The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-27
CONGRE> SIGNAL PROCEEDINGS.
rHRrT-ssoosp CONGRESS - SECOND sEssros.
SENATE
MONDAY. JANUARY IL.

hONDAls 1ANOAki IL.
MIR. Shields presented several petitions pray
ing the removal of the present jail in this city,
the reconstruction of the chain bridge, &c.
Mr.. Hale obtained leave TO withdraw the
resolution making inquiry into the conduct Of
Commodore Morgan while in command of the
Mediterranean squadron.
Mr.. Miller submitted resolution. which
was laid over, directing an inquiry into the pro-
priety of recognising thu Independence Of Ii
IBERIA.
The Senate then proceeded to the considera-
ton of Executive business, on Mr. Badgers
nomination, by the following vote:
fEAs-Messrs Bell, Brooke Clarke, Cooper,
Davis, Dixon, Fish, Foot Geyer, Hale Jones of
Tennessee, Mangum, Miller, Morton Pearce,
Rusk, Sebastian, Seward, Smith. Spruance,
Sumner, Underwood, Wade and Walker-24.
NArs-Messrs. Adams Borland, Bright,
Brodhcad, Butler, Cass, Cathcart, De Saussure,
Dodge of Wisconsin, Dodge Of Iowa, Downs,
Felch, Gwin, Hamlin, Houston, Hunter, James
Jones Of Iowa, Mallory, Morris and Soul&-2i
After some time the doors were re-oponed,
and the bill providing for the establishment of
national road to the Pacific, from the Missis-
sippi, was taken up.
MIR. Brooke submitted a substitute for the
bill, providing for q contract with the company
recently Incorporated in New York for the
construction Of this road
A debate ensued, Mr. Brooke sustaining the
amendment and Mr.. Gwin opposing it,
After further debate, it was postponed
The Homestead bill was fixed for Wednes-
day week. The Senate adjourned
TUESDAY, JANUARY 49,
Mr.. Bright presented the credentials Of the
Hon. John Petit, Senator chosen By the Legs
lature OF Indiana for the uuoxpired term Of
| the Hon. James Whitcornb, deceased.
/ MIR. Shields reported back the House bill
appropriating $4,000, to be used by the Ex-
ecutive in having executed by Clark Mills n
colossal equestrian statue of Washington.
Mr. S said the bill had passed the House
unanimously, and he hoped Il would pass the
Senate IN tie same manner. The bill was
th-n considered and WAS passed unanimously
Mr. Scuie submitted the following resolu-
ton which was agreed to:
Resolved That the President be requested, il
not Incompatible with the public interests, to
communicate to the Senate all the information
on file in the State Department relative 10 the
claims Of American citizens against Hayti not
, embraced in the reports on that subject here
totore made by the Secretary Of State at the
third session Of the 2yth Congress and also
who was sent out in l849 to examine and re-
port upon the condition of the Island Of st.
Domingo, in reference either ts the said claims
upon Hayti or to the various applications made
by the Dominican Republic to the Government
Of the United States for the pacifoation of said
island
The Senate resumed the consideration of Mr..
Cass's joint resolution, renfirming the Monroe
doctrine and applying il TO Cuba
MIR. Cass said that two Presidents---Nr
Monroe ia 1924, and Mr.. Polk in ls45-~had
announced the doctrine contained in t.e reso-
luton, and had given good reascos WHY it
| should be adopted. He would no> now repeat
| those reasons they were familiar to all
He referred to the correspondence and con
VIBRATIONS between MIR Rush and Mr. Can
ming on this subject in which the latter said
that Great Britain could not view with indiffer-
encs any of the American States taken posses
sion of by European Powers Great Britain
was right in thus viewing the matter, though
at the time engaged in q convention that was
TO place this whole matter in the hands of Eu-
ropean nations. When Mr. Monroe, Mr. Polk,
and Mr.. Canning avowed themselves believers
10 this doctrine, he and others could well afford
to abide the sneers and SCOTS everlastingly
thrown upon them. IL the course recommend
ed by MIR. Canning thirty years ago was just
then, the reasons for 10 had become stronger
now.
II was evident 10 the world that experiments
were making on our forbearance, aud beng
yielded 10 in some cases, events would be forced
upon the United States which il were better to
anticipate He referred TO some remarks by
Mr.. Guzot some years since, in which doctrine
was laid down utterly inconsistent with our
honor and safety Public sentiment on tbis
subject ~ on most questions, he said, had long
been in advance Of Congress. Some years ago
the Senate refused to consider resolutions on
this subject.
He reisrred to various circumstances rem
dering this declaration more necessary and jus
tfabe than when first made by Mr. Monroe.
He alluded 10 the recent attempt 70 acquire So
nora by the French agents, which act, II it had
been successful, would have been ayowed by
the French Government and Sonora claimed
IA u province Of France. He quoted from va
rious French publications. showing that the
policy Of France and nil Europe 10 tn check
the progress Of the United States He had no
doubt but that that policy would 20 ON.
He thought any declaration Of the desire Of
the United States TO purchase Cuba AZ out Of
place in these resolutions. He was willing to
purchase Cuba, but would prefer that the
people Of Cuba would by some arrangement
with Spain, or by revolution, become ndepend-
cnt, and then propose union with the United
States
he commented at length upon the import
ance OF Cubs rs military position, and one
which in the possession OF England would be
most destructive to the United States. Spain
was not in condition To do rs harm, and he
preferred she should retain il.
He quoted from debates in the British Com
mons, and declarations by Lord George Ben
timex, concerning the lien by Great Britain On
Cuba and the policy Of England was to dis
train Cuba, and cut the commerce Of America
In two.
He referred in most complimentary terms TO
tho letter recently written by MIR. Everett TO
the British Minister, in reply 10 the proposition
to establish the ,ripartite treaty
He dvslt considerably on THIS proposed con-
vcntion and the reasons inducing its offer
He defended his resolution against the taunt
that 1t was John Doe and Richard Roe no
tics 10 the world Such notice had been
given BY our iorsfathers on the %th VI July,
i776
He gave . history Of the progress u the
country Gncs the days OF the Revolution, and
il gigantic and rapid strides ~ power, wealth,