The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-07

parties would become so exhausted that some
Philip Or Alexander, some Cesar Or Napoleon,
would arise and solve the problem Of mans capa-
city for self government and establish despotsn.
and forever blot out this last glorious light In the
history of man.
In conclusion, he abjured gcntlemen from the
South by the love they bore for the memory Of their
ancestors-by the love they bore their God and
country-by their duties to mankind and 10 Thorn
selves to pause upon the edge of that precpice be-
lore they plunged into that abyss from which there
He invoked as a blessing, that IL this Union was
to be dissolved, he might not live To witness II.
Mr.; FOOTE obtained the floor, but yielded II 10
Mr.. RUsK, and then
The Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Mr.. RAYMOND announced the death Of MIR.
NEWMAN yesterday; and not Mr. MoRrox, as was
enormously stated In the Republic.
The States were called for resolutions. large
number were presented instructing the committees
to make various inquiries.
Mr.. BOWLIN introduced bill granting 10 Mis-
souri, and Arkansas certain swamp lands, for the
purpose OF draining them, and thereby adding 70
the value OF the public lands which was referred
to the Committee on Public Lands
MIR. BINGHAM asked, and obtained leave, 10 in
roducc bill to aid in the completion Of the Gin
ton and Kalamazoo canal. in the State Of Michi-
gan and
donation Of land for the construction Of ship canal
around the falls of st. Marie, in the same State,
Which bills were severaly referred 10 the Com.
mittce on Public Lands
MIR. BOYD offered a series of resolutions. tlcnv-
ing to Great Britain any right to Tigre island and
to the Mosquito coast claiming that the States OF
Central America are sovereign Of themselves that
the Mosquitoes are precisely in the condition,
8 to power, there, as the Indian tribes within the
United States; and asserting the Monroe doctrine,
that no portion of North America should become
subject TO European colonization.
MIR. PRESTON KING objected to their introduc
xx-a in RI Lee C,rt e.
nation and they lie over, under the rule
Mr.. WILLIAMS asked tho unanimous conscnt
OF the House TO enable him to offer the following:
Resolued, That the committee for the District of
Columbia be instructed TO inquire into the propriety
and cxpediency of retroceding the county OF Wash
ington to the State of Maryland with leave to re-
port by bill or otherwise
Objection being made, the resolution was not re-
ceived.
Mr.. McLANE, from the Committee ON Com
mercc, reported bill to limit the liability of ship
owners and for other purposes, which was referred
TO the Committee Of the Whole on the state Of the
Union.
Several messages of an Executive character, en-
closing reports from several Of the heads of De-
partments, were laid before the House.
The joint resolution of the Senate, directing the
Library Committee to purchase the original manu-
script OF Washington's Farewell Address, was ta-
ken up.
Theamendment heretofore offered to limit The
purchase money to ono thousand dollars, was dis
agreed to.
The question now occurred on the passage of the
resolution, when
from the decision the House had just made that the
committee are authorized to pay any price they
may think proper for this manuscript It seemed
that they were not satisfied to limit the amount to
thousand dollars. To his mind, it was conclusive
that they expect to pay more than that sum. He
asked, In the name Of his constituents and the
American people, what is this old manuscript
Worth , VIC have already got Washington's Fare,
States have it. 1t is printed in the school books
not IN the original FORM 1t is true il first APP
peared In the original, with the interlineatons,
crasures, and burs; but we have it in spirit and in
the corrected form. We have it in various ways,
and do not want it on the principle il is offered
IL Is amercenary principle, and speculative, and in
violation OF the intention of the great man who
wrote it. Is there a member who believes that
General Washington, the Father Of his country,
who did 80 much for the achievement of our liber-
ties and the establishment of our institutions-is
there man who believes that Washington would
have consented that this man, Claypole, should be
permitted to retain the manuscript, that il might
be hawked and peddled to the highest bidder? He
had seen 1T stated in the newspapers that after the
Farewell Address was set up, Mr. Claypole OBJ
tanned the permission Of General Washington TO
retain the original copy; and he comes for
ward to sell 1t to his countrymen. IL there not the
same Involvement to purchase the pen with which
the address was written, If it could be found Is
there not the same inducement to purchase the
press and the old types which it struck off !?
Is there not the inducemcnt 10 purchase every
thing In connection with the manuscript
rule says that gentleman shall speak twice on
the same subject, and the gentleman from Tennes-
see has already addressed the House.
The SPEAKER informed the gentleman from
New Jersey that the bin was in a stage differ
ent from what il was on the occasion alluded to.
MIR. STANTON, Of Tennessee, with the permits
sion Of bis colleague, said that he understood this
morning that there is already ono copy Of the adj
hQn Of
session OF the Government He wished to know
whether the gentleman could inform him If this was
true?
M. JOHNSON presumed II was true Having to
pay a large price for this, there would be dozen
OF them in very short time. He thought that the
House ought to set its face against this proceeding
IL was doing injustice to the individual who is dead
so far as the administrators are concerned. If he
understood Alright, the gentleman from Pcnnsylva-
MIA (Mr. CHANDLER) stated that the executors or
appraisers had estimated the manuscript to be
worth thousand dollars. If the title 10 the manu-
script was not in the deceased, (Mr. CLAyPoLE,) on
what authority can value be fixed on the manu-
script Are they not acting in bad faith fixing
value ON that which lie not theirs and proposing TO
sehi 70 the United Statcs' If the Government is
now In possession of ono copy, he thought it
Mr.. STANTON said that he heard this morning,
without knowing any thing Of its truth, that cor
possession of the Government He only knew this
from what be had been informed
MIR. JOHNSON hoped that the House would
reject the resolution-not from want Of
spect to Washington, but because he thought the
passage OF the resolution would be a reflection on
Washington; and, while rejecting on a great and
good man, gratifying mcrccnary spirit, which
was obtaining too much ground in this country.
There has been imposition enough practscd on the
Government. great many gentlemen, so called,
out OF pretended patriotic feeling, (for thcrc Is
more pretenson than realiy,) when il is necessary
70 make display Of patriotism, very ready TO
spend the public money; but when their hands arc
to be put into their own pockets, Why II Is altogether
adlfierent affair IL the resolution pass how easy
will be for the executors 10 have swcctcncrs or by
bidders at the auction, and run up the manuscript
70 hve thousand dollars; and will the Government
stand by and suffer itself 10 be robbed for paper
like this
Mr.. lNGE said that he would be glad 10 know
the value held for the manuscript by the executors
Mr.. CHANDLER was authorized 70 say that they
held the manuscript Mt price. According TO the
laws OF Pennsylvania, il IL TO be sold on Tuesday
next, in Philadelphia, for whatever ii win bring
Mr.. CARTER. Did not the gentleman say that
the price was fixed at one thousand dollars, and
that the ript could he thot