The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-16

The speaker ruled that, this being country Of
free speech, persons elected to represent the
people have . right to criticse the acts of their
public officers, provided il be 10 language not in
decorous nor offensive-a right exercised in the
presidents message in referring to members Of
Congress.
At Mr.. Schenck's request. the paragraph COM
mepcing :. Our national credit should be sacredly
observed" and ending fright compliance with
the letter Of the bond" was read.
Mr.. Broomall read his resolution, which rected
the paragraph above referred to aud says:
WHEREAS. Such a sentiment, If permitted to 60
to the world without immediate protest, might oe
understood to be the sentiment of the people Of
the United States and of their representatives in
Congress therefore
Resolred, That all forms and degrees Of repudi.
alton of the national Indebtedness are odious TO
stances will their representatives consent to offer
the public creditor rs full compensation less
amount of money than that which the government
contracted to pay him.
Mr.. ScLenck said look upon the message as q
most gross and shameless proposition to repadiate
the debt Of the country that ever yet have known
to be put forward from any quarter, except, it
may be possibly in the columns of the paper of
Brick Pomeroy. who, believe, has spread before
the public in full this morning. this message, 10 ad
possibly, a kindred feeling on this point. There
is another part of this message to which wish to
attract attention before the vote Is taken. On the
twenty fifth page Of it will be found paragraph
rejecting on the action Of Congress in terms SINH
lar TO those used by the Legislature Of Oregon.
1t is only necessary for me to call the attention
of the House TO the fact that yesterday. when
such language cane from such a source, we
stgmatzed il as scurrilous. indecorous and sland-
erous. | do not know Of any license which the
president of the United States has to speak thus
of public legislation which may not as well be
accorded to the Legislature of Oregon. and
therefore class them together in that reprobation
which Congress has already passed on one Of
them. Now trust that there will be no printing
of this message. Let 1t take its chance In the
public prints. trust 1t will be laid on the table
as not 1T to be laid before the committee of the
whole on the state Of the Union.
Mr.. Farnsworrh-Thst is right.
Mr.. Schtnck-I trust also no gentleman will be
deferred from voting against referring it TO the
committee of the whole on the state of the Union
by supposing 1t necessary in order to give juris-
dcton to its several parts it should be referred.
There is nothing in the message on which stand
ing committees of the House may not obtain jurs-
dction by the ordinary process Of bills, petitions
and resolutions. There is no necessity therefore,
Of referring to the committee of the whole on the
state of the Union for the usual purpose OF its
distribution to the standing committees. There is
no need of its being printed. IL will 60 broadcast
to the country, as all presidents messages do. for
what it is worth. desire that it may simply be
laid on the table. and hope my friend from I'LL
nois concurrng with me will permit me to substi-
tute my motion Tor bis.
Mr.. Washburne concurred with Mr.. Schenck,
but said it was necessary that the message be
printed In order for il to 60 among the official doc
umen.s OF tne country. ne mooiued the mouon
30 as to lay the message on the table and have it
printed.
Mr.. Scofeld suggested whether the gentle.
man would not be satisfied to have it sent to the
butter shops.
Mr.. Highly agreed with the gentleman as to the
character OF the message, but 1t seemed to him
that the House was making too much OF one who
is eHectuAlly dead The last election settled that
question. Let the message go to the people, and
let them see what we have had to content against
for the last three years. 1t will fulfill what Con.
gress has said OF him.
The question being on the motion to lay on the
table and prin',
Mr.. Ross suggested an amendment to print
100 .oo0 copies.
The speaker ruled the amendment not in order
The message was Land on the table and ordered
TO be printed. yeas, Us nays 50:
The resolution indicated by Mr.. Robinson on
yesterday, calling on the president for further in
formation and correspondence In reference to
Fenian prisoners in Ireland, was offered and
adopted.
The bill Tor the election in Virginia was taken
up, discussed, and amended by vote OF 20 to 60,
By fixing the fourth Thursday in May for the eIec
ton. and time for meeting of the Legislature
also liked for the first Thursday in September.
The speaker presented letter from the secre-
tary of war with communication from the super
intendent of the freedmen's bureau. asking the
House to investigate the bureau. Referred to the
committee on freedmen's affairs.
Mr.. Wasbburne. of Illinois. resigned his n osition
AZ chairman of the COMMITTEES on Commerce.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 10.
Sendte.-The following standing committees
were appointed:
Foreign relstions-Sumuer (chsirman). Fessen-
den, Cameron, Harlan, Morton, Patterson, N. II.
Bsyard.
Finances-Sherman (charman), Morgan. War
ner, Williams, Corbett, Henderson. Morrill,, Vt.
Appropriations : Morrill,, Ne. (chsirmsn),
Crimes Howe, Wilson. Cole, Conkling. Buckalew.
Commerce-Chandler (chairman), Morrill,, VI,
Vickers. Spencer, Kellogg. Corbett.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. (chairman), Yates, Abb
bolt. Dixon, Robertson.
Agriculture = Cameron chairman, Cattell,
Upton, Welsh. McCreery.
Military affairs and militia-Wilson lchairman),
Sprsgue, Cameron, Morton, Abbott, Thayer, Doc
little.
liDghuysen, Edmunds, Conkling, Rice, Hen
bricks.
Postoffce and post roads-Ramsay (charman),
Conness, Pomeroy, Van Wrinkle, Mcdonald,
W elsh and Dixon -ss
Public lands Pomeroy (chairmau). Stewart.
Osborne. Williams. Upton. Hendricks. Warner.