Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-03

L
in relation 10 the appropriations for the service OF
that Department for the same period. HtHA
Also, communication from the Secretary Of
| the Senate, showing the payments from the con-
tingent fund during The past year
| On motion by Mr.. BRODHEAD, the bill IN
addition TO certain acis granting bounty land 10
| certain officers and soldiers who have been en-
| gagged in the military service of the United States,
| was taken up, and long debate eusued; IA which
i Messrs. STUART, BRODHEAD, rCASS, TOU-
j CEY, TOOMBS BADGER, BUTLER, DAW-
SON, and others, participated. The senate ad-
journed without disposing ofthe b'll
House Of Representatives. @
i The SPEAKER laid before the House several
communications from the Executive Departments
4 relative 10 focal affairs. Laid on the table, aud
| ordered 10 be printed.
X Mr.. PERKINS, Of Louisisaa, from The Co,nn,ii,
tee on Foreign Affairs reported back, with aulend
i ments, the bill 10 remodel The diplomatic and con
sular system of the United States, Il was ordered
\ TO be printed, and its further consideration poAt
poned until Tuesday next
| Mr.. WENTWORTH, OF Massachusetts, made
an Intellectual effort to report, from The Committee
on Commerce, bill 10 prevent the emigration of
blind, insane, and disabled persons to the United
| States.
| Mr.. LATHAM offered q re souion which was
| adopted, calling on the Post Office DeparmeD 10
| furnish the House with a copy Of the contract
with Ramsey and Carmick forthe tran separation OF
the United Stairs mail between Vera Cruz in
Mexico, and SaG Diego, Monterey, and San Fran
| CISCO 49,, ... &. $3.50
/ Mr.. STRATB asked leave 10 offer resolution,
| giving The use of the Hall of Representatives TO
the delegates OF the soldiers of the war Of 1872
| who propose holding their convention in this city
| on the eighth Of January next.
| Mr.. JONES, Of Tennessee, objected 10 the in
PRODUCTION of the resolution, saying that room
has elsewhere been procured for the convention,
and, likewise, If the use OF the Hall should be
granted TO the old soldiers, the House would have
10 adjourn over to the eighth OF January for their
| accommodation
/ The House proceeded 10 the consideration of
the bill amendaiory of the act Of August 4, 1854,
| 10 reduce and graduate the price Of public lands
| 10 actual settlers and cultivators
Messrs. DOWDELL and COBB severally ex.
planned amendments which had been offered by
them.
Messrs McMULLEN, DISNEY, PERKINS,
of New York, HOUSTON, DOWDELL, and
HAMILTON, made remarks relative to the effect
OF the bill and the proposed amendments; when
ment, and then moved that the bill be recommitted
10 the Committee on Public Lands, together with
| the pending amendments, Including one offered
10 day by Mr.. GREENWOOD, and another by MIR.
OLIVER, of Missouri) and demanded the previous
question, under the operation of which the motion
of Mr.. HAMILTON was agreed 10.
The SPEAKER laid before the House mes
sage from the President Of the United States, in
further explanation of his views on the subject Of
| internal improvements by the General Govern.
ment.
| He says, in returning 10 the House in which il
originated the bill passed al the last session,
king appropriations for the repairs and preserve
| ton of certain public works, heretofore COM
menced, uhe river and harbor bi!iJn became
necessary tor him. owing the late day the bill
was passed, 10 state his objection 10 IL, very
/ briefly, promising that he would submit his views
more al length duringthe present session OF Con
gress.
4 As 10 what is intended by the phrase inter
/ nal improvements what Il embraces and what u
4 excludes, there is no such language found IN the
Constitution therefore, they could arrive al no
safe conclusion in their pursuit, under constitu-
tional law or practical craftsmanship.
He had had occasion, more than once, 10 ex-
Il press il his judgment, and taken for granted
4 as fundamental proposition, that the Federal
4 Government is the creature OF the States that
the sovereign power is in them alone, and that all
| power Of the Federal Government is derivstive.
All powers and limitations contained in the Con-
| stifution, not delegated 20 the Federal Govern
| ment, reserved TO the states respectively, or
| 10 the people Starting from thls, IL j. necessary
10 reject all idea fthere being any grant OF power
in the preamble of the Constitution TO authorize
general system Of internal Improvements.
There being no specific grant for this purpose
in the Constitution, and no provision in the lnstru
ment broad enough 10 authorize q system OF 10.
ternal improvements, il became necessary 10 look
at the particular parts of the Constitution under
which IL is claimed they may be pursued AFTER
dwelling on this point, the President says that
there is no express grant IN the Constitution
which authorizes system OF internal improve
ments, nor can any be engaged in, except such ~
may be necessary an incident 10 an express
grant 10 the General Government Congress has
no power 10 carry on internal improvements a
system, and this view is maintained by the sound.
est expostors of the Constitution.
i The President reviews the jurisdiction Of the
| United States over navigable waters, and slnd-s
/ TO the views Of Jefferson. Jackson, Polk and
others, on the subject of internal Improvements;
Il saying, in the course of his argument, " the Inn
1 provement Of a river or harbor involves military
naval emergency, IL is a subIect-maiter for le
gislaive discretion; and, in conclusion, remarking
| that Congress should confne ITS action 10 works
Of undoubted power, leaving the separate States 10
provide for the improvement Of their harbors out
Of their own resources, in the form OF tonnage du
/ ties, levied with the consent Of Congress.
| Mr.. PHILLIPS for the purpose Of enabling
members Of the House 10 consider more maturely
the principles stated 10 the message, moved that
/ il be laid on the table and printed.
| Mr. HAVEN expressed the hope his friend
/ from Alabama would not undertake to pursue any
| course which would prevent gentlemen, 10 vari-
GUS parts Of the House. from expressing their
| views on the subject. IL seemed TO him some
parts OF the message are well reasoned; while
others are reasoned in a way which will not stand
scrutiny. He took il for granted the President
| desired the views in the message 10 be discussed
The message falls far short Of being what the gen.
tleman from Virginia Mr.. BAYLYl said would be
a model veto message. He suggested that the
gentleman from Alabama Mr.. PHLLrrsl with
draw his motion 10 lay the message on the liable,
land moved that IL be referred 10 the Committee Of
the Whole on the state OF the Union.
Mr.. PHILLIPS acquesced, and the message
was thus referred.
i Mr.. STANTON, Of Kentucky, moved that
twenty thousand extra copies Of the message be
i printed and the subject referred 10 the Com
i mittee on Printing for their consideration.
Mr.. JONES, Of Tennessee, called the attention
OF Mr. STANTON, Of Kentucky, 10 the fact that
various documents at the last session OF Con
gress, were ordered 10 be printed but had not yet
been delivered, Gncuding one hundred thousand
copies OF the agricultural <ePort) He wished 70
know from the gentleman OF the Committee on
Printing, why the documents have not been de.
livered.
Mr. STANTON, OF KettncLy expressed L,s
pleasure that the question had been asked. He
said in reply, that the printer, The Superintendent,