Also, a memorial of similar import from citizens of Pomfret, in the State of New York; Also, a memorial of similar import from citizens of Cherry Creek, in the State of New York. Ordered, That the said memorials be laid upon the table. By Mr. Collamer: The petition of Silas Waterman-heretofore presented January 13, 1845. By Mr. Hamlin: The petition of Aaron Rollins-heretofore presented December 9, 1844, with additional papers. By Mr. Andrew Johnson: The petition of Joseph M. Rhea-heretofore presented March 21, 1844. By Mr. Hunter: The petition of Richard Buchanan-heretofore presented January 29, 1845. By Mr. Harper: The petition of Joseph Watson-heretofore presented December 19, 1844. By Mr. McDowell: The petition of Abraham Ansmen-heretofore presented December 18, 1844. By Mr. Brinkerhoff: Additional papers relative to the application of Peter L. Allen for a pension. By Mr. Henley: The petition of James L. Loyd, of the State of Indiana-heretofore presented January 27, 1845, together with a letter from the Hon. Levi Woodbury. By Mr. Andrew Johnson: A petition of Jesse Ellis, of Greene county, in the State of Tennessee, a pensioner of the United States, praying Congress to pass an act granting him arrears of pension. Ordered, That the said petitions and papers be referred to the Committee on Invalid Pensions. By Mr. Trumbo: The petition of Patrick Masterton, of Morgan county, in the State of Kentucky-heretofore presented December 11, 1844: which was referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions. By Mr. Taylor: The petition of L. T. Pease and J. M. Smith-heretofore presented December 26, 1844: which was referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. By Mr. Pendleton: The petition of Charles M. Gibson-heretofore presented December 16, 1843: which was referred to the Committee of Claims. By Mr. Bedinger: A petition of Archibald M. Kitzmiller, clerk to the commanding officer of the national armory at Harper's Ferry, in the State of Virginia, praying for an increase of his salary. By Mr. Moseley: A petition of William F. Ketchum, praying that his newly invented improved hand-grenade may be adopted by government for the use of the army and navy of the United States. Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. By Mr. Yost: A memorial of Benjamin Crawford, of the State of Pennsylvania, praying indemnity for illegal arrest and seizure of his property, and for losses sustained by having his trading establishment in the Creek nation broken up by an officer of the United States army, in the year 1840: which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. And then, on motion of Mr. Vance, the House, at twenty minutes past 2 o'clock, p. m., adjourned until to-morrow at 12 o'clock meridian. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1845. On motion of Mr. Morse, Resolved, That when this House adjourns to-day, it adjourn to meet on Monday next, at 12 o'clock meridian.' Mr. Milton Brown rose, and announced that the Hon. Joseph H. Peyton, a member elect of this House from the State of Tennessee, died at his residence in said State. And thereupon, On motion of Mr. Brown, the following resolutions were adopted unanimously, viz: Resolved, That this House has heard with deep sensibility the annunciation of the decease of the Hon. Joseph H. Peyton, a member elect of this House from the State of Tennessee. Resolved, That the House tenders to the surviving widow and relatives of the deceased the expression of sympathy on this afflicting bereavement; and as a testimony of respect for the memory of the deceased, the members and officers of this House will wear crape on the left arm for thirty days. Resolved, That, as a further mark of respect for the memory of the deceased, the House do now adjourn. Ordered, That the Clerk do inform the Senate thereof. And then the House adjourned until Monday next, at 12 o'clock meridian. MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1845. The Speaker laid before the House sundry communications, viz: I. A letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting, in compliance with the 20th section of the act of August, 1842, a report of the expenditure from the contingent fund of the War Department, and the various offices and bureaus connected therewith, during the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1845: which letter and report were referred to the Committee on Expenditures of the War Department. II. A letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting, in compliance with the joint resolution of Congress of the 3d of March last, a report of the commissioners appointed to test the merits of Putnam's ploughing and dredging machine for the removal of obstructions and bars in rivers, harbors, &c.: which letter and report were referred to the Committee on Com merce. III. A letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting, in compliance with the resolution of the House of Representatives of the 7th June, 1844, a report of the survey of the harbor at cape Porpoise, in the State of Maine: which letter and report were referred to the Committee on Commerce. IV. A letter from the Secretary of War, transmitting, in obedience to the act of August 16, 1842, a report in relation to the settlement and payment of certain claims of the State of Alabama: which letter and report were referred to the Committee of Claims. The Speaker laid before the House additional documents relating to the case of Isaac G. Farlee, who contests the right of John Runk to a seat in the House of Representatives as a Representative from the State of New Jersey: which documents were referred to the Committee on Elections. On motion of Mr. Douglass, Ordered, That the memorial presented on the 2d instant by Mr. Charles J. Ingersoll from citizens of Oregon, be referred to the Committee on the Territories. The House proceeded to the consideration of the resolutions from the legislature of the State of Connecticut, presented by Mr. John A. Rockwell on Thursday last, and laid over under the rule: when Mr. Rockwell moved that the said resolutions be referred to the Committee on the Territories, and that they be printed. After debate, on motion of Mr. Boyd, Ordered, That said resolutions be laid upon the table. Mr. Norris presented the following resolutions: STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in general court convened, That our national government, warned by the overreaching policy and deep duplicity of Great Britain in relation to the northeastern boundary, should assert and maintain our rights to the territory of Oregon to the fifty-fourth degree north latitude. Resolved, That concession, harmony, and forbearance, under repeated and long-continued injuries, cease to be national virtues; and that our government will best represent the national spirit by entering into no compromise with tyranny, and by submitting to no national wrong. Resolved, That the interference of England to prevent the peaceful annexation of Texas to the Union, is a measure as unprecedented and unjustifiable as insulting to this republic, and requires speedy explanation by the British ministry. Resolved, That the interference of the United States to avert from any portion of the people of this continent or the world the miseries of British colonial servitude, would be abundantly justified by the acts of that government. Resolved, That the recent developments of the intrigues of the British government with those of Mexico and Texas to defeat the policy of this nation in relation to the annexation of Texas, demonstrate the sagacity, wisdom, and patriotism of such of our statesmen as by their efforts brought this great measure to a triumphant consummation. Resolved, That his excellency the Governor be requested to furnish copies of the foregoing resolutions to the legislatures of the several States, and to our Senators and Representatives in Congress. Ordered, That the said resolutions be referred to the Committee on the Territories. Mr. Boyd presented a memorial of Amos Kendall, of the city of Washington, in the District of Columbia, praying to be indemnified for losses, expenses, and injuries incurred by him in defending, and suffering the consequences of, a suit brought against him individually by Stockton, Stokes, & Co., former mail contractors, for acts done by him as Postmaster General of the United States in faithfully administering that department: which memorial was referred to the Committee of Claims. Mr. Pettit presented a petition of Joel Brown and four hundred other citizens of Cincinnati, in the State of Ohio, praying that the office of chaplain to Congress, to the army, and to the navy may be abolished. Mr. Pettit moved that the said petition be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. McConnell moved that it be laid upon the table. And the question being put, Shall the said petition be laid upon the table? It was decided in the affirmative. Mr. Pettit presented a petition of Francis Strother, of Dayton, in the State of Indiana, praying the redemption by the United States of certain continental moneys which he received in payment for his services as a soldier of the Revolution: which petition was read, and referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims. Mr. Milton Brown presented a memorial of the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee, praying that all vacant lands south and west of the congressional reservation line in said State may be ceded to the said State for purposes of education; and that out of the proceeds of the lands heretofore sold, and first hereafter to be sold, an appropriation may be made for the benefit of west Tennessee college at Jackson: which memorial was referred to the Committee on Public Lands. COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. In the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-five. RESOLVES CONCERNING THE NATURALIZATION LAWS. Whereas the purity of the ballot-box is indispensable for the security of the rights, and the free and full expression of the will of the people; and whereas experience has clearly demonstrated that the naturalization laws of the United States are loose and defective, affording opportunities for the perpetration of gross frauds, destructive alike to the rights and morals of our citizens, and the stabilities of our institutions: Therefore, Resolved, That the rights, interests, and morals of the people demand an immediate and thorough revision of the naturalization laws; and we regard it as the imperative duty of Congress so to amend those laws, that while a liberal and just policy shall be adopted towards such foreigners as are or may come among us, the rights and privileges of our countrymen shall be kept inviolate, and the ballot-box permanently guarded against every improper influence. Resolved, That our Senators and Representatives in Congress are hereby especially requested to use their utmost exertions forthwith to procure such amendments in the naturalization laws as shall carry out and perpetuate, as far as possible, the principles indicated in the foregoing resolve. Resolved, That his excellency the Governor be requested to transmit a copy of these resolves to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress. Mr. Winthrop moved that the said resolutions be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Mr. Levin moved that they be referred to a select committee. And debate arising upon the said resolutions, they were laid over under the rule. Mr. John Quincy Adams presented the following resolutions: COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. In the year one thousand eight hundred and forty-five. RESOLVES CONCERNING THE ADMISSION OF THE SLAVE-HOLDING NATION OF TEXAS INTO THE UNION. Whereas the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has, through her legislature, with great unanimity, in the years one thousand eight hundred and forty-three, and forty-four, and forty-five, solemnly and strenuously protested against the admission, by the federal government, of the foreign nation of Texas, as a State, into the Union, because the act would be in direct violation of the constitution of the United States, and because it would perpetuate the slavery of a portion of mankind in America, and because it would extend the unequal rule of representation, by federal numbers, over a new region never within the contemplation of those who consented to its establishment, at the time of the formation of the constitution: and whereas the consent of the executive and legislative departments of the government of the United States has been given, by a resolution passed on the 27th day of February last, to the adoption of preliminary measures to accomplish this nefarious project: Therefore, be it Resolved, That Massachusetts hereby refuses to acknowledge the act of the government of the United States, authorizing the admission of Texas, as a legal act, in any way binding her from using her utmost exertions in co-operation with other States, by every lawful and constitutional measure, to annul its conditions, and defeat its accomplishment. Resolved, That the annexation of a large slaveholding territory, at the will of the government of the United States, with the declared intention of giving strength to the institution of domestic slavery in these States, is an alarming encroachment upon the rights of the freemen of the Union, a perversion of the principles of republican government, a deliberate assault upon the compromises of the constitution, and demands the strenuous, united, and persevering opposition of all persons, without distinction, who claim to be the friends of human liberty. Resolved, That the right to hold men as slaves was conceded by the constitution of the United States to be a matter exclusively belonging to those States in which that right was acknowledged, upon the understanding, however, that the power which it gives should be exercised strictly within those limits; but now that it arrogates the control of millions of freemen living beyond them, and puts at hazard the predominance of the principles of liberty in America, it justifies the adoption on their part of a systematic policy of counteraction, by lawful and constitutional means, even though that policy should ultimately bring on the downfall of slavery itself. Resolved, That the constitution of the United States was framed in order to protect a people of freemen, and perpetuate the blessings of liberty to them and their posterity, and that Massachusetts will co-operate with any or all of the free States of the Union, in an honest endeavor, by lawful means, to restore it in every case where it has been perverted from the fulfilment of its original and noble purpose. Resolved, That no territory hereafter applying to be admitted to the Union, as a State, should be admitted without a condition that domestic slavery should be utterly extinguished within its borders; and Massachusetts denies the validity of any compromise whatsoever that may have been, or that hereafter may be, entered into by persons in the government of the Union, intended to preclude the future application of such a condition by the people acting through their Representatives in the Congress of the United States. Resolved, That his excellency the governor be requested to transmit a copy of the aforegoing resolves to the Executive of the United States, and of the several States, and to each of the Senators and members of the House of Representatives of this Commonwealth in the Congress of the United States. Mr. Adams moved that the said resolutions be referred to a select committee of one from each State. Mr. McConnell moved that they be laid upon the table. And the question being put, Shall the said resolutions be laid upon the table? It was decided in the affirmative, SYeas, The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are Mr. Stephen Adams Mr. Reuben Chapman Lucien B. Chase John R. J. Daniel Mr. Jefferson Davis James C. Dobbin Alfred Dockery Jacob Erdman 83 57 |