Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-01-07
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 81, 1855.
The Senate did not sit to-day
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The SPEAKER laid before the House a communication
from the Treasury Department, transmitting report
made thereto by Professor A. D. ache superintendent
of the survey showing the progress Of said work u
ring the year ending November ls, 1855, with the ac-
companying maps prepared at the coast survey otee
Laid the table and ordered to be printed and the ques
ton of printing the usual number Of extra copies referred
to the Committee on Printing
Also, communication from the same Department,
transmitting report made by Prof Bache, showing the
number and the Of the persons employed during
the last fiscal year the coast survey the business con-
neced Herewith the amount Of compensation received
by them the Of their employment the length OF
time during which they employed with statement
of all the expenditures of that branch Of the public SER
vice. Laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
THE DIFFICULTIES AT ERIE, PA.
Mr.. HENDRICKS said that he held in his hand an ac-
Of the proceedings of large meeting OF citizens oil
the State Of Indiana held at the city of Indianapolis
the 2ih day of this month lie had not filed it with the
clerk and had it referred he might have done under
the rules of the House, but because of the weghy cha
racer of the meeting distinguished position OF many
oil the gentlemen who took part in its proceedings and
because Of the character and great Importance of the
question considered he had felt it his duty to present it
directly and publicly TO the House, and to ask that II be
by the House referred to the appropriate committee
The people convened to make proper expression in re-
gard to the outrages at Erie in breaking great
tiona horoughfare. He asked the unanimous consent
Of the House that the account of their proceedings might
be presented and properly referred.
For many days mobs, and @rge bodies Of armed men,
ut and the city of Erie theSae of Pennsylvania
have held and by menace force and ooodshed do hold
and obsruct of the great channels Of and
travel between the East a. the Nor west and now the
property and persons of te people mag notn safety
that way. .... .#> ...
By one Of the resolutions of the meeting at Indanapo
lis the attention Of the General Government is earnest
ly called to the awes interruption of commerce and the
public mails by the Erie rioters and Congress and
the National Executive asked to take such action
hao with tied
press the evil and prevent the recurrence of similar
calamity" -. ...., ..a. ,#%
Sir this is not matter of local interest and
alone 1t is not alone question between the people OF
Erie and the railroad companies New York has in
terest in the question. Indiana and all the West is
party it. 1t is Of national Importance and con-
sequence The fact that the local authorities to
sympathixe with II they do not abet, this great public
wrong gives it additional and thrilling interest and i'm
portance. ... .,. >"
If companies Of six and seven and eight hundred arm
cd had invaded our borders and impaired our inter-
nal commerce. stopped mails and hindered the free
intercourse of people, the attention of the napn
would at oncehave been arrested and all the ohe
Government commanded Sir, the same article section,
and clause Of the Constitution which gives this Govern
power repel invasions, confers the power and
imposes the correatve obligation to suppress insurrec
tons will not undertake say what line Of conduct
the Government ought to adopt in this case but will say
that it's Importance demands most careful and earnest
consideration. therefore that the report Of the
proceedings of the meeting ut indianapolis be referred to
the Committee on Military Affairs .-
Mr.. McNAIR. The Legislature of Pennsylvania is
about to assemble, and have doubt that IL will take
this subject up for consideration, far Erie
cerned In my opinion the suggestion of the gentleman
is not at all necessary far concerned IN that
State. Ihave doubt though cannot say positive
ly that Governor Bger will make mention of the matter
in his message and that then immediate settlement of
the difficulty will be had. s..."
Mr.. RITCHIE, of Pennsylvania. | state reason,
Mr. Speaker in addition to that already stated by my
VIII he
the House ALL This whole subject is present before
the supreme Of Pennsylvania and also before the
district court o. the United States for the western dis
trct of Pennsylvania, sitting at Ptsburg. They have
ample jurisdiction decide this whole question: and will
do SO in accordance with the laws they exist.
The gentleman from Indiana is entirely in error in re-
gard to the nature of the whole The facts, as
have been informed are simply these: This railroad
which passes through the county of Ere authorized
to be constructed at particular gaugeour feet eight
inches and halfsuch is authorized by the general
railroad law of Pennsylvania In defiance of that law
this railroad company wants to law down its rails a
gauge Of six feet in order to accommodate it to the gauge
on other parts the road, making break in their
road at town in the State of New York by the name of
Dunkirk instead of at Erie where ought to be- The
six feet gauge authorized to be brought into the
town of Erie sde and carried forward the other
side gauge of four feet eight inches and half The
railroad company in defiance of this law laid down the
whole track gauge of six feet, and they have been
thus the first aggressors am informed that the people
of Erie acting under the legal advice of some of the
eminent counsel of the bar at that place. based on
information Of al the facts in the case ..s
There differences of opinion among different coun
sci in different portions Of Pennsy but the whole
subject before the United States district court for the
western district OF Pennsylvania and before the supreme
court of Pennsylvania informed that there will
be the slightest difficulty in enforcing any order of the
courts The parties will submit at 1t is therefore
entirely unnecessary to ask action Of the House in the
matter and the proceedings in Indiana must have been
had under an entire misapprehension.
Mr. BOYCEof s. C. This is Of those accidents to
which the Northern States all and will be subject be-
cause they have the institution Of slavery among them
JLaughterl We from the South sorry for them. We
have long fore this and believe that it is only the
beginning Of the end II we do any thing for the
members from those States shall be glad to do So for
we Of the South conservative You must tell how
ever, what do for you. At present we can only
offer you sympahies is of those misfortunes
to which you will be exposed from having the whole of
your population made up Of the aboring classes.
Laughter. ..... p. .. ..*r.. ..,.
Mr. DICK As Representative, in part, Of the State
of Pennsylvania think it incumbent upon to state
the history Of the origin of the difficulty which has
CURED in Erie county Originally, this road from the
State line New York to the city Of Ere constructed
with sIfoot gauge. An arrangement had been enter
ed into by the New York and Erie road with the Northeast
and State Line road to construct their road from the
of Dunkrk to the State line Of New York. and there
by connect with the sx track from the city of Erie
At the time the Lak Shore road ..
Mr.. DAVIS, Of Indiai,s. (inlerruptingl / rise to
question of order is hi9 Is il in to enter into
this discussion upon !lotion refer the memorial
from the State of Indiana he motion was made to re-
fer and understand the matter it been referred
The SPEAKER The memorial he's not been refer
red and it is not in order TO refer 1t if there be any
objection
Mr.. DAVIS of Indiana This memorial ought to be
roferred "a n committee But object to the wide range