Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-01-13
GasNGRe EI&S.
THURSDAY. Jan. 5, 1889.
IN SEN .i'N
DUTY ON INDIAN BLANKETS.

The bill to reduce tho duty on Indian blankets
and certain other In;!ian goods, read the Sc
cand timc when
Mr.. BENTON moved to refer it to the COMMITTEES
on Finance. He thought in Justice and proprioty
tho bill ought To go to the Committee Indian Al
FAIRS for considerations but he yielded to the opin-
IONS OF others, and consented to refer it to the
Committee on Finance.
Mr.. DiCKEasoN moved to refer the bill to the
Committee on Manufactures.
Mir. BENTON said, that he perceived that the gen
ticnan was disposed to have the present bill to
take the same that the salt bill heretofore
introduced had taken. III. was of opinion that there
was another committee besides that of Finance,
that should take precedence of the Committee on
Manufactures. He alluded to the Committee on
Indian Affairs. That committee han the concerns
OF The Indians and the trade of the United States
with them under their supervision, and the present
bill proposed measure calculated to effect that
trade, 1t more properly belonged to that committee
than to the Committee Manufactures. 1t was
the province of the Committee on Indian Affairs
TO know how the trade with the Indians was car
ried on: whether the articles obtained from them
were procured by tir aud open purchase or secret
ly Struggled from the mouth of the Columbia.
This bill like its predecessor designed to effect
4 reduction ofthc public burthcns, by diminishing
the revenue derived from duties on imports, and
IFS connection with the subject of Indian Affairs,
lii his opinion, gave it fair claim to be referred to
the Committee on Indian Affairs; but as that Com
I!itee was likely 20 be objected 10, he would waive
tins reference, and move that it be referred to the
Committee on Finance.
Mr. DICKINSON said, that in the case of the bill to
repeal the duty on salt, and also the present oc-
casion, lie thuoght that gentlemen were disposed
to have the subjects referred to that Comlnitic e
which had the least concern, and felt the oast in
tcteSt IN them. The argument OF the gentleman
went TO show that the reference should be to the
committee on the Affairs of the Indians, because
IT might have some connection with them-while
he was opposed to its reference to the Committee on
Ia
IDENTIFY as in the of the salt bill, have more
decided and Important bearing on the manu-
factnr'ng interest than upon any other in the
country.
MIR. ID. SAID that the reasons which had been
urged in favor of the reference of the salt bill,
would apply with equal force in the present in -
stance, as they were essentially alike; both had it
IN view to remove the protection which the Govern
mcnt had deliberately extended to the domestic in
dustry of the country; and he saw no reason why
it should not bo referred TO the same Committee
The bill did not confinc itself kind of blank
CTS, but embraced al! kinds that were manufacu red;
and therefore, if adopted, would prove an injury
to t.lt Ltcrost in general.
The question was then taken upon the reference
to The Committee on Indian Affairs and decided
m the negative, by Yeas and Nays, as follows:
EAS-Hcssrs. Benton, Brown, Ellis, Forsyth,
Grundy, Hayne, fill, Kane King Mlngum, MIL
i , Moore Tazewell, Upton, Troop, Tyler, and
NAVs-Mossrs Bel, BucEncr. Clay, Dallas
nlckerson, Dudley, Ewing, Foot Frclinghuyscn,
ilendricks, Holmes, Johnston, Knight, Marcy
Naudain, Prentiss Robbins, Robinson Ruggles,
seymour, Sllsbce, TVmlinson, Waggaman, Web
stcr and Wilkins-25.
The question then occurred on referring the
bill TO the Committee on Manufactures,
Mr. BENTON said he should object TO this refer
ehce' lie obScrvd That it was the apparent in
lentIon OF certain gentlemen to give every thing
INTO the hands of the Committee on Manufactures
Implying that they alone were competent to ex-
anime and report on questions Of great national
interest or Importance. He understood that by
the rules of the Senate, bills were to be sent TO
that Committee which were friendly to the measure
Tor the purpose of receiving If neccsra-
ry and rendered as perfect as possible before they
were brought forward for Il full and final discussi.
on. He should therefore object to the rcfcren C
of this bill 10 the Committee on Manufactures.
on the ground OF IFS not being the regular or cor
rect parliamentary course to refer bill Is 10 Com
miItce known TO be directly opposed 90 their
principles OF objects. He would repeat, that all
legislative proceedings of this kind were bouomcd
on Tire principle, that bills on their first nroduci.
Oh should be entrusted to the friends of the inca
surcs Tor the purpose Of being corrected and
rendered perfect as its friends could make
IT, before 1t was brought forward TO receive tho
scrutiny ofits enemies, and pass the ordeal of a
public examination. The course proposed by the
gentleman from New Jersey no considered vio-
latlon of the established course of all legislative
proceedings, and contrary TO all parliamentary
rules, relative TO the reference of bills. Here
Mr.. b. read from the Manual Of the rules of the
Senate, and tho usaCGs of the British Parliament,
in confirmation Of the position maintained, the
following extracts: "Those who would totally de.
s.rov, will not am0nd;' ''tho child is not to be put
to a nurse that cares not for it,
Mr.. Il. resumed. a child was not TO be put out
TO who would neglect the care of if, or
sGH'r il 10 die for want of nourlshment. Neither