The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-20
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, IS43

The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, lo43
Prayer by tue Rev. Mr.. Tinsley.
After the reading of the Journal of yesterday,
Mr.. HOUSTON made motion to refer the follow
ing BILL which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on the Public Lands.
A bill to reduce and graduate the price of the pub
lie lands in favor of settlers and cultivators
A bill, presented few days ago by Mr.. STEWART,
of Pennsylvania in relation TO a transfer of the Gov
eminent stock in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal TO
the State of Maryland, and the Corporations of
Washington, Georgetown, and Alexandria, was read
twice and motion made 10 refer it to a Committee
of the Whole House.
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON objected, and moved that
it be referred to the Committee of Ways and Means
Mr.. STEWART preferred the Committee
Roads and Canals, to which it was referred.
Mr.. STEWART, of PeDnsy lvania, presented the
following petitions and memorial
petition from citizens of Fayette county, Penn.
sylvania, praying for q reduction of postage. Re-
ferred to the Committee the Post Office and Post
Roads.
Also, petition Of Seth Sweetzer American Con-
sui at Guayaqu praying compensation for diploma
tic services rendered in negotiating the ratification of
the treaty of the 18th June, 1889 between the United
States and Ecuador Referred to the Committee
Foreign Affairs.
Also, memorial Of the Farmers and Mechanics
Charter. Referred TO the Committee on the District
Of Columbia
MIR. C. J. INGERSOLL asked a privileged ques'
ton, which was to present memorial contestIng the
seat of the Hon. David Levy, in consequence OF his
being an alien The memorial was read.
Mr.. LEV inquired how many signers there were
to it,
The CLERK replied 81.
Mr.. LEVY said he could not let this oppolt unity
pass without calling the attention of the House the
tpcr of uIci IeS of da nd
of the Attorney General 10 relation to this subject
He said the true ground taken in the memorial is
falsely stated. He claimed his seat upon broad and
constitutional grounds American citizen, which
had been previously decided by this body. He said
there person conesting his seat, therefore 1t
exclusively belonged to this House. being Judicial
question. lie sad he did no. know the proper to
pursue but he thought by offering resolution, re-
terlng it to the Committee Of The Judiciary, would
meet the question: who could decide whether he was
q ci iZen not.
Mr.. J. r. IN GERSOLL thought the course was to
refer the subject to the Committee of Elections He
strongly advocated the right of petition the safe
guard to the American people, without which he
would scorn TO hold seat upon this floor he said
he thought that by referring the subject to the Com
mitee the Judiciary setting in that capacity would
facilitate the business but he objected to it pre-
cedent.
Mr. LEVY explained.
MIR. A. V. BROWN moved TO lay the memorial on
the table, which could be called up by the House
whenever it shall think proper. This memorial only
raised the old question upon this subject which
had been dec ded previously by this House.
Mr.. DAVIS, ofky, requested Mr.. Brown TO with
draw his motion
Mr. BROWN withdrew it,
Mr.. DAVIS continued, in favor of referring the
subject TO the Committee of Elections, which
the proper tribunal constituted for the express pur
pose of examining all contested elections.
Mr.. HOUSTON had but few words to express
upon this memorial. AT the first session of the last
Congress, this subject had been referred to the Com
mittee of Elections, OF which he member
with large majority of its members politically OPP
posed TO the delegate from Florida but that COM
mittee made report in his favor; and from the
general character Of the memorial he felt confident
it does not state facts they occurred in the
Committee, or in the action of this House
lie said the object Of that committee TO report
upon the law and the facts, which it did but il APP
peared TO him that the object of this memorial was
to take up the old case which had been decided upon
on this floor in favor Of the Delegate from Florida He
protested in strong terms against the objects of this
memorial, which was calculated 10 cost the time Of
the nation, without any good, whatey,r, resulting
thereirom
MIR. INGERSOLL rose and replied to the gentle
man from Alabama and said that he did not feel him
self responsible for the contents of the memorial fur
Their than it contained respectful language which he,
as a Representative, would not have presented if it
had not been respectful lie said he had personal
feelings this subject, but IT should not be ioiesta
led in the manner proposed.
Mr. HOUSTON made explanation which was
satisfactory. lie said he did not conceive that the
ton made in the least forestalled this subject. 1t had
been referred to committee OF previous Congress
which had decided upon the subject; and he could
not see IN the memorial any ground TO Justify It's
being entertained aud moved it be laid upon the
table
Mr.. LEVY offered resolution, which was not re-
ceved, referring the subject TO the Committee the
Judiciary.
MIR. WENTWORTH offered the following reso-
luton
Resolved That the President Of the United States
be requested to communicate 10 this House, it, in his
opinion ,isten with the public interest all the
respondence between this Government and any other
Power in relation to the discovery, possession, title
and boundary of the Oregon Territory.
Objected to by Mr.. DAVIS, Of Kentucky,
Mr. WENTWORTH, of Illinois, gave notice that
he would, tomorrow, ask leave TO introduce bill 10
estab ish port OF entry at the city of Chicago,
State of Illinois.
Mr. DAVIS, of Kentucky, here inquired Of the
Chair what was the motion before the House,
The CHAIR replied the outon Of the gentle
man from kentucky to be in order.
Mr.. ia MESUN made a motion, which was decid-
cd to be out Of order.
Mr. KENNEDY called the attention Of the Chair
to bis amendment and some explanation cnsued
Messrs. JONES, of Tennessee, CAVE JOHNSON
and DAVIS, of Kentucky, here held conversation
as to the effects of the previous question
MIR. CAVE JOHNSON moved to lay it upon the
table.
MIR. J. r. IN GERSOLL offered the following as
substitute;
Rcsolred That all elections for Representatives in
the 18th Congress, except those which have been
held by Districts composed of contiguous territory
equal in number to the number of Representatives to
which each State respectively IS entitled, arc hereby
declared to be imperative and void.
Resolved, That the consideration of tho above reso
luton be postponed until the second day of January
1914 and that it be made the special order for tina
day.
Here there were several members on the floor a
once. which the Chair decided to be out of order.l
MIR CAVE JOHNSON withdrew his motion to la