Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1834-01-15
ENTY-THIRD CONGRESS.

Resolred, That the committee on Naval
Affairs be instructed to inquire into the ex
pediency passing law for preventing, all,
far as may be, accidents 10 vessels employee
in the foreign or coastwise commerce of tn, \
United States, from the explosion of steam.
Mr.. WEBSTER said that the great impor
lance of this subject in its relation to the pub
lie welfare, had induced him to offer this re-
solution. 1t seemed to be the general ex-
pectation with the public that the subject
would be taken up by congress and efficient
ly acted on. The history of the country for
the last three years. presented most start
ling list of accidents from explosions by
steam, and the general opinion seemed to be
that they arose, in many instances, from We
ry culpable negligence, but in some, from
more positive criminal offence than negli
gence, to wit-steamboat racing This was
d most objectionable offence, as tending I'M
medately to the destruction of life, by an "a
gent so salutary and useful when under pro-
per restraint, but awfully destructive and ca
lalnitous when in inexperienced hands. He
had no doubt that it was within the power Of
congress to interpose in this matter They
were licensed commercial vessels, and it
seemed within the general scope of the pow
ers of congress to regulate commerce, and
preserve the lives and property Of our citizens,
and unless the power can be exercised by
congress, he thought it could not be by the
states. He desired TO express no opinion,
but it had occurred to him that law might
| be framed having a two-lold character; to
prescribe and regulate the manner in which
steam boilers should be tried, and then to
prohibit the application of more than one
half or one-thIrd of the pressure to the boiler,
which il might be pronounced capable of sus-
ltaining-lhe regulation of the safety valve
connected to something without, by which
every one might examine into the degree of
pressure for himself, was also important. As
1t was the opinion that culpable negligence
was the chief cause of so many disasters, it
seemed necessary that there should be some
provision for an immediate examination of
all the circumstances whenever they occur
4 That the collector of the district ought to take
measures to bring the subject to judicial
investigation, and that no excuse should avail!
unless it should turn out that the accident
! was such as could not have been prevented
even by the greatest degree of skill. He was
; satisfied that there could be no efficient secu
Irity until the owner of the boat was brought
to feel his responsibility to the public, by q
j legal provision for punishment and forfeiture
I Mr.. BENTON said, he did not rise to oppose
the resoiution-he would give it his hearty
support, as he agreed to every thing which
he had heard on the subject. He was in N
j Orleans when the steam boat was blown up
on the Red river-and was informed there
5 that fifty kegs OF gun powder was on board
! that boat at the time. He had also been tolt
r by the captain OF steam boat, that two hogs
heads had been shipped on board his boa
without his knowing the contents of them
he had placed them Immediately under the
boilers OF the boat, and 1t was not until they
ARRIVED safely at their place of destination
that the captain discovered that they contain
| ed gun powder There was another class O
accidents peculiar to this species of travel
ling in the west which ought to be provided
against-lhat of assaults and batteries, ane
homicides.
In the House Of Representatipes-On mo
ton of Mr.. SLADE, of Illinois,
RESOLVED, That the committee on Public
Lands be instructed 10 inquire into the expe
dency of authorizing the REIMBURSEMENT O
the 10Th sections reserved for the use O.
schools in the state of Illinois, in all cases
whore the same is barren and unproductve
and the selection and entry of others in lieu
thereof.
Senate. Dec 24.--Mr. Kent submitted
the following joint resolution:
i RESOLVED by the Senate and Hause ofRep
resentatlves Of the United States of America
in Congress assembled, two-thirds Of both
Houses concurring. That the following
article be proposed to the Legislatures Of
, the several States, as an amendment to
} the Constitution of the United States,
5 which when ratified by three fourths Of
said Legislatures shall be valid as part Of
the Constitution.
j When a bill which having passed the
Senate and House Of Representatives,
shall be returned by the President of the
United States. with his objections, upon
the reconsideration thereof, a majority
Iof all the members elected 10 each House
|shall again pass such bill, notwithstanding
the objections of the President, it shall
become law and the requisition of two.
thirds in such case, according TO the exist
ing Constitution, is revoked.
In the House Of Representatires.--On mo-
ton of Mr.. CASEY,
Resolved, That the Committee on the