The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-05-15

VI oihceTs outpioy Gu, was considered and
| agreed to. Mr.. Dickerson moved that
the bill to appropriate, for limited timc
tho proceeds of the sale Of the public
lands among the several Stn,es. be now
taken up, but he withdrew il upon the
| suggestion that the Senate was NOT full.
The bill providing the means of record
ing patents for the public lands, was
read second time, and, after some die.
cussion, it was laid on the table. Some
private bills were forwarded. The Post
Office Bill was taken up, and Mr..
Holmes resumed and concluded his
| speech in favor Of the amendment abol.
lshing postage on newspapers. Mr.,
Grundy followed in reply to Mr.. Holmes
aud MIR. Bibb commenced a sbeecb inl
support of the amendment.
In the House of Representatives, the
whole sitting was spent in the discussiov
of the case of Gen. Houston. Mr.. Polk
went into an elaborate argument upon
the constitutional principles assumed by
the House IN taking cognizance Of the
case--which he said were identical will,
those grounds Of necessity upon which
the alien and sedition laws were placed,
and which had been exploded by the
general sense Of the people. The con-
stitution, he contended, gave the House
no power Of punishment except of its
own members by expulsion--and illus
trated this point by The impracticability
If conducting trial here according to
the forms ofthe constitution, and of en-
forcing judge nent. If the power be-
longs TO the House, as inseperable from,
n branch Of the Legsaiure--the co-or.
dnnre branches possessed the same pow
er-and he put the case whether the
President, whose sanction was essential |
witi, certain exceptions, 10 the validity
of laws, possessed the same power oil
summary punishment for contempt with |
that claimed by the House. Mr.. r.
commented upon the various cases ia
which the point was supposed to have
come before the House, none of which,
he said, involved the principles of tho
present case. Mr.. p. went into the con-
s'deration ofthe law of privilege MS ex-
ercised by the British Parliament, and
cited and commented upon various ca
ses involving IFS principles, lie conclu-
\ WV sb'h suOuEu uOuC VI tffOsG DTtUCIDltSW
reuched this case, the privileges of Par
lament were not applicable to this couu-
try-they having been established as
bulwark against the royal prerogative.-
while here the sovereignty resides in the
people, whose rights wero not 10 be a
bridged except by the express terms Of
the consiitution-thc whole spirit audi
provisions Of which were hostile TO the
| exercise Of an unknown, underlined aud
despotic power in any branch eflhe gov
ernmeni. He was followed by Mr..
Ellsworth, who contended that all de-
Lucrative assemblies, as well as courts,
possessed THIS power Of punishment for
contempt from necessity. He illustrated
his argument by the opinion of the Su-
preme Court, in the case of anderson Us.
Duan. and cited II variety of other cases
! to that point.
Mr.. Drayton said his views ofthe pow
er Of the House did not accord with
those of Mr.. Polk, though IL ,on the ies-
timony before the House in the present
case, he was opposed to the amendment
and in favor of the original resolution
dischnrging Gen. Houston. The neces-
sary privilege Of members only extended
to their duties in the House. Whatever
took place from other causes was un-
privileged and belonged to the ordinary
tribunals. He had voted in favor of ia
king Gen. Houston into custody on tho
ground that the affidavit of Mr.. Stanbery
had expressly stated the assault to have
been committed by reason of tho dis
charge of his duty here. The facts in
evidence had presented different case
one that had nothing to do with the priv
ileges Of the House.
Mr.. L. Cooke supported the amend
ment at length; when he had concluded
Mr.. Doddridge said he wished TO deliver
short opinion in the case, which he
was not inclined to do to empty seats
he, therefore, moved that further pro-
ceedings be postponed till To day at o.
clock, which was carried--aud the
House adjourned.
In the Senate, on "Wednesday, Mr.. Foot
from the Committee on Pensions, report
ed bill from the House entitled IN act
in addition to all act tn provide for cer-
tain persons engaged in the naval and
military service. of the United States,
during the war Of the revolution, with
ou, amendment. Mr.. Foot also report
ed the bill from the House granting PEN
sions TO Rendle, Reynolds, and others
with an amendment. Mr.. Dickerson
thon moved the Senate to take IN tho
bill to provide for the distribution, for n
limited time, Of the proceeds of the
Public Lands.
The motion being successful, the Sem