The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1840-02-12


Ia the House to-day. the Select Committee
on Printing was completed by electing Mr..
Rice Garland Of Louisiana. and George Evans.
Of Maine, both wings. TO Gil the vacancies.
The committee being full is as follows; Mr..
Edmund ]. Black. of Georgia, Chairman. Mr..
John ii. Prentiss. New York. Mr.. J. w. Da-
Wis. Of Indiana. Mr.. Rice Garland. Of Louis
lana. and Mr.. George Evans. Of Maine. After
the balloting for the select committee had be-
completed. on motion Of Mr.. Davis, Of Penn
sylyania. the House took up the Joint resolu-
iion of the two Houses. Of the Goth Of Decem-
her, and went into the election Of Chaplain. -
There were eleven candidates for the Office I,
Two unsuccessful b,llotings were had, and the
House anjourned.
In the Senate, several abolition petitions
were presented, and the question OF their re
cep,iou laid on tho table.
Mr.. Clay of Kentucky, presented the petit.
ION Of the Chamber Of Commerce. Of the city
Of Louisville. Ky. praying Congress to pur-
chase the Portland and Louisville Canal, re-
move the tolls of the Ohio. and open il to I'll.
free use the commerce of the rivers OF the
west. A short discussion was had, which
however, was long enough to let all intp the
secret. that the owners Of the Canal being
confident that the obstruttons 10 the Ohio. NJ
the falls will soon be removed. go as to render
the Canal useless, are now vcry anxious 70
palm IL of on the country .-Messrs. CLAY,
Linn. Young. White, King. Crittenden. Tap
pan. and Clay Of Alabama. took part in the
discussion. Mr. Benton. spoke against the
Canal. and said that il imposed on the
commerce of the west. in the shape Of tolls.
enactions which in fact. were fines, assessments
and penalties. lio read an official document
which stated that one small steam boat Of $50
tons. Tor passing through the Canal. eleven
times the last season. paid the heavy sum Of
S2750. in the shape of tolls.
Mr.. Gundy's report on Mr.. Barber's resolu-
tIons, were now taken mp, and after Messrs.
Clay of Alabama, and Crittendsn Of Kentucky.
had briefly discussed it, the Senate adjourned.
WAsnINGToN CIrY, Feb. 4, l640.
Since Mr.. Calhoun has taken an open. a
manly. and a bold stand, in support of the ad-
minisiration, nothing occurs al the capitol that
is not at once ascribed TO the malign influence
of that distinguished and patriotic gentleman.
To-day an inciden; somewhat novel took
place in the Senate. and il was al once decided
that Mr.. Calhoun was the moving spring to its
inception and contamination. The Honorable
Benjamin Tappan, Of the Senate, as soon as
that body was called TO order. rose and said
that he had in his possession sundry petitions,
praying for tho abolition Of slavery and the slave
trade in the District Of Columbia. and he should
not present them. For thus refusing 10 do
what his constituents expected he would do,
Mr.. Tappan said that he had good and suflie-
lent reasons, and. for the purpose of avoiding g
misrepresentation, he had reduced them to w,i-
ting. lie then read the paper containing his
r.asons; the substance of which was. that he
did not believe that Congress had power 10 a.
bolsh slavery in the District of Columbia; that
all petitions from the non slave holding States
interfered With State Rights. and therefore he
would not present those which had been conf
ded TO his keeping.
As Mr.. Tappan happens TO be the brother OF
Messrs. Lewis and Arthur Tappan. and as he
is reported to have been at one time the presi-
dent Of an Abolition Society. the stand he took
to-day elected good deal Of surprise, and not
little gossip; aud. BY the wings. il was sasely
opined that Mr.. Tappsn had been wrought up
on by Mr.. Calhoun. Indeed. one or two Of
them were fully satisfied Of the fact because
they saw Messrs. Calhoun and Tappsn exchange
me eourtesies Of the day on Sunday last. at
church.
After Mr.. Tappan had read his paper. he wa,
warmly complimenfed BY Msssrs. Calhoun and
PRESTON Tor the part he had determined to en-
N""e'ous resolutions and petitions were pre-
senteo 10 the Senate, none Of which were Of
pwbiic interest save one.
Mr.. Webster. called up a resolution he Of.
fersd many days ago. on the sub;.e, Of an A.
mendmsnt to steam laws. ACCOMPANIED h, a.
,nendmen,s TO the Law. which he propos.,.-
These smendmsnis propose:
1sf. To make oil steam vessels. bv ss,,,,.
What they are at common Law. commsn e,yr,.,.
and hold thsin responsible for all damaees doos
10 passengers. or to goods, wares and mere han.
disc. transported by them. in defiance Of ali mo-
lives and sdmoniiions that they may ISSUE to
fbe public. .r..
"A. To punish steam boat inspectors, by hpe