The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-23

rules, IL was agreed 10 when,
The SPEAKER having called Mr. IiBBAnp TO the
chair
THE Presidents MESSAGE
After considerable desutoIy disc ussion between essrs
and ZONES OF Tennessee upon the order OF business in
committee,
The CHAIR decided that the hrs business in order was
the consideration of the resolutions OF Mr. Housros
ported from the Committee of Ways and Means-ior The
distribution Of The Presidents annual message
Mr. RICHARDSON appealed.
But the decision of the Chair sustained
The said resolutions being in order
THE IMPROVEMENT or RIVERS
Mr.. SEYMOUR, Of New York, called for the reading
OF the stb resolution which was read as follows
Rssotpsd, That much of said message relates TO
commerce. the improvement of habors, prooa trade
between the United States and Canada and British
on Commerce
Mr.. S. then proposed 10 amend the resolution, so that
the subject OF the Improvement not only OF harbos but
OF rivers should be referred 10 the Committee Com
merce. Mr. 5. said that he intended that his remarks
the subject before the committee should be entirely OF
practical character He did intend this occasion
enter into the much yexed question OF ''nternal inn
provenients" II that to be reopened. il could be
more appropriately done after bill on the subject should
have been reported Tor the consideration OF the House,
He wished al this point OF the proceedings the sub
ect, to cali the attention of the committee to an import
ant change contemplated by the resolution before the
committee in the disposition OF the business OF the
House under the usual reference OF the Presidents
sage The resolutions 10 which he alluded referred to
the Committee on Commerce such matters related
OF the Improvement OF the navigation OF rivers was
taken from it, and given to the Committee Roads and
Canals This was an innovation upon the practice here
tofore adopted on this subject True The 9sth rule of
this House requires that matters relating TO the improve
meni OF rivers should be referred TO the Committee on
Roads and Canals. But although this rule has stood
upon books for twenty years, yet the practice OF
Congress had been generally and he believed uniform
~. TO refer both of these subjects to the Committee on
Commerce, when any reference OF them had been made
He had examined the journals OF the House, but had
not been able to find precedent for this departure from
| the usual reference.
lie was assured that the committee, on reflection,
would find that this practice OF the House was founded
in good The appropriations proposed TO be made
for the improvement OF and harbors OF a sim
liar character They related to the commerce of the
counry-.o commerce in It's most enlarged sense,
whether they for harbos the Pacific and on the
Atlantic coasts, or Tor the Improvement OF our large
rivers They were OF kindred nature. They pertained
to the commercial interests of the nation, and as such
they appropriately belonged 10 the consideration OF the
commercial power. The appropriations which may be
made will works and constructions Intimately
necied in themselves The improvement OF river oien
connects itself with the Improvement oil harbor at The
mouth OF that The river often forms the harbor
He submitted 1t to the experience and consideration OF
The committee whether safe and judcous legislation
this subject demanded that The action OF the House
such kindred and almost identical objects should be div
ded and allotted TO different committees II was well
known that the pressure for appropriations for these
objects great and many rival applications would un-
doubtedly be presented Could they not be correctly
and satisfactorily disposed OF by the action OF one rather
than several committees
as their constituents expected this subject would not
more probably be malured by the action OF single
mee where all these rival and conflicting interests would
be reviewed by and the rule and be disposed OF
! by the same body.
He wished before closing TO say that he did no, intend
by the motion he had made 10 trench upon the ground
properly occupied by any other committee lie had no
doubt that should II be the pleasure OF the House to refer
the subject of the Improvement OF the navigation OF rivers
TO the Committee Roads and Canals, this any other
subject brought before them would receive at their hands
an able and impartial investigation. But his object
10 call the attention OF the committee to what seemed to
as settled by long course OF legislation With the ae
ton of the committee, whatever might be, he should
Mr. BISSELL. holding that this subject bid fair TO lead
10 intermaabe debate, moved that be laid aside for
the present
The question being pat, no quorum voted
| The committee then (under the rule) rose and The
Chairman having reported that no quorum had voted,
The Clerk proceeded with the call OF the roll, when
quorum answered TO their names.
| The Chairman (Mr. HIBBARD) again assumed the
chair and the Question was again put on the motion OF
Mr. BssELL 10 lay aside the resolution IRON the Commit
tee OF Ways and Means for the distribution OF the Pes
dents annual message among the standing committees OF
the House which was agreed to-ayes IS, noes g.
The CHAIR then announced the next business in order
TO be the consideration OF the joint resolution proposed
by Mr.. Harris, of TENNESSEE explanatory OF the mill
iary boany.land law OF September IS, 1850; which
Mr. STEPHENS, of Georgia, alleging that this meas
should appropriately be treated act OF Congress-
not as join, resolution, moved so 10 amend the first line
Mr. FlCKLlN proposed so 10 amend the proposition
make in all its features act OF Congress rather
than Joint resolution the amendment passed
having entirely effected that object He desired also
have the mode OF making the assignment OF these
rants plainly detailed in the body Of the bill that
mistake could occur
| Mr. BISSELL made few remarks to show that this
proposition Of his colleague TO amend met the objections
10 the bill in it present shape which he had heretofore
urged. -
| Mr. BRENTON argued that the best way TO proceed
with this bill in this particular merely declare tina,
they should be assignabe leaving 10 The Commissioner
OF the General Land Office 10 adopt form for making
the proposed assignments.
| This point was next debated between Messr5 BREN
TON, FlCKLlN, and BISSELL.
| Mr. TAYLOR submitted an amendment in writing, 10
make these assignments in form TO he prescribed by the
Commissioner of the General Land Office, and to be
printed on The back of the warrants
Mr. r. next addressed few remarks 10 the committee
| in favor of his amendment.
| Mr. RICHARDSON, for the purpose Of putting stop
10 general debate this BILL moved tina, the committee
do rise 10 permit him 10 offer the resolution to stop
debate not agreed TO.
Mr. HARRIS, Of Tennessee, desired to offer an amend
men adding 10 the first clause declaring these
rants assignabe "n conformity with form to be pre-
scnbed by the Commissioner OF the General Land Office
Mr. JOHNSON, OF Arkansas, urging the adoption OF
the FIVE minutes rule with reference this bill, moved
that the committee do rise, that in the House this
usual resolution might be adopted But,
| Mr.. HARRIS, OF Tennessee, claiming the floor,
Mr. J. Withdrew his motion.
The amendment OF MIR HARRIS, OF Tennessee hav.
ing been read at that gentleman's request,
MIR. WALSH desired to offer substitute 10 this sec.
on egalizng such transfers OF these warrants as are
legal in the transfer OF real estate in the States where
the said transfers made