Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-01-23


finally contend that their petitions must take the same
course of all other petitions, and finally demand the
abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. But
IN all sincerity, he would tell his Northern friends
this House, that there half way House-no neu-
ira! ground on this subject-and the surest and safest
plan Tor them is 10 pursue the heretofore adopt
/ ed by Congress- which to handle MOTTO touch
not
Is the gentleman from Pennsy lgania, (Mr. Bidack,(
who had heretofore voted for this rule, willing
go TO the other extreme, and finally consent that they
shall not only be received but read, and referred to
committee, that they may be reported upon, and the
subject brought before this House, lie would under
take to answer for him and the other Northern gen
tlemen who have heretofore acted with the South upon
this subject Are they prepared to 90 to the other
treme, TO which they will be forced, if they give way
and allow The 25th rule 10 be ejected'
Some gentlemen had gone and debated the con
stutonal question of slavery in the District of Colum
| ba, but with him that not debateabe question:
because he would not, for moment, anticipate the
consequences when that question shall be introduced
! here.
The gentleman fromN c, MIR Clingman, the other
day. IN debsng the right of petition, said that,
days gone by, Washington, Hancock, Jefferson Adams,
Madison, and other lustrous statesmen OF those DAYS,
had met together and debated every question before
them without becoming excited; hut lie would tell that
gentleman that they maintained their individual rights,
and If the same feeling which prompted them in
gardng the rights ofothers, manifested here, there
would be no excitement now, and he would be truly
mat, this body.
Mr.. HUDSON, Of Massachusetts,, next took the
Hoor, and spoke against the recomm'tment Of the re-
port with instructions 10 report the 18th rule, because
he believed that rule violated fundamental principle OF
the Constitution He said the inherent right OF ths
people petition went beyond the Constitution, and
! could no, be brought within its narrow circumference
It existed before the Constitution adopted,
right belonging exclusively to the people themselves
which they never surrendered He then went into a
nd % m0r
hour ypi:ed.
The SPEAKER then laid before the House com.
munication from the President Of the United States
in answer call Of the House, stating that steps had
been taken 10 settle the question pending about the
Northwestern Territory and the accredited
Minister of the British Government should arrive,
negotiation would be opened; but declined furnishing
the correspondence which had passed between Mr..
Everett and the Secretary of State, the ground that
il would be detrimental 10 the public service.
The SPEAKER then laid before the House several
other Executive communications, all Of which were laid
upon the table, and ordered 10 be prnted'
He also presented n communication from the Topc-
ora phical Bnrcau relation TO the Surveys
Mr. BARNARD said III would like to have extra
number of copies printed Of the Surveys he wished
10 make a few remarks on the subject
Mr. WELLER thought it better that the usual
number h. printed, for The gentleman never al Il
loss to make speech
Mr.. SIMMONS offered resolution authorizing the
Select Committee on the printing and eoIorIng OF maps,
TO send for persons and papers which agreed 10.
Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON of-rd resolution calling
On the President for information in relation to all public
agents, &c, since Ie4l.
Mr.. WINTHROP objected; but withdrew his objec
tons and modified TIE rfsolutoa BY striking out lSl,
and inserting 1897; and it was agreed to-
Mr.. HUGHES, of Missouri offered resolution call
ing Inc Secretary of the Treasury for information IN
relation TO the pubic lands Missouri, Re-, which was
agreed To.
Mr.. WELLER moved that the House resolve itself
into Committee of the Whole the state Of the
Union, and take the subject OF the Western waters
but Withdrew It 10 GLOW
Mr. GlLMER to present bill providing for n
para,ion Of the public printing from the newspaper
press.
1t objected 10, and passed over.
Mr. J. r INGERSOLL offered resolution, calling
for report of Major Bache in relation to the Break
water III the Delaware.
Mr. TIBBArTS, agreeably 10 notice heretofore given,
on leave granted introduced bill 10 amend an act
entitled 'tAct 10 provide for the better security OF
the lives of passengers board Of vessels propelled in
whole or in part by steam, approved July Jth lc3S,
which was twice read, and his motion referred To
the Committee Commerce, and ordered 10 be print
ed
Mr. FICKIIN suggested to Mr. Weller the pro-
priey of taking the subject out of committee to-mor
row at 4 clock
MIR WELLER said he had no objection, but it
would be voted down
The House then resolved itself into Committee of
the Whole the state of the Union, and took up the
resolution in relation TO the
WESTERN WATERS.
Mr.. STUART of Pa, then took the floo-, and re-
piled 10 the remarks of Mr. Jameson OF Missouri who
had designated the Wing party the Coon party,
with principles for the public eye.
Mr. JAMESON said that he remarked that the contest
of 1910 vas conducted without their committing them
selves upon any subject OF public policy as to unite
the odds and ends o! all parties.
Mr.. STUART said he glad of the explanation;
but that gentleman had sad something about lass
houses and those who lived in them ought not to throw
stones but he of the opinion that 1t applied appro
priaely 10 gentlemen the other side Of The House.
That gentleman had also said something about having
been weighed in the balances and found wan,ing-snd
that remark appropriately belonged TO Mr. Van Buren,,
for he had been weighed IN the balances, and great
deal had been found wanting.
TIE speech he made yesterday, was not the speech
he intended 10 deliver when he took the floor, but he
had been forced into 1t, by questions proponnded to
him by others, and TO which he replied. During his
speech he often interrupted by gentlemen, and
also by the Speaker which led him off from the subject
which he intended II discuss.
He not present yesterday when The gentlen
from Ohio made his speech but this morning, from
the papers, he perceived that great many hard things
had been said about him-such as "stump speech,
"snap boat Nc. His speech had been CarIcatnred as
an sold exploded stump speech but from The eject II
see med to have produced ii must have run IN COLLISION
with the gen,eman's political "snag beat, alr Van
Buren,. That gentleman said il he did not prove all
that had been said about Mr.. Van Buren, 10 be untrue,
he would take the brand.-(Mr. S. smackiDg his fore
mead
Mr. WELLER rose and explained and read from
Mr. Stuarts speech, reported in the lnellgencer,
which stated that Mr. Van Buren, was opposed 10 all
improvements This was The ground upon which he
intended to meet the gentleman from Pennsy lvania and
he should have the bramd because to n alone 1t he
longed The gentleman is now ANXIOUS to dodge this
question by embracing all Improvements. MIR. Van
Buren, had given his sanction 10 the Cumberland road
BILL as he had before stated but lie Eel, proud TO ac
knowledge that, upon the subject Of the gentleman
nun icent plan of internal improvements, he stands
upon the broad platform Of the Constitution, where Mr.
jefferson and Mr. Madison stood, and that is where He
People want him 10 stand.
Mr. STUART said he would hold him 10 his WORD,
and the Lrand should be fixed. His explanation only
an effort 10 get off from the fixing OF the brane, hnt
he should escape from IL. What he stated yettet-
day was that Mr. Van Buren, had withheld from The
House the estimates for the Cumberland road-ths
what he said, and he would prove it. The estimates
of the gentlemen charge OF these public works had
not bee sent 10 this House. and that what he had
before stated and not a word about them the
mort of the Secretary of WatEot Inference.
Ie dd not pretend TO say yesterday, positively, that
SIr Van Buren, had withheld these estimates but he