Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-06-10
NAVY BILL-SLAVERY.
HOUSE OF REpREsENrATIyEs-Iprr ]. ls4

Ihe House resolved ltse1 mo tomntiee o the hole
of the Union, and took up the bill making appro-
priaions for the naval service
Mr. VINTON made brief explanation Of the bill Thees-
Inmates, asonginay enn, fraction ande 000 GOO,
and Committee OF Ways and Means hau cerlained from
the Secretary of the Navy hathe would have about O00 600
remaining in the Treasury at the end of the year They had
applied him ascertain il these could be
duced and interview with the Secretary he had express
ed the opinion that they could be reduced one and halt mil
lions The estimates originally in based the sup
position that thousand men OF all descriptions would be
poyed in the navy during the fiscal year Tie estimates
sent in, and reduced and half millions, based
the supposon that $500 instead of TO- 600 would
be employed As matter OF the estimates for
items could not be reduced The Committee Of Ways and
Means believed that subcommittee could better Judge from
wha items this reduction should be taken they accordingly
appointed The gentleman from North Carolina (M MckAr)
subcommittee with the Secretary OF the Navy for the
purpose of making full revision OF his estimates they had
full confidence that he would bring the Secretary down la
augh the lowest possible point Such the bill reduc-
ed million and half from the original estimates.
Since the bill repoedo estimates had been sent in,
which had given rise TO certain amendments which he
suced by the Committee Of Ways and Means report, and
which he should move at the proper time One es
mate for the appropriations that would be necessary meet
the expenditures under the law Of last session, which provided
for carrying the mail of the United States by be-
New York and Liverpool which was one line another
or the service from New York, by the way OF New
Orleans, 10 Chagres, another line third ior the
transmission betw Panama and the Territory Of Oregon
steamers various lines, Which ordered
the law Of last session. all in the Of construction
and the Committee Of Ways and Means, this bill
poed had directed Amendment be moved for the pur
pose Of making provision for this service.
Mr. PETIT interposed and said be had understood the
gentleman from Ohio say that the this bill
principally based the recommendation Of the Secretary OF
the Navy he wished then, ask particularly whether the
Secretary OF the Navy had recommended the appropriation at
the navy yards Portsmouth, New York. Phi adepha, Wash
ngon, and Norfolk dredging machines clear out the
channels and make Improvements
Mr. VINTON replied that there nothing in the esti-
mates or these various objects except such recommend
ed by tle Secretary Of the Navy.
Mr. PETIT was glad TO know that there gentle
IN the Administration that concluded that the Govern
ment could clear out and improve rivers and aarbofs
Mr. ViNTON further said that while there nothing
the bull about which the gentleman from which
not recommended by the Secretary OF the Navy, was
proper say that the estimates for these navy yards
had been considerably down that tie provision in the bill
large the original estimates But therewas
thing here which was not originally estimated ior.
Mr.. PETIT. That is all wished 10 know.
Mr. VINfON proceeded further that the Committee
Of Ways and Means had also directed him amend
ment for the purchase of enlargement OF the
Wy yard al New iorkan item Of near $500 0e0 In word
the amendments which he had been directed 70 by the
Committee of Waysand Means ,opoyiie the objects
which had 10 the attention OF the committee since they
had reported the bill, amounted 70 something million
OF dollars and the principal purpose io which ne had desired
the floor this respectfully that the commit
tee would permit the COMMITTEES Of Ways and Means offer
these various amendments and dispose Of them before the de-
bate opened the bill large, o .he that i'm
poran amendments, approprlahng large Of money,
qued eiucidaon, and could bs satisfactorily
planned within the few minutes allowed aiei tie debate
closed He concluded by offering amendment insert be-
tween the first and second items the following
For the pay OF the Superintendent OF Naval 0bervsto
Washington city who shall be captain, elmmsnder
lieutenant in the navy, three thousand dollars which shall be
the salary per of said superintendent And the pro-
vision in the entitled An act making appropriations for
~.
thousand eight hundred and forty eight, whc IN these
words viz "ineudug three thousand dollars tor pay Of the
Superintendent, who shall be either captain commander
lieutenant in the navy shall be construed 70 apply the Su
perinsndent OF said Observatory and snail effect
from and after the passage Of that set,'
He explained that the sole object Of this anenlnent
correct the law Of last Congress- which INTENDED give the
Superintendent Of the observatory the salary named but the
law giving 1t to the superintendent the DIalmeni hsd
refused pay IT, This amendment, therefore, only did what
| the original law intended 10 accomplish
Mr. RHETT obtained the foor and occupied an hour
IN the delivery Of speech in support Of the rights Of the peo
pie Of the Southern any Of the Territories
Of the United staIes and take with them their property Of
every description, &c,
Mr. VENABLE followed with a constitution Argument,
sustaining many Of the the gentleman rom South
Carolina He said he believed that this broad land with its
lakes and rivers belonged him, because be an Amer
citizen. He and his constituents bad interest IN all
this Union, for had been acquired ~ the common blood
and common treasure Of ALL Difficulties, however, had been
suggested and 10 settle them, 10 his Judgment best
walk right Up TO them calmly statesmen snd PATRIOTS with
kind feelings towards all. With feelings like these platform
could be erected which all could stand and present. his
views Of the platform which all could sand he lad thrown
| himself on the indulgence Of the committee.
IN the he stated that he believed the nonnsryen-
uon doctrine He believed that Government hal no more
right = establish slavery in the territories than abolish H.
Congress had night legate the subject ii the terrific
res al all had the territories the right that Ques-
on The constitution had marked clearly tie course 10
te pursued:
"Thc Congress shall have power dispose Of make All
needu rules and regulations respecting the tcCsy or other
property belonging TO the United States"
Territory other property The territories were treated
as property like ship yards, and properly alone How were
Territorial Governments established On this subject The n
stiiuton silent. Bot how have Territorial Governments
been established Why they had hcen organized in man.
ner eTira-consutiona the power do having sprung
from the right TO them property. The Congress made an
organic law, not Tor citizens bufor the inhabitants the Ter
rtory and by accepting they enabled elect their
Legislature and to organize Territorial Government, Con-
ges however by the acceptance Of such organic law on
the pau Of those who had settled down there ACQUIRED no
night that did not before possess dd the hGJfnas ac-
qure any other night than tina, conferred. Congress acquired
no night which not given IL Ivy the constitution and there
fore this extraconstuona He wished HI rronosiion
to I've distinctly ecoectej He held that all the territory Of
the United states belonged TO all the people q al tie States
and Congress might make roles io their repula
ton. This Government had acquired territory 9th y pur
chase and by conquest and in order extend over il our
we endeed 10 ihe hdtGns organic law Then land off,
ccs were established judges app,nd and the laws Of
the United States administered there with corrs io ex
ecuie those laws and the laws u the erry so FAR as they