The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-02-17
TWENTY.EIGHTH CONGRESS-,
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY Is, 1914.
= g SENATE.
FIRST SESSION,

change in the consular establishment OF this coun'
try and China, so that the consuls there may
have stated salaries.
Mr.. BUCHANAN, the memorial of Evena
Porter, widow of David Porter, stating that when
her husband was elevated to the rank OF Minister,
Congress refused to appropriate for him an outfit;
she now asks for this sum also affirming, what
is we'll known, that while in the navy he contri-
buted largely Ly his services TO the naval pension
fund-she asks now to be placed on the roll.
On motion of Mr. BAGBY, the Pea Patch bill
was ordered to be engrossed and read third time.
A bill to confirm the survey and location OF
lands east of Pearl river and south of 3lst de-
gree of latitude, was taken up. The several
amendments, after brief discussion by Messrs,
Henderson, w Woodbridge, and King, were concur
red in, and this bill ordered to engrossed and read
a third time.
There was one amendment which raised
smile on every FACET was to strike out the
words per se-the ayes have it, said the Presl-
dent per Sc is stricken out
The Senate, on motion of Mr.. EVANS, re-
sumed the tariff discussion.
Mr. PHELPS took the floor and made very
able speech in support of the tariff of 1912. He
thought he could demonstrate that there was no.
thing in this tariff which violated the Compro-
mise act of 1888. That act provided for home
valuation and cash duties-as did the tariff of AZ
1t provided that the aggregate sum realized
from the imposition Of duties shonld not exceed
the wants of the Government for reven-
ue-well, said Mr.. p, does any one pretend
that the tariff of '42 has done this-have we now
an overlooking Treasury! The last provision of
the Compromise act was, that gradual reduction
of duties should take place, until in June, 1910,
they fell to 20 per cent. ad valorenL Well, this
did happen, and.in 1910 the operation of the Com
promise act was exhausted-unless it should be
commended by any that that act imposed limit to
the power Of Congress over the subject. Neither
he, nor his constituents, ever acknowledged the
propriety of the Compromise act.
Mr.. p. then entered upon an argument to show
the constitutional power Of Congress in regulating
the commerce of the country. He spoke at con-
siderable length, and, without concluding, yielded
to motion for adjournment.
The Senate adjourned until Monday next
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr.. WINTHROP, of Mass, introduced Mr..
Kennedy, of Md, whose familiar face was gladly
welcomed by all who knew it.
The SPEAKER laid before the House report
from Captain Stockton in relation to the United
States steamer Princeton.
Also resolutions from the Kentucky Legisla-
ture, sent to the House by the President
Also, the Treasurers account with the Post
Office Department for the year ending July, 1913;
referred to the Committee on the Post Office and
Post Roads.
Also the report of the Commissioner of Patents
A motion was made to refer SO much as relates
to patents to the Committee on Patents, and 50
much as relates to agriculture to the Committee
on Agriculture; but the motion was afterwards
withdrawn, and the whole report given to the
Committee on Patents.
A motion to print 10000 extra copies, being
objected to by Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON, lies over
Several Senate bills were received and appro-
priately referred.
A bill was passed allowing the State of Mich
igan to sell salt spring lands granted to Michigan
in 1885,
MASSACHUSETTS RESOLUTIONS.
Mr. GlLMER uhe new Secretary of the Ma
wy made report from the select committee
having charge of this subject. Mr. G. said the
committee would report adversely to the prOpo-
stion contained in the Massachusetts resolution /;
but it had been agreed that each member should
give his own views Agreeably to this under
standing, he presented his with those of another
colleague, and asked that they be laid on the table
and printed when the other reports were printed.
Mr.. GIDDINGS, of Ohio, also member of
the committee, would not object if the reports Of
all the members were printed at the same time.
TwENrY-FIRsT RULE.
This subject again came up in order, and
Mr.. SEVERANCE, of Me-, was entitled to the
floor and held it for an hour in practical speech,
which, however his argumentshnd opinions might
have been received, was devoid of all declama-
ton. He said the conclusions of the gentleman
from Mississippi (Mr. Hammett) in reference to
the degraded condition of free blacks at the North
were based upon the errors of the last census
document, which the gentleman would have found
corrected in the appendix had he looked there.
Mr. s. contended that Congress not only had
the power to abolish slavery in the District of
Columbia but went farther, and declared his con-
yiction that it ought to do this both here and in all
the territory over which it had jurisdiction. Ii
this was done, he apprehended no more would be
attempted. The institution within the States was
under their control, exclusive of Congress, but
Mr.. s. also argued, and quoted in support Of his
position the constitutions of Maryland and Vr-
GINA, that the States had full power to abolish it
within their respective limits. If abolished in
4h;s nistrict tho ,nhnlo faco of thpGs would he