The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-02-17
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
CONGRESS - SECOND SESSION
SENATE
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7.
Mr.. Douglas submitted a resolution, calling
upon the President to communicate copies of
the correspondence, Sc, Of Mr. Hise, when ne
gotiating with the Nicaragua Government
Adopted
The bill granting further remedies to paten-
tees was ordered to be engrossed-yeas %, nays
81
The joint resolution affirming the doctrine of
Monroe was taken up.
MIR Clemens delivered speech of an hour,
against the policy of taking Cuba, of acquiring
it by purchase or any other way. He was con-
tent to wait with MIR. Soule till it should come
to us after successful resolution by the Cuba
nos, because he knew that he and the Senator
would both be cold in the grave and forgotten
before that revolution was commenced much
less completed He dwelt with the utmost Sc
verify upon the extremes into which the doe
trine OF progress would force this nation. He
was confident that hundred Cubas could not
induce Great Britain To a war with the United
States, and have the bloody banner of bread
or blood raised by her own starving multi
tudes
Mr. Cass replied, reading some extracts from
Americans in Paris, sustaining his views on
this subject
Mr. Douglas obtained the floor, and the sub
ject was postponed till Monday next.
A motion to 90 into Executive session was
debated, and prevailed.
At three O'Clock the doors were opened, and
the Senate adjourned.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 3.
The bill granting further remedies to paten-
tees was taken up and, being put on Its pas
sage,
Mr.. Bayard addressed the Senate in opposi-
ton to it.
Mr.. Miller briefly replied, and the bin was
passed-yeas 2l, nays Is
A private bill, confirming a private land
claim in Mexico, was reported, and passed.
MIR Gwin submitted a resolution providing
that from Monday next, the hour of meeting
shall be at l. O'Clock Laid over
The resolutions of the Committee on Foreign
Relations, on the subject of the right of way
across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec by Amer-
can citizens under the Garay grant, came up.
Mr.. Seward addressed the Senate for two
hours and half in examination of that claim,
and in denial of its validity. He also support
ed the Pacific Railroad as better and wiser
scheme for connecting the Atlantic with the
Pacific.
Mr.. Underwood briefly rejoined to some parts
of his remarks.
Mr.. Hall obtained the floor, and the subject
was postponed till Monday next.
The Chair laid before the Senate message
from the President relating to the fisheries,
which was referred without being read
The Senate then adjourned
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9.
The Senate assembled, and shortly after q
message was received from the House, announc-
ing the readiness of that body to proceed to
the counting of the electoral votes for Presi-
dent and Vice President The Senate then
proceeded to the Hall of the House of Repre-
sentatives. See proceedings there. A few
minutes before two o'clock, the Senate return
ed
Mr. Hunter submitted the following resolu-
ton, which was agreed to-
Resolved That committee of one member
of the Senate be appointed by that body, to
join committee Of two members of the House
Of Representatives to be appointed by the
House, to wait on Franklin Pierce, of New
Hampshire, and notify him that he has been
duly elected President OF the United States for
four years, to commence ON the fourth day of
March, 1853
Mr.. Hunter was appointed the committee on
the part of the Senate
Mr.. Hunter also submitted the following
resolution, which was agreed to
RESOLVED, That the President of the Senate
do cause William r. King, of Alabama to be
notified that he has been duly elected Vice
President of the United States for four years,
to commence on the 4th day Of March, 1853.
The Senate then adjourned.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10.
The Chair laid before the Senate copies Of
the laws and Legislative proceedings Of the
Territory Of Oregon.
Several private bills were considered and
passed.
Mr.. Norris reported back, with amendments,
the House bill to suppress the circulation Of
small notes in the District of Columbia.
Mr. Hamlin, from the Committee on Com
MERGE, reported bill to establish o marine
hospital at Burlington Iowa.
The Senate proceeded to consider the bill to
provide for the payment of claims held by cred
itors of the late Republic of Texas.
Mr. Pearce addressed the Senate in support
of the bill, and
Mr.. Hunter opposed 1t,
The Senate then adjourned.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY
Mr. Hale presented the resolutions of the In
dustrial Congress Of Philadelphia
Mr.. Dodge, of Iowa, the joint resolutions of
the Legislature of Iowa
Mr.. Walker, several petitions, all in favor of
the passage of the Homestead bill.
Mr.. Mason, from the Committee On Foreign
Relations to which was referred the Presi-
dents message in answer to o resolution call
ing for Information relative to the establish
ment of u colony in the Bay of Honduras, and
also a resolution directing an inquiry whether
any measures be necessary on the part Of the
Senate, in consequence Of the explanations by
Messrs. Clayton and Bulwer, Mt the exchange
OF rat fcations OF the treaty of 1880, made a
report, accompanied by the following resolu-
ton:
Resolved las the opinion Of the committee, J
That the declaration on the part Of the British
Government, and tbs reply thereto by the Sec
rotary of State, as preliminary to the exchange
of notifications Of the treaty concluded at
Washington between the Governments of Great
Britain and the United States on the 10th of
April, 1850, import nothing more than an ad-
mission on the part Of the two Governments, or
their fupctionarie-, ct the time Of such ex-
change, that nothing contained in the treaty
was to be considered AZ affecting the title or
existing rights Of Great Britain to the English
settlements in Honduras bay. And, conse-
quently, in the opinion Of the committee, that
no measures are necessary on the part Of the
Senate to be taken because Of such declaratio
and reply.
The report Of the committee Gays that the
committee have been unable satisfactorily to
ascertain what is now the extent of the claim
or pretensions Of Great Britain in regard 10 the
tsrritory or dominion on the Gulf Of Honduras
In the unsettled condition Of the country, pend
Ing hostilities between Spain and the colonies,
1t is very manifest that whether with or With
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