The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-02-17

|
olution offered by him, allowing the Senators
sent by the Legislature of Indiana to come in
and argue their case before the Senate.
The hour of one o'clock having arrived, on
motion of Mr.. Bayard, the subject was laid on
the table, with the understanding that it should
be called up again after the tariff resolution
should have been further discussed
Mr.. Slidell gave notice that he should move
to take up the Cuba bill after the discussion on
the tariff resolution.
The Tdrif Question-The Senate then re-
sumed consideration of the resolution intro
duced by Mr.. Bigler in favor of modification
of the tariff.
Mr. Clingmsn, in concise argument, en-
forced by practical Illustrations, sought 10 show
the impolcy of any increase of the duties levied
by the present revenue system.
Mr. Simmons, in statistical argument, sought
to show that the present tariff could not be ex-
| pected to supply revenue adequate to the
wants of the Government He believed that
our current expenditures might be, and ought
to be greatly curtailed, for they had increased
in an astonishing ratio during the last few years.
But he thought the tariff of 1857 would fail to
meet the expectations Of its trainers.
A motion to postpone until tomorrow was
agreed to.
The Indiana Election Case-Mr. Slidell
moved to take up the bill for the acquisition of
Cuba.
Mr. Seward deemed it his duty to call mp the
resolution to give the claimants to the seats of
the Senators from Indiana an opportunity to be
heard.
The Senate refused to take the matter up, by
the following vote:
Yeas-Messrs. Bell Broderick, Cameron,
Chandler, Clark, Colamer, Crittenden, Doc
little, Durkee, Foot, Harlan, Johnson of Ten
nessee, King, Seward, Simmons Thompson of
Kentucky, Trumbull, Wade, and Wilson'S.
Nays-Messrs. Allen, Bates Benjamin, Big
Ter, Brown, Clingman Davis, Fitzpatrick Gwin,
Houston, Hunter, Jones, Mallory, Mason, Pugh,
Reid, Sebastian, Shields, Slidell, and Ward-20.
Mr.. Bayard repeated that he thought the
question was hardly a debatable one but if
the object was to dispose of it, he would be
willing to take it up and vote upon it. He gave
notice that he should call it up again on Friday
morning.
The bill for the acquisition of Cuba being
next in order Mr.. Foot moved an amendment
to the same, providing that no part of the
| $30,000,0O0 appropriated by it shall be expend-
ed until the treaty negotiated under it is rati-
fed, as we'll by the Government of the United
States as by that of Spain. The Senate should
know the stipulations Of the contract, and
| should not be asked to hazard the public money
on the chances Of negotiation which might
fail of confirmation. Was the thirty millions
to be used as a bride to Spain, or was its ex-
penditure intended to foreclose the consum.
nation of a bad bargain, which, without such
inducement, would be rejected by the Senate +?
! If this bill should be passed by bare majority
of both Houses of Congress, it would involve
the legislative assumption of prerogativc con-
! fded by the Constitution to the Senate as a
branch of the Executive power in the forma-
| ton and ratification of treaties. In this way
the National Legislature might not only under
take to form treaties, but to discharge their OBJ
| legations in advance while to the Senate was
left the poor alternative of accepting an objec-
tionable treaty, or losing the earnest money
placed at stake on the issue of the negotiations.
| If Cuba could be purchased, such theory of
| acquisition was fraught with mischief to the
constitutional rights of the Senate but when
| it was notorious that the island was not for
sale, the pending proposition became as pre-
posterous in point of fact as it was vicious in
theory.
| Mr.. Pugh moved as a substitute for Mr..
Foot's amendment, that no part of the thirty mil
lions should be employed in the consunlmation
of any treaty giving more than $3.50, 900
for the Island of Cuba. He then proceeded in
an earnest and elaborate speech, to remark on
the irrepressihle expansion of the American
people, as seen in the successive acquisition OF
Louisiana, Florida, Texas, California, and Ari-
zona. Cuba was next in Importance and Of
the first necessity, as an adjunct of our grow
ing empire. This was proved by its relations
to the sugar production of the country, as also
from a humane point of view, because of the
effect its annexation would have in suppresslng
the slave trade Our commercial intercourse
with the island would then be placed on a
profitable basis. Its acquisition was also q
political necessity from considerations Of de-
| fensive strategy and regard for. American
predominance in the Gulf of Mexico. He con-
demned the present and traditional foreign pol
| icy of our Government, as wanting IN vlgor
and promptitude, if not in sagacity, as seen in
the success of British diplomacy with regard to
Central America and elsewhere.
Mr.. Benjamin next obtained the floor, when
the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
Nebraska Contested Election, The question
pending was on the adoption of the following
resolutions
Resolred, That Bird B. Chapman is the le-
gally-elected Delegate to the Thirty-hfth Con-
gress from the Territory of Nebraska, and is
entitled to his seat as such Delegate.
For which Mr.. Boyce, of South Carolina, Of
fered the following as substitute
ly-elected Delegate from the Territory Of Ne
braska.
Mr.. Stanton, of Ohio moved that the sub
stitute be amended by inserting the word " not "
| after the word is.
Mr. Davis, of Mississippi, called the previous
| question.
! Mr.. John Cochrane, Of New York, moved
! that the whole subject be laid on tho table
which motion prevailed-=yeas SO, nays 80.
| The Admission Of Oregon.-Mr. Stephens,
| of Georgia, from the Committee on Territories,
reported back Senate bill for the admission of
! Oregon into the Union, without amendment.
| Mr.. Grow, of Pennsylvania, obtained the
floor.
! Mr. Davis, of Indiana, asked leave to present
q substitute, recommitting the bill to the Com
inittee on Territories, with instructions to in
sert a clause repeating so much of the act for
the admission Of Kansas as prohibits the people
of Kansas from forming a Constitution, and
asking admission into the Union, until it shall
be ascertained that the population equals or
exceeds the ratio required for a member of the
House.
DIR. Grow declined to yield the floor, on the
ground that if he did so it would cut off his
amendment.
Mr.. Maynard, of Tennessee, desired to offer
an amendment providing that the act should
not take effect until it shall be ascertained by
a census that the population equal or exceed
the ratio of representation required for member
of Congress, and submitting TO the people the
question of citizen suffrage" or "alien sui,
frage" Should majority be for citizen
suffrage" &C., and there be the requisite popula
ton, as soon as the President is informed Of
these facts he shall announce the same by proc
lamation, and, without further proceedings, the
.Jx.;ss;on of Oraoon Shol ha oOp,plata