20 February 1846
adams-john10 Neal Millikan Smithsonian Institution Oregon Country
436 Sunday. 20th.— February 1846.

20. VI.

I attended this morning, a meeting of the Select Committee, on the Smithsonian Bequest— Present, Owen, Chairman, Adams, Simms, and Jenkins. There was some farther discussion, upon the Amendments proposed to the Bill, and without coming to a conclusion. The Committee, adjourned, to meet again next Friday, with a view then, to direct the Chairman, to report the Bill, as amended— I said I should not object to this, but should not hold myself bound, to support it in the House— Mr. Simms said, that his objection to it, as unConstitutional, remained, in full force, in his mind— In the House, the Bill, for curtailing the milage pay, of Senators, was resumed— A motion for the Previous Question was pending, on which there was no Quorum voting. Haralson of Georgia, moved a Call of the House, which was commenced, had a large Quorum answering to their names, was superceded— An Amendment moved yesterday, by Jacob Thompson of Mississippi, was rejected and the Bill was passed by Yeas and nays—141. to 10.— I voted against it, believing that it will sleep, in the Senate, or be returned to the House, with an Amendment, touching, the constructive pay of the Members of the House, which will be sure to demolish the Bill— It is the constant practise, of many members of the House, to absent themselves, without leave, for days, weeks, and sometimes months, and yet receiving pay, as if they attended regularly every day of the Session, and this is the Body of economists, so severely prohibiting that constructive pay, to members of the Senate. Haralson moved to go into Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union, to consider Bills, reported, by the military Committee, but Thomas. J. Henley, moved to go into Committee of the whole, to take up Bills, on the private Calendar— The House decided against the motion of Haralson, and in favour of that of Henley— A Debate followed, upon one private Bill for the relief of John Anderson. At its third reading the Question was taken by Tellers, 32. to 69—no 437Quorum— Hannibal. Hamlin of Maine, moved to lay it on the Table, which was carried by yeas and nays. 99. to 50—and the House adjourned. The Steamer, Cambria, arrived from Liverpool and Halifax, at Boston, on Wednesday evening, at 1/2 past ten o’clock. She sailed from Liverpool on the fourth instant, and brings, Dispa from Louis McLane, our Minister at London, to the Secretary of State, and from the British Government, to Mr. Pakenham, and a Count. M. De Banlieu, as a successor to Mr. Serruys, from Belgium— It brings also—Queen Victoria’s speech, at the opening of Parliament, on the 22d. of January— A total Revolution, is announced, in the Commercial policy of Great Britain— The Ministry of Sir Robert Peel, is restored, after their resignation, and an abortive attempt, by Lord John Russell, to form, another Ministry— The Corn Laws, are to be immediately repealed, totally, or gradually, in the course of three years— The complexion, of the intelligence, is altogether, pacific, and concilliatory— Mr. Pakenham’s rejection of the proposition made by Mr. Buchanan—to divide, the Oregon, by the 49. parallel of Latitude, without referring it, to his Government, has been formally disapproved, both by Sir Robert Peel, and Lord John Russell, in the House of Commons— The Report of our Secretary of the Treasury, on the State of the Finances, of the Third of December last, has been highly extolled, for its exposition, of the principles of Free Trade, and ordered to be printed, in the House of Peers, for the use of its Members— A token of approbation without example— It is evident, that the Oregon Question, will be settled by the Repeal of the Corn Laws and the sacrifice of the American Tariff, a bargain, both sides of which will be for the benefit of England, and to our disadvantage— A purchase, of Peace, the value of which, can only be tested by the lapse of time.—

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