The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-03-29
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
Ts, 4

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. A..
TUESDAY, March 81
petition from number q citizens Of Philadelphia,
the subject Of the late duel which referred to
the select committee on that subject. a
The report Of the Library Committee in relation
TO Niles's Register (which proposes 10 furnish ten
copies Of that work 10 each member, coming up IN
order, The report was read at the Clerks table.
Mr.. PATTON, from that committee explained
and defended the report, arguing 10 show that the
books ing the members did not apply in this case
inasmuch as a number Of copies were proposed 10
be furnished 10 each member, not for his own per-
sonal advantage, but for distribution among his con-
stuenls. The effect of the measure would be 10
disseminate full copies of the House journal and Of
all the laws TO 6,000 persons at the aggregate ex-
pense of 5000 per annum. The publication OF the
laws alone in pamphlet form, md for the use Of the
officers Of Government alone, costs now three times
that sum. The additional expense 10 the editor
would equal the whole amount of subscription now
proposed but the additional popularity of his paper
was deemed by him a sufficient nducement The
subscription, therefore, was not grauity eiherto
him or TO members Of Congress, but an expedient
and cheap mode of disseminating useful ntorua-
ton among the people generally The journals of
Congress had never been TO this day, so published
meet the spirit of the direction Of the Constitution
on that subject ,-..
Mr.. PARKER, Of New York. opposed the rcsou-
ton. The subscription would amount to- $l2, 100.
IL the resolution was TO pass, he would move to
strike out Niess Register" and insert The Demo
cratic Review In conclusion, he moved 10 lay the
resolution on the table and demanded the yeas and
nays, which were ordered and, being taken, stood
as follows: Yeas &C. nays 70. Sothe resolution was
laid on the table.
REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES.
The following reports from standing Committees
Of the House were received ..' ~.
Mr. WHITTLESEY from the Committee of
Claims, made an untavorabe report upon the case
of M JnSenh Brown
Mr.. SMITH, from the Committee on Commerce,
reported bill making appropriations for the cree
ton of custom-houses al New Orleans, Philadelphia,
and Savannah
MIR SHERROD WILLIAMS moved recon-
sideration Of the vote by which the House laid the
report of the Library Committee on the table.
MIR BOON moved to lay this motion, on the table,
and demanded the yeas and navs, which were order
ed and resulted as follows, Yeas 50, nays 81. So
the motion of MIR Boon was decided in the afiirma-
tive. '@..'
The SPEAKER laid before the House letter
from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting
supplement, to The annual report OF the Commission
er of the General Land Office, in relation to the
preservation OF the evidences OF the surveys OF the
public lands in charge of The Surveyor General;
which was referred to the Committee on Public
Lands and ordered 10 be printed
The CHAIR having reported TO the House, among
other Senate bills TO The House for concurrence
the bill known by the name OF the Sub-Ireasury
ferred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Mr. PICkENS said, that before that motion should
be acted upon he desired, considering the very
great importance of the subject TO be informed as 10
or two preliminary points. He must apologize
to the House for thus interposing, nor should he
have done it, but for article which appeared in
the official paper of this morning, which seemed 10
him to have an oninous bearing. He desired 10
know from The chairman Of the Committee Of Ways
and Means whether il was the intention of that COM
mee 10 give the bill from the Senate any, the least,
degree Of preference bill on the same subject
which had been reported by that committee 10 this
House? In the article he had alluded 10, he per-
ceived there was an intimaon that perhaps some of
the obnoxious features might be stricken from the
bill the same purpose accomplished by having an
independent or supplementary bill. In the whole
article there was not the slightest reference to the
bill of the House. Now, Mr. p. considered the en-
tire subject as one peculiarly within the jurisdiction
of the House of Representatives; and on that ground
alone if on no other he should prefer that the ac-
ton of this body should be had on its own bill,
rather than on that from the other Legislative branch.
He anxousy desired TO know which of the two bills
was TO have priority. He put this inquiry honestly,
for information, not having had the slightest COM
municaon or concert with the honorable chairman
on the matter. He thought the information he asked
due to the House and to The country He wanted TO
know whether this emasculated thing, which, though
in the shape of a man, was destitute of all manli
ness, and all the spirit Of a man-a eunuch, in all
lis aribues-was 10 be preferred TO the House bill
on the same subject.
Mr.. CAMBRELENG replied fbut, as usual was
imperfcctly heard at our reporters seat) He said
that, for himself and he believed he might speak for
all of his colleagues on the committee, he infinitely
preferred the bill which had been reported TO this
House. lie had thoroughly examined the Senates
BILL and had serious objections TO many of its details:
it was, in fact, almost new bill. He was not pre-
pared to depart in any word or syllable, from the
bill reported by the Committee Of Ways and
Means
Mr.. SERGEANT said that there was one remark
Of the honorable chairman which he must notice.
The gentleman had said that all his colleagues
the committee infinitely preferred the House bill.
Mr.. CAMBREL4ENG said that OF course he did
not mean TO include those who were opposed 10 the
measure
Mr.. SERGEANT resumed. He, for one certainly
was not among those who infinitely" preferred the
bill Of the House to that of the Senate for he really
did not know which Of them was the worst and that
about the amount, at present, of any opinion he
had on the matter. lfthe bill from The Senate was
what the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Pick
ens) had stated it 10 be- it sort of thing 10 which
treasure was often committed in some parts OF the
world; Ga laugh) and if he believed it 10 be really
as impoent as that gentleman represented il to be,
he should have less objection 10 it but he could not
but think it still possessed sufficient vgor to do much
mischief. il was possible, for those who were en-
trusted, even with gold and silver, sometimes did
great harm by betraying those who trusted them.
The machinery proposed to be employed was the
same in both bills only by the one it was 10 be en-
ployed in keeping bank notes, and BIZ the other, in
keeping gold and silver, il we could get any. For
himself he had no infinite preference for either,
bul on the contrary, was at loss as he had said 10
determine which was the worst OF the two
Mr.. HAYNES here rose and said, that though he
had not been expressly called upon IA laugh he
bill from the Committee of WAYS and Means. lie
had strong desire to answer the remarks OF me
honorable gentleman from Pennsylvania, but this
was not the time. He then resumed his seat.
Mr. PATTON said he was opposed to this un'ried
,fe
the reference Of this bill to the Committee OF ways
and Means, because it was wholly unnecessary. The