Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1840-02-25

affairs Of this world, will roll on as smooth.
III as d smooth gliding stream, never will
take place until mighty reform is pro-
duced.. A partial change would.quickly
come, provided every one would exert his
powers to govern self.
Correspondence otlhe Charleston Courier.
WASHINGTON, JAN. %.
The House was engaged nearly the
whole day in declaring questions oforder.
Mr. Graves spoke upon his amendment
for the appointnaent OF a Committee TO in.
.ouire and report as to The practacibiIty |
os having the printing of the House, exe-
cuted in a manner more economical, and |
he went into a heightened statement of |
the expenses of Congress, many OF which
he contended were unnecessary. The
public printing was executed alta price
three times as high as it could be done for
on contract, and the excess was given as a
premium for the support of party newspa-
pers. Mr. G. yielded the floor to Mr. X.
Garland, who asked him to accept an a
amendment providing for an inquiry into
the propriety Of separating the government
from the newspaper press. Mr. Graves,
declined, and Mr. Garland moved his pro-
position as an amendmentsto the amend.
ment. Mr. Davis, whose proposition to
90 into the election of a printer would be
thus cut off, objected TO the motion, as out
or order. The Speaker decided that it
was in order, and hereupon arose a long
and most earnest debate, lasting three.
mortal hours. The Speakers decision
was affirmed and the House adjourned.
The extreme sensibility of the House TO
whatever regards the printing patronage
at this session, arises from the fact that
the question is whether the Van Buren,
press or the Harrison press, or neither'of
Them shall be sustained by the House, du-
ring the Presidential contest. Messrs.
i Gales & Seaton have offered their prin.
ting establishment to the House, in case
they should Try the experiment Of doing
their own printing. Mr Wise, who has
been confined TO his bed for some time by
severe illness, has reappeared in the
House, and to-day took part in. the de-
/ bates.
In the Senate, The bill establishing a
Board on Claims was finally passed. Mr.
Webster's resolution for an inquiry into
the means of providing by law for the safe
ty of the lives of passengers in vessels
propelled by steam, was taken up and Mr.
w. made number of interesting sugges-
1 | a. l. Al
disaster ofthe Lexington, and expressed
the hope that the Committee on Com.
e merce would enter into minute examina-
e ton of the causes which led to it, and as
y certain whether it was an accident, that is
!, an act Of Color whether It proceeded
!. from q known cause which could be pro
). vided against. il the fire was caused by
the smoke pipe becoming heated and ig
hitting the casing, then it was no accident
e He did not think that the jurisdiction o
y Congress ha been adequately extendet
il over these subjects. The steam boat Law
II of the last Congress had done much good
l. it had rendered explosions less frequent
N That law makes an explosion the piesumI
# tive evidence of culpable neglect. So, il
case of fire, il ought TO be made priRsa ia
Gle evidence Of careiessness, and be pun
= ished accordingly. unlessi it could be show
4 that it was an accident. Mr. Grundy sug
it gested that Mr. Webster should draw al
% amendment to the existing law and refe
it TO the Committee, TO which Mr.. w. as
scented.
WASHINGTON, JAN. 80.
In the Senate, to-day, Mr. Grundy, fror
4 the committee, &c. which was referred NJ
Benton's resolutions in relation to the as
/ SUMPTION Of State Debts, made long an,
Y argumentative Report, which was rea
A. This report denounces' the States for hay
le ing entered into wild and extravagan
:. speculations becoming very much EN-
barrassed in consequence thereof; an
:, seeking now TO procure relief from tn,
d General Government, by means of as
5 sumption of their debts. A long discus
,fI sion ensned in which ihereport was mos
. severely criticized by Mr.. Preston, Mr.
Webster, and Others. Mr. Preston deni
ie ed that the States had made any such de
D. mand of the General Government, no
a one of them would be so weak as TO conn
n here with snch proposition, especially .
=. they know that the General Government
!, has not only no power, but no means 70
u their relief. He denied the truth of tn
y structures Upon the projects of the States
Ill and especially in regard to his own State
of Mr.. Benton had moved 70 print ihirt
II thousand copies of the report for distribu
= :, ton. Mr. Preston, said, this proced1r
10 would give a sanction TO every thing ii
rs report contained; in twenty. five days
es would be on the counter of every banke
n. in London; and not only the States, b,
!. those institutions, at home and abroa,
which held their stocks, would be alarne
n and embarrassed by it. The report,
n; sanctioned by the Senate. would strike
n deadly blow al the credit Of the States al
ID the value of their stocks. Those Stat,
!, which were straining every nerveto 81
= taiRtheir credit, under the present unpa
ne alleled depression, would be paralyzed |
IN it. The report gave no exhibit of the r
ho sources ofthe States but itboldly intin
=. ted that they either could not, or Won
$. not, pay their just obligations. He del
- ed the truth of The statements and infere
res ces of HE report; and held up lis mi
MS chieyous character in a strong point
"a. view. The end of the matter was that'tl
de report was recommitted on motion of 1
a King, of Alabama. to be revised d
~ aTnpndod. Itr frsas,ds had bo.oy,,, :, &c