.
motion would be made by the honorable senator from
Kentucky mr. CLArl to refer the message OF tine Pres
dent OF the United States accompanying the constitution
of California TO select committee deem the present
a proper occasion for The appointment OF such com
mee, and think that right appreciation by the dis
tingu,shed senator from Kentucky OF his public duty
would lead him 10 make such motion.
Mr. CLAY As motion has already been made, il
would not be in order Tor me-
Mr. DOUGLAS, t,nterposing) ! will say to the Sen
ae and 10 the senator, That cheerfully withdraw the
motion have made to refer the subject 10 the Con-
mee the Territories, il the honorable seAator wishes
10 make such motion that indicated by the HONORABLE
MIR CLAY. am very sensible to the courtesy OF the
honorable senator IRON Illinois. 1t met my purpose,
however. to make the motion. The senator from Mis-
souri, and myself hal some conversation on this sub
ject, in the course of which he kindly expressed the
desire that | would make the motion TO which
he has now adverted. told him think, at least,
that such was my reply-ihat | had no desire to
take the lead the subject; but added that, il il
the pleasure OF the Senate would object to acting
upon such committee, in conjunction with such other
might be selected especially the Senate has
kindly INDUCED my wish to be excused from acting
upon the regular committees DO, therefore, feel my
self bound most cheefuy TO obey their wishes, but al
the same time cannot, think, accordance with the
which have prescribed to myself, make the
ton myself
Mr. F0oTE. move, sir, that the message be laid on
Mr. D0ULAS. MIR. President, hope that il will not
be suffered take that course hope will be referred
10 some committee OF the Senate.
Mr. F0OrE bold in my hand resolution covering
the whole subject of slavery, which intended offering
to-day, and which should have offered ere now, il
opportunity had occurred desire the message to lay
upon the table, until can introduce that resolution.
The question being taken upon the motion to lay upon
the table, it mega tved division-ayes IS noes
%.
Mr. DOUGLAS said he would renew his motion for a
reference 10 the Committee the Territories il no other
motion was made
Mr. BENTON. I wish. Mr.. President, to have the
pursued that has been the course from
the earliest action OF the Senate upon similar subjects
the which has been pursued in the case oil all the
States which have been admitted into this Union from
Vermont 10 Iowa The course which has been followed
regard to the whole OF them refer the application
for admission State, and to refer the Presidents
sage which usually accompanied il to a committee named
by the Senate. The first precedent that find upon that
rescntatiyes the 9th February, 1891 message was
received from the President OF the United Staies comma
ncang documents with regard 10 the admission oI Yer
mont, which were referred TO three commissioners In
the Senate, the 9th February, 1891, similar paper
received, AMI it ordered by the Senate that The
OF the President OF the United States and the
papers accompanying Il, be referred 10 select committee
TO be chosen BY ballot
These the early precedents sir, which have been
followed, believe, without variation from that time
down TO this day think that the present proper oc
casion for referring the Presidents message to SPECIAL
committee appointed by the Senate with reference to that
subject; and therefore will submit the motion that the
man OF that committee, if he feels justified by his personal
feelings IN coming forward upon this occasion think
that II he is actuated by OF public duty he will
feel that the country looks to him for it, II he does not
feel himself at liberty to make the motion, |, sir will
make the motion that this message and communication be
referred TO select committee to be appointed by the Sem
ate, OF which that honorable senator shall be chairman
The VICE PRESIDENT The Chair is OF opinion
that that cannot be done, except by unanimous consent
the rule requires that all committees other than stand