Washington sentinel., 1854-06-29

Mr.. McDOUGAL (ater debaie) proposed an
to.4he effect Of making Il the duty of
the Posfmasier General to determine !. any con-
tract to be made" and not as 20 existing con
tract<.n
This was agreed io--yeas l00,nays So
q ahe House n,s by 'Ss h y0te !, oysss nays 81 re-
Mr.. BRIDGES moved that the bill be laid on
the table, and the question was decided in the
affirmalive-yeas 81, nays 20.
Mr.. McDOUGAL moved to reconsider 1he
vote; but, sf
On motion Of Mr.. LETCHER, that motion wa.
laid on the table,
MEXICAN TREATY.
Mr. PHELPS moved that the House resolve
itself into Committee OF the Whole on The state
of the Union; which was agreed to--yeas 81,
noes not counted.
Mr.. DISNEY was called TO preside.
The committee resumed the consideration OF /
the bill approprating ten millions Of dollars 10
carry into effect the third article Of the Gadsden
treaty.
caused TO be read the resolutions passed by the
House of Representatives in l796, after Presi-
dent Washington had declined 10 send in the cor
respondence connected with the Jay treaty, which
was previously called for, and which resolutions
assert that il is the constitutional right and duty
of the House 10 deliberate on the expediency OF
appropriations 10 carry out treaty, and 10 deter
mine and act thereon, as, in their judgment, may
be most conducive TO the public good.
He proceeded 10 reply TO several gentlemen
who had spoken in opposition 10 the BILL justify
ing the President for not sending in the cores.
pondence connected with the Gadsden treaty, and
denying that the rights of the House had been in
vaded, because the President had not consulted
the House before the treaty was made.
He then argued 20 show that every adminstra-
ton, from General Washington down TO the pres
ent day, without solitary exception (without
be in the Of several Indian treates) has COM
mted itself, over and douby over, to the doe
irine for which he Mr.. HoUsToNl contended. So
the gentleman from Missouri was not sustained
in his positions.
Having concluded his remarks,
Mr.. BENTON moved an amendment 10 the
bill, 10 reduce the appropriation.
Mr.. PRESTON lat the request Of Mr.. HoUs-
ROM raised point Of order that the gentleman
had no right TO offer an amendment, and that
specified amount being necessary 10 carry out a
treaty. the House can exercise It's discretion as 10
whether they shall make or reject the appropra
The CHAIRMAN overruled the point OF order
saying the committee could vote any particular
sum of money.
Mr.. BlNTON commenced making personal
explanation in relation 10 having privately asked
Mr.. HoUsToN for the correspondence relative 10
the treaty.
point of order was raised, that the gentleman
confne his remarks TO his amendment; the gem
eral debate having been closed.
The CHAIRMAN decided that Mr. BENTON
could make his explanation, and the committee
susane the decision.
Mr.. BENTON withdrew his amendment and
offered another, to the effect: Prouided, No part
of the sum appropriated by the bill shall be drawn
from the treasury until the President first commu-
nicate TO the House all the correspondence, in
structions &C., &c, connected with the negotia-
ti<>,, ,.,ff I1aS fhfp
sage came to the House, enclosing a copy OF the
treaty, he went Mr.. Houston and asked HIM il
the papers were sent in. Mr.. HoUsToS said not.
He afterwards insisted that the Committee of
Ways and Means ought to get them but the gen.
ileman thought differently, and they pared with
different opinions The two gentlemen from New
York (Messrs. HAVEN and PECKHAaD were not
subject TO the charge of delay in making applica-
tion for the papers. He briefly replied 70 remark
of Mr.. HousToN, saying that he (Mr. BENToN) had
confined his observations TO cases where negotia-
ton had ripened into acquisition of territory and
the great point was that Legislative sanction was
had before there was treaty OF acquisition. He
repeated he had limited himself TO instances OF
acquisition. In each of the cases of Louisiana,
Florida, and California, the money was appropri-
ated before the treaty was acquired.
Mr.. HOUSTON said he disapprobated, in the
strongest terms, gentlemen on this floor attempt
10 be made public. He had no recollection of the
conversation 10 which the gentleman alluded He
had never promised or intinated 10 the gentleman
that he would call for the paper
Mr.. BENTON. You said you would not
Mr.. HOUSTON. Then why this poor childs
play of bring ing this matter before the House,
when the gentleman says promptly told him |
would not bring the papers here
\ He further replied to the gentleman from Mis-
souri,. aa
Several other amendments were proposed dis
cussed and rejected.
The committee rose and reported the bill to the
House, without amendment; and under the opera
lion of the previous question, it was passed-yeas
l03. nays 62, as follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Abercronbie Aiken, James O. Allen VIII
lis Allen Ashe David J. Bailey, Barksdale, Barry Becher
Caskie Chamberlain, Chastan, Chrisman, Clark Cling
man. Cobb, Colquitt Cox, Curtis John G. Davis Dawson
Dean Disney, Dowden, Eddy Edmundson, John M Elliott
wood Grow, Sampson W. Harris, Hendricks, Hem, IN
yer, Houston Hunt Ingerson Johnson George W. Jones
J. Clancy Jones, Roland Jones, Keitt, Kerr Kidwen
McNair Macy Maxwell Smith % Miller, Mlson susl1e ods,
Orr Packer, John Perkins, Phelps Phillips Powell Pratt
Preston, Puryear, Reese, Richardson Riddle, Robbins
hose s Eur Seward s shannon SHAY Singleton Samuel
Stanton Hesor L. Stevens, straub David Stuart John J
Taylor Tutson, Vail, vansant Walker Walsh Westbrook
D. b. Wright, and ,Zolicofer-103 a- '
NAYS-Messrs. Bennett Benson Benton Camnbe,l u
Carpener Chandler Cook, Crocker, Culom Thomas Da
Wis De Witt, Dick Dickinson, Eastman Thos D. Eliot,
Eyerhart Farley Fenon Flagler, Giddings, Goodrich
Hughes Daniel T. Jones, Knox, Lndley McCulocb Mat.
teson, Mayall, Middleswarth John g. Miller Morgan,
Peckham, Pennington, Bishop Perkins, Prineie David
Ritce, RUSSELL sabn, Sage, Sapp, Gerret Smith, John L.
Taylor Nathaniel G. Taylor, Upham, Wade, Valley Elhu
Washbgrne Israel Washburn, John Wentworth, Tappan
Wentworth, and Wheeler-62.
The House adjourned.
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