Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-01-28
HoJrsE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

1
! On motion OF Mr. JONES, Of Tennessee, the Hous,
went into Committee Of the Whole on the state o.
the Union, (Mr ORR, Of South Carolina, in the chair
and resumed the consideration Of the Presidents
message Congress- the question being the resolutions
heretofore submitted by Mr. HoUsroS refer various
subjects to appropriate committees.
Mr.. ETHERIDGE addressed the committee in favor o.
the resolution Of the Senate authorizing the President
the United States confer the title OF Lieutenant Gene
raj breve: for eminent services He contendcd that
involved principle violated the letter the
spirit of that clause of the Constitution which declared
that title of nobility should be granted by the Amer
can Government. There conceivable objection
which could be offered this particular proposition which
did not apply with equal greater force every former
act Of this Government having its object expression
of that gratitude which had always been considered due
those who had rendered important services to their
try He replied TO the objection urged against this
sure that IT was designed personal compliment to
Gen. Scott that the President had conferred
the rank of lieutenant general by breve the resolution
would expire by its limitation, and become forever
thereafter wholly void lie admitted this to be true and
declared it for this very reason, among others that
he gave his assent to the proposition If the resolution
proposed TO create permanent grade he must confess
he should feel very little about it. He knew the
President might confer the rank upon either of the Major
Generals who bore part in the late with Mexico and
lie had doubt the Executive would this power rs
to violence his personal feelings TO the
general sentiment Of the country lie was willing to
trust him TO make the discrimination. lie believed the
President would aix his signature to commission
ferrlng on Gen Scott the title or Lieutenant General Win
much satisfaction he had signed act passed
by Congress during his Administration. 1t would be a
gratifying spectacle to him, in accordance with his
wishes in obedience the will OF Congress- and the
general desire of the army and the people, comforting this
mark respect upon whose youth manhood and old
age had all been freely given to his counryupon one
who for half century had borne his nations banner SO
honoraby and bravey 1t would be credtable to the
people, and proper commentary upon our free insti-
tutons. Nv ..... -,
In conclusion he argued that the resolution proposed
to confer no new title but simply proposed to restore
rank abolished in 1899.
The committee then rose when the House concurred ia
the resolutions reported therefrom.
DEFICIENCY BILL--NEW YORK POLITICS.
On motion Of Mr.. HOUSTON the House again went into
Committee of the Whole the state of the Union, CHR
STANTON of Tennessee, in the chair and resumed the
consideration of the deficiency bill. ... !'>:., I
Mr.. SMITH, of Virginia, deprecated the introduce
ton OF the New York controversy here 1t exhibited he
sad of the first States of the Union torn pieces by
her internal dissensions introducing into the House.
to the great detrment of the public business its private
and personal quarres He would not undertake to COM
ment upon these things but merely advered to them in
feeling Of regret begging the representatives from New
York to remember that in thus presenting themselves to
the House and the country they were impairng their
just weight and estimate in the country New York, one
of the first States in the Union, with her prodgious
wealth and population should be the great State and by
comfy had been called the Empire State of the Union
How distressing tmust be the country this great
State introducing her quarrels upon this floor and her
members wrangng with each other destroying their
weight and estimate in the country actually dividing
and splitting themselves in such manner to destroy the
influence which properly appertained to them!
In the course of his remarks he alluded to the
wheming ority by which Gen. Pierce elevated to
the Presidency and said that he into office with
professed of the obligation he under pacfy
and appease the agitation of the slavery question And
he wished to know wrong for the President to
erere for the purpose of healing these dissensons and
adjusting the difficulties between his friends? Would it
lpffe had
ed, and had harmonzed all fragments into harmoni
whole, and thus efectualy have put down slavery
agitation Would it not have been glorious consumma-
ton most devouty to be wished for The President
would have deserved we'll of the country if he had
compished this harmonious adjustmenf ne could have
proudly before the country the aduster Of all
those difficulties which had grown Of the agitation of
the slavery question This not interference in
elections in the Jefersonian sense but high, worthy
udcous exercise Of the influence of his position for the
purpose of bringing gentlemen together who ought to be
friends and entertain the same views.
Mr.. EWING inquired whether, if the President had APP
pointed John Van Buren, Secretary Of State whether
if Gen. Scott had been elected and had appointed Mr.
Seward to that Office with view harmonic the dis
tracted elements in New York. the gentleman from Vir
gnia would have defended either of those appointments
with the eoquence with which he advocated the
duct of President Pierce?
Mr.. SMITH replied that with due Difference to the gen.
tleman he did understand the point 1t assuming
the President had brought Abotoniss into the Cabinet
Although the President had failed to heal these dssen
uons yet the two DIVISIONS OF the party were unit
upon the question of slavery and he had suffered under
anxiees and the country extent been distracted
all would be consod by tho reflection that upon the
Nebraska BILL when it should before them for
deraon the representatives from New York would be
found acting together. This they would have do this
they would do and this would be evidence Of their De-
mocracy.
Mr. HUGHES Gnerrupting) said that he asked no test
to be applied to him in his future action. He would
point to his constituents whose views would be expressed
through him on this floor. 49,. ~.
Mr.. SMITH said that there something obstructive
in the gentemans explanation, and he sorry, deeply
sorry that he was not anxious OF goodfeowship. He
regretted the gentleman manly enough stand
up for the Constitution and country, but sought to
skuk-which he must confess rather strong word
behind the people, to him from his responsibility
But he would wait till the gentleman judgment
Mr.. HUGHES trusted that when he should appear in
Judgment he would prove second Daniel. He hoped
the gentleman from Virginia would not the epithet
:" skulk." He had expressed opinion to what his
and vote might be; but he wished it understood
that thumb-screws in advance should be applied to
him by any gentleman by any Administration. lie
should his conscience dictated in the presence Of
his God and try carry out the wishes of his people
Mr. SMITH thought it deeply to be regretted that
the gentleman, instead of meeting the question in its
sense should retire behind the sovereign people and
declare what he would do accordance with the wishes
of his people. .'...-.
He then wished to know if the House and country
would stand by the Administration in the performance of
its great duty would they break it down in its Of
usefulness The President universal favorite in
country and universally acceptable to the Democratic
party. He and his Cabinet unit upon every
question of Democratic policy
Mr. LANE, Of Indiana, desired to know whether they
should understand the gentleman committing the Ad-
minstraton in favor Of repeal of the Missouri COM
promise?
Mr. SMITH replied that in the commencement of his