The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-10-02

Il is matter OF vital Importance that we should have
them up. Weask not for one more bill.
y Mr. BELL thrust my friend from California will not
interfere with this bill now II il leads TO proracted
debate, Of course II cannot pass ~
MIR. FO0TE | the innocent cause of the post
ponemen Of action upon this bill some years ago.
and have regretted il most profoundly since. Cer-
tainy did not intend 70 produce thar result do trust
that the proposition OF the senator from Tennessee will be
at acceded to- He has made OF his most feic
tous speeches in support OF bis own proposition. OF
should ee ,eptsd Y say something in addition TO what
Mr. BERRIEN. I do not rise for the purpose Of ad
ding anything the cogent remarks OF the senator from
Tennessee but to express hope that the action OF the
myself that both my feelings and Judgment in favor
Mr. RUSK should not oppose the taking up Of this
ate, which should be applied to other bills which are
vastly important In the first place, think the bill
upon the subect, Of the reduction Of and uniform
rate OF postage is demanded by the whole country
Mr.. BELL Let try the experiment, and see wheth-
Mr.. RUSK have not been able to get this bill up at
all desire 10 give notice that at the session
| shall take up this bill possible 1t is bill
which has been run over by other business.
There also bill upon the table OF the Senate for the
purpose OF raising regiment the frontiers of Texas for
its protection. The inhabitants of those frontiers
constantly sleeping under the apprehension OF hearing the
Indian arwhoop before they rise in the morning There
is also the table OF the Senate resolution for the pay
ment of certain volunteers who have performed faithful
service. The senator from Mississippi has this bill in
his hands and he and have struggled for some time to
have objection 10 the bill On the contrary approve
OF the object which it contempates; but think i is
matter impossible to pass now without debate. must
vote against IT. Tor il It is taken up II will be time used
Mr.. DAVIS. of Mississippi This is most extraord
nary proposition II is proposition to grant lands 49,
Mr.. FOOTE call my colleague to order
Mr.. DAVIS. OF Mississippi Let the senator state his
point OF order
the merits OF the bill on motion to take up.
The PRESIDENT The merits Of the bill cannot be
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Mississippi The point of order has
Mr. FooTE. must call the gentleman TO ORDER be-
cause the Chair has already decided in my favor.
MIR DAVIS, OF Mississippi If my colleague had
waited till i had said something, he Could have seen
whether he could have raised point OF order not |
have right, when proposition is made TO take up a
bill to state my objection to its consideration have a
right to stale why think, when is stated that il can
be settled without debate, that that cannot be the
There are great constitutional questions involved in this
proposition. Il is proposition to appropriate lands in
therefore say that if it is thought that this be passed
without giving the right to raise the question OF
stutionallty. they mistaken. ask the yeas and
nays on the question OF taking up.
The yeas and nays were ordered
The question being taken, il decided in the affirm
atve--yeas "a, nays i9-as follows:
YEAS-Messrs Badger, Bell, Berrien, Clarke, Cooper,
Of Wisconsin, Ewing Foote, Greene. Roason ' M.nsag gum
Mo,0n psarce, Pau Seward smith, spruance Under
NAYS-Messrs. Atchison, BarnweI Benton, Bright,
sasr Cas- Chase DAVIS Of Mississippi Dodge Of Iowa,
Walker, Whitcomb, and Yuee-l9.
Mr.. PEARCE remarked, in reply 10 remark of the
senator IRON Mississippi that Congress had at different
times sanctioned the principle involved in this bill
The reading OF the bill being called for il then
read.
Mr.. DAVIS. OF Mississippi | look upon this as a
proposition to make the United States government mere
source OF charity There is no class that would more
appeal to the humanity OF right minded persons than the
INDECENT insane and the statistics Of the memorials show
how great Is the necessity for some kind provision for
that class OF our population But sir there ques
tons higher than those OF humanity, considerations high
er than our feelings TO govern in this and all other
questions OF legislation. This government intend
ed to be one Of specific. enumerated powers The pur-
poses Tor which money was TO be raised were
ted and hey ond those rated there only such
are necessary TO carry the enumerated powers and grants
into effect II We can found an institution for the indi-
gent insane why not establish for the or
phans OF the country III establish hospitals TO
cure the insane why not for the diseased OF the country
Why may we not establish schools at the ex-
pense OF the government all the land TO teach those
who are ignorant but of sound mind All these things
would appeal 10 the feelings OF the public; and il
Tors forget the constitution IN consulting one case,
would ask what limits there 10 the appropriations
are TO maker Heretofore have made appropriations
from the public lands OF all the States in which they lie,
under the claim that II done the principle OF pro-
OF the property that remained after the grant But no
such plea be up here This Is professed charity
This land is to be sold and the government is TO take
stock create aperpeua fund TO supply these eeemosynary
institutions for the INDECENT insane. Next the blind and
deaf will be appealed for, and every class OF the
nifty suffering from poverty and want have equal claims
This is a departure from that principle alone which can
maintain this government in its purity that we shall re-
Ter constantly 10 our grant OF power and ask whether
this power is conferred or not Now, will any senator
undertake TO show me grant in the constitution which
gives TO Congress the right to appropriate money TO estab
sh institutions of eharityl Ii not, then | ask why
should try to avoid that by appropriatng the public
lands 10 be converted into money, TO be applied TO the
purposel Surely senator would seek TO do that
argument Is to be made except those powers OF propre
orshp which said be vested in and possessed by
the United States.
n the senator had displayed himself less impatient
when first offered objection TO taking up this BILL
should have said very little than then said and
will not be tempted into proractng my remarks
account OF the impotence then shown. The whole
such grams II is departure from the sound principles
TO which have heretofore adhered in the admnisa
ton OF the governments departure the end OF which
no man can tell Our appropriations this year do far
than swallow up all the revenue Step by step we
are squandcring the pairImony inherited call upon
senators then TO contemplate the end TO which they are
rushing and TO point out TO the grant Of power under
which they do this, and tell Why they may exercise
this power il should not be exercised and the pub
lie funds and property expended to entertain every other
class OF our population.
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Massachusetts,. | have few words
which ! wish to say. In the first place, we by a
general law every sixteenth section for purposes
OF general education. BY what power and authority is
that done We have been granting here millions upon