Washington sentinel., 1853-12-15

the sale and settlement of the public lands OF the
United States, and
A bill for the establishment Of an Agricultural
Bureau. atE fIFrk,f ,ftE
They were both referred to the Committee on
Agriculture.
THE CENSUS.
Several resolutions were introduced and re-
ferred TO the Committee on Printing, proposing an
additional number Of copies of the census docu-
ment, TO be distributed among the members.
SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CAPITOL EXTENSION.
On motion of Mr.. STANTON, OF Kentucky, it
was
Reso,ued That the Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds be directed inquire into and report 70 this
House, by what authority OF law officer Of the United
p S 70 Sond .ni s has
been required to give for the faithful OF the
money appropriated for that purpose what ne
by the President under the law September 30 by
what authority Of law said alterations made, and
what additional expense has been and will be hereafter
incurred consequences Of said alterations and also, In
qure into the expedency Of placing the work upon said
missioner Of Public Buildings other civil ocer
obe appointed for that purpose. sitR
REDUCTION OF DUTIES ON IMPORTS.
Mr. BOYCE submitted the following resolution,
which was read for information:
Resolre That in view Of the large and increasing
plus in the Treasury the duties on imports should be
no reduced only TO rase such may be
cessay for economical administration Of the
men the duties should be imposed equaze
possible the burdens Of taxation to all classes and
sections and TO insure the abstraction from the pockets Of
the people Of little possible over and above what is
paid into the Treasury.
Mr. BAYLY moved that the resolution be re-
ferred to the Committee OF Ways and Means but,
debate arising, it went over under the rule.
THE UNITED STATES AND SPAIN.
Mr.. INGERSOLL submitted the following reso-
luton
Resolved That the President of the United States is
quested to furnish Congress- IT, in his opinion the public
interest will allow with copies Of all the
that has passed between this government and Spain
lang the seizure and imprisonment Of Captain Thad
deus Beecher and his officers and crew Of the schooner
the Spanish authorities at Porto Rico In the month Of
March, 1850.
Mr.. INGERSOLL stated the facts in the case,
from which il appeared that the captain and crew
Of the North Carolina had been treated in a most
shameful manner, without any reason whatever to
Justify it. Treaties, he said, had been violated,
humanity tramped under foot the rights of the
American citizen nsulted and torn from him, and
the flag fthe country contemned. And all this had
been submitted 10 for the last three years. The
question never will be settled, unless the Presi-
dents diplomacy, set forth in his inaugural ad-
dress, and acted on by Captain Ingraham, and
commented on by the Secretary of State, for which
his name will ever be gratefully remembered,
shall be applied in this case. He (Mr. J.) was
man Of peace, but not for peace purchased with
servilty That power is most respected which
ever stands ready and eager TO redress the wrongs
done 10 its citizens. England redresses the wrongs
of even the meanest of her SUBJECTS. II was far
from his wish to detract from his own country,yet
the truth compelled him TO say, that on more than
one OCCASION he had TO restrain his feelings. When
abroad he saw American citizens travelling with
English passports an exhibition truly humiliating.
He was free to say that If there was at any time
an excuse for Spain, the reason exists no longer.
There was no reason for this government not
taking a stand in the front rank of nations. Il is
the mission of the American government to exact
respect for the rights ofits citizens abroad.
In conclusion, he said he had faith and con-
fidence that the distinguished individual at the
head of the government, ofwhom as an American
he felt proud and more especially as he came from
his own New England, will not disappoint the
expectations of his countrymenIn this respect nor
in any other The sentiments of the inaugural
address should be printed in letters OF gold. and
stamped on the back Of the American passport J;
every ship crossing the sea, and every log cabin,
should have it placed on their wooden walls, and
every child at school should be taught that, so
long as he can discern the stars on The country's
ensign, no matter what may be his condition,
whether without wealth, or the favor of prefer
ment he must be enabled to stand unabashed in
the presence Of any foreign power or sovereign,
and not feel the rude hand Of power laid upon him
with impuniiy.
The proper way 10 deal with such nations, is not
10 wait for justice to be doled out, but cur govern
ment would be justified in making reprisals of
property, wherever found. II is the only way TO
bring almost worn-out governments TO terms,
Debate arising, the resolution went over, under
1he rules.
The Committee Of Ways and Means was au-
,horized to employ clerk for the session, at the
rate Of fifteen hundred dollars per annum.
After the transaction ofother business,
Mr.. HOUSTON moved that the House resolve
itself itself into a Committee of the whole on the
state Of the Union; pending which,
The House adjourned