The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-06-04
BY THE SOUTHERN MAIL.
Warrington.
Correspondence OF the Herald.l


A joint resolution was reported in the Senate this
morning, ccding the interest Of the United States In
the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal to the State OF
Maryland and the cities Of. Washington, George
town, and Alexandria, on certain conditions The
cost of this stock TO the Government was two mil
lions and half. There was a subscription originally
OF one ENTHUSIASTICALLY the government paid
million for the city OF Washington, and quarter
OF a million for each Of the cities of Georgetown
and Alexandria, and took ,hat amount of stock.
Now these cities and Maryland ask Congress to re-
linquish the proprietary interest of the Government
In their behalf The subject was before Congress
at a previous session, but the resolution did not
pass. The stock is of very little value now, how
ever and yields nothing to the Government. Under
these circumstances, and with the probability that
if the grant is made, the canal will be completed,
and eventually become valuable perhaps Congress
may grant the application.
The other bill for the relief of Barclay Il Living
ston, was passed. The remainder of the morning
business was Of public interest. The apportion-
ment bill was taken up, and Mr.. Crttenden is in the
midst Of speech in favor of the disrictng PROPOSE
tion II had been determined to sit the bill out yester
day. but this provision involves principles and conse
quences so important that the discussion sneceseari
yprotracted That the letter othe constitution con-
ers upon Congress the power of regulating the mode
of choosing members, seems to be generally admit
ted, but that power has been exercised and it
may well be questioned whether, at this late day, il
is expedient for the national legislature to it.
Why attempt to control the State legislatures in the
matterl No evil has everyet been experienced from
enrusting ito the States and it can hardly be wise to
change system that has always worked well. Gen.
Washington once vetoed an apportionment bill, be-
cause it contained an Objectionable provision,
and may not President Tyler feel constrained
to adopt the same course! The movement Is
prompted by wing politicians, in the expectation
Of securing few representatives In the next Con-
gress. Possibly such result might cnsue, but is II
worth while to deprive the States OF the control OF
their own internal affairs in the hope OF elecung
two wing representatives in the city OF New York,
one in Cincinnati, and possibly half dozen others
in different parts of the country at the risk OF aena
ting the feelings Of the people from the representa-
tive body of the nation :?
1t is impossible to shut our eyes to the fact that
the adoption OF this provision might be followed by
very serious consequences! Suppose State should
refuse or omit to comply with the requsitlon OF the
law-New YORK, for instance-and the House
should prohibit her members from taking their seats
Would the State suffer their exclusion in silence
Every legislative body has the inherent right to Judge
of the qualifications Gifts members, and this powerls
expressly given to Congress by the constitution but
under such state of things the question would
arise whether such omission refusal vltiated the
election. Looking at the matter in this point OF
view. 1t can hardly be doubted that the possible evils
growing out of the assumption of this power OF Con-
sress must greatly overbalance all advantages con-
emplated by its exercise. Not one sound or states
manlike argument has yet been adduced IN support
OF OF the proposition. The shallow soPhstry i, WIN
posed and dispersed by the luminous speech. OF Mr.
Wright. The ground taken by him was impreg-
nable, and hardly decent effort was made to an
one, The Democrats will go against it to man;
but the Wings have endeavored to make 1t a party
question, and probably will succeed.
The House is engaged to-day upon the business
chairman Of the Committee Of the District, a. most
amable and estimable man, has devoted himself
with great assiduity to the matters with which the
committee has been charged, and every thing goes
trct go upon the principle of asking for every thing,
and in this way they get more privileges and favor
than if they were troubled with greater amount Of
modesy Frequently their requests are deemed en-, un
gress is generally sufficiently liberal.
In the morning, Mr.. w. B. Campbell of Tennes-
see, moved resolution that the Congress will ad.
ourn on the 18th of July, but Mr.. Underwood said
he must object to every thing that would interfere
with the District business.
About half score of witnesses have arrived TO
testify in the Of the furniture for the New York
Custom House. The Committee is an excellent one,
and the investigation while il is rigid and thorough,
will be perfectly impartial No honest man has any
thing to apprehend Rogucs only tremble at severe
scrutiny. No allegations are understood to have
been made against Mr. Curtis IN this matter, but
great wrong is charged to have been practised by
somebody, and there must have been vast deal OF
caution exercised if the roguery is not disclosed,
and the perpetrators held up public condemnation.
The election Of Mr.. Mangum as President FRO
tenn. of the Senate is strange affair." when all the
circumstances are taken into consideration. Mr..
Mangum has no aptitude for the duties OF the office
no experience-no qualifications except self-pos-
session and certain promptness OF manner-why
then was he selectedl Simply because he was
known to be bitterly hostile to the President
more outrageously violent in his opposition to the
administration, than any other man in Congress-
And yet all those Senator'S who have been profess
ing friendship to the President voted for him, ex
cept Mr. Mernck, who lacking IN resolution to vote
for or against the caucus candidate, ran away
This is topic fruitful of remark-for the present,
however, it is enough to repeat what was said by
Col Sewer, in his place the other day, that the Pre-
sident has not one political friend supporter on
the wing side OF the Senate.
WASHINGTON, Thursday evening
Congressional ProceedinRs-Mr. Adams.
The Senate have adjourned without taking the
vote the dstricting proposition in the Apportion-
ment Bill. The wings seem to misunderstood. or
wilfully misrepresent the obvious intention of the
powers of the constitution in comforting upon Con-
gress the authority of regulating the mode of elect
ing its members. 1t is dormant power, designed
to be used in extreme only, as, for instance,
where State should omit or refuse to provide for
an election. Its assumption now may be fraught
with the most pcrnicous consequences, and it is be
hoped that the provision inserted by the House may
be stricken out.
There was small hare-up in the House while a
bill to emend the charter Of the city OF Alexandria
was under discussion. Mr.. Adams moved to strike
out the word scite, thus giving to free blacks the
right to vote. Mr.. Adams accompanied the motion
with characteristic speech, calculated to irritate
commenced suitable reply, but be was promptly
called to order. Certain gentlemen in the House
are always ready TO encourage Mr.. Adams in his VI
tuperation of the SOUTH but when any offers to
Mr.. Adams, his eminent services and extraordinary
requirements and experience have hitherto furnish
ed a sort of immunity from animadverslon and CEN