Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-15
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

the consideration Executive business,
some time spent therein the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
On motion Of Mr. HOUSTON, . communication from
the Treasury Department to the Committee Of Ways and
Means recommending increase Of the compensation Of
the heads OF bureaus, was ordered to be printed.
| SELECT COMMITTEE ON COLTS PATENT.
On motion Of Mr.. LETCHER, clerk allowed to
the select committee appointed to inquire whether money
other improper have been used to procure the
passage or defeat Of any bill before Congress.
Mr.. CUTTING asked the House to excuse him from
service upon this select committee. He said that he
was already member Of the select committee which
had under investigation charges arising out Of the Gar
diner claim the duties of which exacted from him great
deal Of time and required much attention the part OF
its members order to enable them report during this
session 1t appeared to him that the labor Of nvestga
ing one matter Of this description was sufficient to i'm
pose upon member of the House, and he thought he
not to be placed on another committee Of invests
| CATION.
The question put to the House, and Mr.. CURING
The SPEAKER thereupon appointed Mr.. wHKELER, OF
New York, to fill the vacancy in said committee
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
Mr.. HARRIS, of Mississippi, asked consent to make
personal explanation; und there being objection
Mr. H. proceeded Mr.. Speaker, when the bill making
appropriation for carrying into effect the recent treaty
with Mexico under consideration some days ago,
INDUCED in language unnecessarily severe, and am free
say merited by the parties against whom it
directed. desire, sir, to recall that language or, OF
least to modify it.
The acquisition Of territory from Mexico and especial
Se interests y the nation Ba ss
much of the treaty Of Guadalupe Hdago made this
Government responsible for the Indian depredations
object Of very great importance To this extent then.
the treaty had something Of substantial basis to
upon and although the acquisition of such territory may
be recommendation, yet it certainly constitutes
valid objection to the treaty
desire to say, therefore, that regret that should
have employed language upon that occasion which, what
may think Of the recent negotiations with Mexico,
sweeping in its character and not altogether fit
be used What said in regard to the discussion which
elected upon the subject of the treaty was provoked
by strong impression my mind that there was really
nothing in the question Of privilege with the
proposition before the committee, made upon any GENTLE
participating in it. The speeches Of those who par
ticpated in the discussion now in print and will
have doubt amply vindicate themselves from any in
| situation contained in my remarks ,
i Mr.. GREENWOOD, from the Committee on Indian Az
fairs made adverse report the petition of Charles
Chrsty praying indemnity for losses sustained by Indian
Il depredatons in California.
On motion Of Mr.. RITCHIE, Of Pennsylvania, Senate
bill for the relief Of Robert c. Thompson legal represent
tave of William Thompson deceased, formerly briga
dergeneral in the army of the Revolutionary was
from the Speakers table, read twice. and referred
| to the Committee on Revolutionary Claims.
POSTAGE ON NEWSPAPERS
The House resumed the consideration of the bill to
peal much of the act Of 1852 allows discount Of
fifty per cent newspapers and periodicals, in all cases
where the postage prepaid reported yesterday from the
Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads
Mr. OLDS concluded the remarks commenced by him
yesterday in favor Of the BILL the object Of which, he stat
ed make newspapers pay to the of the
Post Office Department what It actually cost the Govern
ment to transport them through the mails
Mr.. WASHBURNE Of Illinois, expressed himself
against the BILL because it denied subscribers to
papers the privilege Of obtaining discount Of fifty per
cent. by preparing the postage thereon.
Mr.. CHANDLER opposed the bill, believing it would
tendency to throw newspapers and periodicals into
private expresses and thus deprive the Government Of
MIR. BARRY and Mr. SMITH, Of Virginia. each sup.
ported the BILL Before the latter concluded his remarks
the morning hour expired.
RIVER AND HARBoR BILL
On motion of Mr.. HOUSTON, the House then went
into Committee Of the Whole the Of the Union.
(hr McMULLEN, Of Virginia. in the char) and resumed
the consideration Of the bill making appropriations for
the repair preservation and completion Of certain public
works heretofore under the authority Of law
the question being the amendment Of Mr.. JONES, Of
Louisiana repeating the joint resolution explanatory Of
appropratng money for the removal OF the raft
in Red river approved january 1853 and authorizing
the Secretary Of War to expend the appropriation with
reference to the Red river raft in such way he may
deem best for the improvement Of the navigation of the
Red river in and around said raft .
And the question being taken, no quorum voted: Ayes
70, noes AZ.
The roll was hereupon called when tho committee rosa
and reported the absentees to the House.
One hundred and sixty-eight members having answer
ed to their names, the committee resumed its session
The question again taken on the amendment Of
Mr.. JONES, and it was agreed to Ayes a, noes So
Numerous amendments were offered, sspong them
one by
Mr.. BARKSDALE, to the effect that tho Secretary Of
War be authorized to withhold any all Of the appro
priatons contained in the BILL if in his opinion they are
unconstitutional or inexpedient
He said that he did not expect the amendment would
meet with any favor from the friends Of the bill The
Administration and the War Department having frequent
~ referred during this discussions and the est
mates Of the War Department having been relied by
gentlemen in advocating these appropriations and intima-
tons having been thrown out If not direct assertions
made that the Secretary of War and the Administration
approved of them he thought, in Offering his amend
ment to test the sincerity Of gentlemen this question.
He knew and the country knew that the Secretary Of
War opposed to these appropriations. His whole
itical life proved it, and he had not recommended them
any document which had been sent to the House The
estimates for these appropriations were from officers
der his charge Nowhere had the Secretary recommend
appropriations for rivers and harbors The Presidents
past showed what his opinion was and he knew
that the Democratic platform declared that this Govern
men had right to commence and carry on general
system Of internal improvements The system In this
bin general one, commencing in Maine continuing
through the North, travelling through the West ana
landing in the South
Mr.. YATES inquired IL the gentleman spoke FOR Nun.
self for the whole Democratic party when ne saa @
that party opposed to appropriations Tor n1erna
provemcntsi
Mr.. BARKSDALE replied that oil Democrats VINO az
hered to the Democratic platform were opposeu " ~
nal improvements by the General Government.
Mr.. SEWARD wished the gentleman ana ing nou'e "
understand that he belonged to the wing parry a
he was not ashamed Of and OF many Oh tne PrinSPe