The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-30


law are necessary In order 10 secure greater expe-
dtion in doing the printing and TO prevent fraudu
lent or fictitious bids. And that they also inquire
what establishments in this city are prepared 10 DO
! the printing for the present Congress; who are
their proprietors and what would be their prices;
and that they also inquire what would be the nett
profits on the number of copies of the Patent Once
report, and other documents OF which numerous
copies have been ordered at this session, according
TO price of twenty per cent. below the joint reso
luton oflsls. And that the said committee have
power TO send for persons and papers
Mr.. WENTWORTH (there being objection)
moved a suspension of the rules; and the question
being taken, the motion was agreed to-yeas las,
nays IL.
/ Mr.. WENTWORTH said that as the vote was a
! large one, he would forego the remarks which he
intended to make, and moved the previous ques
ton.
| MIR. MEADE asked the gentleman to withdraw
| the notion he wished to offer an amendment
! Mr.. WENTWORTH replied that, if discussion
ensucd the resolution would go over for two weeks;
aud 10 facilitate the investigation and to bring the
result before the country, he would insist upon his
motion.
MIR. MEADE again appealed to the gentleman to
! Withdraw his motion.
| Mr., WENTWORTH said that if he gave way for
one gentleman, others would ask similar favor
The SPEAKER ruled all remarks out of order.
! The demand for the previous question
conded,
And the resolution agreed to.
| MIR. WENTWORTH moved to reconsider the
vote and, at his instance, the motion was laid upon
the table.
On motion of Mr.. THOMPSON, of Pennsylvania,
the House resolved itself into Committee of the
! Whole on the state Of the Union-Mr. THOMPSON,
of Mississippi, in the chair-and resumed the con-
sideation of the bill providing for the taking of the
SEVENTH CENSUS OF THE UNITED STATES.
Mr.. MOORE said he did not intend to occupy the
attention of the committee but few moments, as he
was aware of the Importance of speedy action by
the House this subject, and like his friend from
Ohio he did not intend to discuss the details gen
| era merits of the bill, but should offer two
suggestions to the principle involved in it. The
information sought for in this bill was not to crafty
mere idle curiosity, some Of the honorable gen
| tleman had intmated, but to show our true posi-
ton nation, and to gather from the past expe-
| rience for the future-there could be information
acquired on all these subjects of much benefit to the
| nation. The Information as to the number who
| could not read or write might not be very pleasant,
but il would be useful to induce us to remedy the
evil disgrace; and of all the other subjects
they all of interest to nation. His con-
stiuents would be benefited by knowing the fact,
if it existed that New Jersey, or Virginia, or any
other State, far ahead of their own in wealth
and prosperity and virtue! it would induce them
to remedy the defects in their systems or institu-
tions and, if it should be that Pennsylvania was
far ahead, in all the elements ofprosperity, ofyir
ginia South Carolina, those States, too, might
learn lesson to their advantage from knowing the
fact But gentlemen made objections to this bill
because of its unconstituonality; he would not Of
fer any argument on that point; his colleague had
ably sustained the constitutonality of it, and he
could not add TO that argument.
The gentleman from Georgia had taken occa-
sion to warn this committee Of the danger to our
Union from employing the power OF this Govern
ment for purposes not known or acknowledged IN
the Constitution assuming the position that this
! Government has no right to make inquiries to
certain its position and prosperity. Did not the
gentleman from Georgia say that the Government
had no power TO get large portion of the informa
ton asked for in this bill?
Mr.. STEPHENS replied that he did One of the
inquiries, for instance, related to Church property
There was power enabling Congress TO get the
iniormation unless there was power to the pro-
perty.
Mr.. MOORE must be allowed to differ from the
gentleman. He would ask him, for what purpose
was the Constitution ordained and established?
Was il not TO promote the general welfare, among
other purposess And the acquisition of ;nforll.A-
ton all these subjucts will enable us to do it.
Mr.. STEPHENS trusted that his position was
! sustained by as good authority as the country
produced. Judge Story, in his Commentaries, says
that the Constitution must receive reasonable in
depreciation, keeping in view the objects for which
| the powers are conferred The object may be to
raise revenue by direct taxation. The power may,
in this case, be exercised. You cannot claim
power for any object not legitimate for taxation.
We must take into confederation the purposes for
! which the powers were conferred
MIR. MOORE would never believe that full and
comprehensive information in every thing con-
nected with the social and moral intellectual and
physical condition of our country will weaken
or destroy this Union on the contrary, il will
much strengthen it nor. until this Government
refuses or fears to examine into all its affairs,
would he believe there any danger of a dsso-
luton of the Union. He was sorry 10 find men,
bers of that House, whom he could not but adj
mire and respect for their position in life and intel
lectual ability, who could not address the House
upon any subject, but what they must sound
| warning note of the dissolution OF the Union. He
did not believe their gloomy fears would ever be
alized-the noble structure upreared and cemented
by the blood Of its founders would be transmitted
unimpaired 10 posterity and no danger TO il could
be apprehended from getting all the information
asked ia this BILL and he should give his vote for
the fullest investigation Of all the affairs and nsti
tutions Of the country.
Mr.. KAUFMAN said that he would vote for the
substitute Of the gentleman from Ohio, (Mr. Mil
LER,) which proposes merely TO ascertain the num-
Der Of inhabitants OF the United States; and op-
posed any further inquiry than this
Mr.. CLARKE advocated the provisions Of the
bill under consideration, wishing 10 ascertain the
resources OF the country, the products the amount
Of manufactures and trade, and other subjects Of
interest.
Mr.. WOODWARD opposed the bill The infor-
nation would be unreliable, and not contain the
truth, because there hundreds Of thousands Of
persons who will not answer the questions The
census should be confined 10 the enumeration Of the
inhabitants Of the United States, as was provided
for by the Constitution.
Mr.. CARTER had no doubt that the Constitution
authorized the obtaining Of information other than
the enumeration Of the inhabitants Of the United
States, and replied TO Mr.. WOODWARD.
Mr. JOHN A. KING contended that the Consti-
tution conferred the power TO ascertain all the
sources and the property Of the country, aud this
was essential for legislation and the enlightenment
'of the people.
Mr.. sIBLEY obtained the floor, when the COM
mttee rose.
Mr.. JONES moved reconsideration Of the vote
by which the House sustained the decision Of the
Speaker Friday last, which had the effect Of bring
ing the resolution 20 accept the two vessels Of Mr.
Grinne for the expedition in search Of Sir John
Franklin, before the House. His object 10 re-
lieve the Chair from the very awkward, not 10 say
ridiculous, position in which il had been placed.
The SPEAKER ruled the motion TO reconsider
out Of order, for reasons which he gave.
Mr.. JONES appealed from the decision, and was
bout TO debate the question when he gave way 10
Mr.. THOMPSON, of Mississippi, on whose motion
The House adjourned.
The following papers were to-day presented un-
der the rule, viz:
BY Mr.. HENRY: The petition of John n. Camp
bell, and fifty two others, citizens Of Rockingham,
Wndham county, Vermont that slavery and the
slave trade may be expressly prohibited by law in
oil the Territories Of the United States.