The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-30
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
Anil 90

Mr.. GORMAN, from the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs, asked the unanimous consent OF the
House to report bill to settle the accounts Of
Gen. Riley, who had been detained here some
months for this purpose. 1t would not take any
money out of the Treasury, and would consume
but few moments of time.
Mr. FCKLIN objected.
On motion Of Mr.. BARRERE, the Speaker was
authorized to add another memberto the Commit
tee on Enrolled Bills.
Mr.. Jones, of Tennessee, moved that the
House 20 into Committee Of the Whole on the
state Of the Union; which was agreed to.
HOMESTEAD BILL.
And thereupon the House went into Committee
of the Whole (Mr HiRBARD, of New Hampshire,
in the Chair), and resumed the consideration of
the Homestead bill.
Mr. WALSH then addressed the House, en-
dorsing the action Of the Wing caucus to the
fullest extent He did not, however, intend to
infringe on the patent right of the State OF Ken
lucky; for, whenever:anythng great or glorious
was to be done-whenever the nation was to be
saved-whenever the Constitution was to be vim
Overwhelmingly seemed to have the patent
right to do that duty. He did not intend TO in
fringe upon that patent right; and if we looked
upon the history of our country, glowing as 1t is
with records of patriotism and defence, we could
at last only come to the sentiment of the homely
ditty, which said
eve marched down to dismal swamp,
The day was dark and mucky,
There stood John Bull in martial pomp,
And here old Kentucky"
Mr. w. then entered into history Of the
wrongs of the South, declaring himself friend of
the Constitution and of the compromise measures,
and speaking strongly in favor Of the fugitive
slave law
Mr.. HEM gave notice that, as he could not
obtain the floor, he would print some remarks he
had prepared in favor Of the bill under considera-
ton.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Tennessee, then argued an
hour in favor Of the bill He replied to the argu-
ments against the consttutionaty of the bill. and
denied the assertions which had been made that it
was founded on rank agrarianism and dema-
goguism; ,,,,, nv e,,., -. .. 49,
replying to the arguments Of his colleagues
(Messrs. AvERETr and MILLsoN] as to the consti-
nationality OF the bill; and advocated the passage
Of the bill on the ground that it would promote
national as well as individual interests.
He then referred to the subject of politics,
stating that he desired to see the compromise
measures faithfully, honestly and fairly executed,
and ne would vote for no man for the Presidency
who would not pledge himself to see them thus
carried out.
The Committee then rose, and the House ad-
journed.
The Lo n don Leader draws an instructive les
son from the conduct of the brave men who
lost their lives in the B.rkenhead. 1t says:
We do not doubt that country is the stronger
and the happier, which is peopled by souls that
can face death and not be corrupted. This
great example will sustain many a man in the
face of danger, and the devotion of the glorious
six hundred will be the means of saving multi.
tudes through that same virtue Of discipline TO
which these men have testified by their rcsgna
tion II is in trials of action, in familiarity with
dangel, That these qualities come out. Calamity
is truly the opportunity which tests the stuff Of
our kind.
And it fails not. In towns, amid shi1y doc
f,ines and one-sided economics, we have grown
selfish, corrupt, and crotchety; our rulers cannot
face frown, and finch at the bare idea OF Of
Tending throned rutfian; our leading politicians
teach self interest rs the superior substitute for
patriotism; but in the far regions of action and
peril, ranging in the wide fields of colonial enter
prise, pursuing science in the icy deserts OF the
North, or lost helpless amid the waters of the
ocean, the metal of our race is tried, and its
temper is found true. The four hundred who
persisted thus, in dignity updaunted and uncon-
,.Querable, proclaim to the world, and to us at
home-who are too doubtful amid the ntrigues
and corruptions, amid the shallow pedantries
and selfish timidities Of our cites-that the
staple of our race is still unspoied that calamity
can but arouse our s,umbering strength. and that
DESPAIR itself cannot master the Englishman
Thanks, then, deep and solemn, but strong and
hopeful, to that glorious six hundred-both to
those that persisted in their steadfast chvalry,
and to those that, mastering destruction, have
borne NJ the tale