The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-06-18
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIy
The journal of yesterday was read in part and
the further reading having, on motion Of MIR. G.
w. JONES, been dispensed with) was approved.
THE TENTH VOLUME.
Mr.. GORDON gave notice of a motion to recon-
slider the vote by which the resolution heretofore re-
ported from the select committee on the subject of
the distribution Of the 10Th volume Of the laws of The
| United States was rejected.
PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS.
Personal explanations, growing out of the speech
of Mr.. YANcEY, published in the Union of yesteday
were made ION leave) by Messrs. STEPHENS,
1ANCEf, J. J. Mellow ELL, and COBB.
We will publish these explanations SO soon as fur
nished in form not liable to Misrepresentation.
Mr., STEPHENS, in the course of his remarks
made correction relative TO the following portion
Of the report in the Union Of June l6:
"Mr. LEAKE (continung) said he thought, when
the gentleman announced that the boundary ought
to have been, to be, at the Rio Grandc and that
II could be- or could have been, obtained by negotia
ton, that he announced the proposition that Texas
rightfully extended to that river; for he could not
have thought that the Mexicans would have quietly,
tamely submitted, by negotiation, to give up that
portion of territory between the Nueces and the Rio
Grande, if it belonged to them.
"Mr. STEPHENs, Tin his scat.) | do not"
1t should be corrected Che said by emitting the
word mot" in the latter portion of the extract SO as
to read
"Mr. STEvENs Tin his seat.) do.n
Mr.. HOPKINS moved that the House resolve
itself into Committee of the Whole on the state Of
the Union; 1.-THE explanations not being vet closed |
The yeas and nays were asked and ordered and
being taken, were yeas 81, nays I22
So the House refused to go into committee
The explanations were concluded.
THE TARIFF.
On motion of Mr.. DROMGoOLE, submitted
m IN thn tap,n 81. T. ~
chairman of the Committee of WAYS and Means
Mr.. MCKAY, the House resolved into Committee
of the Whole on the state of the Union, (Mr Com,
of Georgia, in the chair,) and resumed the consde.
ration of the bill reducing the duty on imports, and
for other purposes
The pending question was on the substitute pre-
sened by Mr.. HUNeERFoRp.
Mr.. SEABORN JONES said he rose to address
the committee In consequence of the indisposon of
the chairman of the Committee of Ways and
Means Mr., MsKAr,l to explain the provisions of
the bill before the committee and to call the atte-
uon OF the country to the policy indicated in it as
the policy OF the administration in the present pos
ture of our affairs. The recent estimates of the
Secretary of the Treasury have not been before the
Committee of Ways and Means to have enabled them
70 report the necessary amendments. trust the COM
mlttee Will indulge me for adverting TO those cir
cumstances which are an inducement to provide rev.
enue for carrying on the war in which we are now
engaged, and in pointing out those provisions which
the committee propose to make in view Of the emer-
gency IN which we are now placed The bill, as
originally reported, was peace measure; circum-
stances, known throughout the community and not
necessary for me to detail this Time have placed
us IN different situation from that in which we
were when the bill was originally reported We
are IN state OF war, and it becomes necessary for
us--as every prudent nation should do--to provide
the sinews OF war-the money necessary to
enable US to carry on that war vigorously
ana ehecutely. viii not stop to inquire now into
the justice Of this war. will not ask the committee
to determine whether it be war of aggression or
defence, but hope may be INDUCED in few re-
marks IN answer to the remarks of nv colleague |
Mr.. STEPHENS do not intend to misrepresent
that gentleman; | state his position as understand
IT. and believe fairly. If understood the gentle
man Alright, his position was this-that as we were
at war, he wns willing to aid in the prosecution of
that war he would throw no difficulties in the way |
but he intended to assail the administration a.
bringing on this war; and, in the course of his re-
marks, think an unfortunate admission was made
oy him, for the correctness Of the conclusions he
sought to deduce. He said the President had no
rn,ght TO Know where the western line Of the United
o'stes ls--lhat it is an open line
4, mr. STEPHENS explained that he had not said
PRESIDENT had no right to know, but he con.
tended It was an open line. as il was.
wen continued Mr. ~ the President of the Uni.
eu states was certainly bound to know something
ABOUT our line; and | understood the gentleman 10
say dlstncuy u was an open line | think heard
HIM repeat the same thing this morning Bot he 4
,aid "he thought the line ought to be the Rio
Irande."
Now, on what basis did he come 10 this conclu
aon,-what data had he before him by which he ar
1ved at the conclusion that the Rio C;rsnde aonob,
o be the line'" Surely, by the history of Texas
~ the history Of Mexico, and the history Of the