Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-03-29


session. Yet the ends the river snS barbor bill expect
us quietly and without any opposition to take it. though
not permitted to make any amendments. should like
to hear them say that this amendment is improper; should
like hear the Senator from Massachusetts, whose consu
ents take ch interest the navigation Of the and
cf the Mississippi rise aud say whether is not material that
The mouths Of the Mississippi should be open, that the
hundreds and thousands Of ships that enter there do
with less danger than they do put to the chairman
Of the Committee Commerce, (Mr. HANLIs il the clear
ing out Of the mouths Of the Mississippi not OF much
importance the ships of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and
other places as the clearing out OF bar at St. Louis or at
Of the harbors upon the lakes which excited much
rdcue the other day Yet long they get appo
prstions for the East for improvements which they insist
upon, they expect silently and let the bill pass
That is objection which have to this biha it par
ta in its operation, that il gotten up without reference
all cases. There just enough to carry it through, they
suppose while Others however just, proper or necessary,
have the door shut against them by majority
Mr.. BRADBURY. II the Senator from Louisiana will
give way, have motion submit, to which wish TO
call the attention Of Senators the other sde II is that
this bill shall be laid the table temporarily for the purpose
Of action upon the civil and diplomatic appropriation bill
with the understanding that this bill shall be taken up i'm
medatsy upon the passage of that BILL Several Senators
opposed the passage Of this bill have agreed with that
this bill shall be taken up when that bill passes.
that this bill may be laid the table temporarily, not
The yeas and nays were ordered and being ,aksn re-
suited as follows: ~. @'
YEAs-Messrs. Atchson, Bradbury, Butler, Clemens
Davis: Of mississippi Dawson, Downs FOo,e Liamln, Hous
SON. une ru Mas and
NAYs-Messr.. Badger: Baldwin, Bell Borand, Bright
Cass. Chase Clarke, Clay, Cooper, Davis, OF Massa-
ohusetts Dodge OF Wisconsin, Dodge, OF Iowa, Ewing,
Felsh Greene. Jones. Mangum Miller Phelps. Pratt Ran
tou Sebastian, Seward, smith, Spruance Underwood, Up
ham, Wales, Walker, and Whitcomb-Sl.
So the motion not agreed to.
Mr. RUSK. ask the unanimous Of the Senate to
suspend action for upon this BILL in order to take
up the bill to reduce the rates of postage and in the
amendments made by the House of Representatives.
Mr.. CLEMENS. object.
Mr.. FOOTE. rise for the purpose OF making motion,
preliminary to which shall make last appeal to honorable
Senators All be perfectly satisfied now that this bill
cannot If other gentlemen do not know it do and
have told them before. Various amendments yet to be
offered in this quarter of the Senate have declined myself
Offering further amendments but several honorable Sen
ator have matured amendments the adoption Of which they
believe to be Indispensable to the perfection OF this bill They
to that they consceniousy vote for the bill
unless it be amended in the in which they propose
and can the Senate that these gentlemen ceve it
necessary that they should occupy time in explanation
Of their amendments. Under such circumstances, it being
obvious that this bill pass, and being equally
obvious that the appropriation bills be defeated will throw
into the confusion and with of getting at
the appropriation bills and passing them, and having treaties
ratified and nominations acted upon, move to lay the bill
on the table. ".s ... + ..... f..
The question being aken by yeas and nays resulted as
follows $685."
YEAs-Messrs. Atehson Bradbury, Butler, Clemens
Davis Of Mississippi, Dawson, Downs Foo,e, Gwin Hale
Pearee, Rhett, soule, Surgeon, furney, Yuee~as.
NAYS-Messrs. Badger, Baldwin, Bell Borland, Bright
CAS-, Chase Clarke Gay Cooper Davis, Of
Felch Greene Jones, Mansum, Miller, Phelps Pratt Ran
tou Sebastian, Seward Shields Smith, spruance Under
wood, Upham, Wales, Walker, Whiteomb-35. a.
So the motion was not agreed to. '.....,.
Mr.. ATCHISON. l have voted for the last time to lay
this bill the table, motion made by gentleman OPP
posed the bill Whenever that motion shall from the
friends of the BILL will vote for and trust no gentleman
he 7 tn here
until shall be compelled to ADJOURN until those gentle
who advocate this bill shall make motion finally dis
pose Of It. .E
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. We are ready to dispose of i, now.
Mr.. CLEMENS Mr. President, have several amend
mens which shall propose this bill time during the
evening think is necessary, before propose any amend
ment to which my remarks would be restricted that should
say something reply remarks which have fallen from
friends of the bill. We have been told that there is minority
here who determined defeat the will of the majority
do not know whether there is majority for this bill against
It, Certain is, that the votes which have been taken are
indications of il, because gentlemen who have uni
formy voted with the friends of the bill have announced their
determination 10 vote against the bill itself unless be
ay amended The friends Of the bill have uniformly voted
down every amendment which has been proposed and have
voted appropriations for places the location of which they
did not know. We have been told that shall assume
fearful responsibility before the country if by proceeding in
opposition to the bill, shall finally defeat the appropr-
alton bills Well there is any responsibility to attach to
that species Of opposition we have high authority fo
out session. What right has he then, to complain IT we
think proper similar practice The very men,
Der who reported this BILL and Of its wames advocates
pursued and in time OF war; too, the very course which ne
is now complaining that we pursue
So far as responsibility is concerned wish to say that
am willing take my share Of it. any responsibility to
rest on me- or the party which attached, am per-
fecy willing take it. willing to go before the coun-
try with that responsibility, but do not choose at the same
time that facts shall be distorted msepesented here
do not propose shall 60 before the country on false
issues and that facts shall be sed known to every
member Of the Senate that these appropriation bills are de-
feaed it will done by those who have persisted in urging
the passage Of this bill 10 opposition every other OF
beneficial legislation. They had full and sufficient warning
They were told the very moment the motion was made TO
take up the bill that this would be the probable result
have had warning and they know that nearly one-na OF
this Senate any opposed to the passage OF the Dill
and they know that that half of the Senate would resort
any means they could defeat its passage That is the
ground which we are compelled to occupy. Our objections
to this bill are constitutional We cannot long we are
protected rules of the Senate consent to abandon the
position have taken, consent to what we believe viola
ton Of the constitution. SO far concerned, say
defeat the bill from the beginning. mean to de-
feat it by any in my power hold myself Just
fed in doing and only justified, but hold that 1t IS
demanded Of me- because consentBg withdraw OPP
position, consent the passage Of unconstitutional bill
which at least believe to be unconstitutional; and
whether be not the guilt my part would be the
BECAUSE believing to be unconstitutional any con-
sent TO its passage duplicates in the passage OF IT, The
friends Of this knew the weapons which the rules
placed in hands They had warning again and again
that this bill taken up and pressed in opposition TO all
other the result would be that the legislation OF the
country would be stopped The honorable Senator from
h.I-z