Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-04-26
Th,Isx-F,rst co.ngress--F,rst session.


Mr. Douglass moved to take up the California bill.
. The bill was made the order, after the appoint |
,nent of the committee
The Senate proceeded, by ballot, to elect the
chairman Of the committee to which were referred
Mr. Clays and Mr. Bells resolutions -
On the second ballot, MIR. Clay had % votes; Mr..
Bell, I !; Mr.. Benton, Mr.. Mangum l and there
were four blanks. MIR. Clay was declared to be
elected
The Senate proceeded to vote for the other twelve
members of the committee and the following were
chosen on the first ballot
Messrs. Webster Mass, wing; Dickinson, New
York, dem Cass, Michigan, dem Bright, Tennes-
see, dem; Phelps. Vermont, whig Cooper, Penn
ginia, dem; Downs, La, dem ; Bell, Tenn, wing
Berrien Ga; wing Morgan, Vt, wing
Mr.. Phelps asked to be excused from serving. on
account of i'll health. The Senate refused to excuse
him.
Mr.. Benton offered motion, instructing the COM
mittee not to combine any two subjects together
Lies over.
The California bill was taken up
On motion of Mr.. Mason, it was postponed for two
weeks, on account of the absence of the Calhoun
committee during that time.
Mr. Hale moved to refer all abolition petitions to
the committee. This was laid the tab1c-yeas
"a, nays %.
The Senate adjourned, to meet on Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The House was called to order by Mr.. Winthrop
resolution for the purpose of terminating the de-
bate on the California question on Friday next, at
o'clock -4l1- -aS
On motion of Mr.. Thomas. the House resolved it
self into committee of the whole, and resumed the
consideration of the bills the private calendar.
On motion of Mr.. Mcdonald, the rules
pended and the House resolved itself into committee
of the whole, and resumed the consideration of the
Presidents message in relation to California.
Mr.. Cleveland, who entitled to the floor, made
a on he tj-Slav of 10 on
Mr.. Morehead then obtained the floor, but yielded
it to motion that the committee rise. The COM
mittee rose accordingly and
The House adjourned till Monday next
MONDAY, April 22.-SENATE.
| Several anti-slavery petitions were presented.
| Mr.. Benton called up his resolution nstructing
the committee of thirteen to make separate report
on each subject referred to them.
Mr.. Clay objected to it on account of the absence
| of Senator'S
Mr.. Benton would move that it be taken up for
discussion.
The resolution being taken up, Mr.. Benton at
great length contended that it was unparliamenta-
nv to combine in the same bill ncon gruous measures
He gave notice that fortnight hence, when the war
had begun earnest he should resort to every par
lamentary mode of resisting the combination of any
other measure with California.
| A Senator, abiding to MIR. Borland with whom
he was not on speaking terms, had said that his, Mr.
BIS course, was legislative trng, that he, Mr.. Bor-
land, did not approve of it, and decidedly condemn
ed it. Mr. Benton said the Senator considering
their personal relations ought to conne his remarks
to the subject and not allude to the person of one
who had no relations with him. He would contend
that his course he had shown was perfectly par
liamentary, and when the report In he should
resist it until every expedient exhausted.
! Mr.. Borland justified his remarks and said he
should report them He did not know that he had
ever any personal relations whatever with the Sena
tor. He had never sought any. 1t a matter
merely of Indifference to him.
}, Mr.. Benton briefly replied.
Mr.. Clay spoke briefly in reply to Mr.. Benton.
On motion, the subject was laid on the table.
And, after a short Executive session, the Senate
adjourned.
t- HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES,
: Mr.. Speaker Cobb called the House to order.
5 The House refused vote of yeas and nays Q
90 in the affirmative and "A in the negative, to sus
pend the rules to admit resolution instructing tn
committee post Offices and post roads to introduc
bill for the abolition of the franking privilege 70
the reduction of the rate of postage, &c.
Mr.. Richardson, by unanimous consent, introdu
ced his resolution asking the appointment of com
mittee of nine to investigate the charge against MI
Ewing, of having re-opened old claims, and allowe
extraordinary interest on such claims, &c.
: Mr.. Gentry proposed substitute resolution
calling upon Mr.. Ewing to make a report upon til
subject, instead of appointing committee of mem
bers of Congress to make the investigation.
L Mr.. Richardson said the official organ had defe
investigation of these charges therefore the friend
of the administration should not fear an investiga
ton by committee of Congress. He Statistic
that the charges against Mr.. Ewing were true an
could be proved from the records in the department
by testimony Of respectable If they wanted t
give the subject fair inquiry, it should be done
committee Of Congress. He was opposed to afordin
Mr.. Ewing an opportunity of sending in here d.
fence to the country instead of report of the tru
q facts in the case.
Mr. Meade favored the call, but preferred til
substitute of Mr. Gentry.
Mr. Vinton opposed the appointment of a commi
tee as unprecedented The mere fact of the appoin
= ment of such committee, carried with it the in
T. preston that the charges were well founded.
was therefore opposed to the appointment of a con
4 mittee, but in favor of the call upon Mr. Ewing
R report himself in his own case The appointmel
d of committee, he said, implied that the Secretal
7 was guilty of malfeasance in office. He thought
would form new and dangerous precedent to inst
D. tute committee to go into the departments It h;
never been done BEFORE except upon charges prefe
red by memorial and by responsible accuser
lie this case there was no accuser but public rumor
ii, He deemed the raising of such committee serio
o. impeachment in itself. He was opposed to it.
The debate was further continued by Messrs Sta
ID ton, Toombs, Robinson, Baker, Evans, of Md, Blu
h. Stanly, Durham, Bayly, Giddings, McClernan
80 Thompson, of Miss, Stephens, and Meade. In I
~ course of the debate, various amendments and su
'"' stitutes were offered.
Finally the resolution of Mr.. Richardson, to q
point committee of nine, to investigate the chars
- against Mr.. Ewing. was passed yeas 95, nays IS
K MIR. Stanly then introduced a resolution of t
ne same terms of that of Mr.. Richardson of Illine
calling upon the Secretary of the Interior to rep
We to the House in regard to the claims upon which
m terest had been allowed, &c.
: MIR. Meade said there would be no objection to
resolution if the gentleman would so modify it as
require the Secretary to make the report to the