The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-05-10
CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, April 26.

In SENATE resolution of Mr.. Woodbury.
was adopted, directing the Secretary of the
Treasury 10 report The extent TO which new
books have been opened in this Department
aimee S,h March, IS4l, what has been the res.
ALL, what the amount Of expenditure from
March 4, 1871, TO March 4, 1912, and for the
yrar previous, &c.
Numerous petitions were presented, and
report ola private nature were made.
The bill 10 remove certain cases from the
Safe 10 the Federul Judiciary. was advocated
al some length BY Mr.. Berrien, and
The Senate adjourned.
The Appropriation Bill will be tukca up BY
the Senate on Thursday.
In the House the Apportionment vas again
taken up, and N. Briggs modified his amend.
neDt 10 the amendment If Mr.. Anterior.
(Which proposed 10 inser! the ratio Of So ,s75)
10 as TO insert 50,l79.
Dir. White of Indiana and Gordon advocat.
Cd large representation. the former express
ing his willingness 10 go for as Iowa rate as
The present and intimating that the ratio &C.,
5OO) inserted by the Committee was tho result:
Of q caucus among the members from the large
States. Mr.. Everett would vote for any ratio
10 strike GU, that inserted by tho committee,
and considered the ratio Of 70,6s0 and 50,179
most eligible. He said he had believed that
tho best part Of tho business Of the House was
debating, from which alone the people
were properly informed of their affairs
If there had been more debating and less legis
la,ing for the ten last years the country would
have been better of.
Messrs. Fillmore and Davis. Of N. Y. and
Bidlack and Cooper of Pa. in reference 10 the
remark of Mr.. White, seyerally declared that
no caucus in their knowledge or belief had been
held, and Mr.. Cooper ION whose motion the
ratio was inserted) allied scd that the motion
the ratio was inserted) alleged thai The motion
was made by him without consultation.
The amendment 10 the amendment, to insert
the ratio of 50,179, was then adopted: Ayes
80; Noes p.
The amendment Of Mr.. Alberto as amend
ed by Mr.. Briggs, Ii. e. inserting 5e,I79.)
was then adopted; ayes go, Noes 81.
Mr.. llalsted, from the Committee on Elec-
lions, moved an amendment providing for tie
distric'ing oftlie States BY Congress-.
This QUESTION was debated, with reference
- 20 the constitutional powers Of Congress for
this purpose, until adjournment.
"Wednesday, April 81.
In Senate, to-day, Mr.. Evans from the com.
mitcc on Finance, reported the Appropriation
Bill. which was ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Allen moved to take up from the table,
his resolution calling OH the President for the
information received, or the action taken by
him in reference to the Rhode Island disorders,
prefacing the motion by remarking that Con-
gress in the existing state of things ought no
longer to remain inert, inactive and careless,
while the Executive, as he supposed, mas pur-
suing course TO make this government party
to 4 civil war. He wished Congress to antici-
pate such a catastrophe, which would happen
If not arrested
MIR. Archer was as anxious as Mr.. Allen to
examine the subject, but not with such mo-
ton. He did not, with the gentleman, autici-
pate any fatal conflict, but was of opinion that
the proceedings commenced would net be car.
ried out.
Mr.. Preston moved to lay Mr.. Aliens motion
on the table; but after remarks on points of or
der by several gentlemen, withdrew the motion
and
The question was taken on Mr.. Aliens mo-
tion. and the Senate refused to take up the res
olution.-Ayes IS, Noes 20
The remainder of the day was consumed in
the consideration of private bills, several Of
which were ordered engrossed for third read |
ing.
IN the House, the Apportionment bill was a. |
gain taken up in Committee of the whole, the |
question pending on the amendment of Mr.. |
Haisted, from the Committee of Elections pro-
vidlng for the districting of the several states.
The expectancy and the constitutional power |
of Congress to district the States was debating
during the day, by Messrs. Stanly, Arnold,
Davis of KY, and Summers, in support of the
amendment, and by Messrs. Colquit, Goggin,
Houston, and Kennedy of Ia, in opposition
thereto, the former contending that the district
system was best adapted to the expression OF
the popular will, by enabling the electors to
know the character, Sc. that by the general
ticket system the nominations were thrown into
the hands of Il caucus or convention of the
leading politicians; that the people not knowing
tlle.candilates for whom they voted, were less
interested in the affairs of the country more Ii.
able to select unworthy men; and that a minor
ity would be able to govern, as the representa-
tiyes from five of the largest States would con-
stitute n majority in the House, and might be
elected by bare majority of those States, not
composing more than one quarter of the people
of the United States-and the latter opposing
the district system as unconstitutional for Con-
gress, as inexpedient, and as under the control
of the States, &c. SIC.
Without taking question the House ad-
journed
WASHINGTON, April Is, 1912.
The proceedings of the House of Represen.
tativcs after my letter Of yesterday was closed
consisted almost entirely of the continued dis
cnssion of the Apportonment Bill on the a.
mendment proposed by Mr.. UaIs,ead:
inIor,o, Mitchell tho euoo.,s -. ~ IL,