The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-01-16
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
TnURspAY, January l6, l5l5.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
TnURsDAr, January I6, I545.
Alter our paper was put To press yesterday, MIR.
SEVERANCE addressed the COMMITTEE of the Whole In
tho House OF Representatives, in opposition to an
noAauon, eontendIDg that there constitutional
power In this Government which enabled Congress to
admit foreign territory, and that this country under
The louisiana treaty had a right to Texas etc
SUSPECTED DEFALcArIos.
Mr.. TAYLOR, Of Virginia, from the Committee
OF Accounts said that the committee were prepared
10 make report this morning on matters connected
with the business OF the House but from certain
circumstances, they induced TO defer II until
morrow This understood to refer to some suspect
ed or alleged defalcaton Of OF the officers Of the
House.
THE LATE DUEL
Mr.. PRESTON KING arose aud referred TO an
article IN the lnelgencer, OF this city, which stated
on the authority Of correspondent, that a hostile
meeting took place on Monday last between Messrs.
fancey and Clngman, but that the difficulty was
honoraby adjusted by the intervention OF friends aud
the parties rceonciied He regarded tho fact Of
duel sufficiently important Justify the course ndi-
Gated IN resolution which he held 10 his hand, and
desisaed TO offer and he considered this a proper
occasion Tor action on the subject OF dueDg, as there
was now no excitement, nor for excitement on
the SUBJECT except, perhaps with those who were
occurred If these complimentary affairs" were
suffered to go on, some person might be seriously
hurt perhaps killed Laughter
The resolution was read II provides for a select
committee, to be appointed by the Speaker, whose
duty IT shall be to inquire and report to this House
whether any, and, n any, what members Of this
House have been engaged IN fighting a duel 90
count Of words spoken in debate and said committee
shall have power TO send for persons and papers and
that # II shall appear to said committee that any
members have fought a duel on account Of words
spoken IN debate the committee shall report the aois
To the House, with resolution to exptl from the
House any member or members guilty Of the crime
MIR. PAYNE objected to the reception Of the re-
solution as he had right to do so,
The SPEAKER remarked that this was question
OF privilege, and affected the rights Of the members
on this floor.
Mr.. PAYNE then moved to lay the resolution on
the table.
The yeas and nays were taken, and the motion was
negatiyed by vote of-yeas -, nays 81
The resolution still being before the House.
MIR. HOUSTON moved 10 strike out that part of
II which instructed the Select Committee If appoint
ed, to report a resolution for expulsion. The gen.
tleman who brought forward this proposition must
the injustice that would be done should the House
adopt it. The Committee would be obliged TO bring
in resolution for the expulsion Of those engaged IN
the duel, If one had taken plsce-the same punish
ment to be visited alike on both parties, notwith-
standing one might be less pabe than the other.
Mr.. RAYNER opposed the resolution, there
was nothing IN the Constitution, in the rules OF
the House IN reference TO duelling disqualfyng
members from holding their seats, who might think
proper TO engage In a duel in vindication Of their
honor. .. r God
Mr. PAYNE called for the reading of the duelng
law; from which he commended the whole mater be
longed to the courts. Besides, there was 10 evi-
dence but newspaper reports that hostile meeting
had ace bet we ms Oft
"A member offered amendment to the resou.
ton, which occasioned laughter to inquire what
gentlemen had violated the Decalogue, or the laws
of any Of the States, etc
MIR. HAMLIN, of Name, spoke in favor of the
original Notwithstanding that the House had the
right, constitutionay, to punish is members for dis
orderly behaviour and to protect the freedom of de-
bate, etc. He expressed the hope that the matter
would be fully investigated by a select committee,
and that lesson might be taught in this House that
would have salutary influence elsewhere
Mr.. CAUSIN addressed the House; and in
the course of his remarks said that if gentlemen
wished to cure the evil Of duelling, or a re-
sort to arms, let them go to the source,
and not attempt to dam up the stream. Alter the
rules, and if any thing tending to personal in
suit or dshonor let them appeal to the good sense of
the House to arrest the progress of Incorporate de-
bate, before ii is beyond their power to repair the
breach which may be occasioned.
MIR. MCDOWELL was of the opinion that il gentle
men bad violated the law, they ought to be punished
by the civil authorities This matter had given rise
to more excitement than its Importance demanded
And, redeeming promise which he made to the gen.
tleman who preceded him he moved to lay the reso-
luton the table.
The yeas and nays were taken, and the result was
yeas LOG, nays 49, i .- ra
So the resolution to raise select committee 10 in
qure into the facts connected with the late duel ,ca
laid upon the table. aE
INFORMATION IN RELATION TO TEXAS.
The resolution of Mr.. ADAMS, requesting the Pre-.
sdent of the United States to communicate to the
House all information possessed by this Government
ry of Texas and copies Of all existing treaties of the
Republic of Texas with nations other than the
United States, was, under suspension of the rules,
agreed TO.
A debate took place the motion of Mr.. DAVIS
of Indiana, to reconsider the resolution, adopted
yesterday, insructng one OF the committees OF the
House TO report to the best mode of publishing the
maps and charts of the Exploring Expedition.
. ........ ----------------------- =.
LATE FROM ST.. DomINGo BY the arrival in Hamp-
ton Roads of the brig Wocott, Owen, in 10 days
from Gonaives, we learn that the same luminosity as
heretofore exists between the Spanish and Hayden
port ion of the inhabitants, and that there is COM
plete war in The Western part of the island between
the blacks and muattoes, the former being bent on
cxterminatng the mulattoes. There about
80 900 troops of both parties constantly under arms
Business Of all kinds at complete stand still and
American produce dull. Left no American vessels.
Sailed in company with brig Allen, Munson for Bos
ton.
IMPORTANT CHEMICAL DIscovnRr--We find BY
Gaiignani's Messenger, {Pars) that M. Bevan,
scientific chemist, has indicated the following as
new and certain process for detecting the presence
of arsenic. Into tube is to be put certain
quantity OF nitric acid, diluted with four times its
weight in water, filling the tube TO half its depth,
Into this is to be introduced rod OF clean copper
On the top of the liquid is to be poured some melted
tallow winch, on beng cool, forms daphram, that
separates the upper part of the copper rod from that
which is plunged in the acid On the surface Of the
diaphram is to be placed the arseDioa matter and al
the end Of SIX hours all the arsenic that is in II will