The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-07
IN CONGRESS- OF THE .. STATES.
WEDNESDAY. APRIL ). 1850

WEDNESDAY,, APRIL 3, 1850
HOUSE OF REPRrsEsTArIvEs.
After the reading Of the journal
Mr.. STANTON, OF Tennessee. calling up his motion,
made Friday last 10 reconsider the motion referring
the water rotted hemp resolution the Committee OF
the Whole on the State OF the Union said that was
necessary to pass the resolution that the fact that
was in allegiance might not have injurious effect on
the value Of the growing hemp crop He had neither
reported nor investigated the resolution That had been
done bya member from New York mr. WHrTEl and
another from Ohio, Mr. ScHEEcKl The fact that i had
been unanimously agreed to in the committee should
shield II from invdious party criticism Il seemed TO
surprise the member from Kentucky IMr. MARSHALL
that the resolution should have been drawn up in the
1t proposes to enable the Secretary 10 purchase the
quantity OF hemp necessary for the of the service for
there had been something like reservation to authorize
the Secretary to withhold portion OF the contract from
the lowest bidder. But this merely inferena The
authorize the Secretary to withhold the contract altogether
from the lowest bidder which was in all respects fair
and proper one The committee had also concluded that
to give Mr. Billings the contract proposed would be to
the advantage OF the government He [Mr. SrANToNl
held in his hand the history Of these hemp arrangements
Of the Navy Department, which proved that when the
been compelled to pay 800 $40 per ton than
Mr. Billings proposed to furnish the article for Limit
the Secretary To- $240 per ton, and in open market
il could not possibly happen that he would make the pur
chases at the price according to the bid Of Mr. Billings
The amount Of water-rotted hemp to be manufactured
whole amount OF hemp produced in this country which
proves that this is not, alleged, matter OF Importance
to the great hempgrowing interest. Much had been
the standard test from forytwo forty four hundred
pounds. This suggestion came from Mr. Billings whose
hemp il had been found, would stand much higher test
than that II the Secretary had said that the raising
OF the standard was useless he had spoken without due
reflection. Commodore Morris differed from this view
Here Mr. 5 went on to show how and why the raising
H. of fta nf
in the navy was OF Importance to the service. In ac-
cordance with the custom of the service to give contracts
to inventors who made improvements in articles used
therein, Mr. Billings was entitled to one Yet he asked
for nothing on this ground. The question was, whether
article. $500 IL ~ = 49,
Il had been said that the action Of the committee in
making recommendation adverse to the decision Of the
Attorney General was improper. That opinion was
based on three considerations: First, that It was made
sliding SCALE No member would object to that fact
The second objection was based wholly mistake,
Mr.. endeavored to show. The third was mere sus-
picon o. the honesty Ct Mr Billings But NJ Billings
could be- If the House were permitted to indulge in
suspicious from the nicely and then the glarng mistakes
chaIacterizng the Attorney Generals opinions i the bid
not have been thus criticised by that officer The
mit,ee had onlyrecommended that Billings should have
contract for half the quantity OF hemp required If
that proposition voted down, and if the Secre
tary should be authorized to go into the Market he
should vote for the resolution, in the hope that might
thus emdSculnteu De OIL some service In Oh
encouraging the production Of hemp in this country.
Mr.. COBB, of Alabama, gave notice Of his desire 10
offer the following amendment, if the motion to
slider should prevail. viz:
instructed substitute, in lieu of hemp cotton where in
his opinion IL can be used In any way to insure equal
purpose with that OF hemp"
Mr. TOOMBS moved to lay on the table the motion to
Mr.. MASON requested the gentleman from Georgia
TO withdraw that motion. But
MIR. TOOMBS declining to withdraw 1t, the question
was put, and il was not agreed to.
Mr.. MARSHALL then spoke at considerable length in
favor Of permitting the Secretary to resort to open
market for the purchase OF all the hemp required for the
naval service, and against the recommendation OF the
Committee on Naval Affairs in favor Of awarding con-
irac! for Bo!t Ip thereof 70 Mr. g W. Billing
motion to reconsider when
The SPEAKER announced that the House having or
dered the printing Of the original resolution and amend
ment they in the hands OF the printer, and that
therefore the question would have TO go over until to-
The SPEAKER next laid before the House the follow.
ing communication received by him this day, viz;
WASHINGTON. April 2. 1850.
Sra, My official connection with the government author
ICES me, my judgment, ask and have accorded
in such manner as il may think proper Of my
conduct and relations to the claim Of the representatives of
paid Of the departments OF the government and Is
now attracting public attention.
have the honor be- very respectfully your obedient
GEO. w CRAWFORD.
Hon. HOWELL Conn,
Speaker Of the House Of Representatives.
Mr.. TOOMBS moved that this communication from the
Secretary OF War be referred TO select committee Of
nlne who should investigate the subject and have power
to send for persons and papers, &c Mr. I. remarked
that account OF his connexion with the Secretary Of
War, and OF the fact that he knew all about the
ton to be Investigated, he desired 10 be relieved from
serving on the committee.
The question upon bis motion was then put, and il
agreed 10.
On motioa Of Mr.. BAYLY, the House then went into
Committee OF the Whole the state OF the Union (Mr.
BoYD in The chair and taking up the Presidents Calfor
mia message and The accompanying documents,
MIR. RICHARDSON, who was entitled to the floor,
yielded II TO his colleague, MIR. McCLrRNAND,1 who
went say propose TO oer for the consideration OF
the committee plan Tor the settlement OF the question
which has for long time, and deeply and widely,
agitated and divided The public mind The plan is not OF
my authorship. | am no more its author than many
others, who have expressed their views in common with
my own, which have sought TO reduce 10 legislative
form trust that the work will prove acceptable TO ALL
and particularly TO those who ready and willing to
cooperate for the settlement OF this vexed question
would appeal to all such for their earnest and efficient
operation for its settlement Delay may bring in
creased difficulties and dangers Nop is the accepted
time.
The bill is designed TO settle the slave question in all its
aspects, capable OF being advantageousy united in
ceed il will be followed preceded by satisfactory
solution OF all incidental questions calling for legislative
acon--at least trust this will be the result
The bill provides for the admission OF the State oil
California into the Union with her constitutional bounda
RES
O. The bill provides for the creation Of territorial gov
eminent, including that part OF the territory Of the United
- ~ - an L. ~ r L.