Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-06-17
CONGRESSIONAL.
THE SEAT OF GOVERNMENT.

III obfI VT Wv ChNMENI.
Mr. HALE presented memorial from William c. Viii
lans and twenty others, cizens Of Hamilton county, Ohio
asking that the seat Of Government may removed to some
free State and suggesting Cincinnati the central spot
When the petition was presented Mr. H. moved to refer
70 me Committee on the Judiciary but motion made
that the motion to receive lie the table. Mr. H. called
the yeas and but the Chair having decided that the
nouon TO receive was carried Mr.. H. moved withdraw
Tor the purpose OF presenting other OCCASION but
on the question being taken quorum voted The Chair
again stated the question, and the result was ayes T. noes
IL. Mr. H. then mosedthat the Senate ADJOURN as there
was no quorum The question having been taken adjourn
ment the vote stood, ayes a. IA. Still no quorum
voting Here the Sergeant Arms was directed 10 see IL
there was quorum, and reported quorum present
Mr. BADGER called the yeas aud nays on the motion,
Mr. STURGEON called for the reading of the ne,;,;on
before he would give his
The petition then read as follows:
That whereas recent events well the indications of
past years. have rendered but painfully manifest that the
liberty of the press and freedom of speech in our Houses of
Congress are no longer all Subjects safe and unrammel-
led at our seat OF government in its present location but
presses are liable at any exgency attack and destruction
rom lawhss mob Tor sentiments uttered the subject of
slavery and members Of Congress exposed 10 insult and
personal violence from the ruthless bully and assassin for
words spoken in debate in their respective Houses on the
same subject
The prayer of your memoasts therefore, is that mea-
sures be Immediately taken by your honorable bodies for the
removal of the seat Of government speedily as convenient
from It's present location 10 site, within the bounds
IL
vege OF parliament in the persons Of members Congress
may be more fully respected and secured
Your memoraisis would also further suggest that what
renders such change sll more proper and called for the
tact that In the unparalleled growth of country the present
seat OF government however central il have been in its
original selection, is now far well south OF the
centre OF the voting population. They would therefore,
ture TO present the city of Cincinnati in the State OF Ohio
as place IN which, from It's central position, well
as It's other and great advantages would be spec
ally suitable for the location.
Finally, further in behalf of such change of
ocation you memorasts would urge the fact of the slave
traffic extensively carried within the bounds Of the Dis
trict and in sight Of the very Capitol ITSELF thus dsgracpg
our country by making what ought I've the citadel sane,
fuary Of liberty the great Stare mart of the Union
Aer some remarks from Messrs. MANGUM and HALE,
Mr. BAGBY said he was disposed, in the first instance
to allow the Senator withdraw the memorial but since
had been read he should against coming within that
class OF petitions which the motion TO receive was ordered
to lie on the table.
MIR. HALE rose to point Of order to where the pc
luton was The Senate refused o'receye it. and dis
posed to refuse him permission TO withdraw it,
Mr.. MANGUM spoke with warmth on the subject
declaring that for the last fourteen years the practice invna
bly, had been to dispose OF these petitions by the motion
ceiye being laid the table, and that an attempt had
been made to infringe until the Senator from New Hamp.
SHIRE came there to agaie the subject He considered
that the petition under the control of the Senate and
was the property OF the body.
Mr. NILES denied that the petition within the rule
and that therefore the remarks of the from North
Carolina (Mr. MANoun) gratuous That the petition
showed Its face that for the removal Of the
government for certain therein specd, showing
slavery among the number.
The question having been taken by yeas and nays il was
decided in the negative Yeas 7, nays 81
NATURALIZATION.
Mr. WEBSTER said yesterday asked leave of the Senate
to introduce bill further extend the provisions Of the
turaizaon laws Of the United States The object Of
the bill very simple will endeavor state it, with
all possible brevity, in the hope that when the committee
shall have examined the BILL and shall have reported it may
pass without much delay, is certainly somewhat Of
important object The difficulty which exists in the case
spec the national character Of children of American parents
born abroad would that, by the existing law of
1902 without very violent construction Of its provisions
children born abroad Of American parents resident abroad
whether in public capacity, like that Of ministers conss
or private persons travelling for pleasure business
not to be deemed and taken be citizens Of the United
States The question difficulty arises in this way. The
phraseoogy Of the of 1902 hat children born abroad
OF parents who heretofore have been, are citizens of
the United States shall be deemed and taken be citizens of
the United States themselves" But there are in the
prospective words does not say that children born of pa
rents who have been, are hereafter shall be- cit
zens OF the United States. And therefore the thing has
reached this point that American citizens born since the year
1902 who may consequently be foysx years Of age,
going abroad temporarily with their families either for business
purposes public or private for the sake Of travel and hav
ing children born abroad, those children excluded from
citizenship by the necessary construction Of that law.
II is the opinion Of Justice Story, Judge
Kent and ohe) that this clause very vaguely drawn
ahe phrase was intended to be applied to natuazed citizens
but cannot be construed. The object that have view
them provide again what provided for by the
Of 1902 and make extend the FUTURE and apply all
the children Of American parentage in where such pa
rents have reside temporarily abroad still preserving
their allegiance TO the United States There other pro-
visions in the concerning which there may be different
opinions perhaps but this is the main one, and think will
recommend itself 10 ALL and hope, the committee find the
law 70 be as understand il be, they will report this bill
and that the Senate will give enactment IN the form have
given to it.
The bill read twice and referred to the Committee
the Judiciary