The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-18

amendments 10 portion of which the Senate refused to
agree taken up and the action OF the Senate there
| on stated.
/ MIR GOGGlN moved that the House recede from the
amendments objected to by the Senate and moved the
previous question; which seconded, and under its
operation, the said amendments receded from
The House bill 10 provide for the ventilation of passen
ger vessels, and for other purposes returned from the
Senate with amendments, taken up, and the amend
| Mr. GRINNEi.L moved that the House concur with
| the Senate IN their amendments which motion was
agreed TO-
PENSION APPROPRIATIONS
| On motion of Mr. VINTON, the House resolved itself
into Committee of the Whole the state of the Union,
(Mr. HOWELL Com in the chair,) and resumed the
sderation OF the bill making appropriations for the pay
ment OF revolutionary and other pensioners OF the United
States for the year ending 30th June, lS49the question
pending being upon an amendment heretofore submitted
by the gentleman from Georgia, Mr. q. w JONES pro-
tyidng that when the widow OF revolutionary pensioner
shall apply for pension, she shall not be obliged to go
back the period of the pension of her husband having
been allowed for the proof of her claim such pension
which he had moved as an amendment to an amendment
submitted by the gentleman from North Carolina, MIR
Mr. MCKAY raised question of order upon the rele-
vancy of the amendment.
| The CHAIR ruled the amendment out OF order.
Mr. JONES appealed from this decision; and after de-
bate, the House divided upon the question, Shal the
decision of the Chair stand as the opinion of the
House when no quorum voted.
| The roll was called, the committee rose and the chair
man, in compliance with the rule reported the of
the absentees which ordered be entered upon the
journal
quorum having appeared upon the call of the roll,
the House again resolved Itself into committee
The question recurring upon sustaining the decision OF
the Chair it was decided in the affirmative
MIR. G. w. JONES then raised point of order upon
the amendment of the gentleman from North Carolina,
IT The st CHAIR ruled it in order
MIR. JONES appealed, and the committee sustained the
decision of the Chair.
Mr.. TOMPKINS proposed to amend the first section
of the amendment by the gentleman from North Carroll
ma, providing that applications of disability
existing may be lawfully made within five years after the
passage of this act.
The amendment to the amendment was agreed to-
Mr.. JONES of Tennessee proposed further to amend
the amendment, by striking out The words ''iive years
from the time OF disability, for the purpose OF showing
that the original amendment would be to increase the
burden upon the treasury, instead of diminishing it. 1t
was the now, that many pensioners did not come
forward to prove their claim to pensions for perhaps
than twenty five years after their disability received
Many cases of this kind of procrasnaon had come to
his knowledge. But this amendment will force such men
to come forward within five years, and commence
their drain upon the treasury at much earlier day, per-
haps, than they would wlthoutlt.
| His amendment was rejected.
| And then, the question recurring on the adoption OF
the first section OF the amendment by the gentleman
from North Carolina, il was agreed to-
| The second section, submitted by Mr. Mckay,
then reported
| Mr., DUNCAN moved to amend this proposition by
striking out all after the words commencing with com-
pleton of proof" and insert slime OF the application
therefor is made at the proper office"
the time of the completion OF the proof at the Pension
Office II sometimes happens that delays are induced by
misconsructons of law at the office. The amendment
which he proposed 10 guard against the consequent
ces mlsconsructon, and to allow the pension TO
commence from ahe time the pensoner makes his appca
| ton. :,
Mr. DIS amendment was then ected and the second
and third amendments by Mr.. MCKAY were also success
sively rejected.
by additional section, repeating the provlso OF the
second section Of the act providing for the payment OF
revolutionary pensions, approved June 80, 1s47
| Mr.. j. SAID this was proposition to repeal proVlso
which had given rise troublesome question OF con-
structon at the Pension Office Its effect would be to
override thesdecision of the Commissioners that when
widow applies for the pension which had been allowed
to her husband she go back and establish her clam
upon the proof of the facts which her husbands pen
sion rested-he old woman must 60 back and hunt up
tiay in the service OF the United States The operation
of the provso oppressive and wrong and he hoped 1t
would be repealed.
This amendment was agreed to,
The committee then and reported the bill and
amendments.
seconded; and under It's operation the amendments
were severay concurred m and the bill was ordered to
be engrossed, was read a third tme and passed
NAVAL PENSIONS.
On motion of Mr.. VINTON, the House again resolved
itself into the Committee of the Whole the state OF
the Union (M d. p KING in the cha) and proceeded 10
the consideration OF The bill making appropriation Tor the
payment of navy pensions for the ending 3oth June,
| MIR BAYLY took the floor, and spoke as follows:
believe Mr. Chairman, | have never before availed
myself of the latitude OF debate allowed in Committee OF
the Whole, to discuss subjects not Immediately under
considerations But it will be recoeced that several
speeches have been Observation-Disclosures designed to in
huence opinion out of this Housedefending the power
of Congress to prohibit slavery in the Territories of the
United States and also the expedency OF It's exercise
These speeches have not yet been met 1t is lmpor
tan they should be- and this is my apology Tor entering
upon the discussion And in doing so, shall be
compelled however reluctantly, to repeat, TO some
tent views which had the honor to present at the last
session OF Congress.
| wholly deny the power OF Congress to egsiate ior
The Territories in respect to their domestic affairs Sir
this is of delegated powers and all pow.
ers not delegated in the constitution by the very terms OF
that instrument reserved to the States and the peo-
pie The Congress has more authority TO exercise a
power not delegated, than ii has absolutely prohib
tied This government possesses no sovereignty IL is
true the States have delegated to 1t the exercise OF GER
tain sovereign powers; but the sovereignty itself is IN the
people and is naenable. This government has no IN
nate powers Its powers all derivave, These po-
sitons will not be disputed by any one who understands
the first principles OF the republican faith Bearing them
in mind, ask in what clause OF the constitution do
YOU find the power iegiate at ALL much less 10 adopt
rreuocabfe legislation relative to the internal affairs OF
the territories which hold, may hereafter ac-
quirel Marx, do not ask for the power TO propose
forms of government the territories, but for the power
TO kegiside for them respect to their domestic AFFAIRS
do not concede the first but not necessary Tor my
argument that should dispute IT. | know 1t has been
Exercised from the foundation OF the governments and
some very sound republicans have regarded 1t as larry
an incident the power OF acquiring territory ms Is
not satisfactory to me- have great doubts about our
power to establish for the territories even temporary gov
ernments and these doubts strengthened by the pro-
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