Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-04-29
CONGRESS.
From the United States Telegraph, .apya %.

rum "e Cnafed Sfafes Telegraph, .dprH %.
In the Senate, yesterday, Mr.. Maudain pre-.
scented the petition of Joseph S. Cannon. late
Midshlpman in the United States Navy. Mr..
IaseweA, from the Select Committee to which
had been referred the message of the House of
Representatives, demanding the impeachment of
Judge Peck, made report. Mr.. TaseweU made
an unfavorable report on the memorial of Mrs.
Pinkney. Mr.. Sanford presented the petition
of Mrs. Hayden, widow of Major Hayden. Mr..
Woodbury., from the Committee on Commerce,
to which had been referred two letters from the
Chief Engineer, relating to the survey of the RI
yer Wabash, presented, on Monday last, by Mr..
Hendricks, reported that no appropriation could
be made for improving the navigation of said RI
yer before the completion Of the SURVEYS SIEVE
raj resolutions were presented by Mr. Holmes,
calling on the President of the United States for
the reasons of removals from office, and for some
other purposes. The Senate spent some time in
the consideration of Executive business.
In the House of Represen atives, the resolu.
ton for the appointment of Committee to super
intend the public printing was, after the usual bu-
slness OF the early part of the session had been
disposed of, taken into consideration, and dis
cussed until the close Of the hour. Several re-
solutions were submitted, among which was one
presented by MIR. Chiffon, requesting the Presi.
dent of the United States to state to the House
the reasons which induced him to remove officers
holding stations. up to the Sd of March, 1929,
! from the highest to the lowest grades. The yeas
, and nays being, on the motion of Mr.. WcDsEe.
taken on the consideration of this resolution, it
was negatived by vote of 126 to 48. The reso-
luton proposed by Mr.. Coulter on the subject of
the public printing. was called up and considered
N mil of tho ~
bill for the punishment of crimes in the District
of Columbia, was then taken up and discussed in
er'enso until near ) O'Clock, when. after various
amendments had been proposed and debated. its
further consideration was, on motion of Mr.. .4ler-
aader, postponed until to-day.
$50
A great part of the sitting of the Senate, YES
terday, was occupied in the consideration of Ex-
ecutive business; but little progress was made
with the remaining nominations. The only
nomination. Of any consequence, that was con-
firmed, we believe, was that of Nash Legra,d,
10 be Navy Agent at the port Of Norfolk; in Vir-
gina; which WAS not assented to without serious
opposition. In. Of Hednesday.
The House of Representatives were Yesterday
almost exclusively occupied, to late hour, in
consideration of bill concerning the punish
ment Of crimes within the District of Columbia.
It must be source of regret to the people of the
District 20 perceive, that the disposition of the
House TO lerslate f,r their benefit is in danger
OF being cOunteracfcd, in this case. BY the en-
ciiement of a controversy unfavOrable 10 dis
passionate decision upon the merits of the pend
ing bill. We heartily wish that the question
which has been raised could have been avoided,
and that 1t c0nid be now put at rest without
occupying more of the time of the House.
R'sPe. ing the condition of slavery III the Dis
trct If Columbia, we have our own opini0ns: we
shall not be among the opponents Gifts abolition
when the time comes, if the views of Congress
shall be found to second the wishes of majority
Of the people of the District. But so long as that
relation in society exists it appears US that the
discrimination in the nature of punishment for
crime, between slaves and free persons. is rea-
sonabe. and in the natural order of things. But
if it be neither the one or the other il is natural,
bv use, being the universal law of all countries
in which slavery is recognized, and it Is hardly
worth while to defeat general ameioratiOn If our
criminal laws, by the endeavor to insert in them
particular feature, hitherto unknown to them.
To say the least, 1t is d matter of experiment,
how such discrimination would operate on the
class Of society whom It would effect: and we
entertain great doubt whether it would. If effect
ed. operate at all to the advantage of that class of
of persons within the District. We have
still more doubt whether it would have an effect
beneficial to their condition elsewhere.
If we have made ourselves understood. it will
be seen that we fully appreciate the beneyole nce
of the motives Of those, who propose the discrini
nation. bat are apprehensive of the effects of it,
not here merely, but throughout the Southern
States.-ibid.