The New York herald., 1845-02-08


nents proposed by the Committee agreed to.
The delegate from Iowa offered another amendment
and Mr. Schenk of Ohio said he had amendment to Of
fer, and motion the COMMITTEES rose.
communication from the Postmaster General, with
hs wh IN
the House, was ordered to be printed.
One from the State Department in answer to call of
the House for information respecting Texas debit imports
exports and revenue laid the table, and ordered
The House then adjourned.
In Senate,
WASHINGTON. Thursday, Feb. g.
Prayers-Journal.
Mr.. JOHNSON submitted resolution for the prin-
ting Of - copies Of the map of Texas, for the
use of the Senate, which lies over.
Mr.. TApPAN reported a substitute for the resolu-
ton providing for the distributing Of the printing
of the books, &C., of the Exploring Expedition.
Mr.. DAYTON reported bill providing for the pur-
chase and distribution Of the decisions of the Su-
preme Court of the United States among the sew
eral States and Territories.
The joint resolution authorizing the appointment
Of not exceeding ten additional assistant Inspectors
of the Customs at New Orleans, was read its third
time and passed.
Mr.. CHoATK presented memorial from Massa-
chusetts against the annexation of Texas.
The Joint resolution for suepending Tin the case
of the naval depot at Memphis, Tenn.) SO much of
an act OF l8l, requires the assent of the Legs-
ature of the State in all cases, 10 the site OF any
United States edlfces that NAV be established
with such State-was passed THE object Of the
resolution is to allow the work to 60 on without
waiting for the meeting of State Legislature in
A number Of adverse reports on private cases
were agreed to.
| Mr.. MERR1ck asked the Senate to resume the
regular order of the day. And he hoped that there
/ there had been for several days past.
Mr. DICKINSON moved to take up the bill provid.
| ing tor appeals in cases of bankruptcy.
Mr. MRRRIcK demonstrated He wanted the
post Office bill finished Let US, said he, conclude
this bill to-day, if possible, and then we can BRING
following.
Mr.. DICKINSON acquiesced,
And the Senate resumed the bill and amend
ments on the subject ofa
REDUCTION OF posTAGKs, &c.
The question pending was an amendment pro-
posed by Mr.. Buchanan to the amendment of Mr..
Simmons for restoring the full franking privilege
to members of the two Houses Of Congress; Mr..
B g motion being a proposition to strike out 80
much Of Mr.. S g amendment as relates to the
franking Of letters-7 to %.
So the Senate refused to strike out the privilege
of ranking letters from the amendment proposed
| by Mr.. Simmons.
The question next required upon the whole
amendment of Mr.. Simmons to restore to the bill
the frankng privilege in full upon letters, and upon
speeches made in Congress; and the amendment
was lost-l8 to ~.
So the whole amendment was rejected, and the
whole frankng privilege surrendered in the reec-
ton
The CHAIR announced the question next TO he
upon the proposition agreed on IN committee to
strike out the 9Th section, which proposes, in lieu
Of the frankiDg privilege to members of Congress-
to give them each five free (stamps) franks or en-.
velopes per day, from the Post Office Department,
each stamp having authority to carry two ounce
letter free OF charge. Yeas 35, nays 2.
So the proposition to strike out the 9th section
was agreed to-.
The next question in issue, being upon agreeing
to the amendment OF the committee SO to amend
IL 1nkL IL
papers and magazines by private expresses, des-
patches, &c.
Mr.. MERRIcK defined the obnoxious operation
OF the amendment If IT were adopted, private
mailable matter, and letters also to a greater or
less extent; and consequently break down the de-
partment.
Mr.. ALLEN. with fearlessness of resistance ne.
the views by Mr. Merrck in his original bill, as to
the power Of the department or Of Congress in con-
| trolling the mode and extent OF the carriage OF
newspapers by private enterprise The exercise Of
| such power as had been assumed in controlling
the distribution of pointed NATTER would be fetter-
ing the freedom Of the public press. To any steT
whatever that looked to the control or prostration
of the freedom OF the press, he was entirely op.
posed. He should, therefore, stand by the rights
OF the press, and resist any encroachment by dca.
ton as to the number OF miles the printer shall be
permitted to circulate his own newspapers. II
there were any power in the Constitution for such
| restrictions, II ought to be stricken out
| Mr. HUNTINGTON, in ertenso, defended the expe.
dency, as well as the injustice oil the plan proposed
by M. Merrck, of limiting the privilege to private
| agencies 10 the circulation of newspapers to dis
| tance of fifty miles from the place of publication
He defended, on the other hand the entire applica.
bility and expediency of the proposition he had
submitted Of allowing private lines to carry news
| papers, &c, without limitation to the quantity
| or the distance.
M. MRRRIcK, with almost despairng energy. de-
| Tended his pioposticn oi limiting the private lines
i nj n no ~, Ett.,s
Without some such restriction, the cupidity Of pr
vate express companies would absorb 30 much o
the revenues OF the department as to destroy its
| efficiency entirely
Mr.. WOODBURY. denounced the usurpation oil
power contemplated by restricting the privilege ol
private carriers of printed matter assumed to belong
to the mails. Ii was an assumption OF power Il al
he could never sanction.
Mr.. SIMMONS argued that the only way of de-
| stroying private expresses was by reducing the
| postages so low as to remove the temp,ation foy
| competition.
Mr. MERRTcK replied that without some profits
| to the department, it could not sustain lis opera
tions; and that as long il derived prof, from its
charges OF transportatons, the cupdty of private
| individuals would induce them to compete Tor this
proht-penalties, therefore, and restrictions were
the only alternative tor the salvation Of the depart
| ment
| Mr. Niles, Mr.. Atehison, Mr.. Merrick, and Mr.
Huntington, continued the debate upon the amend
ment to exempt from penalty the carriage, ire
spectlve OF distance, by private agencies Of news
papers, pamphlets, and magazines. Mr.. Merrick,
Inge.handed, contending Tor the monopoly OF the
department.