Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-19
CONGRESS-.
THrRTY-THIRD coNGREss--FIRsr SESSION
Senate, January 10, 1854.

btoN1hErc-fthSI NJ.
Senate, January 10, 1854.
The Hon. Mr.. Toucey appeared in his seat
to-day.
Mr. Petit submitted resolution directing
an inquiry BY the Committee on Pensions, as
to the propriety OF extending the laws regnla-
ting the pensions Of the widows OF revolntiona-
ny soldiers, to the widows Of soldiers Of the war
of 1912. He read letter in which he said
was given two excellent reasons for the extern
sion, One was, that woman who was worthy
Of being the wife Of a soldier Of 1872, was
worthy Of having a second husband and that
the wants Of woman who had buried two
husbands were not lets than the wants Of
woman who had buried but one The resolu-
ton was adopted
Mr.. Brodhead presented the memorial Of
citizens Of Philadelphia, demonstrating against
the establishment Of mint Of the United
States in the city OF New York
Mr.. Gwin submitted a resolution calling
upon the President to inform the Senate what
number OF United States vessels of war are and
have been engaged on the coasts Of California,
Oregon, and Washington; and whether the
same be sufficient to prevent the setting-out Of
unlawful expeditions against foreign countries
Mr.. Gwin caused to be read also the procla-
nation Of the President, published in the morn.
ing papers, in relation to the recent expedi-
tions sent out from California against parts Of
Mexico. He said that the citizens Of Califor-
MIA were not . lawless people. AT the time If
the first expedition the United States had no
force on that coast sufficient to prevent it leav.
ing California. A single ship with n single
gun could have stopped it. The expedition
consisted Of but forty, five men, and passed
without the least opposition.
This state of things seemed an invitation to
lawless men, who could be found in all COM
munities, to embark in such expeditions If
the President desired, as, by his proclamation,
he seemed to do, to prevent these expeditions,
he should have sufficient naval force there for
that purpose. AT the time of these expeditions
there were but two vessels of war in the Pacific :
one of these was mt the Sandwich islands, the
other off Peru. The vessel containing the
second expedition was toWed out by steam
ship, and no vessel Of war was there to prevent
it.
Such expeditions would be arted unless q
force was provided to prevent it. The President
could not stop them by proclamation. A force
adequate to the purpose would have to be pro-
vided and maintained He had frequently
urged that a steam revenue vessel should be
kept there, but he had been answered that
that would be too expensive He strongly urged
the increase of the naval and military forces
on the Pacific The rich mineral States ad.
joining California presented too strong tempt.
alton to the lawless and marauding to be re-
sisted, unless sufficient force was there to
prevent it.
Mr.. Petit said he had no objection to the
inquiry; but he thought the defence offered by
the Senator for the marauding and lawless ex-
petitions OF his constituents-that they were
not confined by bolts and bars, by naval forces,
by soldiers with arms in hands, and thus pre-
vented from going abroad and robbing and
stealing from their eighbors-insufhcicn His
argument would amount to this that if their
neighbors' doors were open, and goods and
precious articles lay exposed, and no watch dog
or armed man stood near to guard them, thcy
would enter and take them.
Mr.. Gwin responded, denying that he had
made any such defence Of his constituents
Mr.. Shields commended that the Senator had
charged the President with failing to place
force on that coast when the Senator knew
the President had no force at his command
Mr.. Badger maintained that the Executive
was blameless in not providing naval forces to
guard the coast and the responsibility of the
failure belonged TO Congress, who had wan
tonly cut down all estimates for their army and
navy
Mr.. Gwin replied, contending that the ma
val force had not been equally distributed
Mr.. Dawson followed showing that Congress
was responsible for the present inefficient army
and naval forces Of the country.
Mr. Mason commended that these expeditions
should not be allowed to leave our ports but
denies that it was any part OF the duty Of the
President to employ the army or navy to exc
cute the laws, except as an auxiliary to the
civil power
After some further debate, the resolution was
laid over
Mr.. Badgers resolution, regulating the ad-
mission of persons to the Senate chamber was
taken up
Mr.. Sumner moved 10 include among the
persons admitted, 1.-THE editors Of the daily pa.
pers of the city of Washington; !" which amend
ment was rejected.
The resolution was agreed TO-
Several private bills were passed; and, after
an Executive session,
The Senate adjourned till Monday
House Of Representatives., Jan 10, 1854.
Several minor bills and resolutions were pre-.
scented, and their immediate passage urged for
special reasons when, upon the presentation
by Mr.. Caruthers, from the Committee on Com
merce, Of bin granting the right to way Of a
railroad through the public lands at jefferson
Barracks, Mo, MIR. Mace, and Mr. Jones OF
Tennessee expressed their determination to
oppose all action upon such bills, except after
the proper reference, and in duo order.
Mr.. Stanton, Of Tennessee, thought the bust
ness Of the House was greatly expedited by
putting bills involving no doubtful principle di.
rectly upon their passage. The practice Of re-