Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-01
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The SPEAKER stated that the first business in order
on Monday last, to suspend the rules to enable
him to introduce bill to authorize the Secretary of the
Treasury to appoint an agent to investigate and bring to
justice certain offenders against the laws of the United
States and making anppropriation of $4,000 for that
purpose.
The bill has reference the destruction of the Martha
Washington and the robbery of the house at Pitts
burgh Shy extensive combination in Of the West
ern States having for its object the commission Of crimes
against the laws Of the United States
And the question being taken the motion to suspend
the rules was disagreed to-
Mr.. ABERCROMBIE, by consent, introduced joint
resolution directing the connection Of the public surveys
in Alabama with the boundary line between the States Of
Alabama and Florida; which read three times and
passed.
Mr. ETHERIDGE said that the House would recoect
that time ago Congress ceded to the States OF Mis-
souri, and Arkansas vast quantity of low swamp lands
In consequence of such cesson these States had cd the
right bank Of the Mississippi river and the result had
been to increase the amount of overflow on the left bank
Of the river In consequence aarge number of
his constituents had been materially injured by means OF
the increased quantity of water thrown their lands in
that portion Of Tennessee The Legislature of the State
had therefore adopted memorial praying Congress to
take the matter into consideration which he asked
leave to present.
He would simply say that the action of Congress, in
cedng these lands to Arkansas and Missouri and which
led reeng the right bank of the Mississippi river OPP
pose the State of Tennessee had caused great injury
that portion of his constituents who lands the
left bank Of the Mississippi rver and at the proper time
when he could do SO consistently with the other public
Business he should bring the matter before the House,
and most respectfully ask the House to take the whole
subject into In the mean time he would
content himself with simply presenting the memorial and
ask that it might be printed and for the present. refer
red to the Committee on Public Lands.
It was ordered.
THE MEXICAN TREATY.
Mr. HOUSTON moved that the House go into Commit
tee Of the Whole on the Of the Union with the view
ef taking up the b to enable the President to execute
the third article of the recent treaty with Mexico As
sV had but short tim. at their command he trusted
the Hese would 60 into committee and act upon the bill
one way or the other.
Dir. PECkHAM aeked consentto introduce resolution
on the subject of the bill. foiiorSs:
Resord That the President Of the United States be and
he is hereby requested if inconsistent with the public
interests communicate this House epies of all ntruc
ITEMS TO Minister to Mexico, Mr. Gadn and all
Responsiveness between his Government and him. touching
concerning the treaty between this Government and Mexico
OF the Soh Of December last and the ubechnattar thereof
Mr.. HOUSTON objected, remarking that tse resolution
came in at too late an hour.
= Mr.. BENTON said that he had A euestion "a rooke
which he thought would take precedence of he0tion Of
the gentleman from Alabama, Mr. HousTog) propose
(he sad) to make the motion of which rave pd,;ce
days ego, Of the privileges Of this House IL Il
which, lapprehend takes precedence Of all other motions
and especially does it take precedence of that now made
to 60 into Committee OF the Whole for the purpose of tax
ing this BILL II right my apprehension Of the
dignity and of the obligations which attach to the priyi
lege shall plead, win go and state my motion
The SPEAKER. The Chair will hear the genteman,s
motion before nc decides the question of privilege
Mr. BENTON. have reduced to writing the points of
privilege which make TO the House. in order to avoid
any misconception or misrepresentation and will read
them
Poiced That the House will not consider the question Of
npproprating 00o carry into effect tho Mexican
treaty Of December &c. 1858, for the acquisition of foreign
territory until il shall first have considered whether there
was breach of the privileges Of this Housc in negotiating
and concluding said treaty until after the House shall
have obtained full Information the negotiation and concu
sion Of said treaty
Rescred That the sad treaty depending for its execution
law Of Congress ne passed on sabject submitted by
the Constitution the power Of Congress- il is the constitu