Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-02-27

BENJAMIN, Brown, Batter, Clay. Clayton, Dawson,
Evans Fessentlen, Fish, Ftzpatrick Foot aeyer,
Hunter, johnson, Mason, Pearce, Rockwell, Ihomp-
son ofKentucky, thompson OF New Jersey, AOoHos,
and Wadc-25. =
This question was then brought before the Sem
ate on your motion, MIR. President On more thar
one occasion it has been brought to the notice o.
the Senate by your notion Both the lists to which
have referred were taken on propositions made Dy
YOU to restore the old rule.
Now, sir, is our present practice right, or IS 1t
wrong? That is the important question to be de-
termined, it seems to me- According to my idea o.
Democratic instincts, if I may the expression,
it is wrong 1t is substantially making the offices
of the Senate life offices-the life tenure obtains
here 10 that am opposed. 1t is not consistent,
in nv humble opinion, with the theory of the gov
eminent under which we live do not propose to
make speech, because I suppose gentlemen have
made up their minds on this question. have said
thus much to set myself right. intend to vote for
the introduction of this old rule and for change
of the present practice.
Now, sir, desire to say to the Senate, most en-
phatically, that have no personal feeling in regard
to our present officers. take it for granted, that
if this rule obtains, and my resolutions should be
passed. in all probability the present officers of the
Senate would be reelected; but cannot make any
pledges until this resolution passes, and until W"
have opportunity to investigate the claims o.
those officers. / know nothing about it, and there
fore shall make no pledges about it. But desire
gard to any of these officers. The principle which
uphold in regard to the election of officers ought
to obtain in the Senate; and it ought not to be vio
lated. 1t is nothing but justice to the incoming
Senator's say nothing Of the injustice Of the prn-
ciple of }fe.tenure. Sir, according to the practice
of the Senate and the permanency of these officers,
of which the Senator from Virginia speaks, the in
coming Senators have voice at all in the election
of officers their wishes not consulted; their
Judgment is not exercised in regard to the officers
of the Senate.
Although we arc further removed from response
bility than any other department of the govern
ment, our tenure being six years. still We are re-
sponsible and we ought to be responsible for the
exercise of the privilege of electns officers. put
it to Senators whether they feel the same re-
sponsibility in selecting the officers for the dscharg
Of the duties of these stations they would feel
they had some voice in the appointment OF tho
officers?
Now, sir, feel the full force of what has been
said by the Senator from Virginia as to the pecessi-
ty of having experienced officers; and take it for
granted that shall not be deprived Of experience
cd officers by the adoption Of this rule. take it
for granted that if we have experienced officers,
when the election comes on, at the commencement
of every Congress, the Senate will re-elect them
No injury can therefore result according to my
idea to the public service by the adoption of these
resolutions, or any risk be of getting incxpe-
ricnced officers when we have the judgment Of the
Senate control that matter in the selection of those
officers
But, do not propose, Mr.. President, to occupy
the time of the Senate with any extended remarks
on this question. There is consideration, how
ever that has struck very forcibly indeed, to
which wish TO call the attention of the Senate
This branch of Congress is the great conservative
power in the theory of our government, as far as
the legislative department is concerned The prac-
tce that prevails in my humble judgment, is
we'll calculated to weaken the attachment of largo
,offh no tn iS n
ment. Not only this but there may be other OBJ
icctons fee! greatly honored by being considered
worthy, by my State, TO represent her in this au-
gust body and so far as my humble abilities 60,
PROPOSE in my action here to pursue such course
that, far from reneSing having the appear
ance of removing us, from the great mass of tho
people, will attach that more strongly to
this branch Of the government. l am, therefore,
sir, upon principle and upon every consideration
that influences my political course, decidedly in ia
vor of the adoption of these resolutions.
After further debate, the resolutions offered by
Col. Bggs were indefinitely postponed-yeas 80,
nays IL.
RELIGIOUS RIGHTS OF THE HEBREws.-Gen Cass,
in presenting petition to the United States Senate,
recently made the following just and liberal remarks:
Mr.. President have been requested by Our He
brew fellow citizens of this District to present Pc
ttion asking for act IF incorporation to enable
them to erect place of worship, and to manage
that the existing law in this District makes provis'
ion for those purposes only in relation to Christian
denominations Such distinction is an act Of gross
injustice and, if continued after our attention is
directed to it. it would be disgrace to urspru-
dence 1t would i'll become to cast reproach by
any act of ours upon the faith of the patrarchs and
prophets of Israeli to whose keeping for more than
two thousand years committed the oracles Of
the true and living God. Considered in historical
ASPECT only, the rise and progress and fall of the
Jewish race constitute the most interesting and re-
n,arkabc, and, may add, romantic episode in the
whole annals of mankind. The incarnate Saviour
himself, in his human capacity, was Jew, and he
came as he declared not to destroy the first dspen-
sation-that of law-but to fulfill it by the second
dispensation-that of mercy. His revelation is free
" offered to all the world whether Jew or Gentle;
and condemns every kind of persecution and nol-
GRANGE, whether civil ecclesiastical. l trust
that the fell spirit leading to eternal conflicts be-
tween the power to nAict and the power to endure,
will never take possession Of the American heart,
nor write its cruel and unchristan DEGREES in the
volumes of American Legislation. l move the re-
ference of this petition to the Committee the Dis
| trict Of Columbia.
The motion agreed to.
HEROIC Acr-We are informed by passenge
on the cars, that, Sunday morning last, about &
o'clock, as the passengers going North were enter
ing the Steam Boat, opposite Wilmington, cry was
heard of " man overboard!' It was quite dark
the water very deep and the current remarkabl!
rapd-no one could tell who the unfortunate indi
| vdual was; all was CONSERVATION and alarm. Th
life boat of the steamer was accidcntly absent:
rope was obtained and thrown to the struggling OBJ
| jcct, but it seemed to be unheeded at that mo.
ment, slave by the name of Alexander, 0he pro
perty of Hon. VIM. H. Washngton,) who was OIL
his way from the South asked permission to 60 int
the River to the rescue of the drowning person.
| L.. ho Nvln r..