The true Democrat., 1854-07-26
other House are elected after the day fixed by the bill, and that was whatmy colleague spoke

the bill, and that was whatmy colleague spoke
 of N*
 MT. JOHNSON. Then it is said that. bx
 this measure, Mississippi will suffer in her re. presentation in the other branch of Congress-
 That is to be regretted. I believe that is a se. : rous matter; and, in all candor must say it is the greatest objection have vet heard to this
 bill. But, sir, you can make no change of this sort without conflicting with the interest of some State Tn the Union. If the result allud- ed to should happen, it would undoubtedly be an evil to the State of Mississippi: but that evil would only be temporary, and the remedy could be applied by herself at any time. For a temporary inconvenience to Mississippi, will she insist that the business of the whole nation snail forever be subjected to practical incon- venlence which is universally acknowledged! :! think not. I think her people will not ask It; believe her Senators will not. If other gentlemen entertained different views from them, If others prefer to carry out their honest convictions as to the general interest of the go- vernment anI people, those Senators will jus tify them, surely they will not censure them for voting in accordance with their deliberate judgments
 Another objection is urged to this bill, on the ground that by meeting on the first Monday of IN OV0IuUcI WC oAdil uOG Uc cLdUlCu to Oe at home at the period of the presidential elec tion Sir, the people of the United States have sufficient intelligence and virtue to know how to cast their votes for President of the United States, without the presence of Senators and Representatives to tell them for whom to de- posit their ballots. Sir, our people do not sub init to dctation in such matters: they make up their minds upon the merits and the principles of the men presented to them for support, and l do not think the presence of members of Con- gress at the polls would influence the convic- tlons of our free voters. Still the time oi hold ing the elections can be changed if necessary. so that If this be an evil, it is one which can be easily remedied. The same may be said of the other evils said to be likely to result from this measure. They are of such nature as to be easily removed.
 For one, MT. President, though come from southwestern State, though my home is con- siderable distance south of this, must say that should prefer to be at home during the extre- mely hot weather. l do not look upon my home there as land of death to be escaped rom ln the midst of summer. After spending the winter here prefer to fly to the land of the South, sickly as it said to be-. It is home. and a healthy one to me. l am happy when am there with my family. wish to be relieved from what Is the most uncomfortable service on the face of the earth-attendance on con- gresslonal duties during the months of July. August, and September. l have repeatedly sat Tn thls capitol as member of the other House during at least two of those months; and I am sick and tired of them. 1 know that session during those months is of no benefit to the pub- llc service. believe that if we were to adjourn regulary on the 1st of July at every long ses- sion, the busineess usually done in J uly, August. and September, would be done in the months of May and June. 1 think no one here would regret such change.
 hope the amendment to substitte October for November will be rejected. I think it is rather extravagant to commence our sessions two months earlier every year. l consider the one month proposed to be gained by the bill is sufficient for the public service. 1 hope that the amendment will be rejected, and that the bill will be passed precisely as it came from the House. When that is done, wish to see the proposition of the Senator from Illinois. MT. DOUGLAS, to fix by joint rule the adjourn ment of the long session at an earlier period adopted.
 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
 Washington, July 8, 1854
 During the business at the close of the day, the House took up, in order, the consideration of the bill extending Colts patent.
 An interesting discussion arose, of charac- ter highly personal both to the patentee and to members of the House of Representatives. The bill extends the patent of Samuel Colt for improvement in firearms, and authorizes the commissioner of patents to grant to him. his heirs executors, administrators and assigns, from the 25th day of February next, for the term of seven years, the full and exclusive right and privilege of making, constructing, using and vending to others to be used, his improvement in firearms description and specification whereof are contained in the schedule annexed to letters issued to said Colt in 1886.
 Mir. Clingman, of North Carolina, said that before vote should be taken on this bill, he desired there should be a call of the House. From the extraordinary means resorted to he had no doubt that very large sums of money have been offered to induce gentlemen either to vote for the bill or absent themselves if they could not do so. He had, however, no reason to suppose that any gentleman had been in- Huenced by such considerations
 MT. Pratt, of Connecticut wished to know of the gentleman what reason he had to make that charge.
 MT. Clingman had no objection to the gentle man asking the question. If the House should think proper to raise committee of investiga- tion, he would be ready to give an answer.- No sum had been offered to him, nor did he say money had been offered to members themselves; but, from facts obtained in three different ways, and from gentlemen wholly reliable, he had no doubt of the fact that money has been offered l to very near friends of members It was we'll known that Congress has suffered from allega- tons of this sort, and therefore he thought it [ would be very we'll to have call of the House before taking the vote. There was no color, reason or prrtext for the passage of the measure.
 MT. Seward, of Georgia, said the gentleman should give the names and facts, if members l have been offered money to vote for this bill.
 Nr. Clingman remarked, he had stated dis tinctly that money might have been offered to particular friends of members. If the gentle l man wantad to raise a committee of inquiry he (Mr. Clingman) would be ready to communi- cate what he had heard from the two members of Congress and what he had learned from other sources
 Mir. Seward.-If gentleman knows of such