The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-05-03

government, and the use OF the Canadian canal IN
the event Of our agreeing To the reciprocity bill.
As the House had instructed the COMMITTEES on
Commerce TO attach the provso, that the free nav
| igation of the St. Lawrence shall be conceded AS
he trusted that the House will not take action at
this time the subject now before them.
| Mr.. HARRISON understood the gentleman as
arguing that the resolution should be referred to
| the Committee on Commerce.
Mr.. McLANE said that he did not propose to
make that reference He desired that IT should go
to the Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union rather than that it should be put on It's pas
| MIR. HARRISON said all that he insisted was,
that the resolution should be referred to the Com
mittee of the Whole on the state of the Union, 80.
that the subject of reciprocity and free navigation
should be considered at the same time-thc House
| having refused to make the resolution special
] order
| United was to refer the resolution to the Committee
ofthe Whole on the state of the Union. If the gen.
| tlenan had listened TO him there would have been
no occasion for his Mr. McLANE's) remarks.
| Mr.. WINTHROP said that there had grown up
| in the House anomalous proceeding, namely,
| referring subject to two or three committees.
The subject now before them had been referred to
| the COMMITTEES on Commerce, and 1t had been re-
ferred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. AS
1 member Of the latter committee he obliged to
act in the dark, while the Committee on Commerce
had opportunity of seeing the correspondence;
therefore the resolution was introduced under ad-
verse circumstances Ii was in the highest degree
expedient that we should have the free navigation
Of the st. Lawrence, and for this reason he made
no objection To the resolution being reported. He
| did not think that there would be any particular
disadvantage resulting from reference of the re-
solution to the Committee of the Whole the state
! of the Union. He entirely opposed to making
it special order, because bills in relation to Calf
| fornia and the kindred subjects might at the time
named occupy the House. When the resolution
shall be referred to the Committee OF the Whole on
| the state of the Union, and the Committee on Com
merce shall make their report, they can be acted
upon at the earliest moment the more important
| questions will permit.
| from Maryland whether the subject was now before
the Committee on Commerce; and whether they
intended soon to report all the facts in the case He
wished this to be understood by the House.
| Mr.. McLANE would answer the gentleman.
Before doing SO, he wished to say that when the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. BUEL) moved
to make the resolution special order, which
seemed to take advance action, he (Mr. Mel was
led to interpose objection. His purpose to
rest action on the joint resolution, for the
that he had now in his drawer the Canada recipro-
city BILL which was referred to the Committee on
Commerce He had the bill in its original shape,
just as it was considered in the Senate, and acted
on. 1t was precisely copy OF the bill OF the Cana
dian legislature. He had instructions from the
| Committee on Commerce to report 1T without
amendment, land, at the same time, the correspond
ence between the Secretary of State and the British
minister, in which the minister says he is authorized
to concede the free navigation of the ST. Lawrence
and the canal, if the reciprocity bill shall become
u law. He was instructed to move to put the bill
i on its passage without amendment. 1t was the
same bill which passed during the last Congress.
The only report is, the four letters OF correspond
between the Secretary of State and the British
minister.
| Mr.. PRESTON KING had made the inquiry that
| the answer might go out to the country with the
debate All the facts should be before the House.
Mr.. WENTWORTH begged leave to say that
| he was in favor OF recommitting the bill to the
Committee on Commerce, in order that means
ho tab IF
the st. Lawrence. His people were deeply inter
ested in this. In his opinion, the quickest and
surest way to get the free navigation is to pass the
4 reciprocity bill it came from the Canadian le-
! gislature.
Mr. PRESTON KING, for the purpose of getting
all the information at the earliest possible time,
| moved the previous question.
Mr.. BUEL said he wished the House fully to
understand the nature Of the resolution reported,
also the question. The resolution declares that
the free navigation OF the St. Lawrence river for
/ commercial purposes demands the earnest atten-
| ton Of the American Government, and that il is
| highly desirable TO secure the free navigation of
| that river to American commerce at an early day.
| These are almost the very terms and language Of
the resolution. He desired it TO be further under
stood that the free navigation Of the st. Lawrence
is one question, and reciprocal trade with Canada
| another. They are independent, and have no
| cessary connexion. The report of the Committee
| on Foreign Affairs concerned the former alone.
| He knew that il understood that the British
| minister has expressed willingness TO grant
|
granted reciprocal trade; but he not will
| ing TO rely on the mere promise of the British
government 70 extend TO the right after shall
have passed the bill for reciprocal trade, and thus
| put the subject beyond our control Until he re-
| ceivsd further light this question, he could not
consent TO grant reciprocity Of trade with freedom
Of navigation, and therefore he would say, without
| free navigation. reciprocity.
One word further; the honorable gentleman from
| Maryland (Mr. McLASE) remarked that he de-
signed To resist present action upon the resolution.
What be MIR. b. asked, by reporting the resolu-
ton, was, the free navigation Of the st. Lawrence;
and he was not strenuous TO the from which
IL might come, provided il came; and he would not
say 10 the honorable Chairman Of the Committee
on Commerce, when he comes with his (Mr.
Mel. s) bill-ifit provide for free navigaton-that
he would seek TO arrest action. No on the other
hand he would aid and urge its passage TO the ex-
tent Of his feeble abilities He concluded by NOV
ing the previous question.
Without proceeding further ON this subject the
House, on motion Of
Mr.. THOMPSON, Of Pennsylvania, resolved
itself into Committee Of the Whole the state of
| the Union, and resumed the consideration Of the
CENSUS BILL
The committee we're occupied in voting on
amendments. Without making much progress, il
rose; when
Mr.. MEADE asked leave to report bill. This
| request denied, and
The House adjourned.
The following petitions were presented to-day
under the rule, viz:
BY Mr.. sPRAGUE: From inhabitants Of Eaton
county, Michigan, for law granting 10 persons
claimed fugitive slaves the right Of trial by jury;
also, for freedom in the Territories; Also against
the admission Of slave States into the Union; also
for abolishing slavery in the District Of Columbia,
or the removal Of the capital Also, from many in
babitants Of Lenswec county, Michigan, for all the
above purposes
The EXECUTION OF Dn. DoD.-Dr. Dod's exc
cution has recently been the subject Of remark in
connexion with the sentence upon DIR. Webster
The facts are these: Dr. bod, Prebend Of ST.
Paul's and Chaplain 10 the King, committed for
gerry on a young lord 10 whom he prcceptor
The amount was for seven thousand pounds, and
a. ol.f. al rrcf.