New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-02-24
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.

WASHINGTON, Thursday. Feb. 90.

BY The REPORIER OF IH5 HEN-fORh TRIBUNE.
WASHINGTON. Thursday. Feb. g.
In the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, to-day, Mr..
KENNEDY Of Md. introduced his colleagues,
Messrs. CAUsIN, BRENGLE and PREsToN, Wing
members recently elected from Nd, who were
qualified and took their seats.
Mr.. DELLET Of Ala. continued the discussion
of the Dist rule in one of the most, if not decided
ly the most, powerful speeches yet delivered on
the Southern side of the question. He handled
Mr.. Giddings with severity, noticing particularly
Mr. Gs declaration that our National Flag was
stained by the existence of slavery; to which he
replied by recounting several of the brilliant VIC
tories of the Revolutionary and of the last War,
and asking if, borne in triumph by the hands of
shareholders, and waving defiance and consterna-
ton to our country's enemies, 1t had then been
stained The gentleman had said he washed
his hands from the stain of this guilt He could
not his State in ratifylng the Constitution as it
is, protecting the rights Of Southern property,
had placed an ineffaceable stain upon them.
He replied to Messrs. BEARDsLEY and HUDSON,
arguing that Congress had no power to abolish
slavery in the District of Columbia, and bring
ing to his support the express language of Mr..
Madison. Gentlemen who argued for this pow.
er must admit, if the District had been located in
New Hampshire, for instance, an entire nom
saveholding State, Congress by the same power
would have been authorised to establish slavery
there. (Mr. BEARDsLEY said that they would
have been.
He denounced as absurd and productive of
naught but excitement and evil, the presentation
and discussion of abolition petitions, when but
one or two gentlemen even pretended that Con-
gress had the power to act upon them, and de-
precated the effects the agitation and acts Of
the Abotionists. He referred to an opinion ad-
yanced by Mr.. ADAMS in his speech at Cncinna-
ii that abolition must speedily be effected whcth.
er peaceably or by blood, and to his ejaculation
"let it come," (Mr. A. now acknowledged the
remark and repeated with much frmness "lct it
come") and dwelt upon the utter fanaticism and
folly of persstng in the prosecution ofthis scheme
regardless ofthe vastly greater evils of the blood
shed and desolatlon, that would thence result sc.
&c.
Mr.. HENLY of Ia. moved to suspend the rules
to introduce resolution for the final adjourn
ment of Congress in May. Mr.. SAUNDERS gave
notice that he would vote for no resolution of ad-
iournmcnt until the Committee of WAYS and
Means had reported their bill for the reduction of
the Tariff. The motion was rejected by the
casting vote of the SPEAKER Yeas l00, Nays
54, just two-thirds without the Speakcr).
The Indiana appropriation bill, after being re-
ported to the House yesterday, was passed.)
The consideration of the Revolutionary anG
other pension bill was resumed in Committee OF
the Whole on the Union, when, after debate Of
some length, an amendment Of Mr.. CAVE JOHN
SON to repeal the law granting pensions to the
widows of officers and seamen was rejected His
amendment prohibiting any officer of the Army
or Navy receiving pay as such, from receiving
pension, was agreed to.
The bill was reported from the Committee and
the House adjourned
In SENATE, Mr.. WRIGHT presented a petition
numerously signed by citizens of New York, for
the supersedng Of our reciprocal treaties with
Denmark, Russia Austria, England, sc. He
observed that he dissented from the views of the
petitioners who were however men of intelligence
and whose opinions merited consideration AL
SO, from the same source, petition in opposition
to the treaty with Texas and to the action of last
Congress upon the sub ect.
Various other petitions were presented.
Mr.. MERRICK, from the Post Office Commit
tee, reported, with few amendments (Which it
was impossible to obtain the bill for the modif-
cation of the POST Office laws and the reduction
OF postage, heretofore ordered printed upon his
motion. 1t is accompanied by voluminous ar
gumentative report.
MIR. TAPPAN's resolution calling on the Navy
Department for copies of the proceedings of the
Court Martial in the case of Com. Mckenzie,
came up Mr.. KING objected to calling up the
matter as useless not only-no action being pro-
posed-but as calculated to re-arouse the bitter
and unpleasant feelings connected with it.
tie hoped 1t would be permitted to rest as the
proper Constitutional tribunal had left it. Mr..
TAPpAs talked about the loss of the three lives
involved, and the Importance of having full &C.
count of the proceedings, (Which had never been
laid before the Senate,) in order if necessary to
provide against similar occurrences in future.
The Resolution was then laid over.
Mr.. SEMPLEs resolution requesting the Presi-
dent to give notice to Great Britain for the ter
mination of the Convention for the joint occcupa
ton of Oregon, formed the sabject of spirited
and interesting debate during the remainder of
the day-Mr. ATcHIsos advocating it, asserting
with the usual Loco assurance our ndsputable
right to the entire territory, repudating the idea
of concessions to the hagrantly unjust and un.
founded claims of Great Britain, Sc; and MIR.
CHoATE in his usually eloquent, classic and mas
terly manner opposing and deprecatins this rash
attempt to ian up the embers of collision and per-
haps of war by thus precipitately entering upon
an agitation of the subject in Congress on the
eve OF the arrival Of the British Envoy com.
mlssloned to treat upon the subject. However
Just our claims mi ht be he was for advancing
them IN the proper manner and opposed to con.
temPtuously rejecting the proffered negotiation
OF England for pacific adjustment OF this vexing
question: &C. &C. ARGUS.