New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-20
uOrSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WAsHtsGroS Tuesday, Dec 10. 1854.
Mr.. PHELPS, from the Committee If Wavs aud
Means reported a blu making appropriations for the
Navel service for the year ending Jane 80, 1856.
Mr.. HOUSTON, from the sa1s COMMITTEES, re-
ported bill making appropriate rus for toFtihos'ioas
and other works OF defense, and the repsr of bArvks
and quarters for a like period.
Both bills were referred TO the Committee OF the
Wooe.
The House went into Committee Of the Whole on
the State Of the Unon on business pertaining 10 tho
District OF Columbia,
Several bills were considered and laid aside to be
reported 20 the House including thu one giving sdt-
tional powers To the Corporation of Washington tor
the election OF all officers not nov elective aud to
establish Houses Of Refuge, or Correction, aud Police
and Municipal Courts. &c
While this was under consideration
Mr. GiDDlNGS offered amendment that no per-
son shall be imprisoned unless charged with some
crime or ofiense.
The Chairman, Mr.. PHELPS, said the almond nsst
was il order
the Guar, remsIking thst the House, ia this blu,
could not control the judiciary OF The DStncs of
Columbia
cient police for the maintenance OF order sud
for the protection of parsons aud property " any
thing was more appropriate than his amendment to
secure this END, he was unable to see II.
The question was then taxi ID, ami ths decision Of
the Chair s,lstsi ed, by a vote OF ~ against 80.
Mr. GIDDINGS said there was n Law in existence
providing for the imprisonment OF free men Of color
found in this District. Meu thus arrested are sold
into peroetual bondage 10 pay jail fees. His object
was 10 get aside every law which involves in slavery
men Low free. All he asked was adednite expression
by the House.
1t hsd nothing to do with he bill He hopsd, how
ever, q vote would now be taken on it.
Teers were then appointed.
A voice--Ie, the Abolitionsts go through.
N And lat tha h.lda ia
back. Laughter
The amendment was rejected-syes 49, noes not
counted.
notes as currency in the District, being under con-
Mr.. McMULLEN presented remoustran,e from
R.W Latham E.q., and other citizens, against tina
BILL and asking for the passage OF free banking
law He said he opposed 10 such circu atom
anywhere but doubted The policy Of the passage Of
the bill at this time owing To the embarrassed asa
cisl conoitIos Of the country Virg'n. has small
/ poe law and he knew il could not be enforced.
! Dir. CASKlE said that III his town RICHMOND the
Law acted like a charm The worthless SINAI notes
had been baBlshed from their midst Add there vas
plenty of gold and silver Tor ordinary business trans
Mr. HAMILTON testified in like way with 70.
gard IN the Mary and small-note law.
/ Mr. FLORENCE said the Small Note law had pre-
cisely Il G same effect in Pennsy vanis in MIR. Cas-
bies district, Virginia Specie lad there takea the
place Of rags He remarked, the remionstcance pre-
sented by Mr.. McMuIl.n was signed by X. w. La
than who had become notorou. through the failure
of the Exchange Bank, with which be bad be9a oOu-
nected. lie desired TO protect the worlNngmen from
osses sustained by shin plaster Issues; for on the
poorer classes. such disas'ers universally fall.
Mr. LErCHER said he was opposed to " shin.
"plaser bills and almost every other species OF
plaster, and, especially shiDplls,ers The times are
certainly out of joint, bu IL did not TO him he
would find his colleague Mr. MeMulleo 10 favor Of
small notes; Dor did he expect him to come in with
oeed memorial, dated in Janu'ry 1853. The thiag
had kept respectable while, wade the managers who
drew it had gone with all things perishabe. IL is
beaded 10y X W. Latham. and he imag ined his friends
/ bad a defunct institution known as the Ekclioge
/ Bank. Owing TO that institution having commenced
the issue of small notes, Virginia Twas driven to the
necessity of baDishng them from it. borders.
| MIR. McMULLEN explained. The bill was pro-
pared during last session. IL was then the rsmon-
STRANGE handed by him for presentation to the
House. lie had not changed his views with regard
to the improperly Of the circulation OF small notes,
but doubted the policy of passing this bill nov.
Mr.. LErCHER resumed by asking his colleague IL
this remoDstrsDce bad been gotten up now. would he
have the same signatures to it Would mea
now be found indorsing the conduc! Of the delunct
Mr.. McMULLEN-Does my colleague mean to say
ipdorse the remonsTance
Mr.. LErCHER-I Say that they who seat the re.
monstraDce here yea since would not nov sign it.
Mr.. McMULLEN replied he was chsrged with the
presentation of The paper, and thought his duty
to present it, without committing himself to 10
tents
Mr. LETCBER asked why his colleague looks at
the date the very fact that remonstrance ha, now
been sent in, shows the people Of the District have
borne long they could the evils OF that institu-
lion. Such issues ought TO be put down as they ope
rate as fraud on that portion Of the community least
able to bear the losses. The small note Law Of Viz
ginia Is in force this very day.
Mr.. HAMILTON suggested that as but three days
were assigned to the business pertaining to the Dis.
tTict Of Columbia, that gentle men should proceed
without III necessary discussion.
Mr.. JONES Tenn argued in favor Of an entire
metallic currency.
Mr.. CUMMING thought that would be absurd, a.
it would distract the entire business Of the country
Mr.. SHELTON agreed with Mr. Jones, ana e.-
pressed his vews regarding the evils Of paper m'nsy.
! Mr. BAYLY (Vs.) gave notice thai oo 'no i. .
! Of January be would make effort r take up tlS
French Spoliaton biB He menfiooed 'nis' ne 'a'a'
that DO one would he taken by surprise.
Mr. TAYLOR Ohio attributed inc eviis OF paper
money in the District Of Columbia to the neglect Of
re Committee rose without dsposng Of any Of
the bills which had been considered. The House