The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-07-07
the President had as good right to differ from him
had oharo If this Housa


could not vote for that resolution because he believed II
constitutional He thought Congress had the power
give authority the States advance, and 1t seemed
to him that any who would refer to the constitution
al provisions on that subject, would concur with hun in
that opinion The clause of the constitution which rela
ted TO this question, IN The following words; mo
State SHALL without the consent OF Congress, lay any
duty on tonnage" &c. ~, ~ ar
Whether that consent was given before or after any
the part OF the State, was certainly constitu
tona because this grant OF power express author
zng Congress give their consent TO the States TO I'M
pose these tonnage duties His opinion was, that the
power could not be to the extent that had been con-
tended for by gentlemen on this floor lie thought
very limited power and upon the lakes and upon the
largest rivers OF the United States which had heretofore
been improved by appropriations from Congress The pow
er would be of no avail But the time Qor he
wanted to speak briefly the subecD he could not vote
for this resolution, because he thought the power was
constutonaly in Congress to give authority to any State
in this Union pass laws regard to tonnage duties
previous the action OF the State itself He could not
therefore, vote for this resolution He suggested an
amendment strike out that part of this resolution
which related to the question of consttutionality
Further debate was now had upon these resolutions,
in which Mr. HUNT explained the nature and force OF
ON co%mepee a epo t ' Mr. ATKINSON RT
Mr. EVANS of Maryland, Mr.. THOMPSON of Penn
syvana and perhaps others, also participated in the de-
ration of the previous question, resulted In the adoption
of the first resolution by the following vote:
YEAsMessrs Abbott, Adams, Ash,nun Barringer,
man, clngma8, Cooke CoIameT Collins congeI Grams rams
lei Duncan Dunn, Ecker. Edwards, Embree. Alexander
Evans Nathan Evans, Farrey Fishe5 Tourney Freed
Gnnncl, Hale, Nathan X Hall, James G. IIamPton Moses
HsHy Hns bas ona nou'i en
kins Robert W Johnson, John W Jqnes, Kellogg Thomas
sd h9s E. hn in nas
Cleland. Mclvane, job Manu. H. Mann, Marvin, More
frey, Peck pendIeion, Pelr'e Peyon Pollock, Preston,
Putnam, Reynolds, Richardson, Julius Rockwell, John A
shsppsld, sh u Sylvester, snssiand, Caleb B. Smith,
Robert Smith, Truman Smith, stanton, Sarkweather, Ste
james thompson, Richard W Thompson John B. Thomp,
SON. Wm Ti9%psoa Thus!cn Turner Fur Van Dyke Vim
AvsHn Bsyy Bsne Bsa1ys Bow
Burt Chase Franklin Clark b. l.. Clark, Howell Cobb,
Williamson R. W Cobb cummins Dickinson, Faran,
r' rss Id sors a Ha"
Iyeson. Jameson, Andrew Johnson, James l. John
s %s ks Ms sp Sa
khe, Kohey sawyer Simpson Sims Smart wThG%as
WICK Wiley, Williams. and Woodwaid-5S ~
Mr.. TURNER moved to reconsider this vote, stating
that he made the motion to reconsider that he might be
enabled to give his why he opposed TO the
passage of these resolutions at this time.
Mr. COBB, after consultation with the gentleman from
Illinois, moved that the House resolve itself into Com
mittee of the Whole on the state OF the Union He init
mated that, if this motion should be agreed to- the gen.
eman from Illinois would retain the floor for
The motion was agreed to-
the state of the UniOn Mr. ROeT in the Chair
Mr.. VlNTON moved that the committee lake up the
Senate amendments TO the bill making appropriations for
the Indian department
Mr.. JOHNSON objected, because out of order.
MIR. VINTON. AS this bill, the ratification BILL and
the Post Office BILL had all come back from the Senate
with amendments, was highly important that they should
be acted upon promptly.
CIVIL AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATIONS
On motion of Mr.. VINTON, the committee the n took
up the vote on the civil and diplomatic appropriation bill
The first item OF appropriation being read
MI c. j. INGERS0Lt moved to Strike out the pro-
which proposes at the present session of Congress-
such reduction in the mileage of members residing
than thousand miles from the seat of government as
will provide that member shall receive than
Mr.. vINTON proposed to amend to allow him to ex-
PLAIN He supposed, average the mileage would
exceed $3.50. The committee proposed only to interfere
with the regular compensation for mileage until the dis
lance shall exceed 1000 miles
Mr.. Mckay proposed amendment to the proviso in
the BILL by striking out, and inserting proposition which,
in the explanations he said would reduce the annual ex
penditure for mileage nearly $4,000, and upon scale
directed also that the Postmaster General shall ascertain
and determine the distance of travel by each member
upon his knowledge of the distance of his residence from
Washington by way OF the nearest postroute. He said
that loud complaints existed against the existing nequal
y which sometimes happened in computing distances, 1t
was possible for gentlemen coming from the neigh
borhood to vary in their charges, cases. much
as two and three hundred miles
The CHAIRMAN ruled the amendment to be out OF
order
Mr.. C. J. INGERSOLL accepted the amendment of
Mr.. Mckay.
Mr.. GREEN proposed to amend the amendment by
striking out the words nearest postr and inserting
the words "the most usual post-roue, and proceeded
for five minutes to illustrate the necessity of the amend
ment.
His amendment was rejected
Mr. RHETT moved to insert the word ''farhest," in
stead of the word nearest" He Notwithstanding
that the security for the permanence of the Capitol
one side of the Union depended on the existing mileage
law; and then he withdrew his amendment.
Mr.. EVANS of Maryland moved to amend by striking
out from the amendment the words POSTMASTER General"
and inserting the words Committee on Mileage" which
was agreed to-
Mr.. LAHM proposed further TO amend the amendment
and explained as follows: He said that he in favor
OF reducing the mileage of members of Congress- for the
reason that we receive entirely much, and also
gentlemen here receive two thousand dollars mileage
Tor each session. Thus, sir it will be seen that some
members receive more mileage for the short session of
Congress, consisting OF ninety days, than members
siding at the distance of five hundred miles from the
capital do for mileage and per diem. Sir, is this Just
No, sir, it is exceedingly unjust and unequal Why sir
some gentlemen here make clear of all expense of
simply on mileage. Is this right | have not single
constituent who would sanction OF approve such law
and doubt whether any gentleman here has many
stituents who would sanction it, The object of mileage
was simply designed to deray the travelling expenses of
members to and from the seat of government My amend
ment will do this. and even more. 1t gives to every
member residing within three hundred miles of the capt
tai what he receives, and two dollars for every
twenty miles over that, which will be in the nature of
bonus to distant members This is abundantly sufficient
to cover all expenses of travel and give members eight
dollars per diem for the time they necessarily the