The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-15
NO. 276

20. Robert Garrett < Sons and numerous
other merchants Of Baltimore. PRAYING that the
Wheeling and Belmont bridge may be declared
"A post road.
Dir. Daniel, Of North Carolina. proposed that
the House proceed 10 call for reports Of com
mtteeS during the morning hour; which being
objected to- II took up the first business, being
the reconsideration of the vote by which the bill
for the discipline of the navy was defeated
Mr.. Stuart, of Michigan, said when the bill
was under consideration the previous question
was moved, against the wish Of the chairman
of the Committee on Naval Affairs. and the
House was in this way forced to vote They
had been told, that as iogging had been abol-
ished, there existed no power to enforce disci-
pine and that az the fleet were about to sail
for Japan, it became necessary to pass the bill
both of which rumors he went on TO show were
not founded in fact He then contested the
power of Congress and the policy of passing the
contemplated law. aud the authority of Con-
gress TO pass it during time of peace ; and con-
cluded with reviewing its provisions, and ex-
pressing himself az opposed TO vesting power in
| officers, who however vrtuous acted upon their
own uncontrolled opinion and said he would
regulate punishment in such manner that a
better description of sailors could be obtained
for the naval service.
Mr.. Millson, of Virginia, said he was not
member of the Naval Committee and nothing
more could be expected from him than from
other members OF the majority. But being
satisfied that the bill before the House, were it
referred to that committee, would not come
back with any alteration he had assumed the
responsibility of preparing n substitute, which
| would meet the exigencies Of the service and
regulate naval discipline, He alluded TO the
power conferred 10y the bill on officers of the
navy. and concluded with describing the pro-
visions of the bill which he meant to propose in
its stead
Mr.. Bocock of Virginia expressed himself
in favor of recommitting the BILL and sending
it the Committee on Naval Affairs
Mr. Stanton, of Tennessee, chairman Of the
| Committee on Naval Affairs also submitted
Substitute, which, with that of Mr. Millson,
were ordered to be printed and the Commit
tee rose with the understanding that the sub
| ject shall be taken up tomorrow, Mr. Bocock
retaining the floor
The Committee then rose.
The House then went into Committee of the
| Whole on the state OF the Union und again
took up the Homestead bill
Mr. Durham of Indiana, who had the floor
from Il former day, after abiding to the in
creasing prosperity and greatness of this coun-
try, went on TO advocate ut much length the
free grant Of public lands contemplated in the
bill under consideration. to enable persons to
provide for their growing families, and to open
an asylum to the down trodden nations of Eu-
rope, and thus fulfilling the high destiny of the
United States
The Committee then rose the Chairman re-
ported progress, and the House adjourned
WEDNESDAY, APRIL I.
Mr. Florence Of Pennsylvania, presented the
memorial of William Emmons SEN praying
for the extension of the patent of Uri Emmons,
of the 25th of April, 1929 for cylindrical pla-
ming machine.
The Speaker proceeded to call for the re-
ports of standing committees, beginning with
the Committee on Public Lands.
MIR. Orr, of South Carolina. from the com
mttee, reported bill granting the right of
way and portion of the public lands towards
opening II railroad from st. Mary's river, in
Florida to Pensacola bay.
Mr.. Houston, Of Alabama, said he under
stood that one of the sections Of the bill went
to modify the tariff by abolishng the duty on
railroad iron, and called for the reading of the
bill He commended that the committee had no
authority to report upon the subject, partcu-
larly AZ it has been referred TO the Committee
of Ways aud Means, which has it under CON
sideration.
| Mr.. Johnson, of Arkansas, took different
view of the rule, n strict adherence to which,
he said, might prevent business of an important
character from being taken up because the
committee to which it more Immediately be-
| lOngcd did not think il proper to report
Mr. Clingman conceded with the gentleman
from Arkansas, and thought if the committee
referred to could report rs to railroads, they
might also with reference to railroad iron
Mr.. Bayly, of Virginia. said such consruc-
ton rs the gentleman from Arkansas had pla-
ced upon the rule would lead to endless en-
barrassment, the reason for the rule being that
measures should not be improperly forced upon
the House.
| The Speaker decided that it was not within
the province of the Committee on Public Lands
| to report IA bill embracing section abolishng
the duty on railroad iron, which belonged to
the Committee of Ways and Means, and con-
sequcntly that the bill was out of order.
Mr.. Clingman appealed against the decision
Of the Chair.
Mr.. Jones moved that tho appeal lie on the
table, upon which the yeas and nays were or
dered, and the decision was sustained--ycas
1875 yeas 90
The morning hour having expired the House
resolved itself into Committee on the state of
the Union, and again took up tho Homestead
bill
Mr. Ward, of Kentucky, entered into de-
fence of General Scott, who, he said, had been
attacked on former day by Mr.. Cabell, Of
Florida, whom he eulogized at much length,
defined the positions of the Wing and Demo-
cratic parties, and maintained that General
Scott had pursued n consistent course notwith-
standing the treatment he received subsequent
to his military career in Mexico.
Mr.. Averctt of Virginia, followed, who said
he did not come to Congress to engage in a war
with reference TO Presidentmaking, and went
on to denounce the bill as, in its operations,
calculated TO bear unjustly upon oil classes Of
the community, for the benefit of a particular
class. He denied the right Of Congress to pass
an act Of secession and to dissolve the Union,
but contended that Virginia and the other old
States retained all the rights which they exer
cised mt the time the Government was 0rgani-
zed He thought the advocates of the bill had
mistaken their course, when they introduced 1t
ms measure for the benefit Of the poor who
would be better satisfied if Congress kept their
hands out of the pockets of the people.
Mr. Bocock, Of Virginia moved that, as his
colleague Mr.. Averett was unwell, the Com
mittee rise which beng concnrred in, the
House resumed and adjourned, after refusing
to take up the business on the Speakers table,
which was moved by Mr. Cobb, of Alabama.
A SLAVERY DECISION REVERSED. - A deci-
sion was made by Judge Scott Of the Supreme
Court, at St. Louis last week, which reuerses
directly divers decisions which have been made
in various sections of the Union. breed Scott,
"a colored man and u slave, brought suit against
Irene Emerson, administrative, for his freedom,
ON the ground that he had been carried by his
master into a free State, and the Territories OF
the United States and served him there. The