The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-05-21
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

Mr. CAMPBELL, OF South carolina, asked
leave to present certain resolutions from South
Carolina in favor of the annexation of Texas
The resolutions were received, laid on the table,
and ordered to be printed.
Mr. WELLER moved that the House resolve
itself into Committee of the Whole on the state
of the Union, which was agreed to.
Mr.. DROMGOOLE was called to the Chair.
On motion of Mr.. MCKAY, the bill making
appropriations for the Post Office Department was
taken up.
The first section having been read through,
Mr.. DAVIS. of Kentucky, moved to amend by
adding provision that travelling agents of the
Department should be limited to salary Of S 900
and 50 per diem for travelling expenses. In the
course of MIR. DIS remarks in support of this re-
duction, he took occasion to advert to an instance
in which. by direction of the Postmaster General,
one of these special agents, Mr.. Samuel Brown,
left his duties in distant part of the Union, and
repaired to Mr.. DIS district at the time of the
canvass for election to Congress. Mr.. Brown
was present in several of the counties of Mr..
DIS district during an active canvass, and seri-
Gus affray, which Mr.. ID. said no one regretted
more than himself grew out of his interference
on that occasion
Mr.. RATHBUN, Of New York, moved further
to amend by entirely abolishing the Office, and
spoke of it as useless, as far as his observation
extended.
Mr.. HUDSON thought it by no means useless
in his section of the country.
Mr.. SCHENCK suggested another form of
bringing about the reduction, and getting rid of
the office, which was accepted by Mr.. Rathbun
in lieu of his own, viz: to abolish the office, and
place $4,000 in the hands of the Postmaster
General for the purpose of preventing mail de-
predatons
The amendment in reference to these special
agents, after brief discussion, was adopted, and
the bill was laid aside to De reported.
NAVY APPROPRIATION BILL.
This bill was next taken up, and after it was
read, Mr.. PARMENTER moved an amendment
restricting the number of persons to be employed
in the naval service during the present year to
$500. Mr.. P. said the proposition came from
the Naval Committee.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Tennessee thought the
peace establishment of the Navy should be one
third what it now is, and especially that there
should be a great reduction in tho number of
officers.
Mr.. HOLMES, of S. c.. after few remarks
from Mr.. SLIDELL, addressed the Committee
against the amendment. He took occasion to
advert to the Texas question, and insisted upon
the necessity of retaining an ample naval force to
watch the movements of all-graspng England.
Texas was ours, it belonged to us, and we would
have it. We should not diminish, but rather in
crease, our naval strength, and employ it IN de-
fence of Texas, and, through her, ourselves, if
invaded. Mr.. III. also discussed the subject of
slave labor, and Englands hostility to it, as ex-
emplfed in her treatment of its products
Mr.. HAMLIN, Of Maine, made speech in
favor of retrenchment.
Mr.. HALE, of N. H., made very sensible
reply to some of Mr.. Holiness arguments If
the increase of the Navy was advocated for the
purposes named by the gentleman from South
Carolina, he Mr.. HALEY would more than ever
oppose the measure. The only danger of any
collision with foreign countries was tobe found
in this House-n the craven spirit exhibited by
the representatives of the people while they quiz
city looked on, and allowed the President to move
the Army towards the Sabine, and the NAVY into
the Gulf of Mexico, without raising finger to
oppose this usnrpation of the authority of Con-
gress If appropriations were wanted 10 enable
the President to keep fleet lowering around
Vera Cruz, he could tell the President and his
advisers that by no vote of his would he get
single dollar from the Treasury.
After few remarks in its favor by Mr.. MCKAY,
the amendment was adopted
Mr.. HALE opposed an amendment, which was
agreed to, repeating all laws allowing officers of
an inferior grade the pay of superiors when per-
forming the duties of the latter. E
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON, of Tennessee, moved
as an amendment to strike out from the bill all
appropriations for the navy yard at this city,
The direct object las we understood The mover)
was to supply the place of this yard in its drafts