New-York daily tribune., 1844-01-22
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS
BY THE REPORTER OF THY SEw.yoRK rRtsuyr
WASHINGTON, Saturday, jan. ~
The SENATE was not in session TODAY.
In the HOUSE, Mr.. HUGHES of Mo-, made an
unsuccessful attempt to suspend the rules for the
introduction of resolution inStructing the Com
mittee on Territories to inquire into the e,nn
doncy of reporting a Joint resolution REQUESTING
the President to give the requisite y months
notice to Great Britain for the termination of the
Convention for the Joint occupation of Oregon
On motion of Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON, the rule,
were suspended and the subject of the rciersros
of the portion of the Presidents Message relative
to Improvements in the Western waters was acs;r
taken up in Committee of the Whole on tbs
Union Mr.. WINTHROP In the char and the do
bate was continued by Messrs. McCAusIry ~
O.. BEARDsLEY, SAMPLE, of Ia, and PErrrr os
La. Mr.. B. replied briefly to Mr. HOLMES lwbo
denied the power Of Congress over the Western
waters from the ordinance OF l7S7,) and express
ed his surprise that the gentleman at this length
OF time from the adoption of the Constitution
should 90 behind that to an act Of the Congress
of the Confederation for authority for one OF tho
ment. lie contcnded that the Constitation cave
Congress all the power over the subject it DOS.
sesscd, and agreed with Mr. VNrox that that
clause giving 1t power to regulate commerce did
convey TINS power OF improvement OF all nation.
al as distinguished from local, works. He was
wiling to vote according TO the means of Gov.
ernment appropriations for the Ohio, the Mis-.
sissippi, the Hudson. the Connecticut, the Della.
ware. the lake and the Atlantic coasts according
TO their respective claims, sc. SC.
The hour of two having arrived, the Commit.
Tee proceeded to vote. Mr.. THoMAssoN's amend.
ment to refer the subject Of the Western rivers to
select committee OF nine, failed; Ayes SO, Noes
81. The original resolution making the usual
reference of the subject to the Committee on Com.
mercc, after the rejection Of other amendments
was adopted.
The several resolutions for the appropriate re-
fercnccs of the remaining portions of the Mes.
sage having been adopted, the Committee rose
and reported; when the previous question was
moved by Mr.. REDING. Mr. STEWART OF Pa,
who had made several Intellectual attempts to get
the floor in Committee, for a personal explana.
ton, in reply to Mr.. WELLERs attack and
charges of falsehood, &C. upon him, now appeal
to the House, as a matter Of courtesy, to allow
this personal explanation, but IN vain. The
previous question was seconded ayes 81, noes
60 and, after some delay being carried the
report Of the Committee was concurred m--thu'
finally completing the reference of the Presidents
Message.
Mr.. STEWART farther asked opportunity for
personal explanation and after delay and confu.
sion, with calls to order, &c. was finally, on mo-
ton of Mr. HUNT of N. Y. under suspension Of
the rules, allowed to speak. He rccounted what
had taken place between Mr.. Weller and himself
in their several speeches on ether side, showing
the fact that, pursuing the usual course of argu-
| ment, and using no personal illusions whatever,
he had been attacked by Mr.. WELLER with those
personalities and that hllngsgate and abuse
which the public have already SEEN He consd.
cred it beneath his dignity to take notice of ta
had not the opportunity ofrcpeating hisarglment
but he appealed to the House and the country to de-
eide whether the Member had succeeded IN liking
upon him the threatened fraud Of ialsehood or
whether he had refnted any Of his substantial ar
guments. He stood ready, and he pledged HIM
self to reestablisll, at the first opportunity alhe
| had shown with reference to Mr. Van Buren-the
extravaganza Of his administration, his aVoWea
and unqualified denials Of the power Of the Gen
cra Government over Internal improvements $40
the increased revenue and prosperity OF the couh'
try under the present Tariff &c. &c. Much e3'
citement and interest manifested Itself during DIS
remarks.
Mr.. HOLMES, III ridicule Of the affair, graVfy
brought forward resolution instructng the Ju-
dietary Committee to inquire into the expedlency
of repeating the law for the suppression oil duel,
ING which occasioned burst of laughter
was objected to and not received.
+ The House adjourned ARGUS