The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-23

public the use and benefit OF appropriations and surveys
heretoiors made mt here presented letter IRON ron
engaged in the coast survey, explnlng the man,
ner in which the map had been prepared, &c; which, al
his request was read by the Secretary lie proceeded
TO say that respect the coast survey the citizens OF
Florida would derive no special advantage In lhs point
OF view the question was purely national Every one
knew the danger which attends the navigation OF the
coast OF Florida correct map was, therefore, urgent
ly demanded by the public at large AS regarded the m
terror of the State the map rendered necessary IN the
disposition of the public lands by the fact that eommu-
ncaed information which was to be found exclusively
on the files of the government OF the United States The
sale of the extensive public lands IN Florida was now
lust commencing and hence the map specially need
ed this time mir " here presented another letter
which he had just received asking Tor map oil flord
and al his request il read lie could see no good
for suffering the events which had uanspired WIN
in few months past deprive the public OF the beneit
OF the contemplated appropriation , ..,-
Mr.. PHELPS was not satisfied with the proposition,
and therefore moved TO lay on the table Tor the present
His motion prevailed.
MEMORIAL FRIENDS
Mr.. ATHERTON, from the Committee on Printing,
to whom referred memorial OF the representatives
of the Society OF Friends OF New England reported ha
the same be not printed.
Mr. DAVIS was surprised at the report Of the com
mittee The memorial was very brief, and couched IN
of persons-from Society of Friends in New England
They did not here political partsans; but they
stated simply that they were opposed to war from re-
gious principles and being opposed to war from re-
gious principles il certainly their right and duty to
ask the government to bring the existing war to speedy
termination He had received private letter IRON an
that last year Congress kind enough to order sim
liar memorial which they sent in to be printed and he
expressed the hope that the thing might be done
this year. This was all that they asked. lie was in
formed by this letter that the number OF persons COM
posing this meeting OF the Friends about nine hun
dred. Now, when body so large and respectable as
this body of Friends assembled in New England,
unitedly made request from religious principle alone
should the Senate Of the United States be ashamed TO
publish that memorial 10 the world Was il asking much
OF Congress, much OF the Senate for them to make
public expression OF their opinions IN this way lie re-
peate he somewhat surprised al the decision OF the
committee on the subject Ii not a matter OF great
magnitude any farther than the expression of the views
of large and respectable body Of religious persons
Important for he would take leave TO say-and he be-
eyed that the Judgment OF every one on that hoor
would sustain him in the assertion-that more
orderly body of indviduaa class OF persons more ODE
dent TO the laws of the land did not exist in this nation
than this Society OF Friends. When had anybody
known of any disorder irregular or improper proceed
ing arising among them' When they approached the
Senate they approached them from principle They
came TO let them know their religious views and feelings
and yet the committee said 1t not worth while TO
publish those views He thought they entitled to
be heard.
Mr.. SIMMONS said that the committee was about
equally divided the question Of printing the resolution
He thought however that there not any great import
ance attached TO this question: and 1t seemed better IN
his view that when society of this description petoned
Congress IN terms as respectful this memorial,
they should be INDUCED in their wish II would do no
any harm, and would CRAFTY very large ana re-
spectacle society the most economical terms that any
class of citizens could be grathed lie sincerely
hoped that the petition would be printed ,.,,u
Mr.. DAVIS moved that the resolution be amended by
striking out the word "not"
Mr. SEWER called for the reading OF the memorial
and il was accordingly read as follows:
7O the Senate and House Of Representatives Of the United
States ia Congress assembled:
'The memorial tue representatives of the yearly
ing of the Society of Friends for New England, respectfully
That as is well known be of our distinguishing
religious principles in accordance, we apprehend, with
the spirit of the Gospel and the precep OF Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ that all wars and hghtings wrong
and forbidden to Christians we being now assembled on
soennly turned to the existing war between this country
and Mexico.
"And under belief that it is religious duty we do
respectfully entreat you to devise and adopt such
measures viii speedy end to the existence OF this
war, with the multiplied evils and direu caamites at
1--WE very earnestly solicit you direct your attention to
the subject and persuaded that by giving your favorable
consideration petition will avert evils uspeak-
a as WIZ nH' oe ow the blessing of Him who
regardeh the cries of those who ready to perish
Aforesaid Held at New Bedford assachusetts the second
N''' '-' ''''''' SAMUEL BoYCE, Clerk"
Mr.. ATHERTON regretted that the senator from
Rhode Island had received any impression which was
not well founded from any conversation which he had
held with himself He certainly intended to
vey any impression that favored the printing OF the men,
Mr.. SIMMONS asked the gentleman if he (1r Az
did not inform him that the Senate printed similar mem
Mr. ATHERToN replied in the affirmative. They did
so because another memorial, which presented by
another Society of Friends ordered to be printed at
that time and il thought proper to put them both
upon the grounds but he chairman OF the COM
mttee found it difficult at that time to assign any good
reason for printing the memorial In reply to the remarks
of the gentleman from Massachusetts, he would say that
the committee had not arrived at this conclusion from
any want OF respect to the petitioners or their rights.
There was no doubt OF their being very respectable
k,dy If ha fact wa
itself which had just been read. That petition was
couched in very respectful terms This was the case
with their petitions generally. They were generally
respectful in language and from respectable
But the general rule that petitions be not printed by
the Senate unless for extraordinary Now
it seemed to him, and to majority OF the committee,
that there was nothing Of sufficient importance to ex
were presented the Senate embodying important stas
tics, facts, and arguments, it was not then usual to
print them because they could be referred to
mittee and then be brought before the Senate in the
proper form Could it be of any importance that this
petition be printed for the sake of having it bound
up with the public documents flor that would be the
result of the printing in the present 1t was treating
under the general rule applicable to such cases This
consideration influenced his own mind and it seemed to
him. that unless they established the rule to print all
petitions, there was reason why the present petition
should be printed - ..T -" ... .n..
Mr. CHALMERS thought that the gentleman from
Rhode Island had not heard anything from him mem
Der OF the committee.
Mr.. SIMMONS replied that he could not have heard
anything from him, as the committee was divided.
MIR CHALMERS desired to say that he objected to
the printing Of the petition, for the very reason that il
known to all that the petitioners opposed