The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-18
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

| The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY THE TREASURY.
The SPEAKER laid before the House the annual
report of the Secretary OF the Treasury the state
Of the finances.
Mr. BAYLY moved that it be referred to the
Committee of Ways and Means, and that the usual
number and ten thousand extra copies be printed.
4 MIR. yINTON offered an amendment, "And that
one thousand copies be printed for the use OF the
Treasury Department"
MIR. JONES expressed the hope that if the De-
partment wanted these copies would contract for
the printing of them itself, and not burden the con-
tingent fund Of the House.
Mr.. VINTON replied that, whether or not the
Depa rtment considered il had a right to do this he
did not know. However, it as long it was
broad the money had to be paid out OF the treasury
Of the United States
Mr. VENABLE. l would ask whether we can
get the printing done by the next Congress!
The motion, as amended at the suggestion OF MIR.
VINToS, was then agreed to.
ANNouSCEMENT OF THE DEATH OF mr.. HARTMAN
SON.
MIR. MORSE rose and spoke as follows:
MIR. SPEAKER: Since the termination of the last
session. but few weeks since, death has been very
busy with members Of this House; and il becomes
my duty to announce formally to this body what
is already knewn to us all-my late friend and col
league, john H. HARMANsoN, Is no more.
Our acquaintance, which commenced with the
10Th Congress, soon ripencd into friendship, and
| continued without interruption, and terminated
with his death, in the city OF New Orleans, in Oc-
tober last There, accompanied by his wife, he re
paired, in the vain hope that the kind attention
and medical skill of his friend and relative, DR..
Davazac, might arrest the disease which had de-
prved his constituents OF his valuable services dur
ing most OF the last protracted session Of Congress.
Mr.. HARMANsoN born in 1903, in the boz
rough of Norfolk, in the State of Virginia His ia
Their removed with his family, while John was but
eleven years of age the parish of Rapides the
| tat Of TOuisana His death. q few after
threw his son. at early age, the cares and re-
sponsibilties Of family, and his affection and de-
votion to their welfare is often spoken of by those
who knew him at that time Subsequently, he re-
moved to the parish of Ouachta where he read
| law with his early friend, General Downs, now one
of the Senators from Louisiana. But it is believed
that profession partly from disrelsh,
but for love Of an active life and the labor Of
| planter, to which he accustomed, and which
was more congenial to his industry and energetic
habits. lie located himself in the parish of Avoy-
Giles, where he followed diligently and successfully
the happy life of Southern planter. His sterling
integrity and great information all political sub
ects attracted the attention OF his fellow ci
zens, and he was often solicited to become their
representative; but the growing demands OF large
family, and his fondness for rural life, induced him
| to decline. Ii was not until seven eight years
ago that he consented to become candidate for the
! State Senate, to which place he elected by a
| triumphant majority. After two years service in
that body he elected for the 18th Congress, and
continued unnterruptedly TO represent his district
up to the period of his death. As evidence of the
estimation in which he was held as man by those
who knew him, need only state that his district,
being also the residence of the late lamented Chief
Magistrate. whilst il gave to General Tay or ma
| iorty of several hundreds, re elected Mr.. HAa
| MANSON by seven hundred majority His pre-
tensions had already been favoraby canvassed
| throughout the State the next Democratic can
didate for Governor.
JOHN HARMANsoN possessed some remarkable
| traits of character; among the most strict
profound veneration for the truth He took nothing
on trust. Popular errors and prejudices were dis
carded and vanished before him like the mist be-
fore the In politics he was always great
way in advance of his party on the general ques-
| ton of reform. While others hesitated, he was
among the earliest Champions of universal suf-
frage, free trade, and an elective judiciary. When
1t proposed to amend the constitution of our
State, many were deferred from al vocatng con-
venton because they feared the independence of
] the judiciary would be endangered by limiting
l their term of office. This was all the reform ci
fected in that department. by that convention. But
| we in louisiana all recollcct how Mr.. HARMAssoN
was denounced as a radical and an ultra, because
be contended that judges with all other public Of
fcers should be responsible to and elected by the
people. To chow the correctness of his view, al
though but five years have elapsed since the adop'
ton of the new constitution, bill expressive of
the of the Senate in favor of an elective Ju
| dietary has passed that body unanimously.
/ Such was Mr. HARMASsos's love Of right, that
/ am satisfied that he abandoned the law because he
/ feared II might at some time impose on him the
I
ght not deem TO be the cause of truth and justice.
] lie made up for deficiency Of early education
/ by dilgent reading; and ] may now say Of him
! dead, what living his modesty would have orbd-
| den, that no man with whom have been associated
/ in the last four Congresses better understood the
subject of revenue and finance Of his own country
Such, sir, is brief and very imperfect sketch of
| the character Of our deceased colleague. We have
! lost a firm and devoted friend, and the State an
| honest and patriotic public servant His family
but who can estimate the loss. forbcar intrud-
| ing into that sanctuary of grief, whose light and
| ornament has been forever eSunguished. II any
i thing but time and religion can moderate the an
! guish Of those he leaves behind it may in some
measure solace their grief TO know that bis memory
| will long be cherished by all who knew him.
! Representatives, this ia the third impressive
lesson which has been read TO us. May we not re-
gard these potent warnings as rebukes TO the I'M
checked self indulgence in which we are over apt
i to indulge! May we always so use our time and
| talents to be always ready. Hencefor ward let
Il IL be seen that statesmen have higher and noblcr
aims than the indulgence Of petty jealousies and
| rankings, which are too often manifested here.
Il Let us keep in view the noble sentiment Of that
/ bard who wrote mot for n day but for all time :"
"Gentlemen, the time Of life is short to use that
shortness basey were too long"
| In conclusion, offer the following resolutions:
Resolred, That the House has received with deep
sensbility the intelligence Of the death Of the Hon
JoHS H. HARmoNsos, member Of this House from
the State Of Louisiana, at the city Of New Orleans,
| on the 25th of October last.
Re,olved, That as a testimony of respect IN the
memory Of the deceased the members and officers
Of this House will wear the usual badge OF mourn
ing for thirty days.
Resoiped That the Clerk Of this House be directed
10 communicate copy Of these proceedings TO the
family Of the deceased.
ResoiUed, That the Clerk DO directed TO commu-
nicate a copy Of these resolutions 10 the Senate,
and that, as a further testimony Of respect TO the
memory Of tho Hon. JOHN II. HARmArsos, this
House do now adjourn.
The question being stated on the passage Of the
| resolutions
Mr.. BAYLY said The warm regard Mr..
Speaker, which ! entertained for the lamented
dead must be my apology for OBTAINING you a
moment, while add word TO what has already
been we'll said by his colleague. His family
went from my district, where now reside many OF
his relations and friends These circumstances
brought me into intimate acquaintance with him
soon after he took his seat this floor. His an.
cestors were among the early settlers Of Virginia
and from the time Of their arrival in the colony
they have always been characterized by great re-
spoctsblity and worth. No blot reefs on their &C.
cutchcon. Mr.. HARnaSsoS not born u
wealth, but he carved out for himself by humble
toll in his carly life, fortune and name lie wss
taken, by hs father, TO Louisiana, in his youth
where bis sterling qualities for him tho