Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1844-02-16
WASHINGTON, Feb. Z.

WASHINGTON, Feb. Z.
In SENATE, the bill to transfer Naval Appro.
priations, and which passed some days since in |
the House, passed the Senate and was returned |
for the Speaker to sign.
Mr. Berrien presented resolutions from the
Georgia Legislature against those passed by the
Legislature relative to slave
A resolution to institute inquiries into the
expedency of abolishlng the Office of Solicitor
Of the Land Office, was adopted.
memorial was received from some Oregon
emigrans complaining VI being forced from
their lands by the fludson's Bay Company.
John Brown Francis, Senator from r. I. ap.
peared in his seat and was qualified. The dis.
cusson Of Mr. McDuffie's Tariff Bill occupied
the rest of the day.
In the House. the question Of privilege under
which four States have sent members to Con.
gress contrary to law, underwent long discus
sion.
The nomination Of Messrs Towle. McKibbin
and Dillon were sent into the Senate.
WASHING TON, Thursday, Feb. 8.
In the HOUSE, the question of privilege, viz.
with reference to the validity of the claims
to seats of the General Ticket Members,
again came up, and was considered during the
day.
Mr. Beardsley occupied his hour with an argu-
ment against the District law, and in favor of
the claims of these members. He acknowl.
edged that Congress had full power to alter"
the State regulations with reference to elections
but commended that constitutional alteration
must be such that the State systems thus modi.
fed would be perfect and provide for the hold.
ing of elections. This was not the case here,
but the passage of the District law, in order
to be complied with, rendered necessary further
legislation (and that not voluntary by the
States. II it was left to the States to act, they
possessed entire power over the subject, and
Congress had no right to command or require
legislation by them. This law doing it, was
null and void.
He signied his preference for the district
system as more just and equ table, as a mat er
of expedency; but that was irrelevant 10 the
question before them.
MIR e. W. Jones. of Tennessee, tool, the
s'me mountaineering, among others, the
argument that the Constitution contemplated
the election of Representatives BY the people of
the States, and not by few or by portion OF
them comprised in district.
Mr. Caleb Smith of la. expressed his regret
that a question of this magnitude should be
considered on party grounds and that the
Congress who passed the law should be abused
| The day was coming (f it was not the case
| to the full extent now when their ardent pa.
triotlsm and unfiinchlng devotion to the inter.
es's of the whole country would receive that
need Of praise so richly deserved. He consid.
cred it quite extraordinary that this law SO ex.
actly in accordance with the letter as well as
the spirit of that instrument, should so conf
IDENTIFY be pronounced unconstitutional, and
briefly but clearly brought forward some Of the
arguments in support OF the law; deprecatnp
the revolutionary and dangerous tendency Of
| the example Of its entire disregard and treat.
mentwlt scorn which the dominant party seem.
cl disposed to set before the nation nciden.
tai y mentioning and justfying the protest Ttt
which the reason that his name was not appen
ded was his detention from his seat by indispo
sition, &c. &c.
Mr. Newton of Va, eloquert!y and forcibly
advocated the cause Of law and ORDER repyin.
to Mr. Beardsey and other gentlemen, and de-
Tending the Cons,itutionaity as well as the
Expedlencv and Justice of the District law
He considered the questions involved and the
decision to be pronounced Of deep and vital in
terest to the whole country. 1t was not his in
clinaton TO war upon the dead; he rather re
| cognised and felt the force of that principle o
our nature de moriuiS ninik niSi bonun but he
might be permi,tedto say that if the present ma
jority who had been so ready to applaud the Pre-
ldent in this as well as in other things,would give
to the question the benefit of such doubts as hlt
troubled the conscience OF the President, the
decision would be quite different from what i
was likely to he, &c.
Mr. Cobb of Ga. one of the general tickle
members advocated the validity OF their claims
and Mr. Order Of Ky. opposed them.
The House adjourned.
In SENATE, Mr. Bates mentioned the fact tina
the resolves Of the Massachusetts Legislature
| presented by him, the Senate had refused t
print, while those in reply, from the Legislator,
Of Georgia. had been printed lie made NJ
motion upon the subject, but brought to notice
this discrimination that the Senate might
disposed. do equal justice tn the States.
Mr. Wright presented Resolutions of tbs
Legislature Of New York presented in tn,
House some days since by MI Seymour of New
York for the passage OF law TO continue i,
| force the Pension Law Of 1888.
Several petitions for the reduction Of postage
and other objects, were presented.
Bills were introduced By Mr. Evans. to author
lze the payment OF equitable allowances 10 TIT
agents or attorneys of persons in whose favo
awards have been made under three severa
treaties with foreign powers, and by Mr. Merrcl
for the transfer on certain conditions OF the Uni
ted States stock in the Chesapeake and Obi
canal.
Mr. Allen moved to postpone other bushes
and take up the bill to refund Gen Jackson
fine; and persistlng in the motion agans
the requests OF several Senators to waive
for the present--it was rejected; Yeas Il
Nays 26.
Mr. Woodbury. concluded his speech in opposi
ton to the present Tariff, in reply to some c
Mr. Evans arguments, &c.
After brief Executive session the Senat
adjourned.
FRIDAY, February, 9.
| Is SENATE, Mr. Sturgeon presented petitions in IA
vor of ship canal around the falls Of ST. Marys.
Mr. Henderson presented resolutions of the Leslslf
turs OF New Jersey, lnsrucing the Senators an
Representatives from that State TO vote for the bill
refund G neral Jackson's fine.
The bill making appropriation for the Insane As,
lum OF the District was taken up, debated and order
ed to be sngrossed for third reading.
Adjourned 10 Monday.
ls THE House., the Report of the Committee O
Elections coming up, Mr. Thompson Of Miss, took III
floor, and said that the question before tho House
one questioning his right TO seat on the floor doul
| IN which he MAYER but yas oue