The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-29
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

Mr., HAMPION offered the following resoiution
which was adopted, viz:
Resoired, That the President be requested to
communicate TO this House, If compatible with the
public interest copies Of the correspondence Of the
Consul Of the United States at Vienna, with a
statement Of the authority under which he has
acted.
PUGET's SOUND AND HuDsoS's Ray COMPANIES.
Reports were then made from the several stand
ing committees, among them one by
Mr.. MILLER, from the Committee on the Judi
ciary, as follows:
Resolved, That the President be requested to fur
nsh the House of Representatives, if not incompat
ibe with the public interests, with all the inforna-
ton in his possession in relation to the kind and
extent of claims to farms and lands of the Puget's
Sound Agricultural Company in the Territory Of
| Oregon; and that he be requested to communicate
to the House OF Representatives copy OF the act
| Incorporating the Puget's Sound Agricultural
Company, of the original instrument constitut-
| ing that company; and that the President be re-
quested to lay before the House of Representatives
any information in his possession relative to the
kind, character, number, and extent Of the posses
| sorry rights of the Hudson's Bay Company, and Of
all British subjects who may be already in the oc.
| cupation of land or other property in the Oregon
Territory south of the forty ninth parallel Of north
latitude; also the number of such British Subjects
including the members, agents. and servants Of
said company; also the location, number, and ex-
tent of the FORTS stations, and settlements OF said
company south Of said parallel.
Resolved, That the President be requested to COM
| municatc to this House whether any, and If any
| what proposition has been made by the Hudson's
| Bay Company to the Government Of the United
States during this administration the admins
tration Of his immediate predecessor, to sell and
transfer the Government of the United States the
| possessory rights Of said company in Oregon Ter
ritory south Of the northern line Of that Territory
and TO furnish this House with copies of all papers
| now in possession of this Government connected
with such proposition, and with copy of all cor
! respondence had between this Government and any
person acting for said company relative to the pos
sessory rights of said company since the treaty OF
| 1916, defining the northern boundary Of Oregon
| Territory.
Mr.. MILLER trusted that there would be no OBJ
lection to the resolution. The subject had been
ferred to the Committee the Judiciary, at the in
stance of the delegate from Oregon, (Mr. THURS
TONI II involved matters which required investi-
cation, and the information could only be obtained
in the manner proposed If objection be made, the
resolution must go over, and the committee cannot
obtain the information.
The SPEAKER pro tenn (Mr. WINTHRoP) re-
erred to the rule, and said that the resolution must
| lie over one day
Mr.. MILLER appealed from the decision of the
Chair.
The question being taken, the Speakers decision
was sustained
Mr.. MILLER asked leave to withdraw the report.
MIR. WENTWORTH objected. He wished to see
the resolution in print.
MIR. MILLER remarked that his object was to
withdraw the resolution, that he might offer IT on
Monday, when suspension Of the rules could be
reached.
MIR. WENTWORTH said if the gentleman would
put his resolution in the morning papers, he would
withdraw his objection.
| Mr. MILLER remarked that he intended to sub
NIT again the matter to the Judiciary Committee,
who were anxious TO obtain the information, and
did not desire to be defeated by any rule of the
House. And for the purpose Of bringing IT before
the committee he had adopted this course.
The SPEAKER reminded the gentleman that, as
some action had taken place ON the resolution, it
could not be withdrawn.
Mr.. THURSTON wished the resolution TO be
Withdrawn, that it may be offered on Monday next.
He was aware that there was a we'll laid scheme
the part of the Hudson's Bay Company To-
Objections were made to the remarks Of the gen.
teman.
Mr.. WENTWORTH asked the unanimous con-
sent of the House TO print the resolution
The SPEAKER was understood to say this was
not in order.
Reports were made from the several standing
committees; among them one by
Mr. BAYLY, from the Committee OF Ways and
Means providing for the support OF the West Point
Military Committee for the year ending June 80,
1851; which referred TO the Committee OF the
Whole the state OF the Union.
CALIFORNIA AND SLAVERY.
The House resolved itself into Committee Of the
Whole on the state Of the Union, and resumed the
consideration of the special message of the Presi-
dent, transmitting the constitution OF the State OF
California.
MIR. AvERETT, of Virginia, who commenced
speech yesterday, proceeded to address the com
mttee this morning. lie referred TO the fact that,
a few years ago, a majority Of the people Of the
United States soemnly Of the opinion that
the agitation Of the slavery question was unauthor-
lied by the Constitution and dangerous to the
Union; but now, the agitation which we were told
was humbug has got possession OF the Govern
ment and the mastery over the northern legisla-
lures. He called attention TO this change and the
| action of men, to show that we are indeed in the
midst ola revolution. The agitation was engendered
at the North, and through the instrumenaly OF con-
ventions great and small in that section. has been
brought TO its present alarming condition. And
vet those who talk Of holding Southern convention
10 resist the aggression branded and denounced
by the newspapers reasonable in their designs.
lie would tell his friends, and they may rely upon
it, that the southern people arc deeply meditating
! on the northern agitation. He did not think that
! the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. STANLy)
! spoke the sentiments of the people Of that State
when he declared that she win go for the Union,
| wilmot proviso proviso. He (Mr. A. main
/ tanned that the white and the black man can
labor together II the best kind Of labor in the
southern States Therefore the objection TO slave
! ry in the Territories was not valid He spoke OF
the dangers which menace the safety OF the coun-
! try; and, in conclusion, called upon gentlemen TO
come back 10 the old Virginia doctrine OF 1864
strict construction Of the Constitution, without
which this Government will soon become a curse.
| Mr. CHANDLER, Of Pennsylvania, noticed the
remarks OF southern gentlemen who had partici.
patcd in the debates and rcfuted the charges OF
aggression against the North, and showed that the
South are not justified in making their threats nc
alluded TO slavery, which had been called greai
moral social. and political blessing-eoo for III,
master and the servant. jefferson, he thought y
wac, said that 20 true as there Is a God, 80 true
that the country will suffer from slavery. Thu
nation is punished, as Jefferson predicted. II sla
very is great moral, social, and political blessing
why does Il not extend 70 the North Why not in
| vite IL back again II slavery were out Of Mary
land tomorrow, not man In that State would in
vte il back That this question obstructs all otbc
business, is proof OF its magnitude We have 40
quired, by the peace with Mexico, several large tee
! ritorcs. and among them California. II was sur
posed from the character Of those who went ththeb
/ that they would ask for admission, Congress havirg
! refused 10 lcgislate for them. The State is nov
knocking al the doors OF Congress- with two Senator
and two Representatives, asking for admission, a
the ordinary platform. sister State. But we ae
told that other things must be connected WIN We
measure, to keep up the balance OF power. Wmt
is that balsnccl Slave States against the Tree. ~
the name Of this free nation, - there nothing 70
but to hold up slavery Wherever the Consun-
ton sanctions slavery, there he would leave =;
! wherever Il docs not sanction slavery, be woth
give 10 the people the power to determine Tor then
/ .-x.s~ ~ rcfI