Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-01-07

after the explanation OF my colleague ana the reply
thereto by the gentleman from Pennsylvania! Is IL in
order into discussion Of the whole merits Of
these Erie riots?
The SPEAKER. Discussion is not in order
Mr.. RITCHIE, of Pennsylvania perceive that the
gentleman (Mr. DICK who is the immediate Represen-
tative Of Erie, is upon the floor l supposed, when
made my remarks that he absent from town. and
hence inerfered in this matter. hope the House will
allow him to proceed with his remarks.
Mr.. RICHARDSON. As understand it, the question
upon the reception of petition raises the whole merits
of the question contained in 1t.
The SPEAKER. The Chair decides that debate is not
in order if to by any member Of the Houses and
that it is in order present the memorial if object
ed to- The Chair understands that it has been objected
by the gentleman from Pennsylvania and therefore
there is question before the House.
Mr.. HENDRICKS. l wish, then, that under the su-
peryson of the Chair this memorial may be referred to
the Committee on Military Affairs
The SPEAKER then proceeded to call the committees
for reports. ..a.@
APPROPRIATION BILLS 81 ! -
AIr. HOUSTON, from the Committee Of Ways and
Means reported the following bills, which were seyeray
read twice and committed:
A bill making appropriations for the support of the
army for the year ending the Both June, 1853
bill making appropriations for the transportation OF
the United States mail by steamers and otherwise
during the fiscal year ending the 3Oth June, 1870.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
Mr.. ii. said that he also instructed by the Com
mee Ways and Means to ask that they be discharged
from much of the estimates of the Secretary OF War
relate rivers and harbor and that it be referred to
the Committee on Commerce.
Mr. EWING objected to this reference, and suggested
that the subject should be referred to the Committee on
Roads and Canals. "r ............
Mr. HOUSTON was perfectly willing that the subject
should be referred to the committee suggested by the
teman. His own judgment that that would be the
proper course but the instructions Of the committee were
that it should 60 to the Committee on Commerce
Mr. EWING desired to give his reasons for the refer,
ence he had asked The Committee on Commerce (said
several Congresses past has had this matter under
their consideration, and made reports upon the subject
During the last Congress they reported bill for which
could not conscientousy cast my vote after having ad
yocated the propriety and constutonay of these ap-
preparations during the whole Of my canvass at home
After the principle announced by the chairman Of the
Committee on Commerce the other day, as principle
which governs them in these appropriations think they
themselves unfit for the duty OF consider
ing this subject. ..@ ..@.s.. .....
The chairman of that committee told US, with tone
of exuation that they disposed to do justice to all
sections Of the country by making arbitrary division
of these appropriations into three distinct parts for three
distinct divisions of the country without reference TO the
wants of either of these sections Of the countwithout
reference to the consttutonaty proprety Of the ap
preparations to be made under this subdivision 1t is e1-
acty under such principle that that ninetenths OF
the appropriations Of doubtful consttutonality have
been made upon the Atlantic board where millions
upon millions have been appropriated with lavish pro-
dgaty in the history of the past before the commerce
Of the West had exstence and now, arbitrary
division of the spos is to be made to them the Big So
buses and the Little Soduses must be hunted up, and
places which not entitled to appropriations upon any
principle of propriet constitutionaty must come in
to receive their share of such arbitrary division.
insist that this subject should 60 the Committee
Roads and Canals, composed fortunately for who live
in the Mississippi valley, Of majority of men living in
that valley. Under the peculiar difficulties which sur
round this subject with President not living in that
section offer it excuse for him, and not by way Of
accusation. and / finding IL mDossihe ID
preciate understand and sympathze in the condition of
things in that valley, seeming-and will venture far
upon the rules Of exegess venture the expression
say, with President seeming to disprove of such
appropriations upon the part of Congress, and with the
peculiar difficulties which surround US, claim, rs
think we have the right to do, that the committee hav
ing this subject in charge should be for constituted
favoraby making appropriations for the benefit Of tho
Mississippi valley. ,... 49,. .> ..".
say the President seems to be opposed to these ap-
preparations labored through that part Of his
sage with difficulty in respect its interpretation
do not know but the whole document furnishes perhaps
rather wide field for exegetical criticism. abored,
however carefully with the message until arrived ut
that portion oft which refer to appropriations
for the improvement of rivers and harbors until arrived
ut that point where he to recommend to Congress
the evyng of tonnage duties for the purpose of making
such improvements and there the navgators Of West
waters say got into the fog and had to hang all
night" -.
But, Mr. Speaker, am not disposed to detan the
House at this time. may perhaps at some future time
present my views upon this subject briefly possible
for make hour speeches. do not to have
my right to the floor knocked off by auconeers ham
mer prefer to dispose of it by private agreement.
say may perhaps at some future time, if can get
the foor make short speech upon this subject in be-
half of the small minority Of this House, laborng, we
are under the weight of the rowns and disapprobaon
of the Executive If this subject is not sent to commit
tee whose policy already set FORTH fear would stran
gle it in its infancy will unite, far my feeble abb
lities will enable to CO. with those who arc strug
Cling enforce the just claims of the country from which
/ come. ...... .'...... .'" m"t
The question then recurred first the motion to refer
to the Committee Commerce, when no quorum voted
brief conversation ensued when the further conside
ration of the subject was postponed until Friday next
Mr.. PHELPS, from the Committee Of Ways and Means,
reported bill making appropriations for the naval
vice for the year ending the 30h June 1866 which
read twice and committed
Mr.. MACE, from the Committee of Claims, reported
bill for the relief of Henry Lewis of Clinton county In
diana; which was read twice and committed
Mr.. LETCHER, from the same committee, made ad-
verse reports upon the petitions of John p Sheldon and
Martin L. Patterson; which were laid on the table
Mr.. MILLER, Of Missouri, from the same committee,
reported bill for the relief of Capt George Symptom, of
Galveston; which was read twice and committed.
Mr.. HENDRICKS, from the Committee on Invalid Pen
sons reported bill for the relief of VIM Blake; which
read twice and committed.
Also, from the same committee, made adverse reports
on the petitions Of Eliza Merrill, Of Bangor Maine, and
John Droat, an invalid of the war Of 1872
Mr.. BISSELL from the Committee on Military Affairs,
reported bill to repeal the first provso of the fourth
section Of the entitled An granting bounty lands
certain officers and soldiers who have been engaged in
the military service Of the United States approved Sep
tember 49, 1850; which read twice and committed.
~. THANKS TO GEN. WOOL.
Mr. B. also, from the committee, to which was
referred the Joint resolution thanks Ia