The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-06-03

was that when public officer was charged before
mtee with errors duplicating his reputation, or impngn-
ing his character statesman, there should be gwen 10
hm the opportunity to explain and to justify the apparent
discrepancies in this proceeding
Mr. McCLERNAND understood the gentleman ron on
Alabama to declare the independence OF me seVeiai nc
partments OF the government lie conelueu Mi''i ano
view taken by that gentleman majority o. !lie Ioln
mee had made report duplicating .e % s ~ -,
Secretary and his friends SIMPLY asked LOT une 10
explain The errors and crimes or he could say nothing
less of the matters in the Iepor charged upon MN annie
Mr. BARRlNGER. Inc secretary has hAu ample
Mr. McCLERNAND understood that the secretary
had had no opportunity to explain -
Mr. BARRlNGER then asked the gentleman from
Illinois whether he really desired the Secretary to make
formal response to the report!
Mr McCLERNAND No, sir,
Mr. VINTON (the morning hour having eXpredl now
moved that the House go into Committee OF the Whole
on the state of the Union; which was agreed to.
NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS. SLAVERY IN THE TERRITORIES
The House accordingly resolved itself into Committee
of the Whole the state of the Union, (Mr THOMPSON
of Indiana in the char and proceeded to the consldera-
ton of the bill making appropriations for the naval ser
vice for the year ending June 81 S4s which read
the several items of the bill which were recommended by
Mr. PETIT remarked that he understood the chair
chiefly estimates presented by the Secretary OF the
Navy He wished particularly to ask whether IN the es-
tmates of the bill for the navy yards, the items for
dredging machines to clear out channels were recon-
MIR VINTON replied that those items were recon-
mended by the Secretary Of the Treasury.
Mr.. PETIT was glad, he said, to know that there
member of the cabinet who recognised the right
OF the government to improve rivers and harbors
Mr.. RHETT addressed the committee at length, re-
marking that during his service here he had never avail
ed himself of the privilege of discussing in committee OF
the whole topics not connected with the bill before the
committee His duty to his constituents required that he
should exercise the privilege this occasion He sent
to the Chair resolutions passed by the Legislature OF the
State of Virginia the subject OF slavery in the Terrific
res, declaring that under circumstances should Con-
gess recognise any which has for its object the
prohibition of slavery in any territory acquired by pur-
chase conquest that Congress maintain the right OF
citizens to remove there with their property of any kind
Also that any territory acquired or to be acquired is the
property Of the States The principles OF these
resolutions he desired to maintain
Mr.. j r. INGERSOLL made point OF order, con-
tending that the discussion OF the topic named was rree
want
Mr.. RHETT proceeded. The first resolutions which
had been read had been adopted by the Legislature OF
Georgia. and the others by the Legislature of Virginia.
and they contained as he believed, sound constitutional
doctrines.
was not in order for the gentleman to speak upon the
topics OF those resolutions.
The CHAIRMAN decided that the gentleman from
South Carolina not out OF ORDER 80 far as he had
Mr.; DUNCAN Of Ohio appealed from the decision of
the Chair
intimately connected with the prosecution OF the war,
which was the object of the bill
Mr.. DUNCAN said it was likely to take more time 10
discuss the appeal than the speech would occupy He
would, therefore, withdraw it.
The appeal renewed and, after some suggestions
from Mr. HENLEY and others, the question was taken on
the appeal and the decision OF the Char was sustained
so to A
MIR. RHETT proceeded. The great truth affirmed by
the legislative resolutions of Virgnia-airmed by the
legislatures of Georgia and of South Carona-was the
equal right of all the people OF this Union to enter into
the territories of the United States with all the property
belonging to them. There were three modes by which
attempted to exclude the South from equal par
tcipaton in the benefits of territorial acquisitions The
first was by law of Congress, in the form OF the Wlmot
Provso. The SECOND was by recognising the right Of
the people of the Territories to make laws excluding the
property Of the south The third mode was by the laws
made our hand by the nation from which we received
the territory in question: 1t was perfectly immaerlal to
the South by which of these modes their exclusion should
be effected but the mode by the Proviso was more toler
able than either of the others
Mr. R. proceeded to show that the Territories were not
sovereign, while they subject to the Union, and
could not enact laws asserting sovereignty the per-
lands in such Territory He entered into an ar
gument also to prove that in neither OF the other modes
could slavery be excluded from the Territories.
Mr.. VENABLE next obtained the floor, claiming I'M
der the constitution the common right OF the South to
every spring. and river, and lake OF the Territories he
exhored the House to march up to this question In the
spirit of patriotic frankness He took up and defended
the doctrine of nonntervenon in the matter OF leglsla
ting for the Territories The authority which Congress
exercised over them was extra constitutional: 1t was
exercised by the consent OF the hdbidns OF the Territory
in the way of contract rendered by Congress to them
reason necessity Inc exercise OF
er amounted to hsto dispose of the public land, and
to nurture up to maturity infant State The power OF
Congress TO revise their laws is of the results of the
contract between these parties by which the sovereignty
of the habitans in this respect has been given up ne
contended for the constitutional provision upon which
the opposing parties upon the declaration of the ordl.
nance of 1897, and of the Wmot Proviso, may bury
their disputes in the grave of forgeuness and shake
hands treferring to article d. section 3, OF the
constitution, and quoting the words: "The Congress
shall have power to dispose of and make all needul
nd
property belonging to the United States.''
When Mr. v had fulfilled his hour
Mr. BRODHEAD obtained the floor, but gave way
for motion that the committee rise, which was agreed
to.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS.
The SPEAKER laid before the House communica
ton from the Treasury Department in relation to
counts of persons charged with the disbursements Of
goods and moneys under treaties with the Indians laid
upon the table, and ordered to be printed.
Also communication from the War Department, in
answer to the resolution Of the House of the 18th March
last respecting Creek Indian reservations under the
treaty of 1882 referred to the Committee on Indian AT
fairs.
EXPENSES OF VOLUNTEERS.
The House proceeded to the consideration Of the bill
TO refund money for expenses incurred, subsistence OF
TRANSPORTATION furnished for the OF volunteers during
the present war; before being mustered into the service
the United States which had been returned from the Sen
cOncurred In.
Mr. POLLOCK moved the recommittal to the Com
mittee on Invalid Pensions of the bill for the relief OF
Captain Alexander McEwen: agreed to.
The House then adjourned.