The Daily Spy

CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

Saturday, March 3.

SENATE. Mr Dix reported the House bill, extending the revenue laws over California. Mr King opposed it, and moved to lay it on the table—agreed to. The bill providing gold coins of one dollar and double eagles, passed. Mr Hannegan called up the bill for fulfilling the fifth article of the treaty with Mexico, for running the boundary line. The amendment of the House confines the appointment of Commissioners to the Topographical corps. Mr Hannegan moved that the Senate disagree to the amendment; the bill was laid on the table. This secures Polk's appointment of Weller & Co. Mr Breese introduced a resolution for compiling the translation of the Mexican laws existing in California, 13th May, 1846. Passed. Mr Douglass moved to take up the House bill for territorial government, which includes the Wilmot Proviso. Mr Rusk appealed to the Senate for the report of the Conference Committee on Mr Walker's amendment to the general appropriation bill. If no compromise on that amendment be agreed to, nothing could be done. All other efforts would be useless, and a waste of time. Mr Douglass said all sorts of bills for California had been refused by the Senate, and he was determined to make a last effort for the people of that country. He asked for the yeas and nays on taking up the bill. Mr Hamlin denounced Walker's amendment, as giving despotic power to the President, and hoped the bill would not be passed. Mr Butler considered Walker's amendment as restricting the Military power now held by the President. Bill not up—yeas 25, nays 23. The House bill for the best plan of taking the next census, was passed. The House bill was taken up providing for a Home Department, to include the bureaus of the Pensions, Indian Affairs and Patent office. The Secretary to be called the Secretary of the Interior. Mr Allen opposed the creation of any new cabinet officers, unless we retrench. We shall never pay our national debt Jefferson Davis thought that the Senator need not be alarmed. The bill merely proposes a reorganization, a division of the labors of the departments. Mr Hunter opposed the bill; as the two great sources of revenue were customs and the public lands there was no propriety in taking them from the head of the Treasury. Mr Webster had been in favor of a Home Department, ever since the time of Monroe. Mr Niles made a strong appeal against the proposed extension of Executive patronage. Mr Mason made a speech showing there was no necessity for this interior department. After a powerful appeal against the bill, he moved to lay it on the table—lost, 22 to 31. Mr Calhoun made a strong appeal against the bill adopting the opinion of the Senator from Virginia, that this department for the interior looked to the absorption of the powers of states. Mr Foote showed that there was a necessity for the Home Department.

EVENING. The Home Department bill was resumed. Mr Mason moved to amend, by striking out Secretary of the Interior, and inserting "Assistant Secretary of the Treasury," he strongly objected to the addition of another to the cabinet. It contemplated an entire reorganization of government. He said that dark clouds were hanging over the capitol. Mr Webster earnestly appealed to the Senate that the bill be carried. It did not extend the federal powers one inch; it was nothing but a plain, practical question. Mr Allen urged upon the Democrats to abandon the Whigs on this bill, because no such thing could stand before the people. Mr Downs was opposed to compromising anything until this bill passed. Mr Mason's amendment providing an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, instead of a new Cabinet officer, was rejected. The bill then passed, 31 to 25. The President approved of the Minnesota bill. Mr Atherton reported no agreement of the Committee on Mr Walker's amendment (for the California government,) to the civil bill. The bill for the Mexican treaty stipulations became a law. 3 o'clock, Sunday Morning. The Senate was for two hours and a half engaged in a most exciting discussion of the House amendment to the Civil bill, Mr Webster leading off for the bill. Messrs Mason, Hunter, Berrien, Westcott, Foote, Douglass, Bright, Yulee, Walker, and others engaged in discussion. Foote and Cameron came to blows—they were parted at once. The emeute was followed by some very ugly words between them. The quarreling is still high, and the prospect strong that the General Appropriation bill will be defeated.

HOUSE. The bill establishing a branch mint in New York, was passed. The Light House bill passed. The House concurred in the amendment of the Senate authorizing the coinage of gold double eagles and dollars. Mr Vinton reported that the Committee of Conference had been unable to agree in relation to the California amendment to the General Appropriation bill. The Senate inserted an amendment to Mr Walker's legislation for territories, and the House rejected it. The question was taken on the House receding, and decided in the affirmative by a majority of 5. Tremendous excitement followed. Mr Morehead thought the matter could be settled by striking out from the Senate's amendment the words West of Rio Grande, and inserting nothing in the act that could in any way affect the boundary of Texas, and made that motion. The question was then on Morehead's amendment, and adopted,—yeas 186, nays 20. Great confusion prevailed. Several members took the floor. Walker's amendment as amended by Thompson, was agreed to—yeas 120, nays 104. The amendment went back to the Senate. At 2 o'clock Sunday morning the House was without a quorum, and in a state of chaos.— Johnson, of Arkansas, made a reach at Ficklin of Illinois, knocked him down, and drew blood A rush was made to part them. The Speaker called order, tremendous excitement—conflict over, no bones broken. Plenty of the ardent in the capitol. In the midst of the whole, Ficklin was taken from the Hall at half past two. Kauffman, moved to take up the bill to establish a government in New Mexico. Holmes objected for want of power, or time. A message was sent to the Senate, saying that the House was ready to adjourn. Means were taken to renew the Appropriation bill, but the actionists were condemned. "Members said that they would go down to everlasting infamy. Nothing was done with the bill. After a long delay for the President to sign the
General Appropriation bill, and to make further communications, the adjournment took place sine die, at quarter before 7 o'clock.