The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-03-09
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
RHODE ISLAND.

RHODE ISLAND.
The debate on the question Of allowing the
Select Committee to send for persons and papers
was resumed by
Mr.. CRANsfoN, who did not design, he said,
to make speech upon the subject. He wished
only to- state some facts bearing upon the case,
that the House, and particularly the democratic
members, if they would listen to him, might
have some knowledge of the subject. The
principle involved was one of mOmentous
cha racter. The right claimed by Mr.. Dorr was,
that people any where, for any cause, and at
any time, might change their form of govern
ment. 1t would take nine hours to detail all the
proceedings connected with what was called the
Rhode Island question" Rhode Island was
sovereign State, as much SO as any State attach
ed to the Union her people were disposed, and
able to maintain their rights Rhode Island had
been the scene Of anarchy, and attempted revo-
luton but order was now restored within her
limits
In regard to the Is democratic members who
had signed the memorial, before the House, he
wished that they were arraigned here, that they
might answer to the declaration put forth iii
their petition he did not believe that they
would maintain here what they had asserted in
their memorial
Mr.. c. gave some history of the charter Of
Rhode Island, which originated with Roger
til recently, had ever thought of disturbing, i
nor was it, until recently, ever deemed oppres-
sive, and those of any party who had seriously
thought of making infractions upon it would
have been deemed little less than mad. 1t was
true that the franchise was restricted to some
interest TO the amount of $134 for
each voter, and never but once had there been
any proposition for free suffrage, and then it met
with no favor. The Government of the State
was cheap and simple; the Governor received a
salary of $4OO, and the Chief Justice but 5000.
Mr. c. pointed out wherein the memorialists
had perverted the facts in the Dorr case.
Mr.. RATHBUN, of New York, replied to
Mr.. c., and talked loudly about democracy, and
so forth.
The morning hour expired in the midst of his
and the House took up the reception
of reports from standing committees
THE TARIFF.
Among the reports presented was one by Mr.
MCKAY, Chairman of the Committee of Ways
and Means. for altering the existing tariff. This
long expected bill makes an entire change in the |
tariff. and discrmnates for revenue and against |
Mr. MCKAY gave notice that tomorrow or
Monday he would submit a written report ex-
of the bill.
Mr.. WINTHROP, of Mass, suggested that
extra copies of the bill shoud be printed, as there
would be great desire to see il abroad.
The motion to print extra copies was not acted
upon, but the bill was read twice, and referred to
the Committee of the Whole.
DISTRICT COURT
A bill from the Senate was reported, and pass
ed, requiring any Judge of the circuit court of this
District next appointed to the bench to reside in
Alexandria. fA
BRITISH SHIP MALABAR.
A joint resolution presenting tho thanks of Con-
gress to the oficers and crew Of Her Britannia
Majestys ship Malabar, for their exertions 10 aid