The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-27
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.


Caifor MIA, &c.
And then the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
pRy-DocK In CALIFORNIA.
The House resumed the consideration of the reso-
luton reported yesterday by Mr.. STANTON, OF Ten
nessee, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, viz.
Resoiued, That this House approve OF the course
of the Secretary of the Navy in executing the law
for the construction ola dry dock in California, and
see no reason for further delay in executing the
contract for the work, az agreed upon by the De-
partment.
Mr.. STANTON resumed his remarks from yes
terday, and said that Henry NJ. Weston, who had
charged, i'll pamphlet, Messrs. Dakin. Gilbert,
Sccor and Moody with fraud and cxtortion, had
asked more than those gentlemen for the erection
of the dock If there was fraud il was not in the
contract executed by the Secretary of fhc Navy
with them. We propose to accomplish as much for
one million and a half Of dollars as the Emperor OF
Russia has accomplished for twelve millions Of dol
lars on the waters of the Bnck sea. The Senate,
by unanimous vote, had expressed the opinion
that the contract was binding on the Government,
as it was made in pursuance OF law, and was fair to
the Government IT the gentleman from Georgia
him any other motive than desire to promote the
public interest, the charge was utterly grOundless
and untrue, and he threw from him with perfect in
dignation the ineinuntiOn.
Mr.. TOOMBS. l have said what have said.
If dry dock was necessary, he was willing to
have one, but he would make no contract by this
House.
MIR. BOKEE opposed the resolution, and was
understood to say that dock could be constructed
for less than these contractors proposed. He was
against the basin and railway. They had been
attempted in England, and did not succeed. And
he for inviting fair competition.
MIR. HOLMES advocated the construction Of
dry dock in California, without delay, and showed
the importance OF the work. The House author
law; and he asked if the House were il aside
merely from newspaper data and the statements
of an individual. 1ft
Mr.. PHELPS moved to lay the resolution on the
table But before the question was taken the
morning hour expired.
ROUTES.
Mr.. POTTER, from the Committee on the Post
Office and Post Roads, under suspension of the
routes in the States and Territories He said he
had taken great pains in drawing the bill. Most
of the members interested in post routes had ex-
amined it. The bill had already been engrossed,
that this would not be objectedto
The bill was, in the usual form, ordered to be en-
crossed for third reading.
Mr.. JONES asked if the House could pass the
bill without reading it. The bill had not been
printed, nor had others seen it except the commit
tee who reported it, Not one line of the bill had
been read, and, If he was not mistaken, the Con-
stitution of the United States required that bill
should be read before its passage.
The bill was then passed without being read.
MEXICAN INsTALMENT.
The House then resolved itself into a Committee
of the Whole on the state of the Union-Mr. BOYD
in the cbair-and resumed the consideration of the
bill TO provide tor carrying into execution, in fur
Their part the twelfth article of the treaty with Mex
leo, concluded at Guadalupe Hidalgo, appropri.
ating $3,lS0,0OO for this purpose.
Mr.. ALIENS CHARGE AGAINST R. WEBSTER, AND
THE REPLY.
Mr.. KING, of New Jersey having addressed the
committee in relation to the subject under consid
Grafton
Mr.. ALLEN, of Massachusetts,, asked the con.
sent of the House to indulge him in few re-
marks.
The CHAIRMAN said that the debate was now
closed, and unanimous consent must be obtained.
Mr.. ASHMUN expressed the hope that universal
consent would be given to his colleague.
The CHAIRMAN said that he heard no objection.
G"Yes, cir" al obect."]
Mr.. JONES Does it require unanimous con-
sent? II so, object.
The CHAIRMAN called to order, the confusion
in the hall being great at this time.
MIR. ALLEN. In the course of my remarks last
night
ceeding
The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman has three or
four minutes, the time for closing the debate not
having quite arrived.
Mr.. ALLEN. hope that the House will not de-
ny simple act OF justice. [Cries of go on"
ego on l had occasion
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Mississippi, called to order,
as it was impossible to hear what was going on.
luc Tappeo, requesting gentlemen
to take their seats, especially those standing in
front of the Clerks table and in the aisles.
Mr.. CASEY rose to point of order. II was, that
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. KISo) could
not yield the floor to the gentleman from Massa-
chusctts to make speech. 1t required unanimous
consent and he objected.
Mr.. ALLEN. hope that no one will endeavor
to exclude the truth from the of the House, and
that will not be again interrupted. G"Go on"
ego on, IL object" The confusion, If possible,
was increased.
MIR. CASEY. l rise to another question of order.
II is that the gentleman has already spoken, and
that he cannot again take the floor until others have
had it.
The CHAIRMAN said that no other gentleman
had contested the floor t"Go on, Allen, go on. y
MIR. ALLEN then alluded to what he said last
night as to Mr. Webster having, a condition for
taking the office Of Secretary Of State, demanded
the sum Of fifty thousand dollars from business
men in Wall street, New York, and State street,
Boston. And how, he aSked, had this statement
been metz Not at all He did not distinctIy hear
the enunciation of his colleague, (Nir. AsHmus,)
and he could not speak in the broken accents OF
that gentleman But Notwithstanding a member
Of this House, his responsibility, stated a
grave fact, one gentleman, and then another, rose
last night and endcavored to divert the attention
of the House, and to excite prejudice against the
speaker.
The CHAIRMAN informed the gentleman that
the time 10 which the debate limited had
pred tCries Of "Go on."] The gentleman could
proceed only by unanimous consent. Repetition
oil cries, "Go on;'' Ego on."l