The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-12-21

Washington is getting rather dull, and all parties
are beginning TO look forward and make prepara-
lions for the holidays and the usual winter soirees
and evening entertainments.
Yours, &c. S. B.
TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS-.
FIRST SESSION.
senate.
TUESDAY, Dec. 10, lS43.
Mr.. WOODBRIDGE presented petition for mail
route in Michigan He also introduced his bill re-
lative to certain internal improvements in that State
which was read twice and referred.
NAVY YARD AT MEMpHIs.-Mr FOSTER intro
duced his bill to establish Navy Yard or Depot
Tennessee, and asking for the same an appropria-
ton of 500, OOO-read twice and referred.
WoRKMEN IN DIsTREss-Mr. MERRIcK presented a me-
here at Wasbnrton who REPRESENT themselves as IN great
distress with their families, in consequence OF being
thrown out of employment by the discontnuance Of the
failed and consequently the work had stopped Mr. Mer
rick spoke with much feeling upon their case which he
of the year. with families to support. An appro
priaton must be made-he work must 60 on and he only
and meet the of those worthy people The
subject was referred to the Committee on Finance
COMPROMISE Acr-McDurFEE's BILL.-Mr. McDufee
introduced the following BILL which read twice and
referred -
Bill to revive the act of ID March, 1885, usually called
the Compromise Act" and to modify the existing du-
ties upon foreign imports in conformity its provisions
SEC l. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep
resentatves of the United States of America in Congress-
assembled that much of the existing law imposing du.
ties upon foreign imports provides that duties ad rao
certain commodities shall be assessed upon an
assumed minimum value be- and the same is hereby re.
peaed and that said duties be hereafter assessed the
true value Of such commodities
SEC. And De It iurther enacted tha IN al cases In
which the existing duties upon any imported commodity
exceeds 80 cent the value thereof said duty shall
be hereafter reduced to 80 per cent ad valorem.
SEC. g. And be II further enacted, that from and after
the 3st day of December next all duties upon foreign i'm
ports shall be reduced to per cent and from and after
the 3lst December, lS44 to 20 per cent ad vaorem.
Mr.. KING made few remarks in support of the Bill
he thought the present Tariff must be reduced and de-
sired that the whole subject might be taken up and calm
ing the propriey of introducing the Bill in the Senate
rather than in the House.
nate in the Senate but Bill to reduce the revenue as
this is) may originate in the Senate
therefore could not originate in the Senate and at the
proper time he would undertake to demonstrate that po
LAND CLAIM-A Bill read twice and referred to ad-
Just certain private land claims between Mississippi and
Louisiana.
Mr. WALKER gave notice of bill to increase the pay
of certain officers Of the Navy.
RED RIVERA joint resolution introduced to pro-
vide for the survey of the mouth Of Red River Read
twice. and motion of Mr. Barrow referred to the Com
mittee on Commerce.
Mr. WoopBuRY's resolution was then passed. asking for
information ofthe Department respecting the value Of i'm
ports and exports in cerain years Mr.. Woodbury. is
doubtless preparing himself meet the discussion Of the
tariff question, when it shall properly come before the
Senate
EXECUTIVE srssros-The Senate here into session
upon Executive business for short time, and then
House OF Representatives.
The Journal having been read, number of men,
bers to address the House.
Mr.. WISE moved that the Presidents Message
be referred TO the Committee of the Whole. OBJ
echons were made to the motion, but upon dlvl-
| sion the rules were suspended and IT prevailed.
The House then went into Committee OF the
Whole. Mr., HOPKINS of Va IN the Chair,
Mr. WISE of Va. moved the reference of the
Message by resolution to the appropriate Standing
Committees of the House, including all the branch.
es in series attached to the main resolution All
that related to Foreign Affairs Gncluding Texes) be
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. In
dian Affairs were referred to the Indian Committee
to Public Lands-Arsenals, Army, NC, to the
Committee on Military AtialTsIorganzat J To- OF
Militia to Committee on Militia-Navy and I'm,
movements connecte with it to Naval Committee
Post Ofiie to Post. Office ommttee-Economy,
&c. to Committee Public Expenditures and
Committees whose business II is TO see to the ex-
penses of the government
A debate arose upon the proposition to refer TO
the Committee on Commerce the vexed question
connected with internal Improvements by improv-
ing harbors and rivers. Messrs. BARNARD, WISE
and others took part in this discussion.
Mr. KENNEDY, of Indiana, participated in the dis.
cussion for the purpose OF saying that he was glad
the House had found out there such place as
the West. But he should say to gentlemen from
Il
''Stand off," The West had become an empire
of herself, and was strong enough to take care OF
herself. She would do so, too, and in her own
way.
Mr. HOLMES, of S. c., continued the debate.
The West, he said, was growing with rapldity
that no man had an idea of, but 1t was important
for them to rely upon their own resources.
Mr. WILKINS, of Penn, spoke also generally OF
the Importance of the question.
Mr. BEARDsIEy of n; Y, asked what the DIS
cussion had to do with the question before the
House. What had the Hudson to do with the
Mississippi 1.-THE member from Indiana had O., sPo, ,,
had it to do with the TARIFF GMr. Holmes had al
uded to this subject1 The question before tne
House was a simple one to refer TO the Gonni''ee
on Commerce certain portion q .ne Messa s.
Mr. THoMAssoN of KY, was dlsposeq 10 enarge
the resolution of the gentleman iIou nenaucky oy
referring the whole subject of inland navigation to
the Committee on Commerce
Mr. HARDIN of ILL.,, new member and an earn
est zealous sneaker spoke warmly tor the interests
If the West. The West had grown so much and
Ter interests were so many, that she demanded
md had a right TO demand more attention to her
Mr. Bow,iN of Mo. also made speech in favor of the
west and the debate became very much for Bunkum
Questions strict construction the tariff and internal i'm
,rovement involved in IT, As the debate enlarged
he contest was to which committee the subject should be
referred
portance Of improving the Hudson csimed that the old
internal Improvement works belonged to the Committed
IF Ways and Means. Mr.. b. twice accused of being
hostile to the West first by the member from Indiana and
secondly by Mr.. Brinkerhof OF Ohio He charged
with opposing western interestswith being hostile to
the west lie said he had breathed such thought lie
had said no such thing lie denied the accusation.
Mr.. BRINKERHoFF made the amende honorable and re-
ceived the disclaimer; but the other was silent
Mr. WINTHROP (of the Committee on Commerce), said
he conld not sec why much importance should be at
.ached to the Committee who TO have charge OF the
subject He was willing that the Committee on Roads
and Canals should have charge of the subject any other
Committee Mr.. w. rose to repe the charge or intima
tim hat
tons of the country. was so and the roll Of pro
cccdings would show truth he had heard some years
since from Massachusetts Senator, now no longer
member Of that body that there not western mce
MI