The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-26
THE REPUBLIC.

and they are willing 10 share with IL the honor Ii
is not considered safe, prudent, and wise TO trust
TO the discipline of the merchant service. These
merchants have selfish nor dishonorable motives,
and they ask no pecuniary aid, but the protection
of the national flag. The gentleman from Virginia
had called this "a wild-goose chase" He knew
not by what facility of eyesght and discrimination
the gentleman arrived at such conclusion.-had
made such discovery. The Exploring Expedition
and the Dead Sea Exhibition may have been, in
his (Mr. BAYLy's) imagination, ga wild goose
chase and this may have led him to charac terize
this II il should result in discovering and rescu-
ing gallant officer Of the British navy, and his
companions from the perils OF the Arctic ocean, the
glory and honor will be ours They can be won,
and without any expense to the Government
Mr.. SAVAGE, not being willing that the gen
tleman should monopolize all the honor, offered the
following amendment to the resolution, viz:
Resolued That, in consideration of the aid granted
by this resolution, the expedition be required to
visit Round Island, in the Gulf Of Mexico, and re-
port what has become Of the persons lately assem-
bled there.
Some dissatisfaction with the proposed amendment
Mr. THOMPSON, Of Pennsylvania rose to a
privileged question, and offered resolution to
close the debate the census bill oday, at three
O'clock.
MIR. WINTHROP, lest the amendment OF the gen
tleman from Tennessee (Mr. SAvAGE) should be
overlooked, raised the question that it not in
order.
The SPEAKER did not consider that il had been
Mr. THOMPSON modified his resolution
the debate the bill shall cease To- morrow
at two o'clock.
On motion OF MIR. VlNION, the resolution was
laid upon the table.
Without disposing of the resolution, in relation to
the Arctic expedition, the House resolved itself into
Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union-Mr. THOMPSON, of Mississippi, in the
chair-and proceeded to the consideration of the
bill providing for the taking Of the
SEVENTH CENSUS THE UNITED STATES.
Mr.. ROOT advocated the bill, and noticed the
remarks of Messrs. STEPHENS and MILLER, who,
Yesterday, objected To any thing further than a
mere enumeration of the inhabitants Of the United
States in the census. He said that the Constitution
was subjected to a puckering process, to suit the
fancy Of gentlemen. He had never known a bill
of 'sunconstitutionaty. He had never known
any gentleman who had any purpose to accom-
plish, but who would quote the Constitution to
warrant it! There was enough in that instru-
ment to Justify the Dead Sea expedition but
there was no power there to explore own
inland seas-our rivers and lakes! Members could
put into their speeches any amount Of trash, and
things which were not said here, and scatter them
was not unconstitutional But when il is proposed
to send facts to the people they ought to have the
cry of "unconstitutionality" was raised The gen
tleman from Georgia (Mr STEPHENs) warned the
committee of the danger of a dissolution of the
Union. Good heavens! is it in danger of being
blown up again, because we want to know, among
other things, how many people have been born,
how many have died, and what they died of? The
Union had passed through many dangers, and as we
begin to see land, he did not wish TO see it de-
stroyed by census bill He believed that the North
would like the South better, and the South the
North, when they shall become more intimately ac-
quainted with one another's interests. He had no
hesitation in saying that the objects contemplated
in the schedules attached to the bill are consttu-
tional otherwise the men who made the Constitu-
ton knew nothing about it.
MIR. STRONG had been in the habit of regarding
himself strict constructionist; but yesterday
he was surprised to gentlemen assume the
Congress to collect and embody statistics which is
contemplated to collect in the tables attached to the
bill now under consideration He thought that a
strict construction of the Constitution was likely to
be brought into disrepute when the objections urged
had no constitutional foundation. He then argued
that the power to collect the statistics full and
given in almost so many words OF the Constitution;
and he spoke the importance Of such Information,
especially in connexion with Legislation on taxa
ton, commerce. and the entering into treaties with
foreign powers
Mr.. HOWARD argued that taxation, by the
General Government, was according to number,
and not according TO the amount Of property in the
several States. This applicable either 10 di-
rect or capitation tax. To 60 beyond the enume-
ration of the citizens would be inexpedient and
unsatisfactory. During the taking Of the last cen
sus, a great many people refused 10 answer tho
questions propounded and better results cannot bt
expected now The local tax. gatherers ofthe States
can readily get the information desired, thar
the officers of the General Government; and THU
mode is not obnoxious to constitutional objections
MIR. MOORE obtained the floor, when the com
mittee rose,
And the House adjourned.