The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-18
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
TUESDAY, Dec. II, 1856

TUESDAY, Dec. II, 1850.
The SPEAKER, by unanimous consent, laid
before the House the annual report Of the Sec
rotary of the Treasury on the state Of the fl
nances.
Mr. BAYLY moved that this report be re-
ferred to the Committee Of Ways and Means
and printed and also that the usual number of
extra copies 100000 be printed for the use of
the House.
Mr.. VlNTON said that he had been informed
that the Treasury Department desired copies of
the report for distribution, and he therefore
moved that on" thousand extra numbers be-
printed for the use Of that Department.
Mr.. JONES hoped that it the Treasury De-
pnrtment wanted extra copies Of this document
while it was in type they would contract for the
printing of it them elves, and pay for it out of
their own contingent fund and not burden the
contingent fund Of the House with printing for
the Treasury Department. lie hoped the House
would not agree to the amendment Of the gen.
ileman from Ohio.
Mr.. VlNTON did not know whether the De-
partment had the right to order the printing of
this document. II was just so long as broad
the money came out of the Treasury, whether
paid for in one way or the other.
Mr.. VENABl.E inquired whether the printing
next Congress! Laughter
The amendment Of Mr. ViNToN was then
adopted, and the motion, as amended, agreed TO-.
OBITUARY.
Mr. MORSE then rose and addressed the
House rs follows:
Mr. Speaker: Since the termination of the last
session (but few weeks snce) death has been
busy with the members of this body; and it be-
comes my duty 10 announce formally to this
House, what is known to .,ii-lhAt my Late FREUD
and colleague, JOHN III. iIlEMANSON is now no
more.
Our acquaintance. which commenced with the
29th Con ress, soon ripcncd into friendship. c,n
tinucd without interruption, and terminated with
his death in the city of New Orleans in October
last. Thther, accompanied by his wife he re-
paired, in the vain hope that the kind attentions
and medical skill of his friend and relative Dr.
Davezac, might arrest the disease which had de-.
prived his constituents of his valuable services
during most Of the last prOtracted session of
Congress.
Mr. HARMANsoN was born in 1903 in the Dor.
ourh of Norfolk, in the State of Virginia. His
father removed with his family, while John was
but eleven years of age, to the parish Of Rapdes,
in the State Of Louisiana. His death, few yea
after, threw upon his son at an early age the
cares and responsibilities Lf Il family, and his af
lection and devotion to their welfare is often
spoken of by those who knew him Mt the time
Subsequently he removed to the parish of Qua.
chita. where he read law for time with his early
friend, Gen Downs, (now one of the Senators
from Louisiana y but it is believed he renowned
the profession partly from disrelish, but more
from a love of an active life and the labor Of n
planter, to which he was accustomed, and which
was more coDgenal to his industrious and ener-
getic habits
He located himself in the parish of Avoy-
Giles, where he followed diligently and success
fully the happy life Of a cotton planter Ills
sterling integrity, and great information upon
all political subjects, soon attracted the attention
of his fellow-citizcns, and he was often sol cited
to become their representative but the growing
demands ola large family, and his fondness for ru-
raj lie, induced him to decline. 1t was not until
seven or eight years ago, that he consented to
become candidate for the State Senate, to
which place he was elected by n triumphant ma
iority. After two Years service in that body,
he was elected to the twenty-ninth Congress-
and continued nninterruptedIy to represent his
district up to the period Of his death.
As an evidence of the estimation in which he .
was held as man, by those who knew him WELL |
| need only state that his district, being also the !
residence Of the late Chief Magistrate, while il ,
gave to General Taylor a majority of several
hundred, re-elrcted Mr.. HARMANsoN by seven
hundred majority. His pretensions had already
been favorabIy canvassed throughout the State
as the next Democratic candidate for Governor.
JOHN IIARMANsoN possessed some remarkable
traits Of character, and among the most striking
was y profound vcncration for truth. He took d.
nothing upon trust; popular errors and pref
dices were discardrd aud vanished before him
like mist before the sun. IN politics he was
always great way in advance Of his party on
every question of reform While others hest
tatcd, he was among the earliest champions Of
Uni'ornl sngrag", free trade, and the elective
! dniOrY.
When if was proposed to amend the conStitu
ton of our State, many were deferred from nd
vocatirg n convention, because they feared that
the independence of the Judiciary would be en-
dangcred by limiting their t"rn of office. This
was all the reform effected in that department
by the convention, but we in Louisiana all recol
lect how Mr. HARMANsoN was denounced as a
radical, an ultra, because he commended that the
Judges, like all other public officers should be
responsible to, and elected by the people.
TO show the correctness Of his views, although
but five years have elapsed since the adoption Of
the new constitution, bill expressive Of the
sense of the Senate in favor of al elective judi.
ciary has passed that body unanimously.
Such was Mr.. HARMANsoN's love Of the right,
that am satisfied that he Abandoned the law,
because be feared it might at some time impose
upon him the necessity of advocating what in
his conscience he might not deem to be the cnusc
of truth and justice.
He made up for the deficiencies of an early
education by diligent reading, and may now
say Of him dead, what living his modesty would
have forbidden, that no man with whom have