The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-07
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.


Mr.. WALSH, from Maryland, asked the unani-
nous consent Of the House, to allow him to pre-
ssnt the memorial of Henry May, Of Baltimore.
~ the attorney Of Samuel Dinsman, praying that
the venue IN the between him and Captain
Wilkes, might be changed from the circuit court
OF Washington county TO the criminal court OF
that District. He stated that he had deviated
from his usual practice Of submitting the memoir
al under the rule, which the character of the pa
pers forbade they contained serious charges
az ainst local court here.
The unanimous assent of the House not being
obtained, the memorial and accompanying pa
pers, were under the rule, referred to the Com
mlttee Of the District Of Columbia.
Mr.. WALSH also presented the memorial OF
Wyman, Appleton Il Co., Dewall, keighlen d
Co., Robert Garnet * Sons, and numerous other
merchants of Baltimore, praying that the Wheel
ing and Belmont bridge may be declared post
road.
The first business in order being the reconsider
alton of the vote, by which the bill for the disci-
pline of the navy was defeated.
Mr.. DANIELS endeavored to have the morn
ing hour devoted TO receiving reports OF commit
tees, but did not succeed.
Mr.. STUART, of Mich. stated that the pre-
vious question had been carried when the bill was
formerly under discussion, against the wish OF the
chairman Of the Committee on Naval Affairs, and
thus forced the House 10 vote. He contended
that the reasons given for the immediate passage
Of the bill, were not founded in fact. lie doubted
the power Of Congress and the policy of passing
the proposed law, which, however proper in time
Of war, was, he said untitled to season of peace
He referred TO the necessity Of remodelling the
entire system of pay, pensions, and place in the
navy, aud the propriety of turning out officers
who are disgrace to the service and concluded
by expressing desire that the system of punish
ment should be such as would elevate the charac-
ter Of the navy.
MIR. MILLSON, of Georgia. said he not a
member of the Naval Committee, and nothing
more could be expected from him than from any
other member Of the majority of the House on a
former day but, as he understc oil that 1t the
original bill were referred to the Committee, IT
would be returned without any alteration. he had
assumed the responsibility of preparing a subst-
tute, which, although it might not remedy all the
defects and objections that had been complained
Of during the last fifty years, relative TO the ar-
cles of war, would meet the present emergency.
He said that the Senate, in passing the bill
which had been sent to the House, were under
the impression that it was the same as that which
was passed during the last session, with few UNI
important alterations, suggested by the COMMITTEE
on Naval Affairs; whereas it changed the whole
character of the former bill He went on to
enumerate the Objectionable features of the bill
which had been rejected on former day. lie
cheeriully bore testimony to the high character of
the naval officers Of the United States but still he
was opposed to investing them with such ire
sponsble powers as this bill would confer and
concluded by describing the provisions of that
which he proposed to substitute.
Mr.. BOCOCK, Of Virginia, was in favor Of re-
committing the bill, and sending it to the Com
mitee on Naval Affairs.
Mr.. STANTON, of Tennessee, also submit
ted a substitute, which, with that proposed by
Mr.. MLLsoN, was ordered to be printed, with the
understanding that the subject should come up
g.. ::
the floor.
The Committee then rose, and the House re-
solved itself into Committee Of the Whole on
the state Of the Union and again took up the
Homestead BILL
Mr.. DUNHAM, Of Indiana who had the
floor from former day, after abiding to the in
creasing prosperity and growth of the country,
advocated at much length the free granting of
lands in the new States, to persons who are de-
sirous of settling them, and thus enabling them
to provide for their families, and to settle their
sons in the world. 1t had been stated, he SAID,
that railroads rendered the public lands more
valuable, but the labor of population was first
requisite, to give to them their proper value and
which are at present lying waste and unProduc
tive. By settling the country, he commended that
its general wealth would be increased, and all
classes must be benefited. He said the cotton
growers Of the South, and the manufacturers of
the North, are equally interested in the passage
of the bill under consideration, as the cultivation
of the soil increased the demand for the produc-
tons Of industrial pursuits; and even commerce
derived advantage from agricultural industry. lie
concluded by auding to the evident high destiny
Of the United States the spirit Of whose lnstltu-
tons was made known wherever their flag was
unfurled thus teaching to the oppressed of other
nations, that here the rights of man are respected.
The committee then rose, the Chairman report
ed, and the House adjourned.