The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-09
CONGRESS-.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
THURSDAY, April 7.
Pursuant TO adjournment, the House of Represen-
tatves reassembled this day al ~ O'Clock
The SPEAKER announced the business first IN
order be the report of the select committee appointed
10 investigate the facts relative the recent breach OF
privilege on the floor of the House
Mr.. ADAMS reminded the House that this was
the day set apart for the consideration Of the bill mum
bered 100 heretofore reported by him from the Com
mttee Manufactures, entitled A bill TO ensure the
more faithful execution Of the laws relating to the
collection OF duties on imports
Mr. A. said il appeared doubtful whether any use
or benefit would arise from the consideration OF the re-
port Of the select committee the question Of prvi
Iege and in his opinion the best way 10 dispose of il
was to get rid of it at He moved therefore, to
lay il ON the table
Mr.. BRIGGS hoped the gentleman from Massachu-
sets Mr. ADAMs) would modify his motion SO as TO
postpone the consideration of the report 10 future
day.
Mr.. ADAMS thereupon moved that the further
consideration of the report be postponed until Thurs
day next which motion prevailed
And the further consideration Of the report was
postponed accordingly.
Mr. ADAMS then moved that the House resolve
itself into Committee of the whole on the state Of the
Union for the purpose Of proceeding to the consdera
ton of the bill above mentioned; which motion was
agreed to-
Mr., ATHERTON intimated that the bill making
appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses OF
the Government for the year 1910 had undergone
some amendments in the Senate. Two Of these were
mere amendments OF form; the third might give rise
to little debate. He thought, however, that they
might all be disposed of in short space of time all of
them being of such nature not to require commit
ment. He hoped therefore, that when the bill was
sent from the Senate the House would take it up and
dispose of the amendments.
Mr. ADAMS intimated that of the amend
ments of character which, at former session.
had given rise TO some difference Of opinion between
the two Houses, the result of which had been the
appointment Of committee of conference. He would
desire that question to be disposed Of with full
House. He hoped that the House would go into
committee on the bill indicated by him and, when
the House full, the amendments in the
other bill might be taken up and disposed of
Mr.. ATHERToN bowed to Mr. ADAMS and Mr.
ADAMS bowed to Mr. ATHERToN which tokens the
reporter understood TO imply that the suggestions
both sides acceded to.
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON who had for some time
past been detained from the House by indisposition
asked that the House. the continuing
would relieve him from further service the Com
mttce Military Affairs
And Mr. ]. excused accordingly
A message received from the Senate, by Mr.
A. Dckins, their Secretary, setting forth that the
Senate had passed the bill making appropriations for
the civil and diplomatic expenses Of the Government
for the year 1910, with certain amendments, in which
the concurrence of the House requested.
On leave given, Mr.. CARTER presented certain
additional testimony which referred to the Com
mittee on Invalid Pensions.
COLLECTION or DUTIES ON IMPORTS.
On motion of Mr. ADAMS, the House resolved
itself into Committee Of the Whole the state of
the Union Mr. Bell Of Tenn, in the chair) the
bill TO insure the faithful execution of the laws
relating to the collection of duties imports"
Mr.. A. asked that, before the reading of the bill,
one of the petitions which it founded might
be read. The sections of the bill were accommodated
to the prayer Of the petitioners There many
| as so petitions coming from all the manufacturing
States of the Union setting forth the difficulties that
existed in the collection Of the revenue The object
of the bill to remedy these Inconvenience, and
to ensure the collection of the revenue.
One of the petitions accordingly read by the
Clerk.
After which the bill having been first read through,
was taken up by sections And the first section be-
ing under consideration
Mr.. RIIETT said that this bill had been reported
some time since, and that there had been laid the
table number of amendments thereto--say from IS
to 20. If these amendments had covered the objec-
tons which he entertained against the bill he would
have had nothing to say, but would let the of
the committee be taken upon them, and the bill be
passed, if the House determined
The CHAIR inquired of the gentleman from
South Carolina (Mr. Rhet) whether he proposed to
| amend the first section ofthc bill
Mr. RIETT said he opposed to the whole
bill
The CHAIR said that the gentleman could then
state his objections to the bill after the sections had
been gone through with in order.
Mr. RHET-T moved to recommit the bill to the
Committee on Manufactures.
The CHAIR said the motion was not in order
Mr. RHETT thereupon moved to strike out the
enacting clause of the bill In support of this notion
Mr.. r. addressed the committee at considerable
length setting forth the objections he held against
the bill
The committee then and reported progress on
the bill in order to enable the House to take up and
consider the amendments made by the Senate to the
General Appropriation Bill
The two first, which merely formal were
concurred in The third amendment proposed to
strike out the item appropriang $4,000 for the Do
cumentary History of the American Revolution
Mr. ATHERTON moved that the House concur
with the Senate in the amendment and he went into
long and critical examination of the contract and
the law under which il had been made, and urged the
concurrence of the House in the amendment with
view to have inquiry instituted into all the cilcum-
stances Of the case, that the House might act UNI
derstandngly.
Mr. EVANS spoke in reply, referring to former
discussions in the House of this subject and contend
ing that Congress bound by the contract and
must fulfil it. He considered the objections advanced
by Mr.. Atherton as involving the integrity Of Con
gress and the capacity and knowledge of the late Mr.
Livingston, with whom the contract made } and
repealed with warmth the charge that Mcssrs Clarke
and Force had been guilty of any fraud improperly
whatever lie went into recapitula'ion of the
whole matter from the beginning insisted that the
contractors had fully complied with their engagement
stated that the work had been printed and delivered
and received at the Departments and demonstrated
with earnestness against the proposed refusal to APP
propriate money to pay for it. He had no objection
to a committee of inquiry if gentlemen thought it
expcdient but, in the meanwhile there was no rca-
son why the sum now justly due should not be appro-
priated. He quoted the opinionIof Mr. Lvington on
the work, and secuted the idea advanced by Mr.
Anterior that it was useless and would never be read
lie adverted to the vast expense incurred by other
nations illustrating their past history and the honors
and profits conferred those who collected and pre-
served the monuments Of that history for posteriy