The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-07-27

the property at public auction; which was
finally agreed to by the Committee, and ordered
| to be reported to the House.
| The bill was finally reported to the House,
and passsd-yeas SO, nays So.
Senate, Friday, July 81, 1854.
Mr.. Chase presented several petitions pray
ing the abolition of slavery in the District of
Columbia.
The Homestead bill as amended last night
by the adoption OF the substitute moved by Mr..
Hunter was taken up on it's third reading.
The bill was read q third time, and passed
yeas SO, nays H.
The title of the Land bill passed was amend
ed so as to read, q An act to provide home
stead for actual settlers, to graduate the price
of Che public lands, and for other purposes
The bill to provide for the payment of such
creditors OF the late Republic of Texas as are
comprehended in the act of Congress of Sep
tember 9, 1850, being under consideration. Mr..
Chase moved to reduce the amount to be ap-
portioned among the holders of bonds to the
sum of Sc 500 600. es
This was decided in the negative.
The question Yves then taken on ordering the
bill to be engrossed, and it was decided in the
Affirmative, as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Allen, Badger, Bayard, Bell,
Benjamin, Bright, Brodhead, Cooper Dawson,
Dixon, Evans, Fish, Foot, Houston, James, John.
son, Jones of Iowa, Mallory, Pearce, Petit.
Pratt, Rockwell Rusk, Sebastian. Stuart,
| Thompson of Kentucky, and Toucey-27.
| NAYs-Messrs. Adams, Atchisop, Butler,
Chase, Dodge Of Iowa Douglas, Fessenden,
Geyer, Gillette, Hunter, Jones CT Tennessee,
Mason Shields, Shdell, Sumner, Thomson of
New Jersey, Tocmbs, Wade, Wake, and We'll
| ler-20.
The bill was then read third time, and
passed.
The resolution fo- printing ten thousand
copies of the Nebraska bill in an authentic
form was amended so as to make it twenty
thousand IN pamphlet form, and in that shape
passed.
Mr.. Chase subsequently moved TO reconsider
the vote, with view that he might have it SO
amended as to allow certain amendments, and
the votes thereon, embodied in the same pamph-
| let. The vote stoed-yeas Is, nays 22.
So the Senate refused 10 reconsider the vote
House of Representatives july 81, 1854.
Mr.. Bayly, of Virginia, arose to privileged
question. A communication had been sent to
the Colt Investigating Committee by one Ben
jamin f. Green, charging Gen. Bayly with
corruption and fraud, while chairman of the
Committee of Ways and Means, in receiving
pecuniary advantages from Mr.. Corcoran, the
banker, for causing certain payments to Mezi-
co, from our Government, to be made through
the clearinghouse of that gentleman
There appeared TO be general disposition
in the House to pay no attention to the SUBJ
ject; and MIR. Houston proposed, as mean OF
fixing its condemnation upon the charge, to
lay the subject on the table.
Mr.. Bsyiy said that, on his own account, he
cared nothing for the matter but the House
had honored him with its confidence, and ne
believed it due to the House that on investi ga
ton should be had.
A select committee Of seven was accordiu ely
ordered.
Senate, Saturday. July %, 1854.
Mr.. Sumner presented several memorials
praying the repeal CT the Fugitive Slave Law
Laid on the table.
The Civil and Diplomatic Appropriation bill
was taken up, and the numerous amendments
proposed by the Committee on Finance were
considered.
HoHse Of Representatives, july %, 1854.
Mr.. May, by consent, made report from
the Committee On the District adverse to The
requests Of certain memorialists in the State OF
New York, who asked that the prayer Of the
people of WASHINGTON might be granted, and
/
authorities 70 prohibit the sale of intoxicating
drinks within It's limits. Mr. May stated that
the committee made this report under the de-
cidsd conviction that the city Of Washington
already possessed ample powers to exercise
tke discretion asked to be conferred upon It,
Mr.. Gerrit Smith moved that the report be
recommitted and that the committee be in
structed to bring in BIZ, clothing the city
corporation with power to prohibit the sale Of
Intoxicating drinks within its limits.
Mr. Smith addressed the Committee al
length, stating that he was gratifed in being
enabled to address this House on cause very
near his heart, aud very near the hearts Of
millions of the people of this country.
He had presented the petitions On which this
report is based and had pereistently urged
attention to them up to this favored moment.
He knew the members of the Judiciary
Committee were not opposed to the objects o.
the petitions. They interpreted as he did, TIE
present charter Of the corporation.
He ever favored a limited sphere for the ex
ercisc Of the powers of Government The pro
lection of persons and property is all the duty
incumbent upon Government.
The restriction or abolition of the sale OF In
toxicating drinks was duty of this character
Mr. Smith depicted in strong and glowing
colors the evils proceeding from the sale and
use of intoxicating drinks Human degrade
ton and suffering immortality, irreligion
everything evil, proceeded from the vice Of
drinking such beverages. All were injured in
person and property by the evil we have 1t II
our power to abate.
Temperate drinkers claim great credit fol-
their practice. They are very self-complacen
gentlemen but they mistake their position
They are the only obstacle to reform. Ihs
drunkard does not attract others into his path
The moderate drinker only is seductive. By
the example and infaence of such gentleman
ly drinkers, every youth in this city is forevel
in peril Brilliant wit, fascinating song, th'
J smiles Of beauty-these at the table of the
temperate drinker, lead the unwary astray.
In protecting "persons and property" at Thu
point Of attack, we perform the highest duty
in relation to that specific purpose A dram
shop, whether low or fashionable, is but
manufactory of paupers and madmen, and from
them the public must eprotectod. Who is safe
when such persons are at large? 10 the pubic
J highway, in the steamboat, or in the railroad
car. we are not safe from them. Oar lives ar
intrusted to them and disease and death ar
J known to proceed from the influence OF TIT
dram shop. If Government would shield
, from the evils OF the dram shop, we might un
!, dertake to protect ourselves from all evils tina
would prevail without il.
!, Mr.. Smith denied that the law proposed wa
: q sumptuary law, and argued this point q
; length, giving many graphic illustrations. !,
: He concluded by an allusion to the probabl
prevalent opinion that he was not famlhs
with the practices of which he had spoken
!, He confessed that he had known nothing G
them for twenty-five years-that his children