Mr. Amos Tuck After debate, Mr. John Wentworth Hugh White On motion of Mr. Schenck, Mr. Hezekiah Williams David Wilmot James Wilson Joseph A. Woodward. The House, at 3 o'clock and twenty-five minutes, p. m., adjourned until Monday next, at 12 o'clock, meridian. MONDAY, JANUARY 15, 1849. On motion of Mr. Richard W. Thompson, The House proceeded to the consideration of the report of the Committee of Elections, on the question of the right of Henry H. Sibley to a seat in the House of Representatives as a delegate from the Territory of Wisconsin-the resolution appended to the report was read, as follows: Resolved, That Henry H. Sibley be admitted to a seat on the floor of the House of Representatives as a delegate from the Territory of Wisconsin. Mr. Richard W. Thompson moved the previous question; which was seconded, and the main question was ordered and put, viz: Will the House agree to the said resolution reported by the Committee of Elections? And being put, S Yeas.... It was decided in the affirmative, Nays ... 124 63 The yeas and nays being desired by one fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are, Mr. Green Adams Daniel M. Barringer Richard S. Canby Williamson R. W. Cobb William Collins John Crowell. John R. J. Daniel Mason C. Darling Mr. Thomas O. Edwards Elisha Embree Nathan Evans Mr. Daniel P. King Samuel Lahm William T. Lawrence Thomas W. Ligon William A. Newell Mr. Richard W. Thompson moved that the vote by which the House agreed to the resolution reported by the Committee of Elections be reconsidered; and that the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table. The question was stated: Shall the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table? And being put, Yeas It was decided in the affirmative, Nays 110 82 The yeas and nays being desired by one-fifth of the members present, Those who voted in the affirmative are, Mr. Green Adams Daniel M. Barringer Mr. Charles W. Cathcart Mr. Thomas O. Edwards Elisha Embree Thomas S. Flournoy George Fries Andrew S. Fulton John P. Gaines John Gayle Mr. Abraham R. McIlvaine Charles S. Morehead William A. Newell Those who voted in the negative are, Mr. Amos Abbott Archibald Atkinson William Duer Garnett Duncan Winfield S. Featherston John Freedley Mr. Daniel Gott Willard P. Hall Mr. Frederick P. Stanton George A. Starkweather Mr. George P. Marsh Henry Nicoll Daniel Wallace Joseph A. Woodward. Mr. Henry H. Sibley, delegate from the Territory of Wisconsin, then appeared, was sworn to support the Constitution of the United States, and took a seat in the House. Mr. John W. Houston offered the following resolution; which was read. Resolved, That the rules be suspended for the purpose upon the committees for reports. of calling The question was put on agreeing to the said resolution, and decided in the negative-two-thirds not voting in favor thereof. Mr. Stephens moved that the rules be suspended for the purpose of enabling him to move that the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union be discharged from the further consideration of the annual message of the President of the United States; which motion was agreed to-two-thirds voting in favor thereof. The said motion was accordingly made; and The House proceeded to the consideration of the said annual message from the President of the United States; when Mr. McClernand rose for the purpose of debate; and Mr. Stephens claiming the floor, The Speaker stated that Mr. Stephens, by parliamentary courtesy, was entitled to the floor on the message which, on his motion, had been brought before the House. Mr. McClernand objected to the decision of the Chair. The Speaker submitted the question to the decision of the House. The House decided that Mr. Stephens was entitled to the floor. Mr. Stephens then offered the following resolutions; which were read. Resolved, That so much of the annual message of the President of the United States to the two Houses of Congress at the present session as relates to our treaties, diplomatic intercourse, and relations with foreign countries, be referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. 2. That so much of said message as relates to compensation to those citizens who have served in the Indian war in Oregon, to the state and condition of the army, with the report of the Secretary of War accompanying said message, be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. 3. That so much of said message as relates to the condition and operations of the navy, the marine corps, and the establishment of a line of steamers between New Orleans and Vera Cruz, together with the report of the Secretary of the Navy, be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. 4. That so much of said message as relates to the tariffs of 1846 and 1842, the revenue, the state of the treasury, the public debt, the sub treasury, the general condition of the finances, the estimated receipts and expenditures for the next fiscal year, the unliquidated claims of citizens of the United States against Mexico, and the establishment of additional branch mints, be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means. 5. That so much of said message as relates to the public lands, the graduation and reduction of the price thereof, the surveys thereof, geological, mineralogical, and lineal, the appointment of additional surveyors general, and to the sale of the mineral lands in California and New Mexico, be referred to the Committee on Public Lands. 6. That so much of said message as relates to our intercourse and relations with the Indian tribes, and to the appointment of additiona! Indian agents, be referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs. 7. That so much of said message as relates to the commerce and navigation of the country, and to the extension of the revenue laws of the United States over California, be referred to the Committee on Commerce. 8. That so much of said message as relates to the establishment of territorial governments over California and New Mexico, and the enforcement of governments de facto in those territories, be referred to the Committee on the Territories, with instructions to said. committee to inquire and report whether the Executive of the United States has rightful authority to exercise the powers of government now being enforced over those territories. 9. That so much of said message as relates to the post offices and post roads, and the reduction of the rate of postage, be referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads. Mr. Stephens moved the previous question; which was seconded, and the main question ordered and put, viz: Will the House agree to the said resolutions? And decided in the affirmative. Mr. Truman Smith moved that the vote by which the House had just agreed to the said resolutions be reconsidered, and that the said motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; which latter motion was agreed to. Mr. White moved that the House resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union; which was disagreed to. On motion of Mr. Clapp, Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the expediency of authorizing the President of the United States to grant medals to individuals who saved the lives of persons on vessels in cases of disaster on the ocean, lakes, bays, sounds, harbors, and rivers, whether those who performed or were benefitted by the act were Americans or foreigners. Mr. Hammons offered the following resolution; which was read, and laid upon the table one day under the rule, viz: Resolved, That the Secretary of War be requested to communi. cate to this House abstracts of the several pension laws, and laws granting bounty lands, now in force, together with the rules and regulations adopted under them, and such opinions of the Attorney General as may have been given upon the construction of said laws. On motion of Mr. Wilson, Resolved, That the Committee on Military Affairs be instructed to inquire into the expediency of allowing bounty land to the men who composed the company of Captain John Parker, who volunteered and were mustered for service on the Indian frontier in the State of Iowa. Mr. Grinnell offered the following preamble and resolution; which were read, and agreed to. Whereas there is in possession of the government engraved plates of the surveys made by the late exploring expedition of the bay of San Francisco, and the rivers Sacramento and San Joachim, and the emigrants for that country being desirous of procuring copies thereof, and those heretofore printed having been disposed of; therefore, |