The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-04-03

ordinary position in which we are placed. We have
found here, by the experience OF yeats pas that Inc P
preparation bills cannot be got through without coinmii.
tees OF conference. We nave never, believe, sihee
have been here, got through any oil those bulls without
conference.-the being necessity growing ont OF lhe
disagTeemeps between the two houses; aud DeiieVe
there is instance since have been here where either
house has refused agree The report OF committee OF
conference on one OF the important appropriation bills at
the last moments OF session very rare indeed hal
such thing occurs anywhere In the experience when
have had in Legislative bodies, either here or elsewhere
know that the instances very rare IN winch ehef
house refused 10 agree 10 the report OF commltse OF
conference. particularly al the last moments OF session.
when there was no other way OF passing the bulls be-
leve has been done before during The SIX years
that have been IN The Senate.
What is the at this late period oil The session
This bill has been thrust back upon al such period,
as was 50 well urged by the honorable senator from
Texas that could not consider IT, We are asked at
this late hour of the night TO commit the matter again 10
another committee of conference. This is the second
port OF committee OF conference TO which there has
been disagreement 10 day. wish 10 produce no ex-
citement between the iuo houses wish 10 show no
dsreslect TO the House OF Representatives, but do
think that the Senate has much right 10 yndcae and
adhere 10 their opinions as Tie Houses and alter they
have esofed TO the ordinary means OF conference and
that conference have given up much OF the action OF the
Senate, OF which they sincere IN their approval
the House lis ACTON now IN The last moments OF
the session. within half an hour OF twelve o'clock on the
night OF the third of March, the House have refused 10
concur in the report OF committee appointed IN part by
themselves. do not think that under the circumstances
il is incumbent Us 10 yield II we did yield, il might
be inferred that we were yield on every occasion and
in every hope therefore, that The proposition OF
the senator from Texas will be adopted We have done all
that has usually been done heretofore to save these bills
II tins should be lost now, it is not the fault OF the
Senate and |, Tor one, say It must be lost be II So
acknow Hedge myself ready and willing 10 take the re-
sponsbillv for my conduct as far as tie action OF
The Senate rs Concerned.
Mr. BAYARD. Ii seems to me, Mr.. President, that
the argument OF the honorable senator from Mississippi
proceeds on wrong assumption he says that unless
both houses agree upon measure, Tie intent OF the
constitution that II ought not TO pass into law. Let us
the action OF things here in order TO test the
principle, and il this is not coercion and l!eglllma,e
coercion the part OF the House This is not The irs
bill iii regard to which have been treated in this way
Suppose the Senate had taken the initiative in regard TO
the appropriation bills, which, under the constitution
they have fgh, to do; and, without waiting for the
House, had passed their bills and sent them 10 the
House, and the House bad sent back those bills with
amendments, and had chosen to reject those amend
ments and asked for conference, and after the com
mee of conference had agreed, had refused
in their report would there be any obligation the
part of the House 10 stand 10 the bill originally
passed ii! And yet that is the position in which the
House seek TO place US, because they happen to
have taken the Initiative in the passage of those bills
which belongs to them than 10 US. though il has
been The usage tina, The House should originate them l.,
for one prepared to stand on what consider the
spoDsibities Of the body; and II the House choose
take The which they have taken, they may be in
haence the senator from Mississippi says, ba should
say II iactious and In that view, am determined,
for one, 10 persist In our amendments.
Mr.. BADGER. Mr. President, desire 10 return my
thanks TO my honorable friend from Texas for the motion
which he has submitted, and 10 say that concur every
word which has fallen from the honorable senator from
Louisiana Sir, brought TO very extraordinary
state OF tangs, and yet NY judgment state OF things
which not very difficult TO oIesee. The condition
of things between the houses OF Congress during the
and the last session has been OF very exaord
nary character The Senate has sent TO the House of
Representatives think may say hundreds OF bills which
have been lying piled up upon the table of that House
acted upon and untouched We have had sent to all
the usual appropriaon.bs, and usual al such late
period OF the session, that il scarcely possible that
we could exercise, in just and legitimate manner, our
unguestlonabe, and until lately unluesIloned, rights to
participate IN the legislation oil the United States. Now,
sir, ind ourselves at the close OF this session in the
condition Of being required ANONYMOUSLY TO recede from
that position which Inc constitution assigns 10 and
which, as the representatives, OF The States OF this Unon
canno, without gross crlmualty or mexcusable pu
sIllanimy, abandon Let stand for once upon the
maintenance OF those rights which, important they may
be 10 us, are infinitely more important 10 The constitution
OF the country and the State soveTeg gntcs which we
represent on this floor. Sir, | am not surprised 10 find
the condition IN which we are placed.
The ordinary course which has been pursued when
dere OF opinion have arisen between the two houses
has been TO submit 10 the consideration of managers OF
conference, appointed By both houses adjustment Of
those pending differences and has been usual tor tie
two houses TO yield to the composition of those dicu
ties made by their respective representatives The Sen
ate so far my experience extends, and far have
information, has never refused, whatever might be the
individual judgment Of the members OF the body upon
the propre,y Of the made by their representa-
uves, spTl Ot peace aud courtesy 10 yield 10 the ad
lusluent that proposed by committee ol conference
Ii Will be rtcocccd three years ago we had
in ssion upon the civil and diplomatic appropriation
bill three committees oil conference; aud while the report
Of the third committee OF conference stating their utter
inability TO agree upon tile last remaining subject OF CON
lest between the two houses was pending before this
body, the House OF Representatives voted to adhere to
The refusal which they had announced TO the amendment
OF the Senate Mir President, OF the members
OF the body who on that occasion yielded 10 what then
thought, but satisfied falsely thought, 10 be duty
which owed TO the county, and voted 10 reeede from
The amendment which proposed IN order TO the
pending appropriation bill Beng then compelled, by the
action OF the House oil Representatives, gHomniousy To
retreat from the position which we had assumed, aud
which through representatives had maintained
through three committees ot conference we have what
Is the just the natural and the irresistible consequence
we have presented 10 the conviction OF The House
that they have but TO dictate and we will yield
But, SIR, IL the force OF that example were not sui-
cient, what have had here to-day We had q com
mltee OF conference one bill that committee was un-
able to agree. aud reported 10 that inability 10 agree
And what The spectacle presented this very tay !
Why, sir the Senate OF The United States instantly, upon
the that the committees Of conference could
agree by large and decided receded from HE DO
son iheg occupied upon every question Of difference be-
the two houses What 10 be expected after that
example, but that we should be treated without
tight to opinion, without any just consideration ia the
legislation OF the country, bound to yield the dclation
Of that which nothing but coordinate branch OF the
legislative power OF this country Therefore we are as
natural consequence, the just and logical deduc
fiou from our previous conduct, now told, You have
shunk from the contest; You have failed 10 maintain
your ri Ihls; you have SHOWN that you viii surrender
anything and everything when you brought to he
point OF being required yield CONTEND and therefore
we iotend to press you now you have an opportunity
now YOU shall be tested now you shall be required
again 10 yield all effective interest and influence the