Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-08-28
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

The SPEAKER, by unanimous consent laid before the
House communication from Judge John c. Watrous of
Texas addressed to him, and bearing date Washington
August 81 1852 in which he says that at about the
mencement of the present session memorial present
ed from certain William Alexander, preferrng certain
charges Of official misdemeanor against him, which
referred the Committee the Judiciary for nvestga
the subject and he hs
in the earliest practicable report He states that cases
of considerable Importance depending in the United
States district for Texas and that if he guilty Of
the charges he is incompetent to sit upon the BENCH and
If his innocence should be established He therefore
trusted the House would permit the Committee the
Judiciary to report in order that justice may be done to
the people Of Texas and himself +etH
Mr.. SCURRY wished to say to the House that during
this controversy he had abstaned, far could
well do from taking any part in the investigation which
had taken place before the Committee the Judiciary
in reference the conduct of Judge Watrous He knew
the fact well that nineteen out of twenty Of his constu
ens opposed to that gentleman, and, being aware
of this II placed him in embarrassing situation ndeed
for for his in the House any other consdera
ton would he do injustice man. knowing that popular
opinion pressing him to the ground Therefore, in
accordance with the request of Judge Warous that JUS
tce might be done him. he moved that the Committee
the Judiciary be permitted to report on this casat their
option EsM .E a
Mr.. yENABLE, as member Of the Committee the
Judiciary wished TO make few remarks. The memorial
in relation to Judge Watrous which presented to the
House and referred to the Committee the Judiciary
early in the session, had been considered by that
mittee and number of witnesses from Texas had been
examined. The evidence in the yoluminous, and
the examination had been very recently closed The
Committee the Judiciary referred the papers to him
for the purpose Of making report the subject; but
he had had the time the opportunity to prepare
at least such report he or the committee would be
willing to submit to the House would it be possible
to do in the few remaining days of the session Ii
would now be impossible for the committee to have
meeting analyze such report as he might make and
the committee were DESTROYS to do justice to all parties
In his opinion it would not be possible for the committee
to make report upon this subject until the next session
The motion Of Mr. SoURRY then agreed to, and the
communication Of Judge Watrous was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary. 4s al .I.I p.
VIRGINIA LAND WARRANTS.
Mr.. MIBLSON called up the motion made by him in
June last reconsider the vote by which the House
ferred to the Committee Of the Whole the state Of the
Union House bill making further provision for the salts
faction Of Virginia land warrants and submitted few
marks in favor Of the bill.
The bill after 9ing amended was then read the third
POSTAGE ON NEWSPAPERS.
On motion Of Mr.. 0LDS by unanimous consent, the
House proceeded to consider the bill to amend act
titled An reduce and modify the rates Of postage
in the United States and for other PURPOSES and the
amendments Of the Senate thereto.
The first amendment TO strike out all after the
word wit in the seventh ne to the end Of the section
and TO insert: IE. 4Et H#grI
"Newspapers periodicals and all printed matter not ex
csedng three weight shall be any part Of the
United States for cent and for any additional
fraction Of cent and where the postage paid
quarterly euay in advanc, either at the Office where the
said newspaper periodical is mailed delivered one half
said only sha be charged Newspapers not weighing
and half when circulated in the State where
pubished shall be charged Of the before
Porded That small newspapers published monthly or often
when sent in packages 70 address prepared by
AZ king stamps thereto shall be chageabe AZ half cent for
each fraction Of ounce The postage on all tran
sicnt mner shall be prepaid shall be charged double the
foregoing rates.
Mr. 0LDS, from the Committee on the Post Office and
Post Roads, moved substitute for the above amendment
which he stated change Of phraseooqy Of the
amendment Of the Senate, the Postmaster General deem
ing it rather ambiguous. The substitute he proposed
also put periodicals upon the footing with news
papers in regard to the reduction Of postage
Under the operation Of the previous question the sub
stitute was agreed to, and the amendment as amended
was concurred in.
The second amendment ohe Senate was then concur
red in il being to insert after the word matter In the
| third line of the second section, the following:
And shall be chageab with postage at one cent an ounce
for all distances under 5000 miles and two cents an ounce
for al distances 1000 miles which fifty Der cent sha
be added in all where the may Be sent without
being prepaid" u
The bill viii have to be returned to the Senate. ea