Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-01-14

the Senator To speak on behalf Of the Sout'
for he had been rcpudiatcd by his own Stat
for his intensity Of feeling in favor Of nioI
when that Union could only he maintained /;
the sacrifice of the rights and interests Of I'll
South.
Mr.. Houston rose to reply, but the hour b,
ing late ne gave way to Il motion for adjourn
Imcut.
And the Senate adjourned
House Of REPRESENTATIVES.
The Speaker laid before the House a comm,
~nication from the Secretary Of the Interior il
reference to the expenses Of the Supreme Coui
for the last five years. Also, 4 communicate
from the Secretary of the Navy in reference t
the number of officers and vessels now in scr
vice, and their preSen; employment.
Mr.. Stephens, of ia, asked leave to intro
ducc his bill for the admission Of Oregon.
Mr.. Morgan. of y. y. made objection.
Mr.. Houston. of Ala. asked leave to intr"
duce = resolution from the Committee on III,
Judiciary. in reference TO charges against fed
cral Judges, previous II issli.n. Supmna> {,
witnesses.
Mr.. Stephens. Of ia, said that if gentlemen
would not permit the introduction OF the Ore
con bill. lac wonll object TO everything not in
the regular order of business.
Mr.. Wa<hburnc. Of Illinois. moved that the
House "a into Committee Of the Whole. This
motion was not agreed Ia.
The business next in order was the cOn>idc.
ration of the amendment of Mr.. Sherman. OF
Ohio, to refer the Naval Appropriation bill to
the Committee on Naval Affairs, instead Of Ia
the Committee of the Whole. Is proposed by
Mr.. Phelps. of Missouri.
Mr.. Sherman said that if it was not in ac.
c%or,lancc with the rules of the House To refer
the bill 10 the Committee on Naval Affairs.
then that committee was Of no Use. and had
better be diSbandcl. He thought that the
public expenditures would be very much re-
duccl If such bills were referred to appropriate
committees instead Of to the Committee on
WAYS and Means.
Mr.. Washburnc. Of Me-. disagreed with the
gentleman concerning the reference Of such
bills. II the proposition of the gentleman WAS
fully carried out. the Committee Of WAYS and
Means would be made Il mere nonen;ity, and i
universal confusion in the public business
would be the result.
Mr.. Letter. Of Ohio. said that if it could be
shown that the proposed change ofthe custom
and rules Of the House would operate for the
public interests, he would vote for the amend.
mcnt. He mad not yet heard a good reason
Mr.. Sherman said that he was prepared TO
show that the appropriations contained in the
naval appropriation bill. reported by the Com
of WAYS and Means. might be cut down
by : 1000. 600.
Mr.. Grow. Of Pennsylvania. desired tina, the
should be- made. and would vote for the
amendment. He had all confidence in the
of Ways and Means. but thought
that the appropriation bills should first come
from the Separate standing committees To- which
they respectively belong. \ great reduction
in the public expenditures might thereby be
The rules should be 50 changed rs to
refer the estimates Of the department to the VA
fioUS standing committees. The bills reported
bv the latter should then be referred to the
Of Ways and Means. The lcg;>la-
ton Of the country would thus be placed upon
IL proper basis.
Mr.. Howard, Of Mich. opposed the amend.
nent Of Mr.. Sherman. He thought that the
proposed change would no; expedite the pub
ic business, nor materially reduce the public
expenditures.
The Committee Of WAYS ard Means always
,ndcayorei to reduce the estimates Of the va
departments. while the standing commit.
.ccS, to which it was proposed 20 refer the APP
preparation bills. aimcda at increasing them rs
nuch as possible. Nr. II. wa+ opposed to the
amendment because il involved a total change
n the present system Of transac;ing the public
The change would result in an in.
'rcasc Of expenditure instead Of 4 decrease
t had been said that the Committee of Wavs
nd Means vas abSOrbin. the whole legislation
Il the House. Such was not the case. No
committee was more watched or restricted in It's
,perations.
Mr.. Seward. Of Ga, said that the Committee
Ways and Means was the mere instrument
or carrying out the various orders and recon.
Of the departments Of government.
This committee had not the time nor capacity
o examine into the various items contained in
ne appropriation bills. These matters could
,e properly investigated and decided upon only
~ the standing committees TO which they BRO
,crly belonged.
After all. the Committee on Naval Affairs
vas useful only as 4 committee on private
'lainS. or the claims of officers connected with
he various departments Of the navy.
1t was important that the business of the
louise should be more equally distributed among
he various committees.
AR. Jones. of Tennessee. said that the pro.
,osod change Of the rules would result in the
obstruction and confusion of the public bust
lCSs.
Mr.. Bocock. Of Va. moved that the House go
nto Committee Of the Whole on the State of
he Union. Tie motion was carried. and Sir.
}ocock took tie chair.
Mr.. Jenkins, Of Va, gave his opinions in
.eterence to our foreign relations. Yesterday
vas spent i'll discussing and voting upon a
question which has long since become u dead
ssue. when living issues are pressing upon us
nd demand Our immediate attention.
Mr.. j. referred 10 the rumorS of recent al.
between European powers. for the pur-
of preventing the extension of the United
states.
He denounced the spirit and effect of the
layton uiwcr treaty, ard advocated its abro-
.atiou.
He deprecated the interference Of Great
Britain in Central American aShirS. and said
hat she had not vet yielded ore particle of her
dominion, or assumed protcctorate. in that por-
ion Of the world. The Clayton Bulwcr treaty
us 70 advantages in Central America
had been unfaithful in its fulGIment.
t was 4 constant and fruitful source of ami.
iosity between the contracting parties.
This treaty shoald be abroga,cd. because
;rcat Britain has no rights in Central America
inside Of the treaty, and because her prctcn-
ion to exercise lrotccioratcs over certain por-
Of Central Ninerica- protectoratc> so In
irious and disadvantagcous TO uS-werc found
d solely on the treaty.
Mr.. Giddings. Of Ohio, entered into a discus.
ion Of the question of slavery, and OF the
principles on which the Republican party bases
IS organization.
Mr.. Bowie, Of Maryland, replied to the re.
Of Mr.. GiddinsS. He spoke of the
enius and spirit of the Constitution, which he
aid were now on their onward progress, and
o power on earth could stop them. In ron
!'ision, he proceeded to analyzc the foreign
Of the government, and stated that
&c bciiered war would be peculiarly injurious
o the agricultural portion of the country; but