Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-01-12
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

Several bills reported and ordered 10 be read rs
and second time
THE LETTER WRITERS AND REPORTERS.
Mr. COOPER, OF Pennsylvania, offered resolution
proposing that the Reporters and Letter Winters Of the
House be in future supplied with stationery-Nhich was
literally secuted out Of the Hall.
THE proposition reflects much credit the member
Pennsylvania, and one which entities HIM the
ked THINKS of the Reporters the House. independent
Of the expenses the necessity OF bringing stationery the
cspito, often inconyenen and perhaps forgotten, comPes
OF the Letter Writers and Reporters to be Peeuay
borrowing and under the obligation OF resorting eHpe
dienrs which are extremely disagrceabe.l
GEN. JACKSON'S FINE.
Mr.. ADAMS, who cut off in his remarks yesterday
hy the expiration of the morning hour and offered the
following amendment TO the amendment of Mr. Barnard
Stke after the word resolved and insert That
Committee the Judiciary, whom has been referred that
part Of the message OF the President Of the L. : at the
menccment OF the session which recommends the reimburse
Of the fine imposed Gen. Jackson by the District
Court of the IT, :. n. Orleans in March, 1915, be
stucted report within days, amendment TO be pro-
posed the bill No. 503 in Committee Of the Whole
the OF the Union which shall make the bill conor-
able the recommendation Of the President, cfAO de.
signing the Judicial tribunal rAie imposed
tie And that the said committee do further report their
opinion whether the declaration OF martial law by Gen. Jack
n Orleans within the competency Of his official
power by the laws Of without violation of the Const
OF the IT, ST. and, ESQ, whether his imprisonment Of
Dominck A. Hail. judge OF the district court OF the and
his and subsection OF Louis LOunier member of
Legislature of the State Of Louisiana ial for his
life by martial appointed by Gen. Jackson himself
ustabo fmartia law, and abusive exercises
despotc and arbitrary power. And Also their opinion
whether by the passage OF th act according the
endaion the message of President the OF Con-
gres will be given tohe principle that those Of Gen.
jackson belong TO the class OF cases in which punishment
may well be restrained within that limit which and
the authority OF the law and the subsection Of the
military 10 the civil power"
The SPEAKER intimated To Mr.. Adams, that the Grs
question in order the motion of the gentleman from
Tennessee MIR. Arnold 20 commit.
Mr.. ARNOLD Withdrew his motion.
Mr.. ADAMS then offered his amendment the amend
ment, and proceeded in his remarks.
lie said that the question the amendment
which he had offered lie had offered IL in such shape
that ii the bill pass in any form whatsoever should
pass in the recommended 10y the message the
President Of the United States And he begged leave to
call the attention Of the House that portion Of the
rage Of this President which referred this subject The
President says:
81 recommend Congress take consideration the
propriety Of remb ursing fine imposed General Jack
sou New Orleans the OF the attack and defence
Of that city, and paid by him Without designing any re-
necon the Judicial tribunal which imposed the fine the
remission this day may be regarded UNJUST or in
eNpediont"
The words Of the President said Mr. A. were adopted
the resolution which he bad offered that IL this bill was
pass any form, should be wihou designing any
ecton the judicial tribunal which imposed the fine
This the ground which the President Of the United
States recommended the consideration of Congress the
OF this law. And the President further
the spirit, and las Mr. \. understood ~ the
principle that the Judge who imposed the fine executing
faithfully the duties Of his office that the imprisonment Of
ham and the treatment Of Loaaler violation Of the
laws; and that the present ue, after all the immediate
consequences Of that Of proceeding had happened
u was only Of oblivion Of the violation Of the Con.
sttuton and laws OF the United States by Gen Jackson
without impugning, but on the contrary, cOnessnP the
justice and prophoy Of the oct Of the Judge The pfss
dent says;
'without designing any reflection the Judicial trbu
nal which imposed the fine, the remission this day may
be- regarded not uRust or ineXpedient."
Observe (said Mr.. A. the caution Of that phraseoogy
Tho President did not even -ay his own opinion that
tins time the remission Of the fine might be regarded
unjust no1pedient, bat said II may bc regarded
without expressing opinion himself. lie proceeds:
"The voice Of the civil authority was heard amidst th'
glitter Of arms aud obey ed by hOse who held the sword
thereby giving additional luEtre 10 memorable military
achievement"
What was the meaning Of hiatt asked Mr.. AJ-Th
decree Of the Judge conionube ~ law, heard by t
military commander, and obeycd. What that but a.
enre justification Of that the part OF the Judge
And this assigned by the President at this time
motive for passing the bill because, finally Gen. Jackson
himself obeyed the lawful act Of the Judge.
'If the laws were offended, their majesty folly vim
dicated and although the penalty incurred and pud wor
hy Of htle regsrd in a pecunisry point Of view II car
hardly be- doubted Tint would be gratifying c war
veteran in retirement and in the winter d h
days be relieved from the circumstances IN which tu
judgment placed him"
"It would be gratifying the vcernn," icon
tnucd Mr. A. Certainly, far the payment Of th,
money might be supposed 20 operate the "war.wor
veteran" willing accept Of donation from the pco
But tins message the principle that "hs wst.worr
veteran" wrong IN every Of those Tor which
and that now he IT, by the gratitude Of his country oe
services relieved from the circumstances IN which thataw
fu and righteous Judgment placed him.
The President proceeded 90 Jay down principles
extreme importance this question, and Of more mpOr
lance because they laid down by the President Of IN,
United States in the discharge Of his official duty
commanding the passage Of law by the Congress Of th
United States and Of setting forth, under that hg
suthofiy principles which, true conferred on the YER
Office which ne held. power superior % the Constitution
and he laws What did the President sayl lie says:
There are cases-and Of course, said Mr. A. must b
implied that this principle laid down 70 cover The yer
COZ witch he recommended the enactment Of this ss
lin which public funcuonaries may be called on 10 weig
he public interest against their porsona hazards ah
N tho civil law b. violated from praiscworthy motives
overriding u public danger and public necessity
punishment may well b. restrained within that limit whic
acrts and mantans the authority ~ the law and The sub
jccdon II the military 70 the civil law"
"Ihs punishncntw Sir, tcontinucd Mr.. A. you ar
20 rcevr Gent Jackson from PUNISHMENT inflicted hin
lof violation of the laws and Constitution That III,
Recommendation Of he President. IL was punishment
which 70 hc restraned-fof that which had afoad,
been done, and which asserted the superiority Of the cv
over the military authority.
The defence Of New Orleans while II saved o city lron