The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-16
SATURDAY, APRIL IS. ls4s.


ns SATURDAY, APRIL IS, 1s4s
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The journal having been read
Mr.. COLLAMER obtained the hoor but gave way
personal EXPLANATION
Mr. PALFREY, who asked and obtained leave to
make personal explanation He had just seen for the
the report OF discussion in which he was concerned
and in the of which his remarks interrupted
by the gentleman from Tennessee, {Mr JOHNSON who
asked him question. II the gentleman correctly
reported he would say now that he did not understand
his question. He did not say the report ncor-
rect He supposed because corroborated by the recol
lection OF Others tina, the genemans question had been
correctly reported and repeated that when he answered
that question he did not understand it, IA voice read
from the reply itself (Which he believed also cor
recy reporteD that he did understand the question
All he had to say now was, that when he made he re-
ply, he did not understand the question II the gentle
from Tennessee meant to wound his feelings, he
could easily forgive him. Whether he took a proper
way to wound his feengs-the Poprey Oh ,e
takenhe would refer to the decision OF any sehuema
entertaining high sense OF delicacy ana honor. .
MIR, JOHNSON, OF Tennessee, now . addressed the
chair, Qhe gentleman from Vermont stu! giving way,)
and obtaining the unanimous consent Of the House to
explain on his part said he could not be sure that he
had heard the entire statement OF lhe Seh'leman rom
fully he was prepared 10 make the proper response AS
for asking question he did with the purpose Of wound
ing the feelings the member from Massachusetts,
of making any unknd cut at him, or any member of his
family he assured the gentleman that nothing was fur
ther from him but his question was asked IN connexion
with particular set OF remarks made by that gentleman
On the occasion referred 10, the gentleman going
10 show and prove, that the negro race was becom
ing more and more elevated, and approaching nearer
and to the condition of equality with the white
race-and enumerahng examples OF remarkable negro
characters, and amongst them giving an account OF
very intellectual interesting charming negro boy, who
had exceed many white students associated with him in
particular institution OF learning and who had been called
hence by the will of inscutable Providence; but who,
had he lived, would now have been the companion and
associate OF the gentemans own son, and the companion
and associate OF the of member from South Caro-
lima, in of the colleges of New England and fur
Their stating that If his should TAIL or refuse to treat
that charming negro boy with proper respect as compan
ion and associate his studies he would thereby bring
him his fathers dispeasure. All this impressed the mind
of MR. that the gentleman from Massachusetts wanted to
mpa to the House the idea that he considered that negro
boy TO have been the equal of his son. he might have
been his rival and perhaps his superior Mr. knew that
il the duty of every who considers himself gen.
teman, meeting with all classes of men, to treat all with
appropriate civity and respect. But here case
made 10 show the elevation of the negro-he case Of
negro of superior order of nteect-introduced in
conjunction with member of the gentemans own
family; and thereupon, at the moment, he thought his
question pertinent and just place He submitted the
question: therefore, not with the least view OF making
the occasion of unkind cut against the gentleman
any member OF his family but merely to test the sDcerl
ty of the genteman's theory-o see how it would work
In practice He had made out the negro equal almost
superior TO member of his family and Mr. consd-
cred it proper question ask the gentleman of his will
lngness provided such thing meet the requisite
approbatonhe did not ask with reference to conven-
hona crcumsances-but il such thing should meet
with the appreciation and be suited TO the taste OF his
own daughter, would he give his consent that such
charming negro boy. as he had described should be
question not intended to wound any feeling, but
merely to apply the test of practice theory which the
gentleman had seemed to introduce. And, he added it
the gentleman had not himself been first to introduce his
family Mr. J. would have been as far as the gentleman
himself from making the auson.
Mr.. PALFREY Gnterruptng hm) merely wished to
at ,yha he made hia frat he 1nOf
dersand the question; and that now he did understand
it. though an answer ready, rising to his lips he
Mr. JOHNSON continued. After the gentleman had
demonstrated that the negro, had he lived, would have
been the equal OF his II seems to me that the gentle
from Massachusetts could not by giving to my ques
the most aitudinous construction, convert into
attack his family the negro student was suitable
companion for his son. he was his equal and OF course
he could consider the question cut OF unkndness
Mr. CONGER rose to question OF order, and inquired
whether there not rule of the House limiting the
pf pht s s ns he time
The SPEAKER understood that the proprety OF such a
rule had been referred to the proper committees but the
Mr. JOHNSON. | shoua have been done before this
time would say, in conclusion, that when asked the
from the gentemans high OF honor and acute pow
ers, perception, and observatonhat any association of
the with his family would be repulsve and even Of
fensive him. did not intend the question anything
uncivi knew the gentemans theory and his practice
in such matter must be very different from each other
and that his sense of honor his nice discriminating pow
ers and the high tone of his morality would forbid and
reject every idea of reducing such theory to practice
RELIEF VOLUNTEERS THE MIAMI RESERVATION.
Mr.. COLLAMER asked leave to introduce bill from
the Committee on Public Lands. He explained briefly
the provisions of it. There certain volunteers in
the Mexican who entitled to empon rights
in the Miami reservation, In the State OF Indiana These
lands, when brought into market, were held at two dol
lars acre. The bill proposes to give to these voun-
the privilege of applying their land scrip to the pay
ment for their pre- -empons 10 Miami lands though
these lands were offered dollar and quarter per
acre--he same price of other public lands
No objection being made, the bill, to wit: bill for
the relief of those pre- empton claimants Tor Miami lands
in the State of Indiana, who, by their services in the
Mexican war; entitled to bounty lands reported
twice read ordered to be engrossed and put upon its pas
sage.
TERMINATION OF DEBATE.
Mr.. ROCKWELL, of Connecticut. proposed the adop-
ton of resolution to terminate debate the bill for the
relief Of the legal representatives of Richard w Meade
in Committee of the Whole House, at O'Clock this day
Mr. COBB, of Georgia, opposed the resolution. There
had been evinced yet disposition to wander from the
merits of the bill in this discussion; and there had been
minated desire the part of many members 10 post
pone the discussion TO future day He moved to lay
the resolution on the table.
Mr.. ROCKWELL had offered the resolution from no
feeling of hostility to the BILL but with view to progress
with the business on the calendar
The resolution then laid on the table.
Mr.. ROCKWELL, of Connecticut, moved that the |
I'LL.