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

San FrQScsco in good condition of defence
Also, Waidfme and money necessary TO iabricate
transpsk and place IL secure depots and maya
zines the requisite ornaments aud munitions
Agreed TO.
Mr., Douglass submitted a resolution. which
was agreed to, requesting the President to com
muncate copies of any Convention which may
have been entered into by Mr. lIeiss with the
State of Nicaragua, or either of the two States
comprising the late Republic of Central Amcri-
ca, together with all correspondence on the sub
ject
A bill to create additional collection districts
in Vermont was taken up and passed.
House. Mr. 1'oombs offered a resolution, that
the Committee on Commerce be instructed to
inquire into the expedlency of altering the navi
CATION laws of the United States, to the extent
Of throwing open the coasting trade to the com.
petition Of all nations.
Mr. w. Howe offered resolution for printing
10000 copies of the speeches and proceedings
in both Houses, consequent on the death OF Dan
el Webster Referred to the Committee ON
Printing.
Other proceedings were had which were des-
tiute of public interest Adj.
TUESDAY, Feb. :.
SENATE. Mr. Weller, of California. reported
bill granting lands 10 aid in building a tele-
graph line to the Pacific, which was made the
special order for Monday
The Tehuantepec resolutions of Mr.. Mason
were then taken mp
Mr. Seward spoke at length in opposition
After some preliminary remarks he alluded to
the Garay grant, which the resolution of Mr..
Mason stated had passed into the hands of A.
mercan citizens. He stated that he could not
vote for yle resolution. The administration aud
onc'sis u the Senate would 20 out of office
in less than thirty days, and their plnces would
be filled by others. Any opinion given by the
Senate ought to be a fixed one. He was not
wiling to embarrass any action of the incoming
President in this matter. He then resumed the
history Of the Garay grant, contending chat, in
the first place, its creation by Santa Anna whilst
President, was illegal, inasmuch as the Mexican
Congress alone had the right to make it and
secondly, that in 1851, the Mexican Congress
declared the grant to be void, and consequently
the asslgnees of 1t have no title. He also read
the correspondence of Mr.. Letcher the Ameri-
can Minister to Mexico, showing that the people
and the government Of Mexico had been always
entirely opposed to the recognition of the Garay
grant. He concluded by stating that whether
the refusal OF Mexico to affirm the American IL
tie, were justifable or not, he thought that no
candid man would deny that, in the present con-
dluon of Mexico, the EXERCISE of the franchise
claimed, would, in all human certainty, result in
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the Mexican Union, and
the extinction of that republic.
Mr. Seward denied that the Government was
hound to interfere to protect the claims of Mr.
flargous to his grant. No claim that was unjust
and immoral was entitled to such protection
lie then examined the arguments of Mr. Mason,
that the Government of the United States had a
natural right TO this way by law higher than
the Constitution Of the United States and Next
co. and pronounced it to be bunging piece of
diplomacy to attempt by negotiation to get that
which we now have by indeieasible right under
the higher law; but we waived that right in ask
ing Mexico for it when she was under our feet.
Mexico. be said, did not object to grant Ms the
right in a national character and for national
purposes If the Garay grant were out Of the
way there would be no obstacle in the way OF
treaty. lie was therefore in favor of our retrac
ing our steps, dissolving the partnership between
the Government and spectators. and prosccni
ing the suit by fair and friendly negotiations
with Mexico
In conclusion, he advocated the building of
an inland railroad to the Pacific, through our
own territory, in preference to the Tebuantepec
route
HousE. The House went into Committee Of
the Whole. on the bill to establish the territorial
government of Columbia
While engaged in consideration of the bill,
a message received from the President
when the Committee rose, and the message was
read.
The message covered the report from the
State Department, on the fisheries and CONNER
cal reciprocity with the British Provinces.
The message was referred to the Committee
on foreign Affairs, and ordered to be printed.
The House then went into Committee again.
and resumed the consideration of the bill estab-
fishing the territorial Government of Columbia.
On motion of Mr. Stanly, the name in the bill
was changed to Washington, after which it was
laid aside, 10 be reported to the House
The Committee then took up the bill TO estab
lish the territorial government of Nebraska.
discussion ensued when the Committee
rose without concluding the subject
The bill organizing the territorial government
OF Washington was then reported to the House,
pending which, they took recess till o'clock.
The House met at O'Clock, but up to . o.
clock had transacted no business of public inter-
est. WEDNESDAY, Feb. O.
SENATE. A message was received from the
House announcing their readiness to proceed
with the order for counting the votes for Presi-
dent and Vice President of the u. States.
The Senate then proceeded to the House.
AT two o'clock the Senate re assembled in
their chamber.
Mr. Hunter submitted the following resolu-
tons which were agreed to-
Resolved, That Committee of one member
Of the Senate be appointed TO Join a committee
oftwo members of the House of Representatives
to be appointed by the House, to wait on Frank
lin Pierce of New Hampshire, and notify him
that he has been duly elected President of the
United States, for four years, 10 commence on
the 4th day of March, 1853
Mr.. Hunter was appointed the Committee on
the part Of the Senate.
Resolved, That the President of the Senate
do cause VIM Il. King, of Alabama, to be noti-
fed that he has been duly elected Vice Presi-
dent Of the United States for four years, to COM
mence on the ith day of March. 1853.
HousE.-The galleries were crowded this
morning, with spectators of both sexes, to wit
ness the proceedings attendant upon the count
ing of the votes for President and V. President
of the U. States.
On motion of Mr.. Jones. of Tennessee, the
Clerk was directed to inform the Senate that the
House is now ready to receive the President and
the members of the Senate, to count the votes
cast at the late election for President and Vice
/ President
/ Aier a short interval, the Senate entered pre-
ceded by its President, Sergeant at arms, and
Secretary. The House rose and remained
standing until the Senators were seated in the
centre ofthe Hall.
] The President of the Senate then took the
Speakers Chair, and the Speaker occupied
position on his left. The tellers, Mr. Hunter on