The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-05
THE UNION.

ben tie Preident saw the bill signed by tbs Speaker Of
ine Hcuse OF Representatives and the President OF me
Senae hsung been passed by both bodies II was MOI io
nm 70 inquire whether The rule had been suspended OF
not The only ault ia presenting TO the President
OF the United Saes that is the fault which, MIND
yl.aes The whole proceeding do not say a IS 80,
communicated 10 the President, that he may act under
standinEy, that he may have the beoie him. ana
be may proceed upon II as he thinks bes with all Inc
facts submitted to him. y ysts# = III
further nsis upon 1t, sir. because was from the
beginning opposed to the passage OF this law nav
received information time since that il WAS fraud
attempted 10 be pepeiaed upon the treasury thai hsse
negroes taken from The Pons apprentices to me ~
beran negroes those who had gone from the United
States aud settled Monroya They working thelf
claim upon the treasury. Believing all that, thought
last day of The session, when the bill was introduced
here having passed the House, and having been sent
back the Senate happened to be OF those against
upon such measures chose to kill il by single word
not 10 speak upon it, not 10 state my objections bui
simply to say 81 object" by which could check IT. and
let go over and if ii presented again another SEES
sion, intended then 10 offer all my objections TO it. ms
morning, having received since the last day OF The last
session letter from another officer OF the navy who had
been stationed in the African squadron coroboatng the
statement had previously received-to the effect thai
those negroes were not supported by the Colonization
Society," but apprentices TO the lberian aud
working almost like slavesl sent that letter TO the
desk to be read. taking for granted that those who dill
Tered from me- who believed we had the power TO appro
at least that there claim IN this case, how
ever much they might dher from Inc upon the general
question But the reading OF the letter was objected To-
the consideration OF the resolution objected to- How
ever, understand that objection is now Withdrawn
Now only ask that the Senate will order the Secretary.
from the journal of the Senate furnish the President
transcript OF the fact that journal sets forth, for his
guidance in this matter. eEar1
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. Mr.. President. this question is
which should like to have settled, if we can &c, il
egmaely aud properly 1t brings up the question. sir,
how far paper purporting 10 be law upon its face,
having passed both houses OF Congress- and having been
approved by the President of The United States. be
defeated ia lis operation by the failure to comply with the
rule which prohibits sending such paper to The PIesi-
suspended WE'LL sir, my first impression has been that
when both houses have constutonaly acted upon bill
and passed IT, and when the signatures OF the presiding
officers OF both houses, according to the constitution,
have been affixed and paper thus sanctioned by the
signatures OF the presiding officers of the two houses has
been presented to and signed by the President OF the Uni
ted States, then becomes law regardless OF the rule
and question OF very great impolanceone which
should like to have settled If the rule is to be eyade
thus signed raudueny that expression may be allow
ed might under such circumstances become law when
in truth il ought not be law; and perhaps in OF
that could not be law upon the maxim that fraud
vi,'aes everything But here there is no fraud in the
passage OF the bill by the two houses there fraud
in the signature OF the Presidents mistake. If anything
has been made in noncompliance with the rules
/ That is the only thing that can be said.
| Mr. DAVIS. of Mississippi, lin his sea) An adher.
ence 10 The rule would have defeated it.
| Mr.. UNDERWOOD. The rule would have defeated
il by withholding 1t from the President He could moi
have signed il unless had been laid before him and
was through disregard OF the rule, admit tina, the bill
got before him II that disregard OF the rule, when al
he constitutional forms have been complied with, de-
feats The BILL then in this II ought 10 be defeated
is Just said here that the very question which am
the decision has escaped at this time, however, and
do not recollect the case Iis said BY my friend my
left that the Supreme Court has decided that failure
A moi vfa ate he Law
when has been sanctioned by the signatures OF the pre-
siding officers OF both houses and of the President of the
United States did not know there had been such de
cision as that which have just stated But if that b,
the law, If it be settled SUCH my friends csrlihca,
would be imperative, and would produce other efec
than TO embarrass the Executive in the discharge OF hi
duties
But, sir. am glad this thing has taken the course
that it has; for when the gentleman from Mississippi
made the objection the other day. having been nstru
mental, member OF the Committee of Claims, to pas
this bill thought was IN consequence OF my oblecnl
to bill Of his am happy to ind that my friend-f b.
substantial rs he has since communicated 10 rise
amongst other objects, say that there was no proc
Of the baque Pons had been employed or kept in SLAYER,
and labofed for their own support. These fact.
TO which the Senate is indebted entirely 10 the nior-
nation given by the senator they facts which, al
the time the objection was made by the senator, were
wholly unknown to me, not known to have influenced
the senator in making the objection al that time. then
thought IT was little occasoned. by disappointment in
not being able to carry OF his favoriie measures
message from the President OF the United States, Of
! an executive character, was here received
Mr.. HUNTER. move that the Senate go into ex.
| ecuiive session.
/ Mr. DAVIS, of Mississippi. Pass the resolution first
Mr.. MASON. II will lead to further debate.
/ Mr. HUNTER | will withdraw, il. IN the opinion
OF this body II is the proper time to make speeches
| Mr.. MASON. | move 10 postpone the further con.
sderalion of that subject, with view of going into ex
| ecuiive session.
! Mr. DAVIS of Mississippi Why not pass IL
| MIR MASON We have no time TO waste in discus.
sion.
! The question being taken the motion TO postpone
on division there wereayes II; and II
as carried. in the opinion OF the Chair
| Mr. DAVIS, Of Mississippi Count the other side
The noes being counted, there found TO be only
nine consequently. no quorum voted.
The question was again put, and resulted-ayes 10,
noes l2--no quorum voting.
| Mr.. CASS What is lost by going on with the exc
cutiye business, and taking this up afterwards II is
well known that the honorable senator from Louisiana
il exceedingly anxious that nomination should be
acted upon before he goes.
Mr., DAVIS, OF Mississippi. Does any senator wish
TO debate the resolution | ask tina, the question be
put.
Mr.. CASS. think it could be put in tins form "a
copy OF the journal upon that subject be sent to the Pres
dent'-saying more
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Mississippi have no objection; |
will accept that form Let II be changed All want is
the idea.
Mr.. ATCHISON. have one word 10 say in regard
TO that matter it is just the difference between ieede
dun and ioeedie dee The senator from Mississippi pro-
poses TO notify the President of fact which the Jour
nal shows, and nothing more.
Mr. CASS Let have the tneedie dee, then Laugh.
MIR FooTE. Mr., President. feel bound to say that