The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-17
FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
Mr.. Q. J. lNGERSOLL introduced Dill regulat,
ng the allowances of extra fees Of Secretaries Of
Legation and Consuls which was referred to the Com
nitee Of the Whole, and printed.
Also, bill for the relief of Seth Switzer, which
was referred TO the Committee Of the Whole, and
printed.
Mr. HARDIN, from the Committee on the Post
Office and Post Roads, introduced joint resolution
authorizing the Postmaster General to make con
mail, without advertising. l rs
Mr.. HOPKINS explained, and said the object Of
the resolution was TO give the Postmaster General
only authority so far to prevent the Department
from being imposed upon by railroad companies,
where there sno competition, in their bids should
be too high, so TO give him time to employ coach
service This was the object of the resolution.
MIR. HARDIN said that the object of the resou
ton was simply to give the Postmaster General the
authority to prevent his Department from being inn
posed upon by railroad companies where there is no
competition, and nothing more.
The question then required upon the engrossment
and reading Of the joint resolution when
MIR. HARRISON objected to the resolution, as it
was worded, because in sections of the country
there competition, and the routes should be adj
vertlsed for the lowest bidder
MIR. HOPKINS said 1t was not his intention to be
understood as giving to the Postmaster General the
power OF dispensing with advertising for the lowest
bidder on routes where there was competition, but
on those routes where there competitions; and
hoped the explanation would satisfy the gentlemen
objecting to the phraseology of the resolution
The resolution was then modified so as TO make
it unexceptonabe, and read.
Mr.. HARRISON said the resolution as modified
would not his objections, because it was left
discretionary with the Postmaster General to apply
1t to all railroads, without designating them He then
moved to re commit the resolution, so to deprive
the Postmaster General of the authority Of accepting
any bid except the lowest, where there is compe-
tition H
Mr.. HARDIN reioined, and hoped the resolution
would not be re-commited and argued against the
objections urged by MIR. HARRISON. He said the OBJ
ject of the resolution was TO accomplish what the
gentleman desired.
Mr.. HARRISON said there was no difference in
their opinions but he did not think the object would
be attained by the wording of the resolution, and
hoped it would be re-commlt,ed.
The question then REQUIRED upon re-commtting,
ard it was decided in the affirmative.
Mr.. HOLMES offered resolution calling for the
printing of 5000 copies of House document in rela-
ton to commercial treaties, which was agreed to-
Mr. SMITH, Of Illinois, moved suspension Of
the rules to allow gentlemen to offer bills; which
was disagreed to.
Mr.. SMITH then asked the consent of the House
to present bill establishing port of entry at
Chicago.
Mr.. SMITH then attempted to present another
bill, but it was objected to by the House.
Mr.. HUBBELL of New York. presented pc
tition of Gen. N. " knickerbacker and 5l2 citizens
OF Seuben county, for the reduction of the rates of
postage
Mr.. ADAMS then called for the orders Of the day,
and asked the Chair what was the first business In
order =
The SPEAKER replied that the first business in
order was the reconsideration of the resolution in
structing the Committee Of Ways and Means TO re-
port bill for the improvement of the
WESTERN WATERS.
Mr.. BOWLIN then took the floor, and in most
clear and orcble manner pointed out the necessity
OF the improvement of the Western waters, depict
ing, in most aectionate manner the wanton loss of
life on the Mississippi river for the want of aid from
this Government, which purely national in its
character and entirely different from the other rivers
of the country. He gave statistical view of the
gradual increase of the commerce on the Western
waters, and the vast Importance that would accrue
the Government by the improvement, and particular
y the Mississippi river, and which would prevent the
destruction of human life.
Mr.. J. r. INGERSOLL said that lie was one O
the Committee OF Ways and Means and he was no
| aware that the Committee had come TO the conclu
sion not to report an appropriation for the Mississippi
river.
! MIR. BOWLIN said it was the street rumor
Mr.. WELLER said the Chairman of the Commit
tee of Ways and Means had stated that fact
Mr.. J. k. lNGERSOLL said, if so, he would NOV,
an amendment in the House TO embrace the Misss
sippi river.
The SPEAKER here sa that the hour of tn,
gentleman from Missouri had expired, and no collat
eral question could be debated
Mr.. STUART, of Pennsylvania, next took the
floor, and spoke to Buncombe, painting in glowing
cooIs, the advantages of the Tariff and the American
System TO the country He said those gentlemen
who called themselves strict constructonists were
willing to yield their constitutional scrrples upon
the subject Of internal improvements so as to make
concentrations TO -,
siPpi river. II they yielded that point, they mus
yield the whole, because the principle would be the
same, no matter whether they appropriated money
Tor one river or another. This thrown out as a
bait to the West, to favor MIR. Van Buren,; which
was exemphed by the declaration of Mr.. Holmes
who called upon the West to 90 with the South &c
put Gown the Tariff, and he would 20 with the West
in voting liberal appropriations for Western im-
provements.
Mr.. HOLMES explained, and sad-for constitu
tional objects
MIR. STUART said, if you have the power to i'm.
prove one you have the power improve all the RI
yers. He believed the Constitution had given ample
powers to embrace every section Of the country and
he was glad to see gentlemen coming forward and
yielding one point which would embrace the whole
In constitutional point of view He drew a com
parison between the expenses of Mr. Van Buren's
administration and that of Mr.. Adams and said
while the expenditures of Mr. Adams's administra
ton only amounted to t,oelpe millions Mr. Van Bu
ren's had swollen TO the enormous amount OF hirfl
millions; but now we told by the peculiar friends
of that gentleman, that there must be retrenchment
and reform 1t was high time it should come from
that side of the House.
Mr.. MCCONNELL. The gentleman has told
lies enough to sink any Republic on the face of the
earth.
Mr.. 5. then reviewed the operations of the tariff
upon the industry of the country, and said the much
abused tariff Of the last Wing Congress had added
life to the country, and enabled the Government To
pay large portion of the public debt created by Mr.
Van Buren
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON called the gentleman to
order for irreevancy.
The SPEAKER said the gentleman mast confne
himself 10 the subject
Mr.. S. resumed, and said other gentlemen had al
uded TO he tariff, and his object simply to show
that it the interest and policy of the Cove Mt
to protect its industry, and make internal improve
ments.
Al A.cnNNEII IT, IL.