Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-02-23
FROM WAsHINGTO N.
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Feb.

|
FROM WAsHlNGTO
WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Feb. 13.
| In SENATE, to-day, after the presentation oil
several memorials (among which was one by
Mr. Benton, from the Shawnee tribe Of Indians
for the payment Of their annuity,) and the 70.
eeption Of several reports on private cases.
The House bill TO refund Gen. Jacxson's fine
with the amendment reported by the Senate
Committee, providing against the implication Of
ccnsure upon Judge Hall) was taken up on mo-
ton of Mr. Allen.
! Mr. Berrien Chairman Of The Judicial Com.
mttce) said the Committee had designed to pro.
woe Tor The protection from unjust imputation,
9. the memory of Judge Of fearless and stern
| integrity, who as it appeared from a full examin-
alton of the case had but discharged his duty
with fidelity, and who had left no representative
to guard hs fame; and had consequently re-
ported this amendment, which was necessary,
as the bill from the House showed on it's face
that it was based on the ground Of the fine hav.
ing been wrongfuly imposed.
| Mr. Allen opposed the amendment as wholly
homogeneous, and vchemently urged the imme-
date passage Of the House bill.
| Mr. Walker saw no necessity for the amend
ment, the original bill not calling in question the
character of Judge Hall, [simply refunding the
| fine with interest.
Mr. Foster saw no design or tendency in this
bill subversive Of the principles Of Arne rican
Liberty, and hoped without farther delay and
expense 1t would be passed without the amend.
ment.
After some farther remarks, the amendment
was rejected: Yeas Is, Nays Gas follows:
YkAs-Messrs Archer, Bayard, Berrian, Choate,
Clayton. Dayton, Evans, Huger Huntington Mer.
rick, Miller, Morehead, Pearce, Phelps, Porter, Sim.
mons, Upham, Woodbrdge,-ls.
NAYs-Messrs Allen, Achison, Atherton, Bagby
Barrow Benton, Breese, Buchanan, Colqut, Fairfield,
Foster, Francis, Fulton, flanagan, Haywood, Hen
derson, Jarnegin, King, Mangen,. Semple Sturgeon
TalImadge, Tappan, Walker, Woodbury. and Wright,
90.
Mr. Miller declared he should vote against the
bill, although in disregard Of the instructions
Of the Legislature Of N. Jersey. He had hereto.
fore voted in this manner, and no; having alter.
ed his opinion, if he were to change his vote he
should lose his self-respect without gaining the
appreciation ofany enlightened and honest man.
&c. The bill was laid over.
In the House the question Of privilege was
farther discussed during the day and until ad.
journment at eight or nine o'clock p. NJ. by
Messrs. HARRISON, Bowlin and Stiles, (all among
the members concurred) in favor of, and by
Messrs. G. DAVIS and Schenck in opposition 10
the claims of the members from Ga, NO., MI,
and N. II. to seats in the House, and by several
other gentlemen.
WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Feb. ii.
The proceedings in either House to-day have
been marked with importance and interest; in
the Senate, the bill to refund Gen. Jackson's
fine having finally passed, and needing now but
the Presidents signature to become law and
in the House, the question Of privilege termina.
ted. and the validity Of claims to seats of the
members elected by general ticket declared, al
though in direct defiance Of the solemn law OF
Congress passed in competence with the forms,
and authorized not only by the spirit but by the
very letter of the Constitution. How sad to be
obliged to admit the requirements of that instru-
ment practically Of so little binding force when
brought in conflict with the passions or suppos.
ed interests Of party! What an example thus
set upon this high platform before the nation
and by the law. makers themselves. of contempt
and notification the law of the land
In the House, Mr. Douglass Of III (the author
OF the maj ority reporD occupied his hour in de-
fence Of its doctrines, and in reply TO various
counter arguments, descending into at least un.
becoming personalities toward MIR Barnard and
other gentlemen.
Mr. Weller successful among about fifty com.
petltitors for the floor, as was determined in
Caucus he should BED moved the previous ques.
ton; which was seconded, and the main ques.
ton ordered; Yeas l25, Nays 6i.
The majority now, however, in the plenitude
of their power declined boldly to meet TIE ques-
ton and declare the district law "not a la,o"
and not "vali,." or "binding upon the States !"
but set aside the reported resolution declaring
ths) and adopted by Yeas l27, Nays 81 the
substitute of Mr. Dromgoole coolly and summa.
rly dsposng Of the matter a mere affirmation
that the members from N. H., Mo-, and Ga
[elected by general ticket and that those from
the % remaining States have been duly elect
ed and are entitled to their seats"
Great confusion and excitement Prevailed
On the branch of the proposition with reference
to the members from the 90 States, Mr. Schenck
asked TO be excused from voting as being irreg-
uar, and utterly unprecedented if not directly
against the rule to affirm by resolution the rights
to seats Of members where there was no Ques.
ton concerning them. Mr. Adams made like
request on the ground that he did not know the
fact that all the members were "duly elected"
Nor did the committee for they had not exam.
ined the credentials Of all they had returned
his unopened. Moreover there had several
members taken their seats since the report OF the
Committee and others were to take their seats
"HoeC S'SNt"hS VIC epAtColcus w d. Hub
this an Unprecedented prJudgmem Of the case.
which had been so loudly decried in case OF the
protest Mr. J. Campbell objected to voting up.
on the same ground. None of these requests
mot being passed. were granted. Mr. Vlnlon
showed from the rule an express prohibition OF
the right to vote Of the members from these
States, Immediately interested as they We're
and refused to vote This branch of the propo.
sitlon was carried Uhe Wings mostly declining
10 y Yeas l25-Nays2.
The question then came up on the case Of the
general ticket members. [they being prohibited
by the Speakers decision from voting in theil
own cases, who were voted on individually ant
all of whom from N. H. and a portion from Ga
some seven or eight, [by as many sets of Yeas
and Nays, consuming about two hours, were
declared duly elected &c. the votes standing
Yeas l2S, Nays GO; 100 to &C; III to 63, &c
gradually decreasing as the members dropped
off one by one to dinner.
Leaving about half of the General Tickle