Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-05-09

be frightened either by the Postmaster General by Mexico
working Of the bill with the proyiso He could not agree with
gentlemen who thought that the patriotism of the country
fallen so low that not could be found to gil post Office
unless he receveda compensation by law There
were plenty in his district who would gladly take the office
merely for the sake Of the business would draw No reso
nations had taken place there He thought that il neigh
bohood could be found where not would consent TO act
postmaster it did not deserve to have post Office
This question debated up the hour Of adjournment
in the course of which
Mr. JEFFERSON DAVIS moved 10 amend the said second
section by adding provso the following poviso
"And provided, further that those officers shall be- and
hereby are relieved from all charge upon mabie matter adj
dressed and properly belonging 10 them"
On subsequent day the bill taken up and the
debate continued much length When brought close
Mr. PETIT said that the Chairman Of the Post Of
flee Committee assured the House that that committee were
prepared report bill and Mr. r. felt great desire
retain the poviso he would lay aside the present
bill until the bill should be reported.
The motion lost without count.
Mr.. JEFFERSON DAVIS said he opposed to the
fanking privilege altogether and he, too wished retain
proviso But he believed that the postmasters al
lowed to receive maabe matter free Of postage il would be
sufficient to induce them to hold their Offices.
Mr.. BIGGS in compliance with the suggestion Of Mr..
HorKIss, consented to withdraw his amendment
The question being then put Mr. DAvIss amendment,
it was rejected without count
The question then recurring Mr. Conn motion 10 strike
out the proviso, it agreed to Ayes SO, SIS.
Mr.. Mckay moved to amend the bill as follows
"For deayng the expenses Of the magnetic telegraph from
the city washington to Baltimore the appropria
the fiscal year Provided That the Postmaster General
be and he is hereby authorized to let for limited time the
aforesaid telegraph any who will keep operation
for its earnings or he may under the direction Of the President
| of the United States, sell the same"
Mr. BARRINGER made inquiry not distinctly heard,
to the practical operation Of the amendment but before
any reply given
Mr. BIGGS offered the following substitute fol Mr. DAyIss
amendment Ha
a III
se That the Thanking privilege formerly exercised by post
shall hereafter be extended TO all postmasers whose
compensation tor the preceding LIST july s45 did
exceed the sum OF $500"
Mr. COBB to ORDER and insisted that the question
should first be put his motion tostrke out the poviso
The CHAIR, however, ruled otherwise and about
put the question ON Mr.. BIGes's amendment, when
Mr. HOPKINS demonstrated and desired that by consent
both the amendments (of Mr. DAVIS and Mr. BIaes might
be withdrawn The Post Office Committee ready
port bill exclusively the subject of post Office
pensao in which that whole subject would be provided for
The latter amendment would work very unfairly, of
the posmaster could within its TERMS because they
had enjoyed no previous ranking privilege.
He stated that this line Of telegraph had originally the
Government $4,000 The expenditure upon it during the
year had been some So 000 while the receipts were
Sl,l47 The committee approved the keeping of up till
January next and had agreed to report 600 for that pur
pose. He went into details salaries OF the officers
| employed &c.
Mr. PETIT considered this authority as wholly unneces-
say All the Department had do to ask the opinion
of the Attorney General whether they might buy this line,
extend it the whole length of the Union. The Postmaster
General could adopt the opinion, and the House would after
ward sustain him, and the whole trouble of egslatng would
be saved Congress- merely idle TO egislae He
astonished that the gentleman from North Carolina
with all his acknowledged practical wisdom, should have
bed himself report such amendment Could the gen.
eman forget that he had himself reported with great pains
and prudence the provso which the committee had just stricken
out What propriety there in further authorizing any
particular details If the Attorney General and the Post
continue it of Mr. p however, would take this OPP
portunty say that he looked upon the whole thing
humbug-a miserable chmera. Il literally good for
thing had always cost and always would cost than
TO. He opposed any appropriation for its in
perpeuaon but if the Attorney General thought
it proper there end of the matter.
The question being put the amendment Of Mr. McKAr,
it was agreed to.
The amendments reported from the Committee of the
Whole then read and severalIy concurred in
The bill then ordered to be engrossed and read third
ime -
And it was read third time forthwith.
And the question stated that it do pass when
Mr. SCHENCK moved that il be ecommitted to the Com
mltee the Post Office and Post Roads, with instructions to
amend the by adding the second section the follow
ing provso
ro1de That instead of any payments being hereafter
made to deputy posmastes order supply deficiencies
their compensation the Thanking privilege shall restored
deputy by law may be less
than one hundred dollars per during the to end
the first day Of June such Thanking privilege existed
The instructions having been read
Mr.. COBB moved the previous question, which
conded, and the main question ordered TO be put
The previous question off the motion recommi and
brought the House direct the passage of the BILL
And, this question being put passed in the affirmative.
And the bill passed, and the Senate for
currence.
SHOOTING DEsERTERs.
Mr. J. @. ADAMS then asked leave introduce the fol-
lowing series Of resolutions
Resolved That the President OF the United States be
pofad pauutrafa Al
every soldier in the army OF the United States Who since the
OF the present OF Congress- has been
put death by military execution without trial Also the
Of each and every belonging the army the United
States whether officer soldier by whom by whose ore
such military execution has been perpetrated.
Resofed That the President OF the United States be
quesed be arrested and tried by martial for
MURDER each and every belonging the army Of the
United States, whether officer soldier by whom by
whose ORDER any soldier Of the said has been put death
without n trial.
Resolved That the Committee on Military Affairs OF this
House be instructed inquire into the OF the
increase Of assertions from the army the United States and
TO report whether any further legislation by Congress be
cessary or expedient that subject
The resolutions having been read by the Clerk for inor
nation
Mr.. HOLMES, Of South Carolina. object; I'll vote for
them when the with Mexico is over.
MIR. ADAMS then moved 10 suspend the rules, to enable
him to introduce the resolutions and asked for the yeas and
nays the motion.
The yeas and nays, being taken were follows
YEAS-Messrs Abbott, J. q. Adams, Carroll, John @.
Chapman Canson Culver, Daragh, John H. Ewing, Foot
Giddings, Gnne Hampton, Herrck Elias b. Holmes, y.
ID Hubbard, Hudson, Charles j. ngerso Joseph Inger
soil, Daniel p King Leib Lewis, Levin, Long MCLEAN,
McGsughey, Mcllyane, Moseley Pollock Ramsey, Root,
Scamnon Schenck, Severance, Truman Smith, Caleb b.
Smith, Stanton Sarkweaher Stewart, Sohm, Thbodeaur,
1homasson. Tden. Trumbo. Vance. Winthrol,-45.