The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-05-14
THIRTIETH CONGRESS-.
FIRST SESSION.
Senate.


Senate.
WAsHINcroS, May IL, 1S4S.
There was an unusually thin attendance in the Sc
nate this morning The morning business of peti-
tons and reports limited, 80 that without much
delay, the resolutions OF Mr. Reverdy johnson, rela-
ting to
GEN. PILLOW GEN. CUSHING,
enqurng of the President of the United States why
he has not as yet, communicated to the Senate GER
tain military appointments, resumed az tho un-
finished business Of the morning hour from yesterday
Mr. JOHNSON resumed his argument on the above re.
solution in exposition of the alleged usurpations Of
power by the Executive in his vctoes of the river
harbor bills passed in several instances since the nau
guraton Of AS and in his Veto of the bill of indemni
ties for French spoiations upon American commerce
prior to 1901 Mr. Johnson argued that in the vetoes
Of the river and harbor bills the Executive had
violated a the examples Of all his predecessors,
and had acted in direct opposition to his
vi the bill Of French indcmnites the President had
pleaded to false premises He had pleaded the doubtful
been long deferred He had pleaded the necessities
OF the Treasury account of the Mexican war, and
preferred the expensive gores Of war; and the seizure
Of neighbours territories to the payment of no.
nest debts In all these vetoes the Executive shown
that the win Of the people and the their legsla
tors could be thwartsd by the man pawer and the
entire legislation of Congress thus rendered
to his own purposes of personal party ambition.
From these yetoes Mr. johnson proceeded to the dis
cussion of the question of the constitutionaty of
United States Bank maintaining the alternative
ground from the bank charters signed by Washington
Mr.. FoorE-Does not the Senator from Maryland re-
collect that one two bank bills vetoed by the
wing republican President, John Tyler
MR.. DALLAS AND U. s. BANK.
Mr.. JoHNsoN-l will speak Of him by and BY /
should perhaps not have spoken of him ALL had not
the honorable Senator lcaled my attention to this
person. Sufficient for the day the evil thereof |
hope we shall never have such another day % that.
evertng again to the bank question and the Examples
In its support Of Washington and Madison the learned
Senator came to the days of Jackson, when the u s.
Bank came up for re:charter. And, said Mr.. John
manIf IN fhn hair Won
sir, proposed to- recharter tho United States Bank
General Jackson himself declared there would be
difficulty to his support of tho charter if he were
permitted to draw up the bill.
JOHN TYLER's POLITICS DEFINED.
Mr. JOHNSON in his regular descent along the line
OF American Residents in connection with the bank
question and the veto power ut ongth to the pa
renthetca administration Of John Tyler By an acct
dent at the Harrisburg convention, followed by
amentable accident at Washington John Tyler became
tally the President of the United States John
Tyler was no whig-he was no sort of wing he was
no loco-no sort Of locohe stood alone in party by
himself. He was, per Sc, tho President and nothing
more, except John Tyler. With him the only consti-
the thing-if you only called it fiscal corporation,
or a fiscal agency, or gscal institution he
t!sfcd But upon trial he found per Sc that it would
not do.
SUPREME
Mr.. JOHNSON next came to examine tho merits of Pre-
sident Tyers veoes by the judgment of the Supreme
Court He would hazard the opinion that there is
to be found member Of the Supreme Court, all of
whom their places this dy nasty and its prede
back to General Jackson who would entertain
the question of the consttutonality of bank, but
from ofcourtesy clearly
that question considered to be.
Mr.. BENTON, lin conversation)-Its the plough line,
sir that guides the horse. You must have line, sir
ha. ha.
CHANCE FOR JAMES K. FOLK.
Mr.. JoHNsoN proposed to put question to the Sena
tor from Ohio, (Nir Asn.) Does he believe that this
President Polk whom he claims the direct represen
tative Of the American people. could have been nom-
mated, if nominated could have been elected, had it
been known in advance that he would have vetoed tho
atons! do not speak of the Kane letters in which
is said he pandered in double sense; but Of those
vetoes Had they been foreseen could MIR. Polk ever
have received the nomination if nominated could
hs ever have been elected by the American people!
understand that no ia willing to be reelected What
Senator believes that he will receive the nomination.
If nominated what Senator believes that if any body
odd sort Of representative of the American people,
appointed to obey their will and speaking their voice
There is one will which he will have to obey, both of
his party. and Of the American pocplcand that is,
that he will have to let somebody else come in. Mr.
johnson dwclt with much severity upon tho usurpa-
tons Of the present executive, under the exercise
chiefly Of the veto power His powers in the govern
ment, as exercised, were greater than those Of any
rns since the days OF the d''p0'i'"' Hen
A LITTLE THE Prudential QUESTION
MIR. JOHNSON anmadvertcd upon the plan which
democratic national conventions getting up and
argued that the convention of the democracy Of 1874
was not to be compared 10 the wing convention
exponent Of the will Of the people Mr.. johnson
understood to ask, upon what high grounds the wing
candidate of 1874 was nominated
Ma. BAGBY-Avaiability. lr
Mr.. JoHNsON.-Ycs sir, availability But. sir. do
void of this element did the democratic nomn APP
pear to be- that regarded it joke but it turned
out to be serious joke to u.s. We had the election in
grasp but Mr.. Clay had he been defeated by
Mr. Polk. would have defeated himself Mr. Johnson.
recurring again to the despotc powers of the President
Indignation against the Executive his organ and the
minions who would kneel and worship him like shrink
ing slaves, if so commanded.
THE SWORD OF GIDEON.
Mr. JOHNSON at length returning to the direct ques-
ton Of the resolution remarked that there several
officers acting generals in the American army and
it proper that the Senate should know why their
nominations had not been sent in. One Of these
Gideon G. Pillow.
Mr.. BREEsE-(iideon j.
Mr. JoHNsoS-What does the Senator say?
Mr.. BREEsE-Gideon J. Pillow.
Nh. DICKINSON Quoting Scripture solus 1.-The
sword Of the Lord and of Gideon.
Mr.. JEFFERSON DAvs-Ha ha
Mr.. LEwIs-Not the old Gideon.
Mr.. JoHNsoN-Major General Gideon J. Pillow is one
Of those appointments that have not yet heard Of
lie is the mighty man of war who has been forced to
record the history of his own achievements, from
ccssity, admit, because there is other who
witnessed them: Qaughtcr) Why should the Prcsi
s not TO the c cou
give good for IT, After drawing not very
nsttcring description Of General Cushing, sitting in
judgment on General Scott, MIR. Johnson asked why
his name had not been sent in and after just and
complimentary tribute to the worth the abilities and
the services of Gen Quitman Mr.. Johnson desired to
know why, at least his name had not yet been
municated to the Senate. Was it on account of the
more questionable appointees with whom he
fortunately associated what else could be the
son! In every view of the subject, Mr.. johnson
tended for the expedicncy and propriety of the in
quiry proposed.
Mr. JOHNSON, of La moved to take up private bills,
and that they also be tho order of the day for
Mr.. HASSro.S objected, and appealed for immediate
action upon the bill for the relief of Yucatan..
A conversation followed between Messrs. Badger,
flanagan, Foote Johnson Of La, Douglass, Baldwin,
Badger, Brcesc and others; when,
On motion of Mr. HANNEGAS, private bills were laid
aside, with u view to make room for the Yucatan bill,
and then,
On motion Of Mr.. CANrnos, the Senate went into
exec utive session.
STEAMBOAT CoILIsIoN.--On Saturday night, as
the steamer General Clinch Captain Curry, was
proceeding TO Charleston having left her wharf Mt the
usual hour she into collision with the steamer
William liastnu Cantain uchhard. the Inter xas