The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-28
MONDAY, DECEMBER Is, 1876.
SENATE.

message in writing was received fom the President
OF the United States by the hands OF his private secretary
PETITIONS.
Mr. SPEIGHT presented the petition OF Alfred White
praying be refunded for moneys exaced from him
Justly by the Post Office Department; which refer
red to the Committee the Post Office and Post Roads
Mr. DIX presented the memorial OF the trustees OF Co
lubia College in the city Of New York asking the
OF the privilege hitherto enjoyed to import sclen-
fc works and philosophical apparatus for the use OF the
college free OF duy which was referred to the Commit
Also, memorial in behalf OF the Rev. Peter Parker,
secretary and interpreter TO the Chinese misson asking
conversation for his services acting commissioner IN
China which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Mr. EVANS presented the memorial of the Faculty Of
Bowdon College, Brunswick, Maine, praying that books
and philosophical apparatus, imported for the of col
leges and other literary and scientific Institutions, may
be duty free which was referred to the Committee on
Mr. ARCHER presented the memorial of VIM NJ
Blackford late charge daaires to New Grenada, pray
ing the usual allowance on the return OF our ministers
Committee on Foreign Relations
Mr.. HUNTINGTON presented the memorial OF clu-
Of New Haven, Connecticut praying indemnity for
French sPolaons prior to 1900; which was referred to
the select Committee on that subject
Mr. DAVIS presented the memorial OF w. T. g. Nor
tom Offering to the government Tor the use OF the army
in surgical operationsj which referred TO select
committee on the subject to be appointed by the Vice
Mr. BREESE presented the memorial Of Uriah Brown,
of illinois, relative to system OF coast and harbor de-
fence by means Of fre-shPs which are proof against
balls; which was referred to the Committee on
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Louisiana, presented the memorial
OF inhabitants OF the parish OF ST. Mary louisiana en-
gagged in the cultivation and manufacture OF sugar pray
ing the repeal OF the tariff OF 1916.
Mr. JOHNSON said the petition was signed by between
two and three hundred persons citizens OF the parish OF St
Mary, Louisiana, many oil whom he was personally
quanted with and knew to be gentlemen of intelligence
and high responsibility. He called for the reading Of the
petition, and moved that il be printed
After the petition had been read By the secretary Mr.
TURNKEY moved that the motion TO print be referred 10
the Committee Printing
Mr. JOHNSON said that this was certainly an object
OF the very highest importance TO the people OF the State
Of louisiana and the act passed at the last session.
reducing the duties sugar and moasses would prove
destructive to the highest Interests oil the State he was
the petition. However, he had nothing special TO say
against reference OF the motion 10 print but would
that the petition itself be referred to the Committee
Mr. SPEIGHT had single remark to make This
was not matter OF very great importance, except that
the petition almost Impeachment OF the course
pursued by member OF Congress who was not present in
the Senate Such act he could not assent to. He was
opposed to the printing of the petition, as he saw
cessity for it, 1t well known that the Senate could
not originate a bill He regretted that petition
OF that kind had made its appearance in Congress- petit
lion which tended to .censure in the strongest language
Mr. JOHNSON said the petition was signed by up
wards Of two hundred OF the most respectable citizens Of
Louisiana, members OF all political parties. He present
ed it, and made the motion by the request OF those who
had signed it. 1t related to subject he repeated of the
very highest importance TO the people of louisiana and
he thought such objections most unusual The petition
addressed and would be presented, to both houses
Of Congress. The people OF State had certainly right
TO express their opinions with regard TO the acts OF their
representatives as was frequently done IN The shape OF
quence. To object TO the printing OF petition coming
from such respectable body OF citizens and couched in
the most respectful terms, was he thought, most *
tram dinary
Mr. SPElGHT had nothing TO say against the right Of
the people of Louisiana TO petition tor the redress of their
grievances. He on objected to their presenting the pc
hon in this body and not in the lower House, OF which
the representative a member, against whom the
charges preferred In regard TO the statements Of
that petition he would ask the gentleman, If IN
der, to state here whether he believed that, in conse
quence Of the tariff the sugar interests of the State OF
Louisiana to be sacrificed and whether he did not
know that this very article selling higher than
before the passage of the new tariff
Mr.. JOHNSON said he would state his opinion very
frankly His opinion was, that the law would be de-
strucve to those interests They had experience the
subject, which authorized them to say for when the
duty sugar reduced SO low previous to the tariff
OF 1s42 the reduction, as was well known, proved de-
structive-ruinous eveno the great mass OF the new
planters in Louisiana. The old planters who had en-
countered the expenses OF their establishments and
comparatively free from debt, did not feel the effect
much; but the new planters, who were compelled to
heavy expenses in the purchase OF machinery and
the erection of buildings and to incur debts in conse-
quence, these planters nyo ved in ruin. Hun
dreds were compelled to sell their plantations and ma
ny turned to cotton growing. He admitted that sugar
was selling pretty well at present but this was not ow-
ing to the act of the last session. The effect OF that law
probably yet felt 1t owing to other causes
to the failure of the crops in Louisiana and the ISL
and but it his opinion that when the effects OF that
law began to be felt, It would be found to be runous to
the sugar planters of Louisiana, the with
the old law They had test there, and the twen-
ty per cent. tariff was found to be ruinous as he
had said before, to nearly the whole of the plan
tiers in the State of louisiana 1t not his object in
presenting this petition to the representative
fsred to- He entertained high respect for that repre-
sentative; but he considered 1t his duty to present the
petition which alluded to his vote. He not
that thsre anything very extraordinary his own
part in presenting the petition the part of his con-
stuents in framing it, II at any time representative
found contrary to the true interests OF his peo
pie it their right to protest against his acts And
this course often pursued They frequently saw the
legislatures of the different States demonstrating
against the acts OF senators that floor He repeated
that in complying with the request Of The petitioners he
did wish to be understood censrng the conduct
of their representative for he entertained for him very
high respect and personal friendship. H. performing his
duties in this instance he incurred the Of por
ton of his constituents who had protested against his
acts but he acted, no doubt from high sense OF
duty, and according the dictates of his own best judg
ment; and it not his (Mr. Js) intention to attempt
TO censure him
The petition was then referred to the Committee on
Finance and the question OF printing it to the Committee
on Printing.
Mr. WESTCOTT presented communication from the
governor of Florida, transmitting preamble and resolu
tons of the Legislature of the State OF Florida pray
ing the speedy removal of the Seminole Indians now
remaining in Florida which read and referred to
the Committee Indian Affairs, and also ordered to- be