The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-03-27
House OF Representatives.


acting the public business in the House Of Repre-
sentatvss, the actual business done becomes "small
by degrees and beautifully less" until it is undsco
verabe. This day Mr.. Merriwether, from the CON-
mttee public expenditures, reported bill to re-
gulate the pay Of officers of the army and navy,
which was read twice and ordered to be printed
the work Of three miautes-and positively this was
oil the business disposed Of in an unusually long
session. for the House sat until hafpas four o'clock.
The residue ofthe day was spent like those that have
preceded it-id!e talk. The first subject introduced
was motion made by Mr. Everett TO incorporate
into the journal conversation which took place
yesterday on one of the motions arising out
of the proposed amendment of the josrna
in the Geddings case. If the conversatoLl
oil gentlemen arc to be surnallzed, the work
must be nordinately volumnous, and as might have
been expected, so preposterous motion was reject
ed A motion to suspend the rules for the purpose of
receiving an amendment OF those rules from Mr.
Adams which the Geddngs case had suggested,
was also negatived. similar motion to receive a
resolution from Mr.. Bolts, offered with his usual bad
TASTE to direct an enquiry into the nature OF some
private claim which has been before the government
and the conduct of the acting" President in
relation thereto, likewise negatived. The House
decision of the Speaker yesterday, thata call Of
the House could not be entertained at particular
point of time and state Of the proceedings of the
House; and then went into Committee Of the Whole
on the extension of the Loan Bill, and occupied the
time beyond the usual hour of adjournment with
debate on an appeal from the decision of the Chair
man that Mr.. Wise's amen dmeni, proposing the
repeal of the distribution law of the Extra Session,
Of he chsiP yvaa pa
versed, aud Mr.. Wise then offered another amend
ment, proposing to authorize the Secretary Of the
Treasury to purchase all the stock which may be
issued under the loan bill whenever they be depre-
ciated below par. This omewhat novel propo
sition, whose professed object was to keep the
stock at par, elected an acrimonious debate between
Mr.. Wise and Mr.. Fillmore, who abused each other
like two fsh-fags fo- wasting the time of the House,
which each attributed to the other,-aRd perhaps
disinterested spectator would say they were both
light. Take the entire week-and points of order,
appeals, and other such questions have taken the
place of more important matters, and the loan bill,
though nominally under discussion, has received no
share of Congressional attention. Yet the course
pursued may have had its uses. The nation has
been spared the infection of unwise legislation, the
House having certainly passed no bad laws, for no
laws have been passed; but these extraneoss mat
tiers have been capital cockshies for Congression-
al school boys-excellsnt corals to assist the denti.
tion of teethng statesmen.
WASHINGTON, March 26.
House of Represent atives-I imports ant Mes
sage from the Presldent-National Embar-
rassmeats-Project OF Il elIef-Repeal OF the
Distribution Law and Tarln-Reproof Of
Congress.
An attempt to continue the unpleasant reminls-
cences of the Gddings case, for the fifth day by the
introduction Of resolution by MIR. Calvary Morris,
condemning the course which had been pursued, and
some motions of no interest to anv body, consumed
the early part of the days session in the House Of
Representatives
Mr.. FILLMORE then inquired whether this was
not the day appointed for the disposal of private
bills without debate, and on being answered in the
Affirmative he said, considering the exigencies Of
the Treasury, he feit bound to submit proposition
to fix Wednesday next at two O'Clock for the termi-
nation Of debate and the taking Of the Loan Bill
out Of Committee of the Whole. On all measures
Of great public policy it is presumed the representa-
tves Of the people and the guardians of their inter-
ests and their rights, may have much to say and as
they have said nothing yet on this particular mea
sure though the House has avowedly been in COM
mittee upon it soma six or seven days.
MIR. FILLMORE begins de norO, and prescnbes
five days more, which would have been amply SUI
ficeni from the start if even the most eloquent ora
ton would change vote. But for five mortal days
longer the Hou>e agree to plod on, and bear the in
Fiction and the people bear it too, tor they pay
for it. Modern debaters eschew the subject in de-
bate, as Professor Mafiit does text. The forms Of
parliamentary proceeding have retained fictions IN
debate, as the law has in practice, and particular
measure in committee of the whole is no less so
| than John Doe and Richard Roe are ideal person
| ages in an action at law. The title OF BILL read
by the chairman of committee on taking his seat,
operates like the riot act on the senses OF the col
| lectiye wisdom" and scaters them in other direc-
| tons.
Oar present Congressional representatives are
| conscious of these ruths, and illustrate them by
A dael in the form of debate
| The clash OF neg atives and jar Of words,
! Worse thaa the mortal brunt Of rival swords.
| But in the midst of hes, agreeable amusements,
the President of the United States this day appeared
by his proper representative, and Numbered in their
ears ,ha, the nation was dishonored and the people
impoverished, while the peoples representatives
were engaged in unworthy frlvolltes SO adms-
sable, so wise, SO firm message is characteristic of
John Tyler. 1t ishghly important, too for its pro-
Jet Of the means of relief for the suffering people in
whose behalf he has thus boldly spoken. The mes
sage was in the following terms -
| To THE SENATE HOUSE, OF RErREsESrArWEs OF THE
u. STATES:
| Notwithstanding the urgency with which have on
more tn an occasion felt it my duty to press upon
Congress the necessity Of providing the government
with the means of dischargng its debts and maintaining
invioate the public faith, the increasing embarrass
men,s Of the treasury impose upon the ndispensa.
BILE eblgs of ain inviting your most serious aten
ton TO the condition Of the finances Fortunately for
myself in thus bringing this important subject to your
view for deliberate and comprehensive exAmn alton
in all its bearings, and trust may add, for final ad
iastment Of it, the common vantage oil the whole
Union permtcdto approach 1t with perfect free
| AZ I.ra M he hiIAe lnr g, roxI