The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-05-02
PUBLIC PRINTING AND BINDING.

PUBLIC PRINTING AND BINDING.
Mr.. MCKAY rose 10 a privileged question He de-
sired TO move reconsideration OF the vote by which the
House yesterday adopted resolution reported from the
COMMITTEE on Accounts, directing the Clerk of the House
TO receive proposals for binding documents ordered by the
House He said that this resolution contemplated con-
tract for binding documents heretofore ordered during the
present Congress He desired the House to give their
enon 10 letter written by the Clerk of the House
perceive thai there was at least implied contract for
the binding with the public printers, The uniform Gus
tom had been to give the binding of documents ordered
by the House TO the public printers and the letter refer
red to admitted that such was the usage He was III
formed that, under this understanding the public printers
had contracted for the binding of the documents hereto
gentlemen willing to pay twice for this binding for he
did not suppose that they disposed to do injustice to
the printers who would undoubtedly bring in claim for
damages for breach OF an implied contract
After further remark upon this subject by Mr. STEW
ART, OF Pennsylvania, and Mr.. KING, of Massachu-
sets, in favor of laying the action the motion
vertsement of the Clerk. and insisting that now the
printing was let 10 the lowest bidder, the binding
longer an incident TO the contract for printing,
The subject was passed over informally.
Mr.. T. B. KING, from the Select Committee on inter-
national copyright, made report which was ordered to
Mr.. McCLELLAND proposed, that by the unanimous
consent OF the House. the message received this morning
from the President of the United States be taken up and
read was in relation to the condition OF Yucatan.
The CHAIR said there was a previous executive mes
sage upon the Speakers table. By general consent,
could be passed over.
Mr.. ROOT | object. want them in their order
Mr.. J. R. INGERSOIL expressed the hope that the
objection would be withdrawn but it persisted in
Aer some conversation,
The SPEAKER (by unanimous consenD proceeded to
table $500 ''N D| ' 0>''V '''''S''''' Nr''' ''''
The message of the President declining to communi-
cate the instructions to Mr. Sldel, was again taken up;
when, on motion of Mr.. TOMPKINS, it was laid upon
the table, and ordered to be printed
The SPEAKER then laid before the House message
from the President in relation to the revolution in
France published heretofore part of the Senate
proceedings which was laid the table, and ordered to
be printed.
CONDITION YUcATAN.
The SPEAKER also laid before the House message
in relation to the condition OF Yucaan, published in the
last number Of the Union.]
Mr.. ROCKWELL, of Massachusetts,, moved that the
mittee on Territories. [Several voices Foreign Al
fairs-Foreign Afairs'] Ii was message of much in
terest and he considered the Committee on Territories
the most appropriate though he would defer to the opin
ion of those who might prefer the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, select committee. He deemed the reference
Of this % ate occasion to Otter some
ries twas manifest that there were questions connect
ed with acquisition of territory in Mexico involving
important interests connected with the very exist
ence of this republic, than could be found in any other
relations of the government He proposed, therefore, in
this connection, 10 offer some remarks on the policy OF
our government with respect to this new territory.
The SPEAKER considered the remarks proposed as
hardly applicable to the question of reference.
Mr.. ROCKWELL understand that the message, in
of its aspects contempates the acquisition by this
government and the annexation OF the province OF Yucca
and, upon such subject, consider 1t would be le
climate to consider the manner in which the government
should proceed in relation to the whole subject OF the ac-
QUESTION of Mexican territory.
Mr.. COBB, of Georgia, rose to point OF order. The
gentleman from Massachusetts having very fairly and
very properly informed the House of his intention to
tend his remarks upon this subject he made the point
that the discussion proposed wholly irrelevant and
out of order, upon motion to refer the message and pa
pers lust communicates and although he would be hap
by hear the gentleman he submitted, if the House IN
tended upon the subject, it should act prompy and
that debate would prolong time and perhaps eventuae in
the pre- venton of all efficient action There no telling
if debate allowed to begin, when it would be con-
cuded Besides he said, the message and papers were
to be referred at ALL they should 60 to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, and not to the Committee Territories
At present, it plain to his mind, that the only eg-
nate discussion must have reference TO the propriety of
printing and reference
The SPEAKER stated that being in regular session
of the House, and not in Committee of the Whole no
remarks could be in order which did not apply 10 Yucca
upon the President Of the United States for assistance or
the proprety of rendering it under the circumstances
Mr. COBB. must insist on the enforcement of that
Mr. ROCKWELL proceeded; but
The SPEAKER interrupted wth-If the gentleman
point out any nmaon in the message, of the purpose
of anneXing Yucatan to this government the Chair will
be prepared to rule his remarks in order.
Mr. ROCKWELL. The message represents the peril
Gus condition of the white population of Yucaan and
calls the attention of the House to the celebrated decla
ton of Mr. Monroe in 1923, in relation to the interior
ence OF foreign governments with any territory this
continent The attention OF Congress called to this
subject, with view to some action looking to the
ry and the protection of the people OF Yucatan The
sage he believed also contained suggestions relation
the TO be pursued looking at least to the temporary
occupation of that State for the purpose of protecting the
inhabitants These suggestions invited discussion, in
the first place, to show how the proposed occupation of
the country should be made in the second place, with
what view the country should be occupied and in the
third place, in what manner it should be occupied Mr.
proposed discuss especially the last of these points
If the country be occupied by the establishment of
lure whether the character and condition of that people
such TO justify the object; and also whether, in
any division OF the Mexican republic, the people could be
ripened into suitable condition become integral por-
lions of this Union
The SPEAKER submitted whether it would not have
been equally competent Tor the gentleman TO have made
his motion and insisted on the of remark in
relation the message with reference TO the late events
in France.
After further conversation,
The SPEAKER said there no better mode of bring
ing this question of order to the test than for the gentle
from Massachusetts TO proceed the Chair had
given its opinion of the rule of the House and if the
gentleman should go of order his remarks might be
arrested
Mr. BURT desired a select committee.
Mr. ROCKWELL then proceeded to address the House |
until he to discuss the constituonality of the
nexation of Texas and TO deny that Congress had the
Mr.. COBB, Of Georgia, rose to order, and
The SPEAKER decided that this abstract argument
was not in order on the motion
Mr. STEPHENS moved that this message be referred