New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-02-02
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

VI E.Ah In
r, OF de annual report Of the Commissioner OF Patents
keie-red 10 the Committee ON Patents with Instructions 10
yriu ex,rs number -.,.. e
M JONES New FORK moved reconsideration OF
vote by which the bill to prevent Instructions
70 he Mails Railroads referred TO the Committee
1 az tie Whole. ~
terms its origin owing TO the disturbances at Erie 1t
apyeared 10 him there is now state OF affairs which cans
The sc,on of the House insure the transportation Of
he mails This bill was drawn with especial care to guard
against conflict Of United States authorities and Courts
Of PenDs vsnis Any order coming from the state Court
could be executed Notwithstanding other provisions OF
The hill Since be came into the House this morning. he
had received elegrsphc dispatch from Erie dated yes
terds showing that the mob has again taken possession
Of the "a rosd at Erie that at the ringing of the bell
thousand persons assembled and tore up the tracks as
the rails were replaced AS TO the validity Of railroad
charter he had not word to say there was necessity
for .eon TO insure the tran portaliono of the mail
MrFLORENCE asked-Can the dispatch be relied ON
Mr. OLDS handed him the despatch saying-f Gu must
know the person erhan L. he lives in your state
Mr.. FLORENCE-I only wanted to know the facts.
Mr.. OLDS resumed-He had no hostility to Pennsyl
vsnis OF Ee but had performed his duty as Chairman OF
the Poe, Oee Committee beyond TINS; ne hsa no
He referred to New York prints to snow that IN cOnse
quence Of tie Erie dis bance, papers are now carried
through Canada Detroit twenty four hours IN advance
Of the ms and be had potton from the western poo
pe asking for an arrangement with Canada These things
chow the necessity for speedy action 500
Mr. JONES Tenn said he understood tue bill provided
for tbe safe tran portation Of the mails through Erie
Mr. OLDS repled-Its provisions are applicable every
where. ..
ee and asked the gentleman whether he could not devise
a bin making contractors carry mails in proper time
between this city and n w York
M OLDS said he had already bill for that purpose
but waiting for an opportunity TO- report IT,
MrRIICHIE Penn Obseryed-The bills along one .
he had not had te to examine it, but from what he had
learned from the reading yesterday, 1t was doubtful
whether Congress has constitutional power to act on me
subject There are already laws in existence for punish
ing btructOrs Of mails but the intention or effect OF this
bin as be understood it, to protect the mails, but
under cover assumed this attitude, namely that where
there is fraudulent invasion of the State by Railroad
Company without charter and an attempt ide 10 remove
this evil it would be construed into criminal ohense by
bin now before the House The part ofthe road ak0n
up on the western side and belongs to fraudulent Com
psny decided BY the Supreme Court OF Pennsylvania
and the Circuit Court Of the United States If any man
In Erie does an act to obstUct the mails ne is CRIMINAL
and tLoT, now laws to punish him.
Mr. CAMPBELL said he did not participate in the feel
ings which grow OF these local Interests because for
funate be represented district not largely interested IN
the Ere question He seid few weeks ago he was in
Cincinnati and attended public meeting there, and con
yersed with business men, who were put TO serious neon
venienco by mail distractions and when he returned to
Washington he offered resolution calling on the fres
dent furnish the House with information received by
the Post Office Department relative to the obstruction OF
mails. The opposition TO this resolution came from Penn
sylvsna hand and from The gentleman rom SCUM
Carolina on the other, Mr. Orr who moved to lay
the table. He understood the genteman dd thls on
the 81 & st.. construction and that the gentlemen
from I, vHna Mr. Ritchiel has placed himself IN the
posuou on ne ~ Government have right to pass
. Avs 70 prgtec' The poration Of mails He thought
q
era years ago that State endesvored to strike down
most beautiful structure the Ohio River at Wheel
NJ hey procured decree from the State Courts
ordered It to be destroyed but Congress interfered
&c declared that bridge 10 be a post route Notwsh
STANDING TINS the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr. Rtce
pus himself On the position that though Congress has the
ehi 70 establish posrOues ii has protect them
tie held that as Government can buld C1stom House
protect it from the torch of the pcepdiarv The
bin guarded providing generally that any person oh
\trrcng the mails unless by virtue of competent legal
authority, shall be punished.
1 Mr. CAMPBELL in reply to a question bv Mr. Sra,
sad If Pennsylvanis disposed to repeal the charter
doubt the radical Democracy OF Ohio areprepared to p
Out the game.
Mr. STRAUB-I was not in the House when the bnl
was read.
Mr.. CAMPBELL-That not my fault.
MIR. SIRAUB-Psss this bill and you have the General
Government at issue.
Mr.. CAMPBELL reoolect the whisky lnsurrectic n
MIR. STRAUB asked whether the bill shall be pass f.
The construction would not be violated, as il would subj
anan guilty Of ohense to two trials one United Sa.eS
and the other by State.
Mr. CAMPBELL did not apprehend the danger tina,
any man would be tried twice. There nothing in The
Dill violating the Constitution because it expressly pro
ndes that no man shall be punished for tearing up track
or obstuctng the mails if he does by competent legal
authority. The whole question would come before the
bunes OF the land There is danger delay. The people
epesenting the great commercial interests OF the West
s well the Atlantic are waiting with deep anxiety for
nanonS legislation this subject and we tardy and
refuse TO protect interest like this he was not prepared
- say there would not be power raised up among the
people TO protect themselves without asking Congress He
seid be had received numerous petitions and proceedings
~ various public meetings. some OF them had been pre-
ed TO the House and referred to the Post Office Com
made Wv W.
=, mr. OlDS confirmed this statement and added one Of
80. pehtions came from agent OF Company who had
1aeed 10 carry the mails but who could not do 81
OF tie troubles al Erie But the House on
.Ay passed resolution directing the Pest lce Com
AL 20 a're aso the mEtisr and report lit they did