The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-11

An important debate sprang up in the House OF
Representatives upon the commerce of the country,
external and internal. The debate created deep in
terest among the members, and showed the growing
interest which every day attends the consideration OF
! this subject.
| A motion was made 10 appoint the Standing Com
| mittees, to which an amendment was moved by Mr..
vinton, OF Ohio, to except the Committee on Com
merce, his object being to create two Committees one
for the consideration of subjects connected with Fo-
reign Commerce and the other with Commerce
"among the States" these being the words of the
Constitution. aG
Mr.. Rhett, of s. Carolina, seemed to snuff treason
in this proposition, and even went SO far as to sug-
gest that the regulation of the slave trade had some
thing to do with this proposed division Of the stand
\ ing committee. Mr.. Rhett also took occasion to
manifest anew his known hostility to the internal
commerce of the country and also to express This
disbelief in the powers Of the General Government
over the commerce among the States. Such powers
| he regarded as extremely limited. IS,
Mr.. Holmes, Of s. Carolina, gave reasons enough
to his colleague for division of the labor The TO-
reign commerce was vast and increasing
enough to occupy the attention any committee
There were questions connected with the commerce
of China, with the commerce of the Polynesian ISL
ands with the German States and with all the world
| abroad-al of them demanding the entire time Of
the committee A division of labor he could not
| think involved any question of division of prin-
| ciple. * &
| Mr.. Schenck remarked that all that was designed,
was division of labor, or action upon the power to
regulate Foreign Commerce." and commerce Of
i the States. y
Mr. vinton, with tina. good sense which distin-
cuisines all he says, pointed out the difference be-
| tween foreign commerce, and commerce among the
States, between commerce connected with this
Government and Europe and the coasting trade Of
the country, between Baltimore and Boston, and
Boston and New Orleans. This was distinct de-
partment and when we had Home Department we
| should show what we were doing and what we were
capable Of accomplishing.
It's odd enough that Mr.. Rhett and others Of the
South Carolina politicians deny outright the power
OF Congress over Commerce among the States"
though it is one Of the expressed powers of Con
gress in the Constitution ITSELF
| The subject of two Committees was dropped to-
day, but win be resumed at nm early period The
question will be likely to involve strong expression
Of opinion upon the internal commerce of the coun-
try and 1t promises well for the interior States that
the subject has been thus early broached
| [Balt. American.
II is said that the expenses incurred by Com
Stockton and Col Fremont in the conquest Of the
country, and the claims for spoliaons on the Cali
fornas, may amount to hall million of dollars
Drafts were given the Government, II is sud- for
portion of this sum, and have not been paid BY
some mistake, as i learn, some Of the drafts were
drawn by Col. Fremont on Mr.. Buchanan, us Secre-
ary of State, instead of being drawn upon the Sec
rotary Of war. What course will be pursued to have
these claims settled must be decided by Congress.
The people of California, and particularly those who
volunteered their services to quell the instruction,
-. L.. -
ments. Our Government is in sadly bad repue
among the Caifornians, on account of this state of
things.
Com. Stockton offered, Il is said, TO go toLima,
md borrow the money on his private credit, to pay
these sums, but Com. Biddle, his successor in COM
mand, would not permit him. Our credit II is avow-
ed, would not now buy horse In all California. If
we expect to retain the country, we must endeavor
to conciliate the people by dealing with them Justly
md generously. Louisville Democrat.
Aletter from Washington to the Philadelphia News
says; ~ understand that quite spicy correspond
ence passed between Robert c. winthrop and Mr..
Palfrey Of Massachusetts, with reference TO the cleo
ton Of Mr.. w. as Speaker. The way in which Mr..
Winthrop met Mr.. Prs proposals will yet become
known, and will be found worthy Of the fame of the
present Speaker Of the House of Represen. atves."
which to contradict the report that Mr.. Adams in
tends to makea demonstration in favor ftking the
whole of Mexico There is not word Of truth In
the statement II Boston Atlas.
~r--~-----~-s~-----~-~----
str Congress meets to-day, and Mr.. PolIc's mes
sage will probably In few hours be coming in this
direction upon the Geographic wires. We do not
think however that the document will have ELECTRICITY
enough in It to travel upon the wires without the aid
OF battery. We are afraid that Il will re quire n
double battery.--[L Louisville Jour.
II will be recoleced that for some time past state
ments have appeared In tho public papers that Bisho
Hughes about to be sent to Mexico as an envoy
extraordinary, or commissioner to solicit or arrange
pence In consequence Of the rumors Bishop
Hughes yesterday arrived in this city and TO-DAY had
a conference with the Secretary of State He told
Mr.. Buchanan that in event would r, act in the
capacity designated. The Bishop had reason 10 be-
leve that the Administration seriousl,y Thought of
offering TO him the mission. Char. " ews.
One false step or fundamental mist AXE is fraught
with brood Of errors and evils This Is strikingly
illustrated by all that part Of the Presidents message
relating 70 tho war. The policy and suggestions Of
the President proceed directly upon the assumption
that Mexico is all In the wrongthat she original y
made war upon us-and now obstnately refuses to
entertain any reasonable proposition for peace-and
hence that only remedy Is to crush and govern
by force Of arms and while she IL thus subdued TO
dismember her, and take pay for damages due us In
territory at our own estimate Of Its value