The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-12-20
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,


MIR. HOUSTON made motion to refer the follow
log bill which was read twice and referred to the
Committee the Public Lands.
bill to reduce and graduate the price of the pub
lie lands in favor Of settlers and cultvators
A bill, presented few days ago by Mr. STEWART,
Of Pennsylvania, IN relation TO 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 il to 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 on
Roads and Canals, to " hch it was referred.
Mr.. STEWART, Of Pennsylvania, presented the
following petitions and memorial
petition from citizens Of Fayette county, Penn.
sylvania, pray ing for reduction Of postagc. Re-
ferred to the Committee the Post Office and Post
Roads.
Also, petition Of Seth Sweetzer, American Con-
sui at Guayaquil, praying compensation for diploma
tic services rendered In negotiating the ratification of
the treaty Of the 18th june 1899 between the United
States and Ecuador. Referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs.
Also, memorial OF the Farmers and Mechanics
Bank of Georgetown praying for renewal of its
Charter. Referred TO the Committee on the District
Of Columbia.
MIR. C. j. INGERsOLL asked privileged dues
ton, which was to present memorial contestng The
seat of the Hon. David Levy in cons equence OF his
being alien. The memorial was read
Mr.. LEVY inquired how many signers there were
10 it, a.
The CLERK replied 81
Mr. LEVY said he could not lie, this opportunity
pass without calling The attention of the House to the
decree of the Judicial authorities of FLORIDA and that
Of the Attorney q, neral in relation to his subject
lie said the true ground taken in the memorial is
falsely stated He CLAIMED his seat upon broad and
constitutional gioufds an American citizen which
had been previously decided by this body He said
there was no person contesng his seat therefore il
exclusively belonged 10 this House being judicial
question. lie sad he did not know the proper to
pursue but he thought by Offering resolution, re-
ierlng il to the Committee Of the JUDICIARY would
meet the question, who could decade whether he was
u CT IZen or Lot.
Mr.. }. r. INGERSOLL 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 10 hold seat upon this floor. He said
he thought that by referring the subject TO the Com
mtee the Judiciary setting in that capacity would
facilitate the business but he objected to it pre-
cedent
Mr. LEVY explained.
MIR. V. BROWN moved 10 lay the memorial on
the table, which could be called up by the House
whenever 1t shall think proper. Tins memorial only
raised the same 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 was
the proper tribunal constituted for the express pur.
pose of examining all contested elections.
Mr. HOUSTON had but a few words TO express
upon this memorial At the first session Of the last
Congress- this subject had been referred to the Com
mttee of Elections, Of which he a member,
with a large majority of its members politically op.
posed to the delegate from Florida but that COM
lee made a renOrt his favor and the
general character Of the memorial, he felt confident
II does not state facts as they occurred in the
Committee, or in the action Of this House
lie said the object Of that committee was to report
upon the law and the facts, which it did but 1t ap-
Feared TO him that the object of this memorial was
10 take up the old case which had been decided upon
this for in favor Of the Delegate from Florida. He
protested 10 strong terms against the objects OF this
memorial, which calculated TO cost the time Of
the nation, without any good, whateyr, resulting
therefrom.
Mr.. INGERSOLL rose and replied to the gentle
from Alabama and said that he did not feel him
self responsible for the contents OF the memorial, fur
Their than II contained respectful language, which he,
a. a Representative, would not have presented If It
had not been respectful lie said he had personal
feelings this subject but II should not be 10. estal
led 10 the manner proposed.
Mr.. HOUSTON made an explanation, which was
satisfactory. lie said he did not conceive that the
ton made, IN the least iorcstacd this subject IL had
"A
which had decided upon the subject; and ne could
not see the memorial any ground TO Justify its
being entertained, and moved II be laid upon the
table.
Mr.. LEVY offered a resolution which was not re-
ceiyed referring the subject to the Committee the
Mr.. WENTWORTH offered the following rcso-
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 al, the
rtspondence b,tween tins 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 a bill TO
estab 18Th port Of entry az 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 re outon Of the gentle
man from Kentucky to be m order.
Mr. JAMESON made motion, which was decd-
ed TO be out Of order.
Me- KENNEDY called the attention Of the Chair
to h' amendment, and some explanation cnsued.
Messrs JONES, of Tennessee, CAVE JOHNSON,
and DAVIS, OF Kentucky, here held a conversation
a. 70 The effects ofthe previous question.
DIR CAVE JOHNSON moved to lay il upon the
table
Mr. J. II. INGERsoLL offered the following as
substitutes
Resolred, That all elections for Representatives in
we 2oth Congress, except those which have been
held by Districts composed Of contiguous territory
eqlai IN number TO the number of Representatives to
which each State respectively is ent,tled are hereby
declared to be imperative and VOID
hesored That the consideration Of the above rcso.
luton be postponed until the second day of January
io4a, and that II be made the special order for that
day
Here there were several members on the foot at
once, which the Chair decided 10 be out of orderl
Mr. CAVE JOHNSON withdrew his motion to Icy
upon the table.
MIR ELMER rose, but the previous question was
demanded: and. m a diy-iop 10 ndaJ