Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-02-17

House TO order.
Mr.. Jones, of Tenn, offered a resolution that
committee Of two members be appointed on
the part of the House, to ioin a committee Of
one that may be appointed on the part of the
Senate, to wait upon Franklin Pierce, and in.
form him Of his election. The resolution was
adopted. and Mcssrs. Jones, Of Tennessee. and
Hubbard, were appointed a committee ON the
part of the House.
The House adjourned, passing over an even
ing session-yeas 81, nays as.
THURSDAY, Feb. 10.
SENATE. M. Fetch presented a resolution
from the Legislature of Michigan, in favor Of "a
homestead bill.
! Mr.. Gwin presented resolutions from the Leg
islature Of New Mexico, setting forth the advan-
/ tages 10 be derived from the construction Of the
| Pacific Railroad from the Gulf of Mexico
through that territory.
message was received from the President
enclosing the first part of Lieut. Henderson's
report of the exploring expedition in the valley
of the Amazon and its tributaries. Referred and
ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Cooper, of Pa offered resolution of en-
quiry as TO the propriety Of establishing line of
mail and war steamers between California and
/ China.
Mr.. Cass said his resolution affirming the
] y.
and he hoped all who desire to speak on it would
come prepared, and the vote be taken as soon as
the debate was over. He supposed there would
be some more Jokes from the Senator from New
Hampshire, and then he hoped there would be a
vote.
Mr.. Hale said he was serious in bis reference
to Canada, and if the gentleman was Joking with
respect to Cuba it ought to be known.
Some further remarks ensued between Mcssrs.
Cass and Hale. when Nj. Pearce Of Maryland
got the floor and addressed the Senate at length
on the Texas debt bill The amendment offered
by him authorizes the issue of eight and one
third million OF three per cent. bonds payable in
twenty years, to be paid to creditors holding
bonds of Texas, to he secured by the pledge of
revenue on Imports in proportion to their
claims.
Mr.. Hunter followed in earnest opposition to
the bill, contending that the United States were
not legally or morally bound under any circnm
stances, TO pay the Texas debt or any part oft.
Mr.. Houston got the floor, when the Senate
adjourned.
HOUSE, The House proceeded to act on the
bill to establish the Territorial Government of
Washington-the question being on concurring
in the amendments from the Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union.
Mr.. Jones, Of Tennessee, moved to lay it on
the table, Negatived, yeas 90, nays 90
The bill passed yeas l2S nays %.
The House then went into committee on the
bill organizing the Territorial government of
Nebraska
Mr. Howard opposed the bill principally be-
cause the proposed territorial limits embraced
the lands Of some eighteen tribes of Indians,
and thus violated the spirit Of the treaties with
them.
The discussion was continued by Messrs.
Hall, Sutherland, and Clngman, the latter gem
teman offering an amendment, which was adopt
ted, to the effect that the territory occupied by
the Indians shall not constitute a part of the Ne
braska Territory.
! Several other amendments were offered, and
! the committee rose.
1t was then moved to lay the bill on the table,
which was negatived.
The House then adjourned.
FRInAY, Feb. H.
SENATE. The Char late before the Senate a
communication from Ike State Department. CIV
ing the number of Clerks in that Department.
Mr. Seward presented petitions from Cornelius
Vanderbilt, and from the owners Of the Collins
line Of sleamers, and from others engaged in the
steamship business, for a suspension Of the
steamboat law of last session. Petitions of a
like nature were presented from Lake Huron
Hartford, and other places
Mr.. Mason, from the Committee on Foreign
Affairs to which was referred the Presidents
message on the subject Of the establishment Of
British Colonies at Brazil and also the resolu-
luton whether any action of the Senate be ne
cessary in consequence of the explanations made
by Messrs. Bulwer and Clayton, at the ex-
change of the ratification Of the Central Ameri-
can treaty, made report accompanied by the
following resolve:
Resolved, That IT is the opinion Of the Com
mittee that the declaration on the part Of the
British government and the reply thereto by the
] Secretary Of state, as preliminary to the tx.
change of Publications of the treaty concluded
between the governments of Great Britain and
the United States, imports nothing more than
an admission on the part of the government or
It's tunctionares at the time of the exchange. that
nothing contained IN the treatyls to be consider
ed as affecting the title or existing rights of
Great Britain TO the English settlement in Hon
durus Bay, and consequently, in the opinion of
the COMMITTEE no measures are necessary to be
taken in reference to such a declaration.
Two thousand copies Of the report were or
dered to be printed.
Mr.. Mason's report says that the Committee
have been unable satisfactorily TO ascertain what
is now the extent Of the claim or pretensions Of
Great Britain, IN regard to the territory or DO.
minions in the Gulfof Honduras. in the unset
tled condition o. Tie country, pending hostilites
between Spain and the colonies, it Is manifest
that whether with or without the sanction Of the
British government, the settlers there pushed
their occupancy far beyond the southern limits
assigned to them by treaty and it now appears
that right is asserted to MAINTAIN such occupan-
cy as 1t stood in 1921, when the colonies we're
dismembered from Spain. These are questions
properly belonging to the powers of Great Bri-
tam and Guatemala, but the question of domn-
ION is Of a different character, and il is one in
the disposition Of which, this government can
never be Indifferent. Whether it should uti-
mately be determined that the English settle
lnents on the Honduras, are in Mexico or Guate-
male, the question remains the same, as regards
the United States, and as connected with tbs in
curry, the committee have considered it incum-
bent on them TO express an opinion. They then
enter into a long argument on the subject and
close as follows:
On the whole, the Committee report as their
opinion, to the Senate that the islands of Ruatan.
Bonacca, Utilla, Barbure Helena and Morat. in
and near the Bay of Honduras, constitute
part of the Republic of Hondur as. and therefore
form part of Central America: and. in
consequence, that any occupation or colonial
ton o. these Islands by Great Britain, clearly
would be violation of the treaty of the 10Th OF
April, 1850. The committee, from the informa-
ton before them, entertain a decided opinion
that tho nr,tfgh II ,