The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-06
FRIDAr, February 6, 1886.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

small fragment thsreof) met this morning, IL pursu,
ance of It's order Of yesterday, at ten O'Clock.
Il was melancholy sight TO look UPON
PRAYERS were said.
Mr:J. r iNGERsoLL obviously oppressed
with the desolaiion OF the scene) moved that the
reading Of the Journal be dispensed with.
Mr.. RATHBUN asked leave to make report
from the Committee on the Judiciary.
MIR. MclLVAlNE (remarking that nsthing IKE
quorum was presently moved that the House ac
jonm.
Mr.. MCKAY asked the yeas and nays, which
were ordered.
Mr.. GEORGE w. JONES inquired whether the
reading OF the journal had been dispensed WITH
Mr.. BATHBUN said, il the gentleman who had
made that motion would withdraw II
The SPEAKER interposed, and said that, from
the present appearance OF the House, Il would not
be in order to read the journal.
The pending question was on the motion to adj
Mr. G. w. JONES moved that there be call Of
the House. ..
The SPEAKER said the motion to adjourn
would take precedence over motion that there be a
call Of the House.
The question "Win this House adjourn" was
then taken, and decided in the negative, as follows;
YEAs.-Ne,srs. A,hmun, NioIvans. and Woodwork
NAYs-Messr. s. Adams, Arnold, Bggs, Jas A. Black.
John H. Campbell Reuben Chapman Clarke Cobb Cooke,
CToZier, Culver Cunningham, Daniel Dargsn, Jeferson
Davis pobbn. DromgoOe Dunlap. Fries Giddings Giles,
Hillisrd 0sOrys Houston Hungscord Joseph lngsr,
Clean, MeClslland Mckay, Barclay Martin; Morse Nose
ley. MOulton Norm. Parish. reTil Pollock Price Rah
anee, Alexander Sims, Simpson, Truman smith ste
phens. 81 John, stIohm strong IhibSdesgk Iho~asson
and Yell-6l
So the House refused 10 adjourn.
But no quorum rOld Though number Of mem
bers had entered the hall ad interim
The SPEAKER said there was evidently quo
49, I.....l s h. adj
The motion of Mr.. J. r. INGERSOLL, that its
reading be dispensed with, was then reaewed; and
The question being taken
The SPEAKER announced that the reading of
the journal had been dispensed with.
MIR. MCKAY moved that the House resolve itself
into Committee Of the Whole on the state Of the
Mr.. VANCE insisted on the reading OF the jour.
nal.
The SPEAKER said that, by a vote of two
thirds, The reading could be dispensed and accord
ing 10 the sound uron the car of the Speaker, two
thirds had so voted.
Mr. VANCE called for division; which was
taker; and the vote stood-ayes Go, noes 40.
So two-thrds Of those presen, did not vote IN the
affirmative.
The SPEAKER said there was evidently quo
rnm present.
The motion that the reading of the journal be dis
tenssd with was thereupon Withdrawn.
And the journal OF yesterday Was read and APP
proved.
Whereupon, the House. on motion Of Mr. Nc
KAY, resolved Itself into Committee of the Whole
the state Of the Union, Mr.. TIsBATTs, Of Ken
lucky. ia the chair,) and resumed the considera
uon Of the Joint resolution Of notice.
Mr.. RHETT, who entitled to the floor from
last evening, and said he had obtained the floor
for the purpose Of completing the observations
- hHx tn.hl In narb vyhan hA
pied the attention Of the House formerly upon the
jill for raising regime Of mounted rihemen. He
had then touched only on one branch Of the sub
iect and he had intended now to speak upon the
question Of title. But it was thought that there
was degree of impropre,y that he should speak
in the Committee Of the Whole on the state Of the
Union, when he had previously spoken upon this
subject on the bill which he had mentioned. Urder
these circumstances, being incapable Of offending a
sense of justice, and much less of improperly in
his course Of conduct, he should therefore decline
addressing the committee
Various cries Of $50 on" "go on."l
Mr. r. resumed his seat.
Mr. ]. DAVIS obtained the floor; but proposed
to yield to Mr.. RHErT, if tina, gentleman would now
90 on with his remarks.
Mr.. RHETT again declined. 1t was impossible
for him (he said) to violate what he conceived to
be the very painly-expressed opinion Of gentlemen
on this floor.
Mr.. JEFFERSON DAVIS addressed the COM
mittee during the hour. He knew not Che said)
whether he more regretted the time at which this
discussion has been introduced the manner in
which it has been conducted We engaged in
delicate and highly important negotiations with
Mexico, the end of which we had hoped would be
an adjustment of our boundary terms the vast adj
vantage Of which it would be difficult to estimate.
IT, sir, (said Mr.. DID, by this exciting discussion
we shall hereafter find that we have lost the key
to the commerce of the Pacific, none who hears me
will live long enough TO cease from his regrets for
the injury our country has sustained Again, sir;
long peace has served to extend the bonds of COM
merce throughout the civilized world, drawing
tions from remote quarters of the globe into friend
~ alliance and that mutual dependence which prom
ised a lasting peace and unshackled commerce. In
the East, there appeared rainbow which promised
that the waters Of national jealousy and proscrip-
ton about to rccede from the face Of the EARTH
and the spirit Of free trade to move over the face
thereof. But this, sir, is hope not so universally
cherished in this House as | could desire. We have
even been told that of the advantages to result
from war will be emancipation from the manufac-
turers of Manchester and Birmingham.
hope sir, the day is far distant when measures
Of peace or war will be prompted by sectional or
class interests. War, sir is dread alternative, and
should be the last resort; but when demanded for
the maintenance Of the honor Of the country, or
for the security and protection of our citizens against
outrage by other governments, trust we shall not
sit here for weeks to discuss the properiety, to
dwell upon the losses, or paint the horrors Of war
Mr.. chairman, it has been asserted that the peo-
pie demand action, and we must advance. Whilst,
sir, admit the propriey of looking to and reflect
ing public opinion, especially upon question
which is viewed as deciding between peace war,
cannot respond to the opinion, nor consent to gov
ern my conduct by the idea, that the public man
who attempts to stem the current Of a war excite
ment, must be borne down, sacrificed the altar of
public Indignation. Sir, may the day never come,
when there will be so little of public virtue and patr-
otto devotion among the representatives of the peo-
pie, that any demagoguc who chooses to make vio-
lent and unfounded appeals to raise war clamor
in the country will be allowed, unopposed, to mis-
lead the people to the questions a, ISSUE and
place and political tmidlty.
Mr.. Chairman, | have been struck with surprise,
only exceeded by modification, at the freedom with
which disgrace and dishonor has been mingled with
the name Of our country Upon side, to give mo-
tice and involve the country in war, is disgrace.