The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-25


| MIR. THOMPSON, of Pennsylvania, from the
| same committee, reported joint resolution allow
ing the Supreme Court clerk, in chambers, to be
| employed i'll translating French and Spanish lam
guages, and in copying. II was laid upon the ia
| ble-yeas IS, nays 90.
| MIR. GERRY asked leave TO submit resolution,
which was objected to, requiring the COMMITTEES on
| Foreign Affairs, TO whom referred petitions
| for French spoliatons, to report ON the same as
soon as practicable.
On motion of Mr.. HOWARD, from the Com.
mittee on Indian Affairs, il resolved that the
Committee ON Military Affairs be instructed to in
quire into the expedency of further increasing the
| army, by raising another regiment of cavalry, to
| carry out treaty stpulations with Mexico, and to
protect the frontiers.
| Mr.. EWING, from the Committee on Military
Affairs, reported joint resolution giving consruc-
ton 10 various acts relative TO bounty lands and
| extra pay TO those who served in Mexico, and
defining what shall be considered an honorable dis
charge.
MIR. CASEY was in favor of the resolution, but as
it did not go far enough, he proposed TO amend it.
The SPEAKER decided that he could not offer
the amendment.
The morning hour ex pired, and the House resolved
itself into Committee of the Whole the state of
the Union-Mr. THOMPSON in the chair-and pro-
ceeded to the consideration of the bill providing for
the taking of the
SEVENTH CENSUS OF UNITED STATES
The amendment of the Judiciary Committee TO
the first section of the Senate bill having been
read,
MIR. IhOMfSON, OF pennsylvania, the chair
man of the Committee on the Judiciary, entered
into history of census" commencing at Rome
running through Sweden, Prussia, France, Bel
GUM, Sardinia, Tuscany, England, Scotland. and
first census taken in which was in 1880 He ex-
planned the amendments reported to the Senate
bill, and stated, in the course of his remarks that
the committee proposed, among other things to
ascertain the number of slave fugitiyes, and the
number of slaves manumitted. He urged the
speedy passage of the BILL the taking of the
census should commence on the first of June.
Mr.. MILLER would not detain the committee in
dry details, and gave his reasons for not agreeing
with the majority of the Committee on the Judi.
ciary The bill reported provides for taking the
enumeration Of inhabitants under the clause Of the
Constitution which says that it shall be done
every ten years. He read the clause referred to-
and denied the right to go beyond the limits pre-
scribed. He cared not what might be the value of
the information sought to be obtained. II was
enough for him to know that the Constitution pre-
scribed the to enumeration of the inhabit-
ants of the United States.
Mr. WENTWORTH said that the true point at
issue was, whether shall have only the number
Of inhabitants. He had heard much of the strength
of different sections, and frequently statistics
in the newspapers, little to be relied upon, and on
which arguments were based. If any thing was to
be gained by taking the census, we should also
know the extent of wealth and the intelligence Of
the country, and the opportunity of making i'm
provements. Ifany man makes a statement, and it
is doubted the authentic statistics be referred
to. He knew better way of obtaining the infor-
! nation than for the Government to procure it for
him. Although taking the census in the manner
proposed in the bill involves little expense
the advantages outweigh it.
Mr.. STEPHENS, of Georgia, thought that the
position of the gentleman from Ohio MIR. MILLER)
could not be answered. He believed that Congress
has power togo beyond enumeration of the in
habitants of the United States 1t would be well
for members who desire the permanency of the
Union to recollect that it can only be main tanned
on the principles for which it was formed The
Union is endangered by wandering from the proper
sphere, and to other purposes than those contem-
plated in the charter
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Pennsylvania, inquired
where the power was obtained TO establish an OBJ
servatory, and to collect statistics for the Patent
Office report.
Mr.. STEPHENS did not believe that the House
ever recognised national observatory He thought
that it was called "depot for maps and charts
The object was carried out in an indirect way, and
was recommended by the party to which the gen
tleman was attacked. The information TO be de-
rived through an observatory different thing
from those Contemplated by the bill The Consti-
tuition gives the power TO raise and support navy,
and therefore all incidental power is granted There
were exploring expeditions to the South and the
Dead Seas but he had never sanctioned them, not
believing that there was any constitutional author-
ty for the Government TO direct its energies in any
such way He examined and condemned some of
the schedules, and concluded by saying that he
not speaking of the public utility Of this kind
of information. The only question was, whether
the Government has the power to obtain the in
the States. He repeated, that the should be
confined to the actual enumeration of the citizens
of the United States
Mr.. McLANE, of Maryland, contended that the
bill should GO further than to embrace, with the
enumeration, the property Of the country and every
thing which contributes TO property. This was
cessary TO carry out a system of direct taxation,
should law for that purpose become necessary.
Mr.. HARRISON concurred in the remarks
made by his colleague, (Mr. STEPHENs,) and by
the gentleman from Ohio, mir. MILLER.) We are,
said he, running altogether into extremes, making
an omni gdtheru1l, and sweeping into the census
many things which may lead us into innumerable
| errors. The census should be confined where the
Constitution placed ito the enumeration of the
| inhabitants Of the United States.
| Mr.. YINTON made a few remarks TO show that
there was no doubt as TO the power Of the Govern
ment to GO into an examination Of the property Of
the country, and its whole moral and political con-
dtion, even if there clause in the Constitu-
\ ton requiring the census TO be taken.
Mr.. ROOT obtained the floor, and on his motion
1 the committee rose, when
The House adjourned.
| The following papers were to-day presented un-
4 der the rule:
| By Mr.. FOWLER: The petition of Isaac stearns,
/ Mortimer Blake and one hundred Others citizens
and legal voters Of Mansfield Massachusetts pray
ing that no State be hereafter admitted into the
Union unless the constitution Of such state prohibit
| the existence Of slavery therein.
Also, the petition Of Isaac Stearns, Mortimer
Blake, and ono hundred others, citizens and legal
voters Of Mansfield, Massachusetts,, praying that
slavery and the slave trade may be prohibited, by
act Of Congress- in all the Territories Of the United
States. Referred TO the Committee on Territories
| BY Mr. CHANDLER The memorial Of the Ma
tonal Institute, asking for aid to preserve and
hibit for public benefit its rich and rare coection
and that the Institute be invested with the and
preservation of the collection of the United States
Exploring Expedition, 30 that II may retain its
separate and national character Referred 10 the
Committee on the Library.
BY Mr.. BENNETT: The petition Of citizens of
Chenango county, New York, 20 abolish slavery in
the District Of Columbia.
Also, the petition Of the same to prohibit slavery
/ in Territories.
Also, the petition Of the same, not To admit any
| new slave State.