New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-07

Mr.. GWIN Dem. Cali offered a resolution In ytruct-
pg u Post-Ofice Committee TO inquire into the eEoe-
depcy of establishing seme- weekly mail between
st. 10 epb No., and psoervlle. Cal. Adopted.
Mr.. HEMPHILL Dem Tex introduced similar
resolution relative TO a semi weekly mail be ween
New-0rlesns and El Paso; Adopted:
ar. HAUN Den, CAL 10 reduced bill for the ex-
tension Of the presumption privilege in California. 1t
was read twice and referred.
MIR. WIGFALL Dem, Tex introduced a bill for
a line of ralro I'd aud telegraph to the Pacific.
hIr. lGWIN moved it's printing, and would not call
up the bill to-day, but would do no at early date.
On motion OF Mr.. MALLORY, the bill to increase
ard regulate the pay of the navy, was taken up, and
made the special order for Monday.
Mr.. PEARCE Dem Md offered resolution
asking the President TO communicate the instructions
and dispatches seLt to- and received from, the late
Minister to China, and the former Commissioner.
Adopted.
A message was received from the House. giving iu-
formation of its organization, and proposing Joint
Committee TO wait on the President TO receive any
communication he may have 10 make
Mr.. INVERSION Dem Ga from the Committee on
Clams offered large number of private bills which
have been passed Oh by the Court of Claims.
communication was received from the Depart.
ment Of State transmitting the report Of the CONNER
cal relations Of the United States for the year ending
June 80, 1859.
Mr.. WILSON REP, Mass.) presented the petition
Of Charles A. DaIa Of New-York and others for the
freedom Of the public lauds
Mr. CHANDLER rep, Mich) movedto reconsider
the vote by which the Presidents Message relative to
the ST. Clair Flais was ordered to be printed: Mr.
Chandler said serious charges contained in the
Message against Congress. There was au imputation
that the President sought to DO mpo Led upon. AS
one who had pressed that bill he affected by this
CHARGE. If the President was correct, he lChander
was liable 10 the imrutafion OF Ignorance or faud Ii
the President was not correct, then he was liable TO
sane impuation. Mr.. Chandler commended that the
appropriation was properly asked for and actually
ueeded as the alter was continually changing in the
lake. The President was laboring under mistake.
President. If the United States were as liberal as
Canada. they woud appropriate million, instead Of
fy-four thousand dollars TO keep the channel open.
He withdrew the motion to reconsider and gave notice
that he would ask the passage of the bill, and if it
again vetoed, he hoped it would be passed by two
thirds vote
MIR. BROWN Dem, Miss moved to postpone his
resolutions til % o'clock.
Mr. SALISBURY Dem, Dell said he wished to
see all resolutions before him before voting for any of
them He thought 1t improper to convert the Senate
into a debating society DpoE mere abstrac IONS IL
vote was pressed. however, he would vote against
nytbipg like Squater Sovereignty.
Mr. Browns resolution was postponed.
Mr.. DAVIS Dem, Miss replied to Mr.. Chandler
in defense of the Presidents veto, arguing that the
Presidents grounds Of objection well taken, and
that The improvement was not necessary for military
Messrs. CLAY lDem., Ala, CRITTENDEN, Is.
AM Ky and Others further debated the subject, aud
expressed their views as TO the power OF the States to
impose tunnage duties.
Mr.. TOOMBS defended the action of the President.
He believed the bill unconstitutional and therefore
turned il with his objections, which the proper
course He lToombs) would never consent to refer
constitutional questions TO the popular will. The
rights of the people of the States rested on such
fra dependence. The object of the bill to plumber
the people Of the country for the benefit OF those who
were unwilling to pay for their own facilities. The
Constitution s clear, that by consent Of Congress the
States might impose tunnage duties and no distinction
is made between foreign and domestic tunnage. The
express object of that provision was to enable the
States to improve their harboIs. He was glad there
was man in the Presidential chair firm enough TO
stand by the Constitution, in opposition to the popular
will and the clsmor of Congressional msiorities
Mr.. CRff1ENDEN replied that the Presidents ob-
jections merely technical. He showed us how
we might accomplish indirectly what he denied us the
power to do directly. lie had great respect fer the
opinion Of the Senator from Georgia, but his diotum
could not settle the consutODaity of measures
cerniDe which Presidents snd Congresses had differed
from the ioUI daon Of government lie held that
when the will of the people ascertaned il ought
to be respected. This defiance Of the will Of the peo-
pie il not proper. Madison yielded his objections 20
tie incorporation of National Bank when the will
of the people was clearly ascertaned by the vote OF
Congress.
Dir. WIGFALL (Dem Tex was one Of those who
desired TO rescue The Constitution. If the Senator
from Kentucky was right that the people should con-
strue their own Constitution, Webster knew less OF
that document than any man. for he had been at issue
with popular judgment on every Important question
which bad divided the country The Slavery ques-
ton was pot one which divided the country, nor one
on which the Government wonld break. the Sena,
tor from Massachusetts, could be made to understand
the Constitution all differences between them about
Slavery would cease. Why were there no so leiles IN
Boston to abolish the slave trade OF ConstantnoPle
for he supposed they had some sympathy for white
women. The reason was, they knew they had 10
jurisdiction in ConstantinoPle, but, nncer mistaken
construction of the Constitution, they believed they
were responsible for the existence OF Slavery IN
Texas Mr. Wigfal then went into an argument,
couen6ing that the President was department OF The
Government and should lot be controlled by the ac-
ton of the other branches and held thai the veto was
based on proper constitutional grounds
Mr.. CRITTENDEE explained, that when ne spoke
of the popular will Re did not mean 1t should h re-
Qarded az authority, bat respected as an expression
Of opinion s.o,,
the House, and apr priateiy referred.
Mr.. TO0MBS Dem, Ca replied to Mr.. Crlttenden
that the mode provided by the Constitution Tor INTERNAL
improvements was Just one Inc otner moue' 10y
cause IL taxed class OF persons ior the oeheht %
the others He cited the debates on the Constitution 10
show that internal improvements are unconstitutional
Mr. CRITTEEDEN said those authorities have been
cted time aud again and yet the public mind is still
unsettled op the point in controversy They conid not
make Conttitu ion elaborate, 60 s2ecne, as 10
cover every point upon which power could De exer,
cised. He thought the action OF Congress gooa
gu de as TO what might properly be done.
Mr.. CLAY fully agreed with the veto message .,
the President. The Senator from Kentucky would
reoure the President not only to defer TO the VIII OF
,be peope as expressed by Congress- but also to sur
render bs conscience to their keeping. This Govern
rnent is not Government of mere majority: Inc
whole theory of the Constitution was opposed 70 II.
The States had rights which could not be taken away
by any majority. u,.,
Mr.. GWIN Dem, Call moved TO adjourn.
Nv. BROWN called for the yeas add nays. lie OBJ
ieced 10 having action his resolution delayed by