Washington sentinel., 1854-06-28
House Of RepresentatIyes.

House of Representatives.
CoNsPIRAToRs.
The first business 10 order was the motion, here
tofore made by Mr.. BLISS, 10 suspend the rules
in order 10 enable him TO introduc bill TO an
thorize the Secretary of the Treasury 10 appoint
agent 10 investigate and bring 10 Justice ertan
offenders against the laws of the United States,
and making appropriation for that purpose.
THE object designed was to reach the Martha
Washington consprators and those who recently
robbed the Pittsburg custom-house; a band be-
ing in existence committing crimes in the west.l
The House refused to suspend the rules; yeas
AZ nays not counted.
Mr.. ABERCROMBIE, on leave, introduced a
joint resolution, directing the connexion OF the
survey in Alabama with the boundary line between
Alabama and Florida; and II was passed.
TREATY WITH MEXICO.
Mr.. HOUSTON moved that the rules be sus-
pended and that the House resolve itself into a
Committee of the Whole on the state OF the Union,
with view of proceeding to the consideration OF
the bill appropriatng ten millions OF dollars for
the purpose OF carrying into effect the treaty be-
tween the United States and Mexico, concluded
on the ihirtieth December last.
Mr.. PECKHAM desired 10 introduce resolu-
tion, which was read for information, calling on
the President ofthe United States 10 communicate
10 the House, if not inconsistent with the public
interests copies of all instructions to our minister
to Mexico Mr.. Gadsden, and all correspondence
touching or concerning the treaty between this
Government and the republic of Mexico, concluded
on the thirteth of December last, and the subject
matters thereon.
Mr.. HOUSTON objected, saying that the reso
luton came in at too late an hour.
Mr.. BENTON said he had question of privi-
lege, which he apprehended would take prece-
dence OF all other motions, including that OF the
gentleman from Alabama. (Mr. HoUsToN) If he
had right he would go and assert his points
of privilege.
CRY, 4 49,.
mans question of privilege.
Mr.. BENTON then presented his points, IN
series Of resolutions, to the effect
/. That he House will not consider the question
ofappropratng 900 10 carry into effect this
treaty with Mexico, for the acquisition of foreign
territory until il shall first have considered whether
a breach the privileges of this House in nego-
tiating and concluding said treaty, has not been
committed, nor until after the House shall have
obtained full information on the conclusion and
negotiation of said treaty.
2. That said treaty, depending for its execution
on law OF Congress, it was the unquestionable
right and duty Of the House TO deliberate on the
expediency or inexpediency of carrying The treaty
into effect, and determine and act thereon as in
their judgment would most conduce TO the public
good
This said Mr. B.. is copy Of the resolutions
adopted by the House in l796, after President
Washington had refused to communicate 10 the
House papers on the subject Of a treaty.
Mr. HOUSTON said that he desired the deci-
sion of the Chair as far as the gentleman from,
Missouri had gone. [Cries of "no, no."l He re-
marked that he was in order, and had right TO
make his point.
Mr.. BENTON. But am not through yet.
Mr.. HOUSTON wanted the decision of the
Chair as to whether this was privileged ques-
ton.
The SPEAKER said he preferred to hear the
other resolution read before he should give his
decision
Mr.. BENTON continued his reading. The
third resolution was, in effect that the admission
of new States into the Union being a question
exclusively granted TO Congress by the Constu-
ton, any treaty stipulating for the acquisition OF
foreign territory, with right 10 admit it. State,
without the authorization by Congress- is breach
of the privilege of this body, violation OF the
Constitution, and is illegal and void That the
purchase Of foreign territory by the federal gov
ernment not having been provide for in the Con-
stitution, concurrence by the Legislative and ex-
ecutive departments of the government-the for
mer by act of Legislation and the latter by treaty
is necessary 10 the consummaton OF the act, as IN
the case Of Louisiana and Florida.
4. That the House of Representatives has the
right to information 10 enable it TO judge, and that
the President Of the United States be respectfully
requested 10 furnish copies of instructions on
which the treaty was negotiated, and the cores
pondence TO which il gave rise, and all other pa
pers on the subject The same can be communi-
Gated confiden,iay, ifthe public good will not ad-
NIT of its open communication.
The SPEAKER, for reasons which he stated,
overruled Mr.. BENToN, not being able to see in
what he had presented any question of privilege
Mr.. CAMPBELL askee, whether il would be
in order to move suspension of the rules.
The SPEAKER said that the motion already
pending, TO go into committee, had precedence
The House then resolved itself into Commit
tee of the Whole on the state of the Union--Mr
DISNEY in the chair--and proceeded to the consa-
Grafton of the bill appropriating ten millions Of
dollars TO carry into effect the recent treaty with
Mexico.
Mr. HOUSTON said that the bill which had
been read as well as the message and the treaty
communicated by the President were laid on the
tables of members on Friday or Saturday last !;
therefore, il would be useless TO remind the COM
mttee that according TO the stipulations TO the
treaty, the ratifcatons have TO be exchanged by
the thirtieth of this month leaving but a few
days on which 10 act of this bill He, therefore,
urged speedy action, and appealed to the House
to close the debate tomorrow or next day. HE
had, under the rules the right 10 address the COM
mttee an hour in opening but he should defer
making any further remarks until the closing OF
debate, when he should take occasion 10 reply 10
objections 10 the i'll.
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee moved to strike out
the enactng clause of the bill, not with view
to defeat it, for he expected TO vote for il, but that
no motion may be made on il until after the de-
bate shall be concluded. He should vote for the
land we are TO get, but because this treaty re-
lieves us from all obligations, real supposed, TO
defend the Mexcans from Indian incursions on
their side of the line and from all harrassments
or indemnties. He repeated he should vote for the
bill 10 get rid of this article in the treaty of Guada
loupe Hidalgo, and not because he felt bound 10
stand by the action of the President and the
Senate. He held that he or the House itself was
as free to reject this bill if the treaty does no,
meet with appreciation, as TO vote against the most
triaing and ordinary appropriation.
Mr. BENTON opposed the bill, and, in the
course of his remarks, said he knew of nothing
worth saving in the Constitution, if the President
and the Senate can take the money OF the people,
when they please. Nothing, so help him God,
was worth saving, ifthey could take from the Peo-
pie what this bill proposed TO take. II anything
he could say could induce The representatives OF
the people to think upon the subject he should
regard i as the most glorious day OF his poilcal
life and should rejoice in the circumstances which
brought him here this day to plead the privileges
Of The people and the Constitution, TO plead for
the only thing, which, being lost there was nothing
| in the Constitution worth preserving.
He referred to the manner OF negotiating treaties
| in times past and. in this connection, remarked,
that when a treaty acts on subject within the
Legislative power of the House. that moment the
right Of the House attaches and il has the author
ity and il becomes the outy to examine into ALT
circumstances, and consider the expediency or IN
expediency Of the treaty precisely as the public
GOOD nav require.