The southern press., 1852-01-27

In agreeing to the resolution falling for the pa
pers which were sent down Yesterday, he gave
Mr.. Webster, he said, an opportunity of clearing
UP the cloud which hung over lis conduct, ard Of
showing that the charges tina had been made
We're untrue, or Of explaining item, if otherwise.
| lie had neglected TO avail hnisef of this opportu
| nifty. That, Mr.. MEADE said, vas not his affair.
| Mr.. Webster knew that the Ebuse Intercepted
| him, as TO whether there was an understanding
! with Gen. Taylor 8 cabinet; aid that fact, not
wlthstanding his silence, is disclosed in the cor
| respondence that had been transmitted; and no
member could rise up in his phce, and state that
Mr., Webster did not know Of re arrangement.
All he (Mr. M had to say is, that he had not
discharged properly the duties that were required
of him, and had not granted a favor to Mexico by
which his own country might lave derived pc
cuniary advantage This was tie charge that was
made against Mr. Webster--anl nothing else; and
he repeated, there is sufficient disclosed in the cor
respondsnce TO satisfy membenthat Mr.. Webster
knew of the understanding thai existed.
Mr.. STEPHENS, Of Geogia, asked whether
the understanding was of such nature, that the
Secretary of State was bound % act upon it?
Mr.. MEADE continued. was not certainly
a legal obligation, and was of less formal nature
than if it were executed in wiring. Butthe Mex
lean minister, in his letter, aludes to the under
standing that existed, and says that Gen. Tayor's
cabinet gave Mexico to understand, that when
Congress appropriated the money, they would
enter into an arrangement; and had that officer
lived it would have been a breach Of faith on his
part, had he not seen thaNit was carried out,
which obligation descended to his successor
Mr.. STEPHENS said there was not any proof
of an understanding with Gen. Tayor's cabinet,
such as had been alluded to, except what was
contained in the letter OF the Mexican minister;
and il was absurd to suppose, that that formed
sufficient ground for action on the part of the Sec
rotary Of State.
Mr.. MEADE, in conclusion, replied that he
onI icb recfa
on the administration of the government here, to
carry out specially that which, with its consent,
involved action on the part of Mexico.
Mr. RANTOUL, of Massachusetts, followed,
and said he should not have risen had, it not been
I'll at a charge of corruption had been advanced
Yesterday against the State which he represents,
6y another member from that State, and which
required to be net in the prcmptest manner. This
charge had been advanced against two parties IN
sachusetts--one numbering $4,000 and the
other $4,000. As a member Of the Democratic
party-one of those assailed-he would venture
to assert that If there be any political party who
should be exempted fro m such charge, 1t is the
Democrats of Massachusetts, because no where
else do they stand opposed, to similar extent, to
the powerful influence of capital and men of
wealth, and no where have they to make greater
sacrifices OH that acco mt
|. He then went on to show that the coalition of
parties in Massachusetts, upon which the charge
of corruption was based, is perfectly legitimate
mode Of CARRYING point, and that IL has been re-
sorted to in other States without causing invidous
remark From this he went on 10 show that his
colleague Mr.. DAyIsl was the last man. who
should attack the Abolitionists, and quoted from
meetings of public bodies at which he either pre-
sided or took an active part, where resolutions
were passed of the most iabid character, and de-
mandatory Of slavery. To show what are the
sentiments of his colleague at present, he was
about 10 quote from the proceedings of the con-
..zll L. 81, Nt,at.
hammer fell, and he declared the debate at an end
pursuant TO the resolution of the House, the hour
of two having arrived.
But the members, who had been enjoying the
scene, as on the preceding day, and whom the
Chairman found 1t impossible to keep in their
seats-many Of them crowding into the area IN
front of the Clerk 5 desk-very generally express
ing wish that the gentleman from Massachu
sets should be allowed to conclude his speech.
The Chairman, however, was peremptory.
number OF gentlemen were disposed to resist his
authority; and at one time, motion was pending
to take the sense OF the committee as to the cor
rectness Of his decision. At length, however, the
motion was Withdrawn; and Mr. HoUsToN, chair
man of the Committee Of Ways and Means, took
the floor, and as was his right, in concluding
speech, supported the bill which, in that capa-
city, he had introduced.
MIR HOUSTON, after abiding to the manner
in which members generally had wandered from
the subject under discussion, and stating that all
applications for information must be made through
! the President of the United States; went on
| TO efend tie Committee of WAYS and Means in
the course they had pursued with reference TO the
| bill before the Committee on the state of the
Union They found, he said, that under the
treaty with Mexico, an instslment Of upwards of
three millions of dollars was about becoming due,
and as was their duty, they reported bill TO the
House providing an Appropriation 10 meet II,
ard they could pursue no other course He SAID
he was opposed to the amendment proposed by
the gentleman from Tennessee, which provides
that the Secretary of the Treasury should pay
the indemnify; and also that Of the member from
California But the President has instructed an
other head Of department to perform that duty;
and the result would be, were the amendment to
be adopted, that the House would interfere with
the President OF the United States in the discharge
Of his official duties. The chief reason, it APP
reared n him, which induced members TO come
TO vote i'm favor of the amendment, that It
would express the displeasure Of the House at the
mode in which the instalment Of the Mexican in
demnity had been paid. The amendments, he said
would he perfectly nugatory in every other re-
spect There could not he a change in the treaty
without the intervention Of the Congress of
Mexico, and there is not sufficient time remaining
FOR that body to interfere He considered the
faith Of the country as being pledged for the pay
ment Of the instalment in May next, and that the
House was obligated to pass bill which, during
the last Congress, only about thirty members
were found TO oppose.
The House then resumed, and adjourned at
about half past three O'Clock, till Monday next,
when the question will probably again come M,
and the day will be consumed in five minute
speeches, explanatory Of other amendments.