Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-04-15
DEBATE
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
TuEsDAY, ApaIL ii, ls4s.
[ Contiaued from The first page.]

solution from the Senate rendering the congratulations of h
American to the French people the consolidation Of Frenc
Republic and the principles OF liberty was passed yesterday
Mr. PALPREr said he desrous yesterday offer al
amendment 70 the resolutions when they pending bu
he prevented by the motion Of the gentleman from Geor
ga STEPHENs for the previous question. If he had ha
opportunity he should have oedthe following resolution
an amendment to The series Of resolutions that introduced
Resoiued That despotism effective than that hc
exists under the sembance OF popular institutions and that
great nation emancpated from the control Of ogarehy
two hundred thousand voting citizens is entitled con
gratulations ofeyery friend OF freedom.
The French overhrown was said to hay
been wellfounded monarchy throne surrounded by 20
puar institutions by institutions of republican character
and yet to this that about two hundred thousand
ing citizens welded the power Of that republic and governct
some thirty five millions Of They did it in the way
which other ogarchies other monarches have done il
other days, without disturbing the forms Of lepubicanism
acting through the channels Of republican government We
WELDING the power they possessed by of influence,
bribery, Of intimidation, and in other ways The te how
had gone by, AMI he should not offer his amend
ment But he would take OCCASION which he could have
sired TO have had yesterday, make remark or wo called
forth by observations of the gentleman from Virginia
(Mr BArLr,) whom he him. He did hear the
gentleman from Virginia distinctly, though he sat that
gentleman The observations OF the gentleman from Vr-
gnia, the gentleman had himself very properly ad were
very dscursve though certainly interesting far he r
P could hear them He did not hear them distinctly, be-
his hearing the quickest affected by nds-
position under which he labored.
He proposing to follow the gentleman from
Virginia in the general Of his remarks He had
means Of doing it, He sought the in the newspapers
or rather in the newspaper the
morning. that he might the remarks of the gentleman from
Virginia and revive his Impressions and any
into which be might have fallen There no re-
port however there so that he thrown entirely his
very imperfect recollection Hewas nevertheless obliged
to address the House to-day If all for the privilege of moving
reconsideration which gave him the right to address the
House, would be exhausted tomorrow.
As he had said he did not propose to follow the gentleman
from Virginia in the whole range Of his remarks; it only
two of the most important topics which that gentle
man had brought forward which he should touch and
particularly he wished to correct the gentleman impression
for he supposed the gentleman from Virginia did not wish
rest under any misrepresentation, msead any of those who
reposed confidence hmrespectng certain state of sent-
men and law in Massachusetts which the gentleman had
alluded. He might to be sure have interrupted the gentle
man from Virginia when he treating this topic yeser
day but be the gentleman from Virginia in much
better hands than IN his ownhe alluded to his colleague
Mr AsHMuS He far from saying Massachusettsin
this any particular entirely conorned the idea Of per-
feet commonwealth He knew there nothing perfect here
below either the individual the social state He
from maintaining that the practices of Massachusetts, conform
ed TO her theories But thing he would tell the gentle
from Virginia. that Massachusetts, old to grow
WISER and she would grow wiser day by day. thank God
Massachusetts little younger than Virginia. and if
he might draw inference from what had fallen from the
gentleman from Virginia, he feared that Virginia too old
to grow wiser.
The gentleman from Virginia had advered to the marriage
laws OF Observation-Disclosures ne begged his recollection
what the gentleman from Virginia had said correct
that the gentleman would him. Massachusetts,
that there people within her borders of mingled blood
Mulatoes born IN Massachusetts He presumed mua-
toes born in Virginia. They in ls43, H. AS
40 He stated that fact from his observation He
1t was Well Massachusetts hought-her legislative will
wastha there were to be persons born there of mingled
blood there should be legal obstacle their being honest
y bom and so she declared by her laws three four
years ago.
The gentleman from Virginia, in speaking Of the social
position Of the coored Massachusetts, asked if it had
been known that coored man had served jury
de (Mr. could not that question but be could
tell the gentleman from Virginia how The laws of Masachu-
stood that subject the best of his knowledge and
belief He knew the laws of Massachusetts, made no quail
caton Of color among the qualifications of juymen and
coored liable be daughed sit in the jury
a white man.
Mr. BAYLY asked the gentleman from Massachusetts, to
yield the floor for explanation.
Mr. PALFREY assented.
Mr. BAYLY said he had referred TO instances Of uni
versal social feeling repeating The laws Of the State.
Mr. BROWN, Of Mississippi, inquired what the question
was that was before the House
The SPEAKER replied that it was on a motion Of the
gentleman from Massachusetts, (M PALFREr reconsider
the Of the House yesterday adopting the resolutions
graduating the French the establishment Of republican
government.
Mr. BROWN inquired if those resolutions now be-
fore the House, and they had not been returned the Sem
ate And they had been returned the Senate if this
ton in order
The SPEAKER explained that the rules Of the House gave
the privilege TO reconsideration the day which
aken the day succeeding and such privilege
superseded by the of the resolutions the Sc
That point had been frequently settled in this House.
He would, however, state of fact that he under
stood that the papers were still in the hands Of the Clerk
Mr. PALFREY then resumed. He said he was the most
helpless man in this House-he rules might choke him
off from all participation in debate, and he should not
how help himself On that subject he had but very
little knowledge He thought however that the rules had
been applied by the Chair honestly and Justly His know
ledge Of the right speak that which he had acquired
New England where he and the Speaker had been taught
hold up the right hand and say, May speak ~ He really
had no knowledge Of his rights here
The gentleman from Virginia had suggested in which
the laws had been ovendden by public sentiment Now he
did not know but that the gentleman from Virginia right
He (Mr. p had sat jury, he had argued
before jury; he had been tried by jury. He knew
then how that might be but this he knew the select
Of the town placed in box the Of those citizens
who eligible TO uries. The law gave them
discretion To the they should place there and they
authorized deposc the Of those that they thought
suitable
But the gentleman from Virginia looked little higher and
he asked If coored had been heard Of the
bench Now, Justices court a bench Justices
court had bench and not many months had passed SINCE
in his humble capacity Of Secretary Of State Of the Common
wealth Of Massachusetts, he the broad seal Of that Com
monweath TO the commission Of respectable learned lawyer
who, he believed, nearly black his Mr. Psi coat
And il the gentleman from Virginia should go Massachusetts,
he Mr. hoped he would and Il he got into trouble there
which he (Mr P hoped he would not he as likely to
have JUSTICE tempered with mercy administered 10 him bv