The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-01-26
THE NATIONAL ERA WASHINGTON, D. C, JANUARY g. 1854


Mr. Stanton, of Tennessee, thought the bust.
ness of the House was greatly expedited by
putting bills involving no doubtful principle di'
rectiy upon their passage. The practice of re-
ferring caused the undue accumulation of bills
which are finally neglected, or disposed OF
without proper attention, at the end of the ses-
sion
MIR. Millson thought the practice of refer
ring bills to the Committee of the Whole was
wise and judicious, and should be r;gidly ad-
hered to. Great abuses arise through the NO.
lation of it. The House always had occasion
TO repent of disregard of this practice. MIR.
Nj. cited recent cases, and among them the
bill granting the right of citizenship to the
children of citizens. Under that bill, sub
ject of Queen Victoria, even high in official
position, and acknowledging fealty to the
| Crown may be citizen of the United States.
Mr. Cutting asked that Mr.. Millson would
recite the words of the bill to this import.
Mr. Millson quoted the words, and continued
his argument, and referred to other bills also,
passed in like manner. He contended that by
this disregard of rules those who do respect
them are made to suffer by precedence being
given to such bills as are unduly pressed.
Mr. Caruthers did not contest the general
question introduced, but urged his special
| measure on the ground that it had previously
gone through the proper routine, and received
the approval of the House, and was now only
brought up again to remedy defect that bad
been overlooked at the time of its passage by
the last Congress.
The morning hour having expired, the
House, on motion of Mr.. Ewing, resolved itself
into Committee of the Whole on the state of
the Union, and entered upon the consideration
of the reference of the Presidents Message :;
when
Mr.. Keitt of South Carolina, addressed the
Committee at length, commencing with re-
marks upon the social and political position of
his State. He dwelt upon the stable character
of her people, owing to the fact that no up
ward tendency of the laboring classes is there
to be seen. No transitions disturb its harmony
No fanaticism can disturb it.
Cuba and the Koszta letter were briefly
passed over. The former he would not disturb
while Spain preserves it as it is; but he would
not tolerate the emancipation of its slaves.
The subject of tonnage duty, as proposed in
the message was then taken up by the speak
er, as the chief burden of his speech, and its
conssitutionslity and expedieney were consid-
cred. He argued in favor of the measure on
these grounds.
The imposition of taxes On those who are to
expend and be benefited by them, he contend
ed is just The present system is productive
of extravaganza and corruption. By the policy
recommended, the Government would be
brought back to its original republican simpli-
city.
Ii would by and by be impossible to admin
lister it, if it be not preserved from the tendency
toward Capitalization, which the proposed
measure is designed to resist. He concluded
by declaring that the theory of the Presidents
message is demonstrable, and its recommended
tons are practicable
Mr.. Hughes, of New York, now obtained the
floor, and addressed the Committee on the sub
ject of the politics of his State-substantiall
in reply to the recent speech of Mr.. Cutting.
He proclaimed the position of the " Softs " to
be upon the Baltimore Platform He had
never before addressed a legislative body, and
would not choose to confront his able col
league. But the gentleman is himself
"SOft," as Mr.. H. would proceed to prove.
He here read from the speech of Mr. Cut
ting a definition of Soft, which he said would
apply fully to Mr. Cutting. He then entered
into historc account of parties in New York,
and was still speaking when our report closed,
at half past two o'clock.