Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-02-22

| iatons ior securing The Objects contemplated.
The debate was continued until the hour Of ad-
| Journment.
| House Of Representatives.
/ Mr. FULLER, by unanimous consent reported,
| from the Committee on Commerce, a bill regulat-
! ing the carrying OF passengers in steamships or
otherwise, and, after explanation by him, il was
passed.
Mr. BRECKENRIDGE, from the joint commit.
lee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the
Two Houses on the amendments TO the bill provid-
ing for the payment OF such creditors of the late
Republic Of Texas as are comprehended in the
act ofCongress Of September 9 1850, made re-
port thereon; which was read.
lie said he did not intend 10 detain the House
with speech. BY the report it would be seen
that the Senate receded from all It's amendments
except the sum. The amount proposed origi-
nally, by that body, was SS,500,000 The House
| reduced this to So 100000. The Senate receied
10 the extent Of $4,000, and the report of the
committee recommended $7,750,000. The amend
ment ofNthe House, requiring Texas 10 abandon
all her claims, was retained IN the BILL He would
only say, in addition, that the joint committee had
three or four meetings, consuming eight Ten
| hours. After long, patient, and deliberate in
vestgation fthe eutire subject they felt justified
in recommending this adjustment He repeated
his firm belief, that the proposed adjustment was
the best possible one for the United States, con-
sidering the perpexity Of the question. It would
cost us an infinitely larger sum, should Congress
Mr.. CUTTING inquired whether this was to
put at rest, and forever, the question between
the United States and Texas?
Mr.. BRECKINRIDGEr epliedin the Affirmative,
saying it also included the creditors. II was
proper to add that in the present condition of
legislation, II important TO receive the con-
current assent of all parties--ths Government,
Texas, and the creditors. The distinguished Sem
ator from Texas Mr.. RUskl had come 10 the sup
port OF the proposition before the House, and
hoI,
to endeavor to procure the assent of Texas TO the
measure; and he believed both Of The Represen-
tatives from Texas had agreed 70 support the bill
if Congress shall pass il in the form proposed
Mr.. HOWE, of the committee of conference,
explained his reasons for recommending the adop-
tion of the report and, in the course of his
marks, said he had thought that il would not be
proper to give Texas more than S5009000 but,
on further and full examination, he had become
satisfied that the matter so complicated, and
of such great importance to the country, that il
ought 10 be settled in some way He had, there
fore, brought his mind 10 the conclusion 10 urge
1.-The adoption Of the report. The sum proposed
was the lowest which would meet with the appro-
baton of Texas.
Mr.. GIDDINGS, o. Ohio, said his friend was the
only Representative from the free States the
| committee of conference. Did not Pennsylvania
his native State, surrender TO the General Gov
eminent all her privileges arising from the imposi
ton Of revenue duties. and her public lands, and
did she then call on Congress TO pay her debts?
Mr.. HOWE replied that the State of Texas
ought to have paid her own debts 10 the last far
thing, without calling on the General Government
TO do so but'ihe Government, for certain consid
erations, has consented 10 pay part Of the debt.
Mr.. GIDDINGS, of Ohio, asked whether the
act of 1850 could bind the genilemaH's conscience
10 pay this money from he Treasury Of the United
States, because our predecessors said so :?
Mr.. HOWE replied, when he found an act on
the statute-book, and he was called on 10 parlci-
pate in its execution, and when it became his
constitutional duty 10 do so, he would let nothing
short of his conscience interfere Ii was sufficient
for him 10 know that our predecessors agreed 10
pay the creditors Of Texas certain sum OF money,
and this they have not done.
Mr.. GIDDINGS, of Ohio, said that this body, in
July last, repudiated the action of all former Con-
crosses, against the interest OF the whole North
and the free States; and was The gentleman bound
10 turn round and recognize the act of 1850, 10
pay the creditors OF Texas
Mr.. HOWE did not exactly feel bound 10 go
into discussion just now. lie thought that his
opinions might fairly be deduced from his actions.
Mr.. GIDDlNGS, Of Ohio, repeated, he wished
the gentleman 10 explain his change.
Mr.. CAMPBELL said there was no man on the
face OF the earth who opposed the annexation of
Texas with greater degree of ardor and determ-
ination than he did. No man in 1850, not even the
gentlemen, his colleague, resisted with more
determined opposition, this measure, which perpe-
trated great moral wrong by giving $4,000, 900
10 Texas. But the bill was passed From the
best information he could obtain, the Texas debt
amounted to about Sl2,000,000. BY the PROPOSE
lion pending, we get rid of il for S7,750,000. He
asked whether his colleague did not take the
ground, here and bn the stump, that the annexa-
ton of Texas would render this Government
liable for every dollar Of her debt?
Mr.. GIDDlNGS, of Ohio, replied when the
joint resolution for the annexation of Texes was
proposed, he denounced il as unconstitutional;
that il entirely void and imposed no duty
whatever on him or any other human being under
heaven, He al that time took the position that
Texas should be annexed 10 this country only by
treaty that the joint resolution for that purpose
might be repealed al any moment, and imposed
no future obligation. Being void in the beginning,
il was never otherwise than void.
Mr.. HOWE said, il he recollected the history
of Pennsylvania, that Stale never ceded her pub.
lie lands TO the General Government but retained
them. The revolutionary debt was assumed and
paid by this Government. He understood that the
proposition of the Committee of Conference
covered all the debt Of Texas. The committee
was composed Of three northern and three south
men, who felt the utmost anxiety to do justice
TO all parties as well as TO themselves. He moved
the previous question.
Mr.. HAVEN made an Intellectual effort 10 set
himself right in relation TO this subject.
Mr.. McMULLEN safe he was opposed TO the
Mr.. HAMILTON moved that the report be laid
on the table; but the motion did not prevail-yeas
46, nays 100.
The report of the committee Of conference was
then concnrred in--yeas i23 nays n.
Mr.COBB, from the Committee on Public Lands,
reported bin granting lands TO Alabama in aid Of
the construction of certain railroads in that State,
and explained its provisions.
Mr.. ABERCROMBIE, likewise, showed the
advantages which would accrue not only to Ala
bama, but to the General Government by making
the grant.
Pending the consideration of the subject the
House resolved itse into Committee Of the
Whole on the state ofthe Union, (Mr HIBBARD in
the chair) and resumed the consideration Of the
civil and diplomatic appropriation bill.
Various amendments were acted on.
The committee rose, and the House adjourned.