Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-18
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1850.
SENATE

SENATE.
The Yicc.PrcSidcnt took the chair at II 4.
VI. PRAYER by Rev. Mr.. Boyle. No Senator
appearing in the seats, the Vice-Presidcnt re-
marked that he could not call the desks to order,
and would therefore await the arrival Of Sena-
tors.
At ten minutes past II \. NJ, ten Senators
appeared, and the Vice. President called the Sc
nate to order and ordered the journal to be read.
The Vice president then laid before the Sc
nate a communication from the Secretary OF
War, enclosing copies Of the report of Colonel
Wright. of the Indian campaignin Washington
and Oregon territories.
4 memorial ofthe Legislature Of New Next
co in relation to a wagon road in that territory
was referred.
The Senate then took up the House bill inodi-
fying the salaries of the officers Of the army
After amendment, the bill was debated at great
length.
Mr.. Pugh did not think this was a bill for
rctrenchment, and said that if it passed as
amended he should bring in 4 bill reducing the
salaries Of Senators.
lie offered an amendment to the bill repeal
ing the section Of the net of 1857, which in
creased the pay and allowances Of the officers
Of the army.
Mr.. p. advocated the reduction Of the num-
Der Of the engineers in the army, and attributed
! useless expenditure Of money in the erection
of public buildings TO the control they exercised
as architects over them.
Mr.. Davis replied, and defended the engineers
from the charge.
The bill then passed without amendment.
The discussion Of the thirty million bill was
resumed.
Mr.. Crittenden said he was in favor of the
honorable acquisition Of Cuba, but she be-
lonccd TO Spain, and We could not dispossess
her without her consent. While, however, We
should acouiescc in her possession, we should
not permit the island to pass by purchase or
otherwise into the hands Of any other power.
! We had already made proposals for the pur-
chase Of Cuba which Spain had declined, and
it was m insult to press the subject upon her
now.
At any rate there was nothing to prevent the
President from negotiating for that object, and
legislative aid was therefore superfluous and I'M
necessary. Spain had regarded the suggestion
of the Presidents message ms an insult, and
why should Congress repeat the offence: The
$50 600 600 could not purchase Cuba;
5000, 600, 00O was the estimated price: and
3 WlcIe WIS liz UllC W NpihN t'h''
he knocked on the Golfers Of the Treasury they
returned n most dolorous and funeral sound
Our revenue was deficient, our expenses IN
c~reasing and it was idle under existing circim-
stances to think of paying out 5000, 100000.
lie could not agree to place $50. 0Q0, 900 in
the hands of the Executive until the Senate had
first seen and ratified the treaty. In his OPT
MON this Cuba bubble would soon burst-the
! 1 ~ ... o.o ,;aoa ne fapc,rnpaln could lc-
colnplish no good purpose, and had only been
brought forward for political effect
Mr.. Hale said the argument OF manifest deS-
tinv and necessity had been used by the advo-
Gates of Cuba acquisition. The same argyll
ment applied with equal force to iucatan or
Central America. and might be used for the
same purpose. He opposed the bill at length.
When he had concluded the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. Grover, the member from Oregon. was
sworn in and took his seat.
Mr.. TAYLOR. of New York. from the select
committee appointed to investigate the accounts
of the late superintendent Of public printing
reported q resolution, which was adopted, au
thorizing the scrgeant-at-arms to seize and
bring before the House the body Of John Cas-
sin, who has refused to give evidence before thu
committee.
Mr.. Crawford, of Georgia, asked leave to in
troduce n bill repeating all laws and parts o
laws increasing the salaries Of public oihcer:
since the year 1850, and that the compensation
of these officers be in accordance with the act
passed previous to 1850. until the receipts o
the government are equal TO the expenditures
Objection was made.
Mr.. Dowdell, Of Alabama. failed to Obtain
leave to introduced resolution calling for lnfor
nation in reference to the cost OF returning t.
Africa negroes captured by United States yes
sells since the passage Of the law Of 1919
On motion Of Mr.. Phelps, of No., the House
went into committee Of the whole, and resulnc'
the consideration Of the Senate amendments Il
the Indian appropriation bill.
Mr.. Stanton, Of Ohio, had yesterday hearc
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Garncttl com
pare the expenses Of the present Administra
ton with that of Mr>fillmore. He had shown
that, without any good reason therefor, the cy
penses of the Government had been increased
since 1851, to the extent Of 10000 600. II
had shown that, in the items Of expenditur
coming directly under the control Of the Pre-
sidcnt, there had been an increase Of 100 pc
cent.
He thought when he heard these statement
from the gentleman from Virginia. he ha'
found a real friend Of retrenchment and reform
and was therefore greatly disappointed whe
the gentleman undertook to show that the nj
f nority in this House, with a few Of his politics
friends from the free States, were responsib!
for this increase of expenditure. The gentle
man uaa~od RI fnroot that az tho othor end q