The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-06-19
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
SATURDAY, June l6.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SATURDAY, June l6.
Mr. PETRIKIN obtained leave to offer a resolu-
ton for post route.
Mr. INGHAM made an effort to ge, Thursday
next appointed for the consideration Of The bills
ported by the Committee on Naval Affairs but, be-
fore any decision on giving leave,
Mr. BRIGGS claimed the floor for his colleague,
Mr. Adams, on The unfinished business of yesterday
morning.
. Amer some explanations on this subject, Mr..
ADAMS was about TO address The House,
Mr.. TiLLINGEIAST asked the gentleman from
Massachusetts, (Mr ADAMs,) who was entitled to
the floor, TO give way far as to enable him to
quest the reading OF the resolutions Of the Legsla
ture of Rhode Island, on the subject the annexa-
lion of Texas introduced by him (Mr. IT, on the
18th of December last.
Mr.. ADAMS said that he proposed himself, in
his remarks, to take notice of those resolutions,
which would probably answer the purpose of the gen.
tleman from Rhode Island.
Mr.. TILLINGHAST then said that, in that case,
as they would probably then be read his purpose
would be answered and he would therefore not in
sist, at this time, upon his request His reason for
making il was, that he understood those resolutions
had not been before the committee for their conside-
ration, and he wished the grounds taken in those re-
souonsshould be recalled 10 the notice and receive
the attention OF the House before this debate pro-
ceeded.
Mr.. ADAMS addressed the House in support OF
the amendment moved by him to the instructions
proposed by MIR. THOMPSON of South Carolina to
be given 10 the Committee on Foreign Affairs on
The subject oftheresoluions and memorials respect
ing the annexation OF Texas 10 the Union
MIR. continued TO speak with great eaInestness
ill the expiration Of the morning hour during
which, several explanations were made By Mr.
Howard, Mr. Legare, and Mr.. Dromgoole
The House was then about TO pass the consdera-.
tion of private bills; when
MIR. WHlTTLESEY moved TO reconsider the
or Harrison as be @ Sn as rS lhe see OF Ma
the facts in that case
Mr.. CUSHMAN moved to lay this motion on the
table; but consented TO Withdraw that notion and the
motion was postponed I'LL Friday next.
Mr.. SHIELDS and Mr., c. II. WILLIAMS made
an effort TO get day appointed for the consdera-
tion OF the bill 10 enable The State of Tennessee to IS
sue grants and perfect titles 10 certain lands within
her limits.
The yeas and nays were taken on suspepding the
rules for this purpose, and stood-Yeas 81, nays
Sc; mot two-thirds) So the rules were not sus-
pended.
Mr.. CUSHMAN then moved that the House go
into Committee of the Whole, on the two following
| bills:
An act to provide for the better security of the
lives OF passengers board Of vessels propelled in
whole or in part BY steam"
:" An act authorizing the appointment Of persons
to test the usefulness of inventions 10 improve and
render safe the boilers OF steam engines against
/
Mr. BIDDLEsaid that the subject was one ofsuch
deep and pressing importance, that he must ask for
the yeas and nays the suspension of the rules II
was matter that touched human life Without
extravaganza il might be asserted that frightful
responsibility hung over every hour Of delay. The
/ Senate had passed these bills FIVE months ago. Mr.
b was not member OF the committee TO which this
subject had been referred but his position compelled
him painfully TO feel that the chance for securing
,ention to twas rapidly passing away.
/ he yeas and nays were ordered, and resulted as
| follows: Yeas 49, nays 81 So the rules were sus-
| pended; and the House went into Committee OF
| the Whole on the state OF the Union, Mr.. Mercer
in the Chair and took up the bill authorizing the
appointment Of persons TO test the usefulness OF in
venions TO improve and render safe the boilers of
steam engines against explosions"
The bill was slightly amended and then laid aside
/ 10 be reported.
The committee then took up the bill "to provide
for the better security Of the lives of passengers on
board of vessels propelled in whole or in part by
steam l. together with an amendment reported BY the
Committee on Commerce, going TO except from that
provision OF the bill which requires every steamboat
to be furnished with certain long boats and yawls,
the boats navigating the Mississippi river.
In support Of this amendment Mr. THOMAS read
memorial signed by large number of the masters
Of steamboats, on the Western waters, stating various
reasons why il would be inconyeniept, dangerous
asd nearly impracticable for the boats on the Mis-
sisSpp to carry these yawls trced up on their quar-
tiers. The boat could much sooner be run ashore
4
| passengers, SC.
Mr.. FILLMORE suggested that the boats on the
lakes stood as mnch in need of these yawls as those
which went 10 sea-
MIR. BIDDLE briefly advocated the amendment of
the committee, suggesting that these yawls were
sufficient TO contain only part Of the large number
| OF passengers who usually crowded the Steamboats,
| in the West, in case of danger there would be an
instant rush TO get into them the weak and helpless
would be pushed aside, the bold and strong would
rush headong to the boats the authority Of The COM
mander in managing them would be diSregarded
and the probable consequence would be that the boats
would be Swamped, and more lives lost than if they
had not been provided
The amendment of the committee was agreed to-
Mr.. TlLLINGHAST moved 10 amend the bill
| by adding "or on tide waters" He made some re-
marks in support of this amendment; stated case
OF great danger in which he had been personally
present in which the presence Of such yawls
or long boats would have been very important and
1 adverted 10 The large number Of lives which had
been lost by The destruction Of steamboats, number
greater than oiteD persisted in war.
| Mr.. FILLMORE moved 10 amend the amendment
Of Mr. Ilinghast, by adding the words, /" or on the
/ lakes
Mr.. TlLLINGHAST accepted this as a modf-
| cation Of his amendment
! Mr.. RANDOLPH called for the reading of a
memorial from the owners of steamboats, on the Ra-
man, stating various objections seine Of the de-
tails OF the BILL and especially 10 the provision
j speeding yaws.
| Mr.. BlDDLE suggested that the bill had been
greatly modified in the Senate since that memorial
was prepared, and many Of The matters 10 which it