The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-01-21

made; but be did know what is the charge and
what has been the charge in ouch transactions.
Before coiscas ding bis remarks the morning hour
expired.
Mr.. HOUSTON moved that the House proceed
to the consideration of business on the Speaker
table, and that the rules be suspended and the
House resolve tself into COMMITTEES OF the Whoe
on the state of the Union.
The last branch of the motion was disagreed
to-yeas so, nays 100; and the hrst adopted.
REPORT SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
The SPEAKER laid before the House the annual
report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the
state of the finances; and 1t was referred to the
Committee OF Ways anu Means, and ordered to be
printed.
Several Senate amendments to House bills were
concurred in, and an amendment to the Military
Academy bill referred to the Committee of the
Whole on the state of the Union.
ssvsNrH CENSUS.
Mr. GORMAN, from the COMMITTEES on Print.
ing, reported a joint resolutien-that the Commit
tee on Printing inquire ia,o the expectancy of
dsring the printing aud binding of the seventh
census of the United States; first its coat per copy
under the price, established for the public print
ing; and, secondly, the matter proper to be pub
hsned; and that they report at the earliest day
Var. STEPHENS, of Georgia, proposed to adds
sand whether The said work can be printed at
cheaper rates elsewhere I" This was agreed to-
And the resolution adopted rE
FRENCh 5POLIAtiOS BILL.
The Senate bill to prohibit public executions in
the District of Columbia was then read by its title
when
Mr.. WALSH submitted that Senate bill "a, max.
ing provision for the satisfaction of claims on &C.
count Of French spoliations, the next business
In orfer; and he appealed to the rules in support
OF his point of order.
The SPEAKER decided against the question
raised by the gentleman, stating that the bill could
only be taken up in it's class, which the reporter
believes to be the ninth Z" -.
Mr.. WALSH appealed from the decislon of the
Chair f3 1a
MIR. DEAN moved that the House resolve itself
into Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union; but the motion did~nct prevail-yeas SO,
nays 1902.
The question now required on the appeal; when
Mr. VENABLE moved that it be laid upon the
table. =.
The SPEAKER explained the condition of the
OIL referred to; and the appeal was laid upon the
taolS-yeas 81, nays 80
SJthe House sustained the decision of the Chair,
that the French Spoliation bill not the nest
business in order.
PUBLIC EXECUTIONS. -.. . .
The bill from the Senate, to prohibit public exc.
0otions in the District of Columbia was read;
when a,
Me. STEPHENS, of Georgia, made an ineffect.
Sai motion to lay it upon the tabe-yeas 49, nays
MIR. JONES, of Tennessee, moved that the bill
be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, with
instructions to report a bill to abolish capital pun
tsbment in the District of Columbaj and demand
ed the previous question, which was seconded
Mr.. hIcLANAHAN moved to lay the bin on the
tables but the motion did not prevail. = 49,
The motion OF Mr.. JONES was disagreed to, and
the bill was passed-yeas SO, nays 81. ..sr
THE UNITED STATES AND seAks.
The SPEAKER laid before the House message
from the President of the United States, in answer
TO resolution of the House passed on the 9th uIt
tno, containing Information relative to the claim
for indemnity on the Spanish authorities for the
seizure and conhscation Of the barque Georgiana
and ira ffiror
port from the Secretary OF State. - /
On motion, the message and accompanying docu-
msn!s were referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, and ordered to be printed ""o
Mr.. POLK moved to reconsider the vote by
which they were ordered to be printed giving as
reason for this, that the existing relations be-
tween the two governments were ouch that the do
caments should not be made public until they sha II
have been examined
Mr. SfANLY trusted that the motion would not
prevail. The conduct of the Administration had
been assaied, and therefore il should have hear.
ing;
mr POLK said il was not his purpose to DENY
the President a hearing, or to do him injustice;
out lrota sense of propriety he had made the
motion, tbat the communication might be exam
jned before it was made public. They did not
kno" what the communication contains.
Mr. sFANLf did not think the gentleman
would do injustice to the President. But as they
nad had sharp controversy from one quarter on
TINS important subject, there could certainly be
no lmproprleiy IN making the document public.
communicated during the last session. Allow it
then to be printed ami 60 Before the country that
the s pre pnI n ut may havea fair hearing
Mr.. POLK asked whether the gentlemen from
North Carolina did not remember that the CORE
spondence relative to the purchase of Cuba wa
mace public without examination. If the commu. |
nication had been examined by the Committee on
Foreign Affairs 1t would not have been published !
ne oelieved that the custom was to refer commu |
nlcatlons to committees before publication
mr. sIANLY never before knew objection to be |
I'M Hnri hf,I Ill
was unjust to the President to withhold the pub
hcanon, although the motion of the gentleman |
was not made with that object.
blr. JONES, of Tennessee, said be friends of the |
PRESIDENT ask that the document be printed, and
they should be grat6ed.
Mr. STANLY appealed to the magnanimi.y of
.ne gentleman Mr. PoLKl to withdraw his mo-
tion Let the Administration bear the blame if |
any should attach, for the pub icaton He vgs
wiling that 1t should rest upon them
Mr.: POLK admitted that if there was error or
THIS De II our national character should suffer by
the publication? --HS' -
Mr. BAYLY said that, as far as the publication
Oh tue correspondence for the purchase Of Cuba was
concerned, an error was committed The Presi |
dent had the discretion TO answer the RESOLUTION
calling for the information, he being the JUDGE |
Wnetner or not 1t was Incompatible with the public
interests; out after the inur nation sent to the
House, it was impossible that it should not CO be-
fore the public H. tMr. B } did not even kuo
that the printing of that document had See,, an
thorlzed until he the correspondence in the
newspapers. al -
MIR. POLK suggested one incident in our history
BY which much damage done In the case Of |
the French indemnity the Govern nent was called |
upon for the papers. They were referred to com |
nttee, who published the correspondence; and |
this gave rise to all the difficulty which occurred
curing Jackson's administration with the French |
nation. How did gentlemen know what the pub |
hcation of the message of the President receivea
to-day might lead TO? lts contents should be a. |
certalned before the publication is authorized Ii
might be printed in the newspapers through the |
agents OF the press; but he was opposed to pub. |
fishing il an official form until he knew what ii |
IS He repeated hts object in moving to reconsider
to avoid possible difficulty by proper preoau.ion
Pending the consideration of this subject, |
The House adjourned
PETITIONS. ---
Rv MIR RIIRRoVS. M S..;.;.. r. -.,.llL !.