The republic., 1852-01-13
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
THE LAWS OF NEW MEXICO.


The SPEAKER announced the pending question
to be on the motion heretofore made by Mr.. JoHS
son, OF Arkansas, to reconsider the vote by which
the laws OF New Mexico, transmitted to the House
on Friday, were ordered 10 be printed.
Mr.. WEIGHTMAN' Mr.. Speaker, |
Friday last absent from my seat when the debate
sprung up, on the motion OF the Representative
from Arkansas, Mr.. JoHSsoS,) TO reconsider tho
vote To print the lave of New Mexico, passed at the
first session OF the Legislative Assembly. The Re
preventative from Arkansas Is mistaken If he sup
poses that the laws referred 10 have been printed
by Congress at any time. u is true the laws Of
kearny have been re -enactcd-in something like
these words: "such portions Of the kearny code
and Of the laws Of Mexico as are not inconsistent
with the Constitution and laws Of the United States
the organic law Of the Territory, and the acts Of the
Legislative Assembly Of this Territory, are hereby
declared in force" The Kearny code itself will
not, presume, be found among the laws proposed
to be printed.
The Representative from Arkansas will oblige
me-if indeed he is not prevented from 30 doing
by some matter of principle--by Withdrawing his
opposition 10 the motion 10 print am desirous
that any members or member Of this House who
may entertain the idea that any hostility exists
among the people Of New Mexico TO the laws and
institutions # the United States may be enabled,
by the strictest investigation and scrutiny to dis
charge from their minds an idea 40 injurious to
the people | represent, and be convinced that
among them there exists no sentiment inconsistent
with the most kihdly feelings towards the Govern
ment and people Of the United States.
hope the Representative from Arkansas Will
withdraw his opposition
Mr. RICHARDSON said that this was the first
instance Of sending to the Committee on Terrific
ries the Laws Of q Territory which have not been
printed. The number Of Territories j. increasing
and therefore they become Of deep importance in
some lie did not believe that there was any
thing improper in the legislation Of New Mexico,
IN that Of any Of the Territories He did not
know such 10 bc the fact IL was necessary, how
ever shat the contents Of the laws should be known
lie did not wish the motion 10 reconsider TO pre-
vail; the laws should be printed, that gentlemen
here and elsewhere might examine them and zee
what they arc.
Mr. JOHNSON, Of Arkansas, remarked that the
gentleman from New Mexico abored under mis
take in supposing that he (AIr. J.) bad charged
any thing wrong in ths laws Of that Territory.
Such not the fact. lie then opposed the print
ing Of these laws, on the ground that il involved
an unnecessary expense.
Mr.. CARTIER said that the main objection to
the printing seemed to be the pecuniary consider
alton. But this amounted TO nothing, when con-
trastod with the position Of the National Lcgisla-
ture 20 the Territories.
Mr.. RICHARDSON remarked that the expense
Of the printing would be one hundred dcllars; the
deliberations ia this ball cost eight hundred dollars
| an hour On the score of economy be submitted
whether 1t was cheapest to have these laws printed
OF to debate the proposition for an hour.
Mr.. JONES, Of Tennessee, said that the subject
should be referred TO the Committee - Terrific
/ ries. They can examine the laws of New Mexico;
/ and when they make report they can recommend
! the printing Of tho entire document, such part
| az they may think il necessary TO have printed.
The question then taken and the motion ol
/ Mr.. JoHHsUN, Of Arkansas, to reconsider the vote
/ by which the document was ordered 10 be printed
was Lard upon the table.
KxTENsIoS or THE CAPITOL.
The following resolution, heretofore introduced
/ 10y Mr. MCNAIR, wac agreed to, viz:
Rssoioed, That a committee be appointed 90 in
quiro into the hrmness and stability Of the lOunda
ton Of the extension Of hc Capitol now laid, auc
whether the strength Of the stone be sufficient tC
| uphold the supcrs;ructuro about 90 b. crectec
| thereon.
LmaARY or coNGREss.
On motion Of MIR CLING MAN, the House tool
up the bill making an appropriation Of five thou
sand dollars to meet the expenses incurred IN sup
pressing the late fire in the room Of The Library o
Congress, the removal Of rubbish the preservation
! u JOks and such articles as may have been saved
and constructing tin root over that portion Of th,
! building now exposed. The bill was returned
| from the Senate with an amendment, appropfi
ating ten thousand dollars for the purchase o
| books, 20 be expended under the direction Of th,
| JOINT Committee on the Library.
lhe question being on concurring M the amend
ncnt-
Mr.. CLINGMAN said he was informed that will
this sum, and the standing yearly appropriation o
five thousand dollars, ~. b books can be procurcs
as meiuhers have most need o. They con be Oh
taincd IN the course Of two or three weeks n ia,
bill from the Senate, apprOpriatiug twelve hundred
dollars for the purpose Of being expended in IN,
fitting up Of two rooms be now passed hc y,ns gvcr
90 understand that in three or four weeks from ti
time proper arrangements could be made by th
librarian Tor the accommodation Of members
The SPEAKER remarked that, az the amend
ncnt II the Senate makes an appropriation,
must 60 10 the Committee OF the Whole on the stat
OF the Union.
MIR CLlNCMAN moved 70 suspcnd tho rules
that the amendment might be acted upon BY th
House without such reference.
Mr. JONES, Of Jcunosscc, inquired whether IN