Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-01-12
rWENTy-sIxTH CONGREss-..2d SESSION
IN SENATE.
Wednesday, January 6, 1871

Wednesday January 6, 1s4l.
The PRESIDENT submitted message from the
President of the u s., in further reply to the resou
ton of the Senate Of the Goth December 1885, which
was laid on the table and ordered to be printed
Mr. PHELPS presented resolutions OF the Legisia-
ture of Vermont, nstrucng their Senators 10 endea-
to procure the passage OF law fec9nsenug
amendment to the Constitution of the u 81 restrict
ing the eligibility of the President to single telHl
which was laid on the table and ordered to be
On motion by Mr.. LINN, the petition ana papelS
of De Mansur, now on nile, were reiefieu ~ 49,
mttee on Military Affairs ~, .,;,;., .,d
On motion by Mr.. ANDERSON, the petition and
papers now on file Of Andrew Johnson ana OF "a
muel Love were referred to the Comm'tee on Caims'
Mr.. BUCHANAN presented e,sht menio ne p,i ia
neronslv signed BY merchants and citizens OF fhiia-
d,nba praylnr for the abolition of the spirit portion
~ he navy ration, and the substitution therefor OF
tea or COTE; which referred to the Commute on
Naval Affairs.
Mr.. NICHOLAS presented the memorial of the
Chamber of Commerce of New Orleans praying the
passage Of general bankrupt law; which was aId on
the table and ordered to be printed ~
Mr. BENTON gave notice that when the bill esta-
blshino general bankrupt law was taken up, ne would
move TO amend it by subectng banks and money cor
poratons 10 the operation of the bill, and the comPu-
sorry provisions OF the BILL
Mr.. WALL from the Committee on the Judiciary,
reported bill for the punishment of certain crimes
ayainst the IT, States and for other purposes, which
was read, and ordered to a second reading.
The bill for the benefit of the Howard Institution OF
the city of Washington was taken pas IN COMMITTEE
of the Whole.
Mr.. TAPPAN inquired from the Chairman of the
Committee on the District of Columbia whether this
was the same bill passed the Senate the last Session.
Mr.. MERRlCK. The same.
MIR. TAPPAN would call for the ayes ana noes
Several Senators asked for some explanation Of the
bill.
MIR. MERRICK said the memorial to the Senate
from respectable inhabitants of the District set forth
~ hio b,chy Uer m n
violent character-and therefore he would ask that II
might be read .,
The Secretary having read the memorial,
Mr.. TAPPAN said he questioned not that the insl-
tution which il was proposed to establish IN TINS Guy,
for which aid was sought by this bill, very mer
torious and very charitable institution but he mao
vet to learn that they had any more power, or auto
ty, right TO grant the public property 10 MAINTAIN
charitable institution in the city of Washington, than
they had to support Similar institution in the city OF
New York, New Orleans, any other city or town oil
the United States. Because this was the seat OF 20
yernment, because Congress sits here, and the Puoic
officers were here were they to put themselves IN the
place of the inhabitants, and by their Ibera'y, AFFORD
the city the Of performing acts OF CHARITY wh'ch
in all other places were accomplished by the means
and the private charities of the citizens themselves
If the Chairman OF the Committee on the Dse.,e'
would give some further explanation, he (Nr Iappan
should be glad to hear IT. for al present he had learned
nothing that was satisfactory lie was not aware iha
they under any obligation to support the poor o
this District than their genera oonSatoh " Wv
rood to the poor all over the country.
Mr. MERRlCK had hoped the memorial itself would
have been satisfactory. The gentleman from ONO ad
mittei that the object of the institution was praise
worthy and commendable, and highly benehcia 10 the
country but he doubted the right of Congress to give
the aid contemplated by the BILL and he argued that
Congress had right to provide TOR the poor ana
the INDECENT here than IN any other part OF the coe
try Now it seemed TO him (Nr Merrck) that the Sc
nator from Ohio had not given correct o
the powcrs of Congress New York had Govern
ment of her whose duty was to take care OF the
local interests Of the people of that State while the peo-
ple Of the District of Columbia looked to Congress as
their exclusive Legislators; there power except
that which resides here and unless that power was
ercsed the people Of the District were cut OH entirely
The members of Congress were the exclusive rulers
of the District, and to Congress must the people OF
the District look for the exercise OF sovereign power
Was it right and proper, then, that the people OF the
District should be completely DISTINGUISHED and cut on
from all political rights which enjoyed by the
people generally and that Congress should be less be-
nefcent than The Legislatures of other States: Inc
authority Of Congress this people was special and
comprehensive than the other people OF the
States Congress occupied the place OF local Leg,sa-
money aid the people of the Disrict-hey were not
asked TO take the money OF the people OF r. York; or OF
Maryland of Ohio, but they asked give to the
people of the District portion of the property which
belonged TO them, which Congress obtained by grant
from the of the SOIL for the purpose of being
applied to the promotion of the welfare OF the people Of
the United States given for this vast amount OF
property, This spot selected as the seat of the
Federal Government-choice made CT this place
because it was convenient and the propretors Of the
soil ceded Congress the territory and all that
was asked, was give them back small portion for
highly benefcent object of that which much
the property of the people of the District as the land
within the State wasthe property of the people OF the
State.
Mr. HUBBARD had been much surprised at the ar
of III Narr fhayo
any thing the District; If they did, he should like
to see the stated that he might ascertain the
amount of balance due from the Government to the
District of Columbia. He knew not what right they
had TO take the property of the Government and
vey it for the benefit of any portion of the people He
had yet TO learn that they Ind the power if they
had the power that there would be propriety in
csing that power. Truc they were the exclusive Lee
g,slaure of the DISTRICT but they then to provide
for the support of the poor Was such power conferred
upon them. They had given corporate and municipal
powers to the several cites of the District and beyond
that they could not CO. With reference TO the account
between Government and the District, which had been
often alluded to- he repeated that he should like TO
it stated. The Senator from Maryland was greatly in
error if he supposed the value of the property ia
ken into account there would be balance in favor of
the city What would this property have been WORTH
If the National Government had not been located here
If this land taken now proposed would be the
taking of the national property and giving to the city
and he (Nr Hubbard denied that they had such power.
They might well take it from the national fund and
appropriate it TO the of the State of New Hampshire
to take this property for the of this institution
and with these views he should vote against the bill
Mr.. MERRICK had merely adverted TO the manner
Congress had acquired the title the District to show
that there peculiar relation existing between Con-
gress and the people of the District. As TO the matter
Of account, of which the Senator from New Hampshire
had spoken, he had no intention TO enter into discus
sion. They not asked for any thing from the
National Treasury; they were merely asked for that
which placed at their disposal for the benefit Of the
people
MIR. SEWER had voted against this bill at the last
session, and he should vote aganst it again; but he
wished ask the Chairman OF the Committee the
District how many lots government held in this city,
and what was their value.
Mr.. MERRfCK said it was impossible that he could
now answer the question so Unexpectedly proposed;
originally, half the property of the city coded to
the Government, but how much the Government still
held he could not tell.