The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, Twelfth Congress, Second Session Page: 127
[677], [xxvi] p.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
127
HISTORY OF CONGRESS.
128
Confidential Proceedings.
motion, by Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, the further
consideration thereof was postponed until Mon-
day next.
Monday, January 18.
The motion submitted by Mr. Bradley on the
15th instant was resumed and agreed to without
amendment.'
Ordered, That the Secretary lay the said res-
olution before the President of the United States.
Toesday, January 19.
Mr. Anderson, from the committee appointed
the 22d December on the, subject, reported the
following bill:
A bill authorizing the President of the United States
to take possession of a tract of country lying south
of the Mississippi Territory and of the State of Geor-
gia, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represent-
atives of the United States of America in Congress
assembled, That the President be, and he is hereby,
authorized to occupy and hold all that tract of country
called West Florida, which lies west of the river Per-
dido, not now in possession of the United States.
Sec. 2. And be it farther enacted, That the Presi-
dent be, and he is hereby, authorized to occupy and
hold all that part of W est Florida east of the Perdido,
and the whole or any part of East Florida, including
Amelia Island.
Sec. 3. And be it farther enacted, That, for the
purpose of occupying and holding the country afore-
said, and of affording protection to the inhabitants
thereof, under the authority of the United States, the
President may employ such parts of the military and
naval force of the United States as he may deem ne-
cessary.
Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That, for defray-
ing the necessary expenses, dollars are hereby
appropriated, to be paid out of any moneys in the
Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, and to be applied
for the purposes aforesaid, under the direction of the
President.
Sue. 5. And be it further enacted, That, until fur-
ther provision shall be made by Congress, the Presi-
dent shall be, and hereby is, empowered to establish
within the cuuntry he may acquire by this act a tem-
porary Government, the civil and military authoritic-s
of which shall be vested in such person or persons as
he may appoint, and be exercised in such manner as
he may direct: Provided, That he shall take due care
for the preservation of social order, and for securing
to the inhabitants the enjoyment of their personal
rights, their religion, and their property : And provided,
also, That the section of country herein designated,
that is situated to the eastward of the river Perdido, mav
be the subject of future negotiation.
The bill was read; and passed to the second
reading.
Friday, January 22.
The bill authorizing the President of the Uni-
ted States to take possession of a tract of country
lying south of the Mississippi Territory and of
the State of Georgia, and for other purposes, was
read the second time.
Mr. Leib submitted the following motion for
consideration:
Resolved, That the documents which accompanied
the President's Message of the 14th instant, be confi-
dentially printed for the use of the Senate, excepting
those papers which relate to the stations and the
amount of the military force of the United States, and
the letter of General Pinckney of the 27th December.
On motion, by Mr. Leib, that the bill be now
taken up and considered, it was determined in
the Degative.
Monday, January 25.
On "motion, by Mr. Anderson, that the bill
authorizing the President of the United States
to take possession of a tract of country lying
south of the Mississippi Territory and of the
State of Georgia, and for other purposes, be now
considered, it was determined in the negative.
The Senate proceeded to consider the motion
submitted on the 22d instant, by Mr. Leib ; and,
on motion, by Mr. Bayard, that the further con-
sideration thereof be postponed until to-morrow,
it was determined in the negative.
On the question to agree to the resolution, on
motion, by Mr. Reed, it was agreed that it be
taken by yeas and nays; and, on motion, by Mr.
Bayard, the Senate adjourned.
Tuesday, January 26.
On motion, by Mr. Anderson, the Senate re-
sumed, as in Committee of the Whole, the con-
sideration of the bill authorizing the President
of the United States to take possession of a tract
ofcountry lyingsouth of the Mississippi Territory,
and of the State of Georgia, and for other pur-
poses ; and, ou motion, by Mr. Leib, that the
further consideration of the bill be postponed in
order to consider his motion, to have printed cer-
tain documents referred to in the Message of the
President of the United States of the 14th instant,
it was determined in the negative.
Mr. Gaillard was requested to take the
Chair; and the consideration of the bill was re-
curred to.
A motion was made by Mr. Smith, of Mary-
land, to strike out the second section of the bill ;
and, on his motion, it was agreed to take the
question by yeas and nays.
On motion, by Mr. Bradley, the further con-
sideration of the bill was postponed to, and made
the order of the day for, to-morrow.
Mr. Tait presented the memorial of the Legis-
lature of the State of Georgia, recommending to,
and soliciting, Congress to authorize the Presi-
dent of the United States to take immediate pos-
session of the province of East Florida, and that
portion of West Florida purchased from France,
but still retained by Spain ; for reasons stated at
large in the memorial; which was read.
On motion, by Mr. Leib, the Senate resumed
his motion, submitted the 22d instant, that the
documents referred to in the Message of the
President of the United Slates of the 14th instant,
be printed; and the motion was amended.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Gales and Seaton. The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, Twelfth Congress, Second Session, book, 1853; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc30352/m1/62/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.