The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1844-01-19


said that, in days gone by, Washington, Hancock,
Jefferson, Adams, Madison, and other llustnous
statesmen OF those days had met together and deba
ted every question before them without becoming
cited but he would tell that gentleman that they
maintained their individual rights, and if the
leelIng which prompted them regarding the rights
oil others, was manifested here, there would be no
excitement now, and he would be truly glad to see
the feeling Of those days once more animate this
body.
MIR HUDSON, of Massachusetts, next took the
hoor, and spoke against the recommitment Of the
port, with Instructions TO report the 18th rule, be-
cause he believed that rule violated fundamental
principle OF the Constitution. He said the inherent
right OF the people TO petition went beyond the Con-
stltution, and could not be brought within It's narrow
circumference. Ii existed before the Constitution
was adopted as right belonging exclusively to the
people themselves, which they never surrendered
He then went into constitutional argument, and
spoke until the morning. hour expired.
The SPEAKER then laid before the House a com
muncation from the President of the United States
IN answer to call OF the House, stating that steps
had been taken to settle the question pending about
the Northwestern Territory, and the ac-
credited 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 ii would be detrimental
to the public service.
The SPEAKER then laid before the House seve-
were laid upon the table, and ordered TO be printed.
lie also presented a communication FROM the To-
biographical Bureau in relation to the Surveys.
MIR. BARNARD said he would like to have an
extra number OF copies printed Of the Surveys as he
wished to make few remarks Oh the subject.
MIR. WELLER thought 1t was better that the usual
number be printed, for the gentleman never at
loss to make speech
| MIR. SIMMONS offered a resolution authorizing
the Select Committee on the printing and coloring Of
| agreed TO.
| Mr.. CAVE JOHNSON offered resolution calling
on the President for information in relation to all
| public agents, &C., since lS4l.
| MIR. WINTHROP objected; but withdrew his OBJ
ections, and mod fed tie resolution by striking out
| lS4l, and inserting 1897 and it agreed to.
! Mr. HUI HES, of Missouri, offered resolution
calling on the Secretary Of the Treasury for nfor
nation in relation to the public lands in Missouri,
Sc, which was agreed to.
| Mr.. WELLER moved Il at the House resolve itself
| into Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union, and take up the subject Of the Western wa
! ters, but withdrew it to allow
Mr. GlLMER to present bill providing for Sc
paration OF The public printing from the newspaper
preSa
| 1t was objected to, and passed
| Mr.. J. R. INGERSOLL offered resolution, call
ing for report of Major Bache in relation to the
| Breakwater in the Delaware.
Mr. TI3BATTS, agreeably to notice heretofore
given on leave granted, introduced bill to amend an
act entitled Gan act to provide for the better security
of the lives of passengers on board of vessels propel
led in whole or in part by steam, approved July 9Th,
| 1888 which was twice read, and on his motion re-
! ierred to the Committee Commerce. and ordered
| to be printed
Mr.. FICKLlN suggested to Mr. Weller the pro-
priety of taking the subject out Of committee tomor-
row at o'clock.
Mr. 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 Pennsy vania, then took the
floor and replied to the remarks of Mr.. Jameson of
Missouri, who had designated the Wing party as
the Coon party" with no principles for the public
eye.
Mr.. JAMESON said that he remarked that the
contest of $40 conducted without their commit
ting themselves upon any subject of public policy go
to unite the odds and ends of all parties.
MI. STU ART said he was glad of the explanation;
but that gentleman had said something about glass
| houses, ard those who lived in them ought not to
throw stones, but he of the opinion that it ap
piled appropriately TO gentlemen the other side Of
the House. That gentleman had also said something
about having been weighed in the balances and found
waDtlng-and that remark appropriately belonged to
| MIR Van Buren,, for he had been weighed in the
balances, and great deal had been found wanting.
The speech he made yesterday was not the speech
he ntended TO deliver when he took the floor but he had
been forced into by questions prop bundled hun hy
others, and to which lie replied. During his speech
he Of en- interrupted by gentlemen and also by
the Speaker, which led him off from tue subject which
he intended to discuss.
He was not present Yesterday when the gentleman
from OHIO made his speech but this morning. from
the papers he perceived that great many hard things
had been said about hiui-such g stump speech -
q snag boat, &c. His speech had been caricatured
an old exploded stump Speech but, from the ef
collision with the gentleman political snag boat "
Mr.. Van Buren,. That gentleman said if he did not
Trove all that had been said about Mr. Van Buren, to
be untrue, he would take the brand i Mr.. s. smack
ing his forehead
MIR WELLEl; rose and ex planned, and read from
Mr. Stuart speech, reported in the lnte gcnce r,
! which stated that Mr. Van Buren, was opposed 10 all
improvements. This the ground upon which
| be intended 10 meet the gentleman from Pennsyva.
MIA and he should have the brand because TO him
alone it belonged. The gentleman is anxiou,
to dodge this question by embracing all i'm
provements. MIR. Van Buren, had given his
sanction to the Gu nberland road BILL as he
had before stated, but he felt proud to &C
knowledge that upon the subject of the gentle
mans magnificent plan OF internal improveme he
stands upon the broad platform of the Constitution
where Mr.. Jefferson and Mr.. Madison stood, and
there is where the People want him to stand
Mr.. STUART said he would hold him TO his word
and the brand should be fixed His explanation is
only effort TO ge, of from the axng of the brand
but he should not escape from it, What he stated
yesterday was, that Mr. Van Buren, had withheld
| from the House the estimates for the Cumberland
road-ths was what he said, and he would prove it.
The estim ties Of the gentlemen in charge of these
public works had not been sent to this House. and
that what he had before stated, and not a word
about them in the report Of the Secretary of
War-not even an inference. He did not pretend TO
say yesterday, positively, that Mr.. Van Buren, had
withheld these estimates, but he inferred the fact
because the Secretary in his report did not say word
on the subject.
Although these estimates had been withheld, the
expenditures under Mr.. Van Buren's administration
had doubled those Of Mr.. Adams's administration
and he should not have been wrong if he had said
trebled Here are the documents which prove the
assertion. But the gentleman from Ohio said he
would prove "sn what had been stated 10 be untrue