The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-27
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
FRIDAY, July 20, 1850.
SENATE.
FIRST SESSION


Petitions were presented by Messrs. DAVIS, Of
Massachusetts, SEBASTIAN, CLAY, and erase.
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS.
Mr. MANG UNI moved, and the Presiding Off.
Ger of the Senate MIR. KISG) excused from
serving the Committee of Foreign Relations.
And then, on motion, the Presiding Officer
was authorized to fill the vacancies on that com
mittee--three in number. And Messrs. HUNTER,
PHElPs, and DouoLAs were appointed
GRAND RIVER HARBoR, MICHIGAN.
Mr.. FEICH submitted the following resolutions,
which were considered and agreed to-
Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be
instructed to inquire into the expedienoy OF max
ing appropriation for improving the harbor at
the mouth of Grand river, in Michigan.
ASTHoSY TEN RycK.
Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Rela
tons inquire into the propriety and expedency OF
appropriating 10 Anthony Ten Eyck, late Com
missioner at the Sandwich Islands, the amount OF
his salary such commissioner, from October
l. 1913, TO the time his services III that capacity
ceased.
COMMERCE AT DRAzos ST. JAoo.
MIR. RUsK submitted the following resolution,
which lies over under the rule.
Resolved, That the President be requested to
furnish the Senate with the following information,
10 wit:
List of vessels and the tonnage of the same
tered at the district of Brazos st. Jago, since its
establishment by act of Congress.
productions-foreign goods, duties paid, and goods
bonded, specifying the quarterly statements OF
each of said items.
The quantity of freights shipped, and value
thereof to the Brazos ST. Jago and mouth of the
Rio Grande, each respectively, for the public SER
vice since the termination of the war with Mex
ico-how transported or conveyed from thence TO
the several military posts the Rio Grandc and
near it, and the of such transportation con-
veyance to the Government to the several military
posts referred to.
List and tonnage of the steamboats, registered
and navigating the Rio Grande.
J. D. AND p. GREGoIRE.
Mr. DOWNS moved, and the Senate proceeded
to the consideration of the bill to confirm the sale
of school lands made to j. b. and p. Gregoire, in
Louisiana; and the bill was ordered to be engrossed
for third reading.
Mr. ATCHISON moved and the Senate pro-
ceeded to the consideration of the bill to extend the
benefit of the 18th section of the act to regulate the
intercourse with the Indian tribes, and to preserve
peace on the frontiers, approved June 3, 1884, to
the people Of Texas and others; and after sone
amendments, the bill was laid the table for the
present.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES GOVERNMENTS.
The Senate then resumed the consideration of the
bill reported by the select committee of thirteen
10 admit California into the Union State; pro-
vidng territorial governments for Utah and New
Mexico and making proposals to Texas for the
settlement of her western and northern boundaries.
The question pending the following
amendment moved by MIR. BRADBURY, IN lieu OF
the 39th section-whch section contains the pro-
posals to Texas relative 10 her boundary:
THAT the President Of the United States be and
he is hereby authorized by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate 10 appoint three commits
sioners, who shall have power To agree with such
commissioners as may be appointed under the e-
gslative authority of the State of Texas, upon a
line OF boundary between the territory OF the
United States and the said State of Texas, com
mencing at the point where the Red river ID inter
sected by the Tooth degree of west longitude, be-
ing the southwest angle OF the Indian territory,
and running TO point on the Rio Grande, TO be
agreed upon by the said commissioners; and also
TO agree upon the terms, conditions and considera-
ton upon which such line shall be established; and
the proceedings and agreements of the said COM
Inissoners shall be, possible, transmit
ted To the President of the United States to be by
INN submitted to Congress, for Its actisn thereupon
and the said agreement, when approved by the
Congress Of the United States and the Legislature OF
the State of Texas, shall be obligatory upon the par
ties"
To which MIR. RUsK had moved to add to the
amendment that the said State Of Texas he and she
hereby is declared entitled to all the rights she
possessed in reference to the territory east of the
Rio Grande on the day of the date of the exchange
OF the ratification of the treaty Of Guadalupe Hi
dalgo, or at any time since that date.
MIR. DAYTON opposed that part Of the amend
ment recognising the right Of Texas which che may
have had since the ratification of the treaty of Hi
dalgo.
Messrs. RUsK and PRATT supported the amend
ment.
Mr.. HALE said that he was surprised that gen
tlemen who had voted down amendment propo-
sing that the rights Of both parties should not be
preJudiced, should now propose amendment to
secure tbs rights Of only one party.
Messrs. DAYTON and RUsK continued the dis
cussion upon the title Of Texas, and the proceed
ings which have taken place between the com
mander OF the United States forces at Santa Fc and
the Texas commissioner.
Mr.. SEWARD opposed the amendment Its of
iect would be recognition that Texas has sc-
quired rights since the treaty Of Hidalgo, and as
such the commissioners would have to treat it. lie
commended that, whatever the rights Of Texas were
at the time of the treaty they remained unchanged
ull this time and no action on the part Of Texas
could give her rights which she did not possess al
the time Of the treaty.
Mr.. HOUSTON spoke Of the feelings Of the peo-
pie Of Texas, and justified her actions and por-
tayed her devotion 10 the Union. lie urgently
maintained that Justice should be done To Texas
Mr.. HALE replied
Mr.. BRADBURY askci the Senator from Texas
70 modify his amendment il would read Pro
pided that IN the mean time the rights Of Texas and
The United States respectively shall remain unaf-
fected by any thing contained in this bill.
Mr.. RUSk declined accepting the modification.
Mr.. MASON opposed the amendment.
And the question being taken, the amendment
oil Mr. RusE was rejected by the following vote
YEAs.-Messrs. Atchison, Barnwell, Dawson,
Downs, Houston, King, Mangum, Morton, Pratt, |
Rusk, Sebastian, and Yuloe-l2.
NAYS Messrs Badger, Baldwin, Benton, Brad |
y II |
Davis Of Msssschusctts, Davis Of Mississippi Day.
ton, Dickinson, Dodge Of Wisconsin, Dodge Of
Iowa, Fecb, foote, Greene, Hale, Hamlin, Jones,
Mason, Miller, Phelps Seward, Smith, soul6, Spru-
ance, Sturgeon, 1urney, Underwood, Upham,
Wales, and Walkers.
Mr.. MASON moved 10 strike out all Of Mr.
BRADBURy's amendment, and insert AZ follows:
"And II being incumbent on the United States,
pursuant 20 the joint resolution for anne1ing
Texas 20 the United States approved lst March
1876, u preserve 10 Texas all tho territory ~
which that State il entitled, the President of the
United States shall be- and he is hereby authorized
90 appoint three cOmmssioners any two Of whom
may act, and who, with such commissioners az
may be appointed with like authority under legis-
iatye act Of Texas shall have power to ascertain
and determine the territory properly included
within and rightiully belonging TO- that State on
the western and northern borders thereof, since
or under the treaty with Mexico signed at Guads-
iupe Hidalgo, and TO provide boundaries accord
ingly. And the proceeding, of said commissioners
shall be, early practicable transmitted to the
President OF the United States, 20 be by him trans
United 20 Congress and the came, when app roved
by Congress and the legislature Of Texas shall be
obligatory on the parties"
And the qscstioo being taken thereon, IL was re.
jscted by the following vote:
YEAs.-Mcssrs. Bsrnwell, Benton, Butler Chase,
Clarke Davis of Mssissippi, Hale, Houston, Hunt
err King Mason Morton. Pusk. Scba-tian Sc