The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-03-10
be recommitted to the Committee of Ways and Means,
for the purpose of amendment agreed to-


be recommitted to the Committee of Ways and Means
Mr. VAN DYKE presented Iont resolutions S of the
Legislature OF New Jersey, affirming the declaration OF
the sentiments Of the Chicago convention held in July
ls47, upon the Improvement OF rivers and harbors:
referred to the Committee on Commerce.
MIR. MCKAY, from the Committee OF ways and
Means, reported back, without amendment the bill re,
curing all moneys receivable from customs and from all
other to be paid Immediately into the treasury
without abatement deduction and Tor other purposes
read twice, and referred to the Committee OF the Whole
on the state OF the Union and on mohon OF Nr foL-
LOCK, made the special order for Wednesday next
Mr. POLLOCK from the same committee, reported the
following resolution; which was agreed to;
Resolred That the Committee Public Lands be in
sucted inquire into the expediency of repeating so
much the existing laws relating to the public lands,
requires all patents issued from the General Land Office to
be signed by the President of the United States and aso
much of said laws authorizes the President to appoint
secretary sign said patents Also TO inquire into the
expediency of amending said laws require all pat
ens for public lands to be signed by the Commissioner and
counersgned by the Recorder OF the General Land Office
be executed and issued in such will be
most compatible with the public interest without the sig
of the President, and will avoid de-
lay in the issuing thereof
Mr. DUNN. from the Committee of Claims, reported
bills for the relief OF Elijah Milan and Thos. p Graham
for the payment of debt due to the heirs of Antoine
Peter, and for the relief of the heirs of Nicholas La
chance and others severaly read twice. and committed
Also, an adverse report on the petition OF Benjamin
Sawyer laid on the table, and ordered to be printed
Mr. CROWELL, from the same committee, submitted
adverse reports in the of John Harris, Capt W.
Heady, Hiram Hall, and s. II. Zinc laid on the table
Mr. FLOURNOY, from the committee, reported
bill for the relief of Christopher H. Pix, Of Texas
read twice, and committed.
Also, adverse report in the case OF Nathaniel Cox
laid on the table, and ordered to be printed.
VETO OF THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
Mr.. HUNT moved that the House proceed to the con-
sderation of the business upon the Speakers table
which was agreed to.
The SPEAKER announced as the first subject, the
Presidents message in relation to his of the river
and harbo bill of last session the questions pending be-
ing Mr.. YINroN's motion to refer to select committee
and Mr. WENTwoRTH's motion to refer to the Committee
Mr. VINTON withdrew his motion; when, the ques.
ton recurring upon the motion to refer to the Committee
MI HAMPTON of Pennsylvania, began by stating
the interest felt by his constituents in the tariff question
peal OF that of 1916 He desired this himself He be-
eved that that odous trade British tariff act OF
1916 ought to be repealed
Mr.. BEDINGER rose to order, and inquired if dis
cusson OF the tariff subject pertinent TO the bill
der consideration
The SPEAKER should certainly rule the gentleman
OF ORDER if he discussing the details OF the tariff
But the Chair did not understand the gentleman.
MIR. HAMPTON continued, He thought it necessary,
he said to refer TO the repeal of the tariff of 1896 and
the restoration OF that 1S42, most appropriate resort
in order to furnish the means for the Improvement OF
rivers and harbors by the general government.
Mr. H. then proceeded to investigate the constitutional
power of the States levy mposs or duties on imports
exports, and also their power to impose tonnage du.
tesshowing that such power depends the of
Congress Had Congress. then, the power to consent
of itsef He showed that if Congress had not the pow
er TO levy these duties, it had right declare He
considered also the difficulty of improving rverthe
ested and showed that the States could enter
into compact for this purpose without the consent of
Congress To show the fallacy of the Presidents posi-
steam navigation' But this right was assumed by
the ordinance OF 1857, which declares the western
rivers to be public highways and free to the nayiga-
also, the power 10 establish custom houses, and
exact the tolls which collected from commerce
The President says he cannot approve the river and har
the constitution. This sounded very WE'LL and it might
be more satisfactory if his acts were in keeping with his
professions But # not from the constitution, where
then. did the President derive the power to authorize
survey of the Dead Sea- to establish civil government in
any Of the Mexican States Il survey the isthmus of
Tehuantepec for the purpose OF opening great highway
of nations between the two oceans Our fathers were
mistaken in the very preamble to the constitution when
they thought they were setting up government to pro-
vide for the common defence and general welfare"
he charged that all the powers OF the government were
claimed to rest in the hands of the Executive Anything
which did not square with his views unconsttution
all while every favorte project of the President became
constitutional, with the touch of magic. Mr. H. pro-
ceeded at length to express his unqualified opposition &c
this one man. power.
In this connexon, aso he read an extract from Col
Benons letter to the Chicago Convention, in which tina
distinguished gentleman expresses doubt of the cOns
nationality of bringing the navigation of the great ives
within the circle OF internal improvement by the genera
government
Mr.. H. next looked at the extent of the Mississippi
valley, and considered the growing importance OF the
commercial interests belonging to its population of twelve
millions and seeing that the navigation of these western
rivers obsructed by rocks, snags, bars, &c
he argued the necessity of carrying out the constitutional
power of Congress to these distractions and give
facility to navigation generally. He could not see the
reasonabeness justice of government attending to the
interests of commerce elsewhere, whilst all these interests
in the Great West were to remain wholly neglected.
When Mr.. H.'s hour expired,
Mr.. SAWYER obtained the floor, and demanded the
previous question; pending which motion,
The House adjourned
FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1sis.
The journal having been read