Washington sentinel., 1854-06-28
House of Representatives.

House of Representatives.
The SPEAKER laid before the House COM
mun,calion from the Secretary Of the Treasury,
transmitting letter from certain contractors Tor
the construction of lighthouses on the Pacific
coast, asking for additional compensation tor the
complexion of their contracts. Referred 10 the
Committee on Commerce.
INVASION OF cUDA.
Mr.. HARRIS, Of Mississippi, asked leave to
offer resolutions, which was read for information,
requesting The President OF the United States 10
furnish 10 the House, far in his opinion may
not be Incompatible with tile public interest, such
information relative the citizens OF the United
States and others residing therein, being engaged
in organizing and fitting out military expedition
tor the invasion OF Cuba, as may have been IN his
possession on the thiriy-frst Of May last, the
date OF his proclamation.
MIR. CLiNGMAN objected to the consideration
of the resolution.
ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS - TREATY WITH
MEXICO.
Mr.. HOUSTON offered resolution, proposing
to close the debate on the bill apppopriaiing ten
nliiliouS OF dollars carry into effect the Gadsden
treaty. tomorrow noon. He desired 10 say a great
anxiety is expressed that Congress shall termi-
this session by the thrty-trst of July, and in
that feeling he sympathized much as any other
member On Monday next, when il would be in
order 10 take up the resolution for that purpose,
(if the business should so progress from now
until then 10 warrant him in believing that II
can be got through with by the last of next
month"; he should vote for that period Of adjourn
ment
MIR. HAVEN said that from the turn the dis
cussion had taken il was very evident that if the
House should not call for the correspondence and
the instructions to our minister 10 Mexico, this de-
bate might just as we'll be closed now as not for
il seemed 10 be conceded on all hands (and as
Messrs. JONES, Of Tennessee, BENTON, and BAYLY
had expressed themseves) that this House has
the right, as matter of expedency, if they shall
tit, TO withholdths appropriations Ifthe friends
of the administration willing those papers shall
be laid before the House, so that they may act on
this subject matter of expediency and pro-
priety, then the debate ought not 10 be closed
within two days. He supposed that the cores
pondence in condition 10 be sent in ilnme-
diatey, as he learned il had already been printed,
and communicated confidentialy TO the Senate
He would only say that THIS treaty stands on
grounds different from any other for series Of
years. I was well known that this treaty was
negotiated early last winter and that we proposed
10 pay twenty nstrad oft millions Of dollars. II
was well known that the Senate when the treaty
was submitted, having all the correspondence be-
fore 1t, saw fit 10 reprobate the agreement and
strike out twcnty and substitute ten millions.
Mr.. HAMILTON raised question of order that
the gentleman. on the proposition now pending,
should not be permitted TO express his views
against the treaty.
The SPEAKER sustained the point.
MIR. HAVEN resumed, saying if the correspon-
dence was TO be withheld, the debate had better
be closed at once. The treaty is fair enough on
its face but if The House would test whether this
is a proper treaty, they should have a few days
more for consideration.
The resolution TO close the debate tomorrow,
noon was agreed to--yeas 94, nays So.
Mr.. FAULKNER asked the House to set apart
a day for the consideration of the army reform
bill but objection was made.
After further proceedings, the House resolved
Itself inio u Committee of The Whole on the state
of the Union, Mr.. DISNEY in the chair, and re-
sumed The consideration of the bill appropriatng
ten millions ofdollars TO carry into effect the Gads-
den treaty.
Mr.. JONES, OF Pennsylvania, said the provi.
slons OF the treaty, being printed and before the
House, were ve,y few, and. 80 explicit and clear
that every member Of this committee could easily
comprehend them. The first possession secured
by this treaty is twenty millions of of land
which are not thought of much importance on
account of their intrinsic value, but because they
secure TO us now what we supposed was secured
by former treatv that is, the right of southern
route for railroad 10 Pacific possessions.
Another provision is il releases from the obli-
CATION OF maintaining the eleventh article OF the
treaty OF Guadaloup Hidalgo, which siipuates that
the United States shall restrain the indians from
all incurslons Mexican territory and il still fur
tncr stipulates that, in the event Of being unable
TO do, then the United States will punish the In.
dians, and exact compensation and justice 10 Mex
leans for damage done. There have been Two
constructions put on this clause, from the day Of
the ratification of the treaty until now. We s,ipu-
lated nothing more than il the Indians should make
incursions on Mexican soil, the United States by
an armed force, should punish the Indians, an
then make exactions from the Indians, precisely
10 the same amount of justice which we would
exact for ourselves But this is not the construc.
lion OF the Mexican government, which construcs
u 10 mean that where damage is done, we are TO
be held responsible for the damage and must make
compensation out Of the national treasury.
IL was known the Mexicans have already pre-
sented claims TO the amount of Sl6.000,000, and
that Mr.. Fillmore was willing to make payment Of
S0.00O,000 TO settle this very question. In this
treaty we released entirely from The obligation
imposed by this article and thus cause of much
trouble and controversy is removed
He replied at length 10 the remarks Of Mr.. Ben.
TON, delivered yesterday.
Mr. HAVEN said he understood the gentleman
who had just taken bis seai to take the same
ground as others who proceeded him in debate,
that the House has the constitutional right 10 with
| hold The appropriation, if 10 their judgment and
good the interests Of the country require it