Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-08-26
Monday, .1ugus. -, lS32.
IN GEN Tt'

ia amendments TO the Contingen, Appropriation bill
which had been rejected by the House and Com
mit,ee of Conference, the part of the Senate, was
appointed 10 confer with that which might be desg
mated by the House The disputed points.
The Resolution directing the District Attorney for TIE
Western District Of Louisiana, TO investigate The legal
proceedings in the proper court, win view 10 The
vndication OF the right of the United States to Rush
Island, read twice and referred 10 the Sohuittee
on Public Lands.
The act to establish District Court of the United
States in the city of Wheeling, Virginia, was read
Twice and referred the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. HUNTINGTON, from the Committee on Com
merce, TO which had been referred the bill from the
House making an appropriation 10 purchase certain
sites for marine hospitals, reported The same without
amendment and he gave notice that when the bill
came up for consideration, he would move 10 lay II
upon the table. ~
Mr. WOODBRIDGE, from the same committee, to
which had been referred memorials asking for ports OF
entry at Maumec city and Toledo, Ohio made report
thereon suggesting that the further consideration oil The
subject be indefinitely postponed
large number OF private hllis were passed., una BE-
yeral adverse reports disposed Oh
A messaue was received from the House OF Repre-
sentaves, stating that they had appointed committee
Of conference the disputed points IN the contingent
appropriation bill.
ener and the legal representatives Of William fodson
deceased was taken up, aud after debate was READ
third time and passed-yeas -, nayso
message was received from the House OF Repre-
sentayes informing the Senate that they had passed
I'm nrovd;nu for the collection Of revenue from IMPORTS
and to change and modify existing laws and Tor other
purposes which was read twice, and referred 10 'he
Committee Finance.
MIR. CRlTTENDEN gave notice that lie will, To-
morrow move take the bill to regulate The taxing
of testimony in cases OF contested election, and Tor
other purposes.
The Senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr. STEENROD moved suspension oil the rules
for the purpose Of taking up and disposing OF bill 10
establish District Court of The U. S. in the city OF
Mr. ARNOLD objected
MIR STEENROD pressed his motion, and 1t was
agreed TO; and the bill was read third tme and passed
NJ ARNOLD then submitted his resolution 10 fix
three o'clock day for the termination OF the debate
on his bill to diminish the pay OF members OF Con
cress and other Government officers. Cries OF why,
The bill has not been taken up IN Commute OF Tue
Whole ~
The vote was then taken-yeas "a, nays IS; so the
motion was not carried two thirds not voting in the
affirmative.
Mr. COWEN offered resolution ordering mat all
a,bnte in Committee OF he Whole the bill o sup.
py temporary defect failure in The laws relating 10
The collection of duties imports should cease at IL
o clock of this day, (NlondayD and on his resolution
called the previous question
The resolution adopted; and,
On motion of Mr.. COWEN, the House went INTO
Committee of The Whole, Mr. j. r. Ingerso in the
Chair and took up the bill for supplying the temporary
defect ia the revenue laws-the question Pehoih9 VI
nn the amendment, offered by Mr. Barnard to the oIlg
nal bill.
MIR. ROOSEVELT opposed that amendment, be-
cause it was based ON the supposon or assumed Ger
tainly that revenue law has been IN 'o!ce since
the Goth of June last. When there is but Gontt on
The subject it would be wrong TO insert not merely
in report, but in statute, any thing to give color,
bv the legislative authority, 10 the assumption that
there is no law. ~
Mr. r. then argued that law is still in force
Mr. FILLMORE was opposed to legaI'sing 'he pre-
sent acts and removing the doubt. lie thought lhat
course impolitic He thought things should De ieil
as they are until permanent system should De esla-
blshed No good can be effected but by a permanent
systeIn The present tariff afford no protection,
and the experience orie two last years manifest 1t VIII
mn, furnish .ufic,en, revenue fe opposed to any
LEGISLATION sure nderlng the principle OF Distribution
but SO many n his friends having resolved 10 Vo'e lot
the vetoed bin without The Distribution clause, he lett
himself constrained to yield to the influence OF SO large
, nnmbcr Not from his convictions, but To pre-
serve the moral weight of The party, he would go
for that bill as modified
Mr. HOLMES argued that there is row no ia" au'
tborzing The collection OF revenue; and II Inc courts
should so decide, the Government must stop ~ conia
nav none of its officers. But even in case OF doubt,
40 ore hound to provide for the worst contingency
Mr. GORDON rose but 1t was suggested mat he
had already addressed the committee, ana was conse'
ousntly net entitled 10 The floor. Rlr u oenieo ne
Ind spoken upon this question and after some con-
versaon upon The point of order, proceeded lie re-
raraed The Comproinise act imposing duties 10 tue
extent Of 20 per but the Secretary OF the fea-
snrp di,, not conceive himself able TO collect the duties
under ,ha, act for pant Of some specihc regulation on
The part of Congress lf this so, 1t was clearly
compe,ent for Congress to pass law prescribing
sueh regulations 1t might be that lie was wrong IN
reourd 10 the effect Of the law oi le3, IN imposing
duIy Of 90 per cent If however, that act authorized
duties be laid TO the amount oil ~ per CENT he" s
agreed that law passed by Congress regulating the
Collection of duties under that act, though not an
~ mast faeto law, would be retroactive An t1 Posi
aeo law bv the Constitution, made null and So'd
and reason and common sense would dictate that re-
1roactye law should be also null and VOID
In regard his BILL them so far as 1t was retroactive
:, would be void but, iar as It was prospective,
would be good law. The gentleman from Nassacnu
se,ts had objected to the amendment offered by his M
G'sl COLLEAGUE from the Judiciary Committee because
it was in the Of an e1 post tdeto law but II ne
mir G) correctly understood the matter the TACT OF
one clause heinz VOID would not vi,iae the whole law
The gentleman from Massachusetts himself admitted
that but remission, and not an imposition OF
penalty A law passed by Congress, renting pc
nal,y for an act heretofore done, was very dieren
thing from luw imposing penalty. These were his
views in relation The Of 1885, aud the bill now be
fore the committee.
But the gentleman from Massachusetts, declared there
was no law for the collection OF duties now IN existence
and vet he was opposed 10 the passage OF any law-op
posed to any legislation upon the suhectbecanse The
Executive department of this Government could col
lect duties without law for all purposes OF revenue
and that The law therefore on better ionnuauoi
than if law should be passed. II, as The gentleman
from Massachusetts con,ended, there was no law 10
the collection of revenue now in existence, there wa
a fearful deb, accruing against The Government
debt which must eventually be pald-and direct Taxa
ton would be the only resource Their system OF pro
lection would defeat itself, and they would be oblge'
10 resort TO direct taxation for the support Of the 60
yernment lie (Mr. Gordon) was for no such legisla
ton as that lie was for such system of legaliznl
duties lie wished to see the duties placed upon suci
basis as would give revenue adequate TO an econo
mical administration, and afford nj the same time in
cidental protection lie hoped the ma ory upon iha
floor would lay aside their passions and their p JUDGES
which had arisen during this prorac,ed session, ant
adopia placing the Tariff upon permanent ant
solid basis.