Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-20
C0naressionaI.
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
senate-Thursday, January 10. 1854.

4
The Hon. Isaac Toucy appeared in his seat to-
day.
| WIDOWS PENSIONS.
| Mr.. PETIT submitted the following resolu.
Resolved, That the Committee Pensions inquire whe-
Their the laws need any amendment to give full effect to
the design Of Congress In granting pensions to the widows
Mr. p. said he had received letter on the sub
ject from friend in which were stated two strong
reasons for change or extension of the law for
the benefit of widows of the war OF 1872 The
first of these reasons was, that woman worthy
of being the wife of brave soldier, who had sac
rifced life in the service of his country was just
the woman worthy of second husband and the
other reason was that the wants of woman who
had buried two husbands could not be less than
those of one who had buried but one. The reso-
luton was adopted.
MINT AT NEW YORK.
Mr.. BRODHEAD presented the memorial OF
citizens OF Philadelphia, demonstrating against the
removal of the United States mint from Philadel-
pha TO New York.
THE.sAN FRANCISCO.
Mr.. FISH presented the memorial of merchants
and others OF New York, praying that provision
be made for the presentation of some suitable tes-
timonal to the brave commanders of the ships
4" Three Bells" "Kilby," and "Antarctc,n in res
cuing the passengers and crew of the steamer
San Francisco. Referred TO the Select Commit
tee. EFs&
CALIFORNIA FILIBUsTERs.
Mr.. GWIN submitted the following resolution
Resolved That the President be requested to communi
cate to the Senate the number ships on the
Of CALIFORNIA; Oregon and Washington whether in active
the whole Pacific Coast Of North and South America and
their cruising grounds.
United States the Pacific Coast in the year 1853 was
sufficient to prevent the departure by to foreign
country Of any unlawful expedition that might be hastily
formed from the adventurous persons usually found
at all points Of great commercial activity and enterprise
either in the United States Europe. Also the number
of ships Of the Atlantic their cruising
grounds whether in active service lying in port
poyed also the number Of troops in California and Wash
ington.
Mr.. GWIN read the proclamation Of the Presi-
dent on the subject, and said that at the time of
the first of these unlawful expeditions the United
States had not force sufficient on that coast 10
prevent its departure. AT that time single
vessel OF war, or single gun could have stopped
it. The expedition consisted OF but forty men,
This state of things tended rather to invite the
lawless and adventurous spirits which were to be
found in every community TO embark in such
expeditions. If the President wished to prevent
such expeditions, he should station force there
sufficient for that purpose. AT the time, as he
understood, there were only two shps-of-war on
the Pacific coast one at the Sandwich Islands,
and the other on the coast of Peru AT the time
of the second expedition, the vessel was actually
lowed out to sea by steamer; and this could
only have been done because the government had
no force there to prevent il. There was no effort
to enforce the laws in that quarter, except the
collection of revenue. 1t was known that the
States adjoining California were rich in minerals
and other resources; they afforded temptation to
the reckless and adventurous TO embark in expe-
ditions against them. With no forces in that
quarter it must be expected such expeditions
would set out The President could not stop
them by proclamations When he had urged
steam revenue vessel for that quarter he was an
swered il was too expensive. He argued at
length that measures should be taken TO protect
by strong naval force that coast.
Mr.. PETIT said he had no objection TO the
motion ITSELF but he was struck with the rather
singular defence made by the senator Of his con:
stituents. The defence was that if the govern
ment will surround the people by bolts and bars,
by naval forces, and with soldiers with arms in
their hands, they will cease forthwith their steal
ing and marauding. The senator states that the
adjoining country was teemng with riches and
minerals, and that the people of California could
not be prevented from executing their grasping
and maurading propensities, unless they were pre-
vented by the armed forces Of the government.
He pursued this subject much further and con-
tended that the military forces Of the country ought
not to be called upon TO prevent the people from
committing crime their own sense Of honesty
should be q sufficient measure of defence.
Mr.. GWIN denied having justified the expedi-
tions or having defended his constituents on the
grounds stated by the senator All he had said
was, that if the government had had proper
force on that coast these expeditions would never
have sailed.
Mr.. BADGER agreed with the senator that
there ought to have been sufficient force on that
coast, but be thought the whole blame for such
neglect was attributable 10 Congress, who had re-
peatedly refused to vote the means for augment
ing the army and navy, and who had wantonly
cut down by one-half the estimates furnished by
the executive of the necessary means for the
proper support Of the navy
Mr.. SHIELDS said he understood the senator
from California as charging the President with
the failure to send naval force 10 that quarter
Mr.. GWIN said he had not. What he had said
was, that there was no such force there.
Mr.. SHIELDS followed, contending that as the
President had no force at his command to supply
that coast, he could not have done so. He de.
nounced the expedition as pitIfnl lawless, vaga-
bond expedition for which he entertained the
greatest contempt.
Mr.. GWIN said these men had all met DEATH
and had been punished for their crimes. The
government was TO blame for not putting on that
coast one vessel, in the distribution of the naval
forces. fleet was sent 10 Japan, another 10 sur
vey Behring's straits if the President found that
he could not defend the coast properly, nor pre-
serve the neutrality laws, he ought TO have taken
one vessel from these exploring expeditions and
placed il on the coast
Mr.. BRODHEAD thought the information
nual report Of the Secretary ofthe Navy.
MIR. MASON said il was very certain that the
honor ofthe country was deeply interested in pre-
venting marauding expeditions leaving our ports
against foreign countries But he did not think il
the duty of this government 10 provide forces,
either by sea or land, to prevent our people vio-
latng the laws ofnatons. He was no enemy TO
an increase of the navy, but he denied that il was
the duty of this nation TO provide naval force to
protect other nations from our own people He
approved of the policy Of the past and present ad-
mnstratons in employing part Of the naval
forces in exploring the great channel of COM
meree.
He thought the country might rely on the good
sense and principle Of the people 10 put down
all awless expeditions. The President had prop
erly issued his proclamation, and in so doing he
had followed the example of his predecessors,
from the time of Washington down.
Mr.. DAWSON commented al length on the
fact that Congress had repeatedly denied appro-
priations asked for by President Fillmore as ne
cessary to put the naval and military defences of
the country in proper condition.
Mr.. GWlN commended that the government