Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-21
TWENTY-s,xru coNGREss---ist SESSION.
IN SENATE.
Tuesday, Jdnnary IA, 1910.

Il
Secretary OF War; reply to the resolution nqurirg
whether Rock Island was still occupied BY the Govern
mrnt as military post which was laid on the table,
and ordered 10 be printed
Also, memorial from certain citizens praying a re-.
dncton in the rates Of postage; which referred
the Committee the Pos; Office and Pos; Roads.
Mr.. ALLEN presented the memorial of the president
and directors of the Portsmouth and Columbus Turn
pike Company, and citizens Of Portsmouth, praying for
an appropriation Of public lands lying in the counties of
Sco:o, Pike and Ross which was referred the CON-
mittce on Public Lands
Mr. HOANE presented petition ofcitizens of Prince
William county, Va praying reduction Of the rates of
postage which referred to the Committee the
Post Office and Post Roads.
Mr.. LINN presented petition from citizens Of Ore
gon Territory praying Congress 10 take possession of,
and extend Their jurisdiction over that remote quarter
of Republic Mr.. J.. said, it the first petit
ton which had been presented from the distant Ore
gon Territory, and rs It exceedingly well written,
and presented lively picture of the commercial and
other advantages Of the Territory, he would, with the
PERMISSION OF the Senate read portion of it. Aher
the reading il was, motion of Mr. L. referred the
Select Committee on the Oregon Territory.
ar. H. also presented the memorial of fifty -four citi-
zcns of the State Of Missouri on the same subject
the foregoing which referred to the
mlttee
ABOLITION OF IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.
Mr.. NORNEL IN pursuance OF notice, asked and
obtained leave to Introduce bill supplementary the
MIR y remarked that al the last session of Congress,
a bill had been passed into law, providing ..tLat no
person shall be imprisoned for debt in any State, on
process issuing ounf court of the y. States where,
by the laws of such State, Imprisonment for debt has
been aJotishcd" The object Of this act was make
the Fedora! laws conform 10 the laws Of the several
States in relation 10 this important subject. lie had
understood that the act had received construction in
of the courts IF Michigan, by which il decided
be nappcablc TO such of the States rs had after the
!
No matter villa, State might have subsequently aho-
shcd il, the Federal law would not, agreeably 10 the
decision in Michigan, conform to the changed law OF
such State.
lie not disposed to question the correctness OF
the decision to which he had referred 1t was, how
over known 10 Senator here nj the time, that the
ac: nf Congress intended to embrace all the States
in which imprisonment for debt had, at the time OF It's
PASSAGE ceased 20 exist and also, all the other States
which might. after that date, pass laws TO abolish "
One State had since done and Is ii certain
hat a difference Of opinion existed to the proper
construction OF act, ii the purpose of the sup
plemcnt winch he had submitted to provide for the APP
rl;cation Of that ACT to all the States which have abo
lscd and which may hereafter abolish, Imprisonment
for debt He called The special attention of the Judi
CARY Committee 10 the subject, with hope that they
would bcsow favorable consideration upon it, and re-
port the bill a. early day.
The bill was twice read, and referred to the Com
mittcc the Judiciary.
Mr. ROANE, IN pursuance Of notice, asked and OBJ
tanned carc bring in bill 10 authorize the payment
Of equitable commissions the agents attorneys of
persons in whose favor awards have been made under
three several treaties between the United States and
certain foreign powers which awards have been retain
ed in The Treasury II payment Of debts due to the l.
States which read t!cc and referred TO Inc Com
n!!;.cc on Finance
Mr.. N0GEELI, from the Committee on the Public
Lands reported, without amendment, the bill making
grants n public lands TO certain States for purposes of
internal improvement.
lI'hc precise object of this BILL is to grant donations
Of lands TO Tie ether States, equal in quantity 10
those which have heretofore bccn granted 10 the State Of
Ohio for purposes of internal Improvement within their
respective limits.
N1r. FULTON, from the Committee Public
Lands, 10 whic! referred
The bill to authorize the Legislature of the State of
Arkansas sci! the lands heretofore appropriated FOX
the use OF schools in that State; and
bill TO provide for the defence Of the Western hor
dcrs Of louisiana, Missouri, and Arkansas; reported
the same without amendment
Mr.. KING said he would call the attention OF the
Senate the fact, that in consequence Of the resgaa
ton Of the Senator from Tennessee, Mr. White, there
was vacancy il the Committee on Indian Affairs
That gentleman was lis chairman. The usua! course
OF the Senate in such circumstances was 10 appoint
the next named in order us chairman He therefore
moved that Dir Sewer be appointed chairman of the
Committee Indian Affairs, and that the Chair ap-
pona member TO fill the vacancy on that committee
which was agreed to-
The resolutions submitted Yesterday, by Mcssrs,
CALHOUN, NORVELL, PRESTON and SMITH of
Indiana, were severay considered, and agreed to.
The VICE PRESIDENT having announced as the
spcca! order The bill provide FOR the collection safe
keeping, and transfer Of the public money
lfr CLAY of Kentucky san: J rise, Mr.. President,
to make suggestion 10 the honorable chairman OF the
Committee on finance. The Importance Of this bill
no one viii contest the great extent Of It's consequences
no one can doubt In addition TO the occurrence III this
body Yesterday, Ghc resignation OF M7. Whltc) the !
Senate is now wanting live Of It's members. ihs,
believe is without example in the history Of this Co.
Five Legislative bodies have not elected
ard returned their members to this House. And we
know enough: 10 know that in instance mas il been
the fault Of the People, and in every instance 1t has
been because the legislative bodies OF the States, VINO
were charged with the election of Senators, have been
unable to aurcc as TO election of Senators or these
States three are among the most important IN the
Union, and of them so important as to Obtain the
of Tie Empire State, which last Will
send Senator fresh from the People, and expressing
The wishes of the People Of that State, and we hope
il will be SO from the others who wall send members
here.
These sir, are the facts; and the want of Senators
from Of the States, the Importance of the measure
itself the necessity of full consultation, and the be-
net be derived from those counscls those lights on
the subject which al-mpotant to portions of this
body seem 10 recommend that the bill should not be
considered al this time, even If we did not know that
The other House IN condition Wcil imposes no
ccsssty of action here important measure. Ii
Ibis bill should be passed tomorrow here it would be
weeks before it could be taken up in the other House
Taking all these circumstances into view, trust that
he honorable chairman of the Committee on Finance
md the Senate generally, will acquiesce in the post
,oncmcnt Of this measure.
Sir, / am quite sure the Senator from New York must
,e DESTROYS that his colleague may be with him
his occasinn that he may have the aid and counsel Of
lis colleague coming he does from the people which
hey both represent trust, therefore, lie will not now
,ress the consideration Of this measure. There arc
lrce four The States which, there Is high degree
# probability, will in eight or ten days have elected
heir Senators, and they will be on their way here
ndced that event to which have alluded as likely to
rive great pleasure TO the chairman of the committee
will doubtless take place this week. early in the next
At all event. hope shall have the concurrence of the
hartman and of others in the suggestion, for will not
make the notion that the consideration of this bill
&c postponed to Monday week.
MIR WRIGHT said have no personal desire to
ress the action on this bill; but public duty,
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