Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-05-26

from Pennsylvania, Mr.. Hemphili,l was ABOUT
IN offer an amendment to the bill, OF a more ex-
tens;ve effect. and which would supersede the a.
mendment now before the House, ne would with
draw il until the question could be taken on that
which he mr. II. was about to propose,
Mr.. Ereretro of Massachusetts,, rePiiea orieny
70 Mr.. I,ewis's reference to himself. IN Wn'ch'
among other remarks, he observed uha.' IL tne
provisions of the present bill were precisely tne
same as those which he had supported Ill 1917
it was singular that the gentlemen ''ho now au-
vocated this should have voted against 'hat' as
was the case with the members from georgia IT.
self; and he indicated himslf from the imPuu-
ton of being influenced in his course on uis
subject by party considerations.
Mr. Thompson, of Georgia, followed III snort
speech in support of the bill, and IN reply 10 Us
opponents. -, .IIuoss
ed the House two hours against the bill. When
he concluded, seven or eight members rose; but
Mr.. Desha, having obtained the floor, moved
the previous question.
Mr.. Thompson, of Georgia moved call OF
the House.
Mr.. Lamar, of Georgia, demanded the yeas
and nays on this motion, which, being taken, the
call was ordered by vote of l28 to %.
The roll rs then called, when it appeared
there were seven members absent, two of whom
soon after entered the Hall, and after some time,
| Mr.. Brown moved suspension OF further pro-
ceedings, which motion was decided by yeas and
nays III the affirmative.
| The motion for the previous question recurring
the House divided, and telers being appointed
by the Chair they reported ninety three tor put
ting the previous question and nlnety-nlne against
| it,
Mr.. Wayne, of Georgia, then rose and address
ed the House an hour and a half in discussing
the relative rights of the Indians of Georgia, and
of the General Government, and IN earnestly
advocating the bill, and resisting the arguments
of those who opposed it.
Mr.. Spencer. of New York. next took the floor
and occupied an hour and half in review OF
the topics introduced into the debate, and in stat
ing his objections to the bill. He concluded at
elg hit O'Clock, when the call for the question was
loud and general: and no other gentleman rising
to address the House,
The question was put on the amendment re-
ported BY the committee of the whols to the bill,
viz: that, in executing the provisions of the bill,
the faith OF treaties with the Indians shall not be
vioIated-and concurred in, ayes l4l, noes "a.
Mr. NcDu6ie then rose and said, he was salts
| fed it was the solemn duty of the House to come
to decision on this subject. He was not going
into the argument. but he wished to say this was
a practical question. Whatever we may think
here, said he, the State of Georgia has assumed
an attitude from which she will not shrink; and
if we refuse to exercise the power which we may
constitutionally assume this question, the guilt
of blood may rest upon US. | demand the pre-.
vious question.
Tellers were appointed to count the members
who reported 81 for the previous question, and
| 90 against it, so it was not seconded.
Mr.. HemphW then rose to propose substitute
for the bill, which was las nearly as its substance
could be gathered from the reading of il by the
Clerk to provide for the appointment of three
Commissioners by the President and Senate, not
to be residents of any of the States Immediately
interested, who should go through the Indian
Tribes, east of the Mississippi, and ascertain
their disposition to emigrate-then to explore the
country west of the Mississippi, ard ascertain
the quality and extent of the country which could
be offered to the Indians, in exchange tor their
lands east of the river, and on what terms they
would make the exchange, dispose of their i'm
provements, &c. and remove, and report the
whole tothe President. to be laid before Congress
at Its next session; and appropriates $4,000 dol
lars to carry the provisions into effect.
| MIR. II said II was not his intention to 20 into
discussion of the bill. But this had been called
party question. and the advocates of the bill had
appealed to the friends of the Administration to
support the President in this measure. He de-
MED that party feelings influenced him. The Pre-
sident had not better friend than himself in the
whole nation; but, on question involving, as
this did, the moral and political character of the
country, he could not Weld up his own judgment
to his regard for the President. Mr.. H then
briefly explained the object of his amendment,
which was to obtain full information, and enable
Congress to act Understandings on the impor-
tant question. The original bill proposed to
place half million Of dollars in the hands of the
Executive, to effect removal of the Indians
This was too great responsibility for any Exc.
cutive. The House should take the measure into
its own hands, and indicate the mode and man
ner in which it should be effected.
Mr.. Thompson, of Georgia. said he had for
borne to take up the time of the House in deliv-
ering his views at large on the bill, and he was
therefore privileged, he thought, in again demand
Ing the previous question. which would of
course put by the amendment. Accordingly,