The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-02
THIRTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
EIpST SESSIDN
SENATE


The CHAIR laid before the Senate a report from
the Secretary Of the Treasury, in reply 10 Iesolu-
ton calling for the opinion of that officer upon the
repeal or modification of the existing laws relative
TO duties on Spanish tonnage; which was read and
referred to the Committee on Commerce.
DEFENCE NEW MEXICO.
Mr. DAWSON presented the joint resolutions Of
the Territory of New Mexico, urging upon Con-
gress TO pass laws TO raise two regiments to protect
the people of that Terr itory from the Indians Re
ierred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
RECIPROCAL TRADE WITH CANADA.
MIR. FISH presented several petitions from New
York, praying the passage of laws To encourage a
reciprocal trade with Canada.
COMMITTEES ON CLAIMS.
MIR, BRODHEAD stated that. if il in order,
he would move that an additional member be added
to the Committee on Claims, in consequence OF the
protrac,cd absence Of the Senator from Indiana,
(Mr. WHiTcoMB,) caused by the illness OF that
& Gentleman.
The CHAIR said the motion was in order, and
it was agreed 20. MIR. Adams was appointed.
wHITNEY's RAILROAD.
Mr. RUSK, from the Committee on the Post Of
flee and Post Roads, To whom had been referred
the memorial of Asa Whitney, reported, by the di-
rcctIon of majority OF the Committee
bill 10 set apart and cell to Asa Whitney, OF New
York, portion OF the public lands to enable him
To construct a railroad from Lake Michigan, or the
Mississippi river, to the Pacific ocean; also TO set
apart and sell portion of the public lands to con-
struct railroad from point ON the west bank OF
the Mississippi, not north OF the neighborhood OF
Memphis, in Tennessee. to run thence TO Rio del
Norte and to the Pacific ocean, to San Diego and
San Francisco, to some hnrbor suitable for com
merce.
Mr.. RUsK said that lie differed from the major
ity OF the committee; and, when the bill should be
printed, he would move 10 call it up He thought
that another bill could have been framed, and one
likely TO pass the Senate. When this bill
came up he would move important amendments
to il.
NJ q WIN s,id he u,.,,d rive notice that he
would move to strike out the name Of Asa Whitney
from the bill, and would oppose inserting the name
of any other person in it.
MIR. RUSk said that for the Iowa road no names
were contained in the bill.
Mr.. GWlN. | am down on Whitney and his
plan.
USE OF THE LIBRARY OF coSoREss.
Mr.. RdETT introduced n joint resolution
thorizing the President Of the Senate and the
Speaker Of the House of Representatives TO grant
the of the Library Of Congress to the judges of
the circuit and criminal courts OF the District OF
Columbia; which was read twice and referred.
RELIsF FoR MEcHAxI CAPITOL.
Mr.. HALE gave notice of joint resolution for
the relief of those mechanics who have come 10 the
city of Washington for the purpose Of building the
extension of the Capitol, on invitation OF the officers
OF the Government of the United States, and who
have been for a long time out OF work by the ne
glect of Congress to make appropriation therefor.
SALARIES OF DISTRICT JUDGES
The resolution submitted by Mr.. CHASE, d-
recting inquiry, by the Judiciary Committee,
into the propriey of fixing the salaries of the dis
trict Judges of the United States the rates
allowed TO the associate justices of the supreme
court of the State which the district court may
be established, was taken up, and agreed to.
NAVAL EXPEDITION JAPAN.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration
Of the following resolution submitted yesterday by
Mr.. BoRLAND:
Resolred That the Secretary of the Navy be di-
rected to communicate TO the Senate the objects OF
the naval expedition recently ordered into the In
dian ocean, and particularly 10 the coast OF Japan,
and copies Of any nstruc tons that have been given
to the comma nder of that expedition.
Mr.. BORLAND modified his resolution by strik-
ing out the words Secretary Of the Navy be di
rected,' and inserting in lieu thereof the words
president OF the United States be requcsted; and
by adding to the resolution the words eli not in
compatible with the public interests."
MIR. MANG UNI said that he was opposed TO the
passage OF this resolution for many reasons. II II
should be answered by the President that the in.
formation called for could not be communicated
compatibly with the public interest, that answer
would afford TO come sufficient grounds for q
picion that the object Of the expedition was hos
tile All could understand something OF the
object Of the expedition. II might be TO extend
the commercial interests OF the country into
that region. All were aware that American
sailors cest upon the shores OF Japan had been
treated with the greatest barbarity. This cxpe
diton nigh. have for its object to extend protec-
ton 10 these and TO prevent THE cruelty. A
large force m that neigbbotbood could not fail 10
having its proper effect upon the people Of japan
and few bombshcls would produce perhaps much
benefit. He thought this matter should be left
where il now was, in the hands of the Adminstra-
ton, and Congress ought not unadylsedly inter
fere with il. He thought the Administration should
be treated BY Congress with some degree Of conf
dcncc IN this matter; be would extend 20 any ad-
Dinistrstion the like confidence. As the
President answered this resolution by stating that
II is Incompatible With the public Interests 10 make
the object of tho expedition public the antagonist
papers OF the country will Get down the expedition
as one Of open war upon an innocent and harmless
people. He looked upon this question with vic "
of seeing how 1t affected party interests. He thought
b tn parties were now pretty well dislocatcd-bro
ken in the middle. lie had no party feelng-for he
felt that be had become pretty nearly an outsider
Should the resolution be answered by statement
that 1t IL incompatible with the public interests "a
state tho object Of the expedition the other nations
Of the world put the qi rrre 10 ascertain iis
purpose They are the rivals OF the United stAte'
IN commerce, and they will Of coursc adopt moa-
sures 10 prevent any thing being effected by tho
United States. What this will lead to none could
tell IL Was well known that American Galore
were not those who would take a bow without re-
turning il. But considerations Of this kind he
knew were but little regarded at THE day lie waf
OF opinion that the commcrcisluiercsisOf The Uni.
ted States in those seas would bc much facilitated
by the presence OF large force. He would not OBJ.
Ject TO ono OF hfty ships Of tho line. lie thought
that few bonbshells would do more for the Uni
ted states with those barbarians than would all the
diplomacy OF Tallsyrsnd, or even of the great
diplomatlst Of America. lie hoped the resolution
would be permitted TO lay over for a day al
least
MIR. BoRLAND ssid that he never heard thst q
resolution Of this kind, calling for information
had ever been opposed before. No one had pre-
tended 10 charge the Administration with any dis
regard Of the interests Of tho country, impropc
objects in this expedition. But the Government
OF THE country Was Ia the hands of the people, al
powers we're derived from them The officers of tb
Government were but the servants Of the pcopi
appointed TO carry out and execute their will
This, then, being the Government Of the people
every thing that is done, or proposed 10 lie done
Dust be made known 10 them; nothing ought Z
be kept from their know ledge The Senator frot
North Carolina the other day had said that IN
President, being in minority in both Houses
Congress, vss no, responsible for the expenditure
81 public money because Congress had tho cont 70
Of that money, and none could be expended with
DOT its sanction and authority; and that, therefore
Congress alone was responsible for tho manner j
which the public money was expended. lie IN
tended 60 keep the Senator 10 that doctrine. Tn
President, by his friends here, and by the organ
his Administration, proclaimed that Congress, an
not he, was responsible for the appropriations mad
for the expenditures Of the Government, for n
money wac expended without due authority