The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-12-19
NEWPORT.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10, 1888.
DOINGs IN CONGRESS.

We resume this week our practice o.
, giving an abstract ofthe doings of Congress
instead of long and dry detail Of motions
made, lost, or passed, which occupy large
r space in many journals, but convey little
information to readers, generally.
t In SENATE on Monday week, several
reports from the Departments were received
from the President. Many bills were intro
duced, and notice given Of others. Among
the latter we notice that Mr.. Linn of Mis-
souri, gave notice Of bill to authorise The
occupation of the Columbia or Oregon Ter
ritory. Rev. Mr.. SIcer, (Methodist) wns
elected Chaplain of the Senate.
In the House the same executive com
municaiions were reserved as in the Senate.
Among them was Message transmitting
Reports from the State and Treasury De-
partments relative to the Smithson Beauest.
The whole business connected with the
Executive Department has been finished,
and the money has been invested in State
Stocks. The special report on The subject
OF the Swar:wout defalcations was also
transmitted to the House. The Message
contains, besides the facts of the case, re-
commentator that Congress provide some
more efficient means for securing the ac-
countability Of collectors and other officers.
On motion of Mr.. Cambreleng, so much of
the Message MS relates to the New York
Custom House affair, was referred to a Sc.
lect Committee, aud as much thereof as re-
la.es to modification of the revenue laws,
to the committee on ways and means. Mr.
T., after making this motion, begged the
House to understand that he did not wish
to be pu. upon the proposed committee, as
hls labors would be very great in his situa-
ton as Chairman of the Finance Commit
tee. rule Of the House was adopted, by
which its officers are to be chosen pira roce.
The standing committees were announced
composed of nearly the same gentlemen as
at the last session.
On Tuesday Mr. Atherton, of New
Hampshire, introduced Sc, of resolutions,
the tenor of which is that Congress has no
jurisdiction whatever over the institution of
slavery in the several States of the confed
eracy; that petitions against slavery in the
District and Territories, and against the re-
moval of slaves from one State to another
are par! of plan Of operations to affec,
slavery in the States; that Congress has
no right to do indirectly what it cannot do
directly, and that the agitation of the sub
Jec's mentioned in The petitions is against
the true meaning and spiri, of the conslitu-
ton; that the constitution rests on the
broad ground of equality among members
of the confrderacy, and that Congress has
no right to discriminate between one por-
ton of the States and another and, final
ly:
Resolved, therefore, that the attempts on
the part of Congress to abolish Slavery in /
The District Of Columbia, or the Territories.
or to prohibit the removal of slaves from
state to state, or to discriminate between
the constitution of one portion Of the con-
tederncy rnd another, with the views afore-
said, are in violation of the constitutional
principles on which the Union of these
States rests, and beyond the jurisdiction of
Congress and that every petition, memoir
lni resolution, proposition or paper, touch
ing or relating, in any way or to any extent
whatever, to slavery as aforesaid, or the
abolition thereof withou, any further action,
be laid on the table without printing, read
ing, debate, or reference.
Mr.. Gushing, of Massachusetts,, objected
% the reception of the resolutions. Mr.. /
Atherton moved to suspend the rules of the
House. Mr.. Adams called for the yeas
md nays, which were ordered, and stood
'yes l37, noes 66.-Several members tried I
o get the floor, but Mr.. A,herton had it,
md masking speech Of half an hours du-
alton IN favor of the resolutions concluded
y moving the previous question.-This
ut OFT all answer to his remarks, aud pro-
uced much excitement rs it was nltogeth-
e unexpected. MIR. Wise, of Virginia,
egged the gentleman to withdraw the mo-
on for the previous question. The re.eiu- $
ons were not southern resolutions, and as
southern man he repudia,ed them. c
The Speaker called Mr.. Wise to order. $
$ he had no right to discuss the resolutions