Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-05-10
Thirty. third Congress, 1st. Session.

The President at any time during the recess {
Congress to suspend the acts of Congress prevent
ing expeditions leaving the United States agains
foreign countries. Mr.. Slidel addressed the Sen
ate at some length in support of his resolution
He believed that Spain was about to llberate tn
slaves in, or ''Africanise," Cuba. The resolutio
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affair;
House-Mr. Baily of the Committee on For
eign A fairs offered resolutions, which were adopt
ed, calling upon the President for any correspon
dence with foreign governments in regard to tn
rights of neurals, and also for official document
in reference to the island of Cuba.
TUEsDAY.-Scnale.-S ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
the Nebraska bill were presented The Indal
Appropriation bill was taken up and discussed.
House-Mr Richardson gave notice that earl,
in the week he shall endeayor to bring to the at
tention of the House the Nebraska and Kansas
bill. He made this statement that gentlemen
might be advised he did not intend to steal ;
! march on them.
MIR. Wheeler asked leave to introduce reso
luton authorizing the Secretary Of the Navy tt
send out one or more vessels to search for the
steamer City of Glasgow. Mr.. Letcher objected
and the resolution was not received.
Mr.. Richardson, from the Committee on Terri
tories, reported bill authorizing the people of Or
egon to form Constitution and State Govern
ment, and providing for It's admission as State
into the Union. Referred to the Committee Of
the Whole on the state of the Union.
| The speaker laid before the House message
from the President in reply to the resolution call
ing for information relative to Rev. John Cook
Richmond. Mr.. r. complained that his person
was seized and his effects examined by the Aus
TRAN Government, while he was travelling in that
country. Mr.. Jackson, our Charge d'Affairs at
| Vienna, writes to Mr.. Marcy, Jan. 9th, 1854, re
ferring 10 Mr.. Richmond, as follows: "A cursory
glance at the voluminous correspondence will sat
isfy your mind, think. that he must have passed
the narrow boundary line which sometimes sepa-
rates a really superior intelligence from mischev
Gus species of insanity.
Mr.. Marcy writes to Mr.. Jackson, on the 10Th
of February last as follows The Department
entirely approves of the prudent steps you have
taken in the case Of the Rev. Mr.. Richmond, and
learns with pleasure that he is no longer on Aus
trian territory, and that you are at length relev-
ed from the annoyances and anxiety to which you
have been subjected on his account" The Doc
umenis were referred to the committee on Foreign
Affairs.
WEDNEsDAY.-Se natc.-The Indian appropri
alton bill was taken up.
Shortly after resuming the consideration Of the
bill, message was received from the President
veloing the INDECENT insane land bill, and giving
his reasons therefor. Mr. Foot moved that the
message be laid on the table and printed, which
was adopted. Mr.. Brown urged that the bill be
passed, notwithstanding the Presidents objection
that he still believed it strictly constitutional.
Mr. Foot and Mr.. Dixon also sustained the BILL
Messrs. Hunter aud Toombs sustained the veto.
The debate was further continued by MessrS.
Douglas, Stuart and others.
H0use.-After some business Of no interest, the
House went into committee of the whole on the
state of the Union, and resumed the consideration
of the bill to establish the office Of Surveyor Cen
eral in New Mexico, and TO grant lands to actual
settlers therein. The amendment pending was
offered yesterday by Mr.. Disney, altering the
second section of the bill to read that grantsshal
be given to every white male citizen, or every
white male over twenty-one years of age, who has
declared his intention to become citizen"
Gerrett Smith said he could not vote for the bill
with the word "white" remaining in it. lie
said God was no respecer of persons, and if the
Saviour were here he would not vote to retain the
word. He wished that the great black man Fred
erick Douglas could speak in Congress on the sub
ject.
Mr. Howe thought it would be unjust to dis
criminate against color. fin his power he would
extend the provisions of The bill TO all PERSONS
In Vermont, Massachusetts and New York colured
men were citizens.
Mr.. Keitt said this is 4 governmct of white
people. Mr.. Disney concured in the opinion,
and said it was not competent for State to de-
clare negroes citizens within the terms of the con-
stiiution of the United States. Mr.. Wade did not
know what this government has to do with the |
color of any man and could not say that he him
self would be pronounced orthodox if the strict
rule of church discipline should be applied ohm.
Mr.. Giddings moved an amendment adding the |
words ''or more than half white" He said, |
number of Democrats of the Union, descendants |
OF Thomas jefferson, the great apostle OF Amerl-
can Democracy, have not more than half white
blood. These should be permitted TO settle on
lands in the territory. In Washington, to-day,
there are descendants of the much venerated Mar
tina Washington, with black blood IN their veins,
and who are white as he and his colleague, Mr..
Wade.
Mr.. Disney's amendment was adopted.
During the debate, some personal remarks
were made by Keitl in reply to Mr.. Campbell of
Ohio, who asked if white men do not intermarry
with the blacks of South Carolina, in what way,
consistently with correct state of morals, come so
many mulattoes there.
THURSDAY Senate-Mr Sumner presented
the memorial of citizens of Missouri aud Wscon-
sin, on the subject of Spiritual Manifestations
Like the one presented by the Senator from Hi
nois, il asked for an investigation by select COM
mittee, but as that was laid on the table this
might follow.
The Veto message was taken up, and the mo-
ton to print ten thousand extra copies of the mes
sage-agreed to. The consideration of the bill |
was postponed till Monday
House The bill to establish the office ofSur-
veyor General, and granting donations to actual
settlers, in Utah, was taken up, and the debate
resumed on Mr.. Dsney's amendment. The de-
bate was continued until near oclUck. on the
constitutional power of Congress toarrest polyga
my in Utah, motion having been made to ex
clude all who had more than one wife from the |
benefits of the bill. Without coming to vote
the House adjourned
-Senate.-Twenty-t two private bills
were passed, twenty four postponed, and tot
rejected. The Senate adjourned till Monday.
Ifonse-The House went into committee on
the bill establishing the Office of Surveyor Cen
eral in Utah, and granting lands to actual settlers
therein. The polygamy debate was again re-
sumeJ and finally the whole bill was laid aside,
with the recommendation that it do not pass.
The committee considered the bill authorizing
Oregon Territory to form Constitution and
State Government, and providing for admission
into the Union. Mr.. Lane stated that the pop |
ulation of Oregon was between sixty and siXiy-ive
thousand. The bill was postponed
motion was made to adjourn till Monday. |
but no quorum voted, and in the midst of some
confusion the Speaker declared the House ad !
journed. A brief alteration took place between
Mr.. Campbell of Ohio, and the Speaker; the
former charging the latter with deciding the
the question Of adjournment too hastily.
SATuRDAY.-HoSe.-Nothing of interest.
FLuNKEYIsM-Th Washington Union. under
lis present management, is the very mirror of a
Court Journal. Here is specimen of the very