Слике страница
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]

thorizing these proceedings declared that, unless Congress would receive the new State into the Union, it should continue subject to the laws of Virginia. The day was fixed; Congress gave its assent that it should on that day be formed into a new State and admitted into the Union; and it never ceased to be under the dominion of Virginia, never did become a State, until the day of its admission. It was not true, therefore, that no Terri tory could be admitted till it first became a State. The converse was true; or rather the true principle was, that the same moment it threw off its territorial character, it assumed at once that of a State and a member of the Union.

If it be insisted (said Mr. R.) that, prior to that time, Michigan became a State, then the question would arise, at what time did she assume that character? Was it when she undertook to frame a constitution? Upon the principle asserted, that she could not be admitted into the Union until after she became a State, because none but States could be admitted, it would seem to follow that she must have been a State before she formed a constitution; for it might be said, perhaps with greater propriety, that none but States or independent communities could form constitutions; and then it would be difficult, if not impossible, to fix upon the period when her sov. ereignty commenced. Was it in June, 1836, when it is said her constitution was accepted and ratified by Congress? That ratification (Mr. R. contended) was, for the reasons he had mentioned, necessarily conditional, even if it were not so in terms. Michigan could not become a State, with or without the consent of Congress, until she was admitted into the Union; because, as he had endeavored to show, she would thereby be detached and separated from the confederacy, and absolved from its laws, contrary to the explicit provisions of the ordinance, that she should forever remain a part of the one, and subject to the other. These absurd consequences could not be denied.

[JAN. 27, 1837.

Michigan when she claimed to exercise the right of electing her Representative.

If it was a valid election, then Mr. CRARY had been unjustly and unlawfully kept out of his seat for more than twelve months. But Michigan, at that time, could not be constitutionally represented. To illustrate this, Mr. R. observed that the constitution declared that no one should be a Representative who should not when elected be an inhabitant of the State in which he should be chosen. Suppose Mr. CRARY had, in October, 1835, been an inhabitant of some other State, but, previous to his claiming his seat, had settled in Michigan, could Congress, under this doctrine of relation, have recog nised his claim? Surely not. There was a constitutional incapacity which Congress could not remedy. Here there was also a constitutional incapacity; not in the person elected, but in the electors. But the same principle applied. The election was as unconstitutional, owing to the defect of right in the electors to representation, as it would have been if they had chosen a non-resident to represent them. Mr. R. concluded with repeating his conscientious conviction that there was an inherent de. fect in the title by which Mr. CRARY claimed a seat in that hall; and that Congress had no power to dispense with the constitution, or to make that valid which was void in its origin. He hoped that gentlemen who had not fully satisfied their minds upon the subject would consent to its reference to the Committee of Elections.

Mr. THOMAS contended that to send this subject to a committee would be a work of supererogation, after the thorough examination which had been given to it. He contended that the constitution of the State of Michi gan was now as perfect as it would have been if its organization had been preceded by a law of Congress authorizing a convention for that purpose, and cited precedents in the history of the Union to corroborate this position.

Mr. HUNTSMAN demanded the previous question: and the House seconded the call: Yeas 97, nays not counted.

And the House ordered that the main question should now be taken.

Mr. YOUNG called for the yeas and nays on the main question; which were ordered.

And the main question, "Shall ISAAC E. CRARY be qualified as a member of the House from the State o Michigan"" was then taken, and decided in the affirma tive: Yeas 150, nays 32, as follows:

A communication was read from Mr. CRARY, encloBut if the position which he had endeavored to main-sing a certificate of election from the Governor of the tain be correct, that Michigan never could become a State of Michigan. State prior to her admission, it would follow that her right to be represented in Congress would date from the same period. Representation, under the provisions of the constitution, must be apportioned among the States in the Union, and in the nature of things can belong to no State out of it. But the right of election must be dependent upon the right of representation. Where there is no lawful right to be represented there can be no law. ful right to elect representatives. In October, 1835, Michigan had no better right to be represented in Congress than Wisconsin or Canada. The election of Mr. CRARY was therefore an unauthorized act-a mere nullity. But it was said that the ratification of her constitution | by Congress in 1836, or her admission on yesterday, by relation, made her constitution valid from its date, and confirmed all that had been done under it. This doctrine would lead to dangerous consequences. Suppose Michigan had continued to refuse the terms offered by Congress, were the Government and laws of the Union to be regarded as superseded by the mere formation of a State constitution by Michigan, or by its conditional acceptance by Congress? Then might they remain superseded forever. The only way to avoid the difficulty was to consider the constitution so formed as an inchoate act, having no vitality, no operation, until the State was finally received into the bosom of our confederacy. The doctrine of relation, at most, could only confirm the ir regular exercise of a power where the body recognising the act might have lawfully conferred the power. the right of representation could neither be granted nor taken away by Congress. It was derived from higher authority-from the constitution of the United States. Under that constitution it did not lawfully belong to

But

YEAS--Messrs. Adams, Chilion Allan, Anthony, Ash Ashley, Bailey, Barton, Bean, Bell, Black, Boon, Boyd Brown, Buchanan, Bunch, Burns, Bynum, John Calhoon William B. Calhoun, Cambreleng, Carr, Casey, Georg Chambers, Chapman, Chapin, John F. H. Claiborne Cleveland, Coles, Craig, Cramer, Cushing, Cushman Darlington, Doubleday, Dunlap, Efner, Elmore, Fait field, Farlin, Forester, Fowler, Fry, Fuller, James Ga land, Rice Garland, Gholson, Gillet, Glascock, Gr ham, Granger, Grantland, Grennell, Haley, Josep Hall, Hamer, Hard, Hardin, Harlan, Samuel S. Ha rison, Albert G. Harrison, Hawes, Hawkins, Hayne Henderson, Herod, Hoar, Holt, Hopkins, Howard, Hul ley, Hunt, Huntington, Huntsman, Ingham, Willia Jackson, Janes, Jarvis, Jenifer, Joseph Johnson, Cai Johnson, Henry Johnson, Benjamin Jones, Kennon, K gore, Klingensmith, Lane, Lansing, Lawler, Lawrenc Lay, Gideon Lee, Joshua Lee, Luke Lea, Leonar Lewis, Logan, Loyall, Lyon, Job Mann, William Maso Moses Mason, Samson Mason, Maury, May, McCom McKay, McKennan, McKeon, McKim, Moore, Morga Page, Parker, Patterson, Franklin Pierce, Peyto

JAN. 28, 1837.]

Texas-Enlistment of Boys in the Navy, &c.

Phelps, Pickens, Rencher, John Reynolds, Joseph Reynolds, Richardson, Rogers, Schenck, Seymour, Augustine H. Shepperd, Shields, Shinn, Sickles, Spangler, Standefer, Steele, Storer, Sutherland, Taylor, Thomas, John Thomson, Waddy Thompson, Turner, Turrill, Vanderpoel, Wardwell, Washington, Webster, Weeks, White, Elisha Whittlesey, Thomas T. Whittlesey, Yell, Young--150,

NAYS-Messrs. Heman Allen, Beale, Bond, John Chambers, Chetwood, Childs, Nathaniel H. Claiborne, Corwin, Crane, Dawson, Deberry, Evans, Everett, Graves, Grayson, Griffin, Harper, Hazeltine, Ingersoll, Love, Milligan, Patton, Pearson, Pettigrew, Phillips, Potts, Robertson, Russell, Taliaferro, Underwood, Vinton, Lewis Williams--32.

So the House decided that ISAAC E. CRARY be now qualified to take his seat as a member from the State of Michigan.

Mr. CRARY was then proceeding to the table to qualify, when

Mr. DAWSON arose, and expressed an intention of moving to reconsider the last vote, to enable him to give bis reasons for voting against the admission of Michigan, and against the motion to qualify the gentleman presenting himself as its member.

The CHAIR reminded the gentleman from Georgia that, as he had not voted with the majority, he could not make that motion.

Mr. DAWSON appealed to some gentleman who had voted in the majority to make the motion he had indicated.

Mr. THOMPSON, of South Carolina, said he had done so; and, to enable his friend from Georgia to assign reasons for his vote, he moved to reconsider accordingly.

Mr. DAWSON briefly assigned his reasons, which were substantially that Michigan was only a Territory, and not a State, at the election of Mr. CRARY.

Mr. PICKENS contended that Michigan was a State de facto before her admission, and must be so, by the terms of the constitution, or she could not be admitted into the Union at all; for Congress had power only to ad. mit "States," and not "Territories," into the confederacy. Therefore, he should vote for the qualification of Mr. CHARY.

Mr. EVERETT rose, and caught the eye of the Speaker.

Mr. THOMPSON rose at the same time, and said he would withdraw his motion to reconsider; but the Chair, having announced the former gentleman as obtaining the floor, could not entertain the withdrawal.

Mr. EVERETT contended that Michigan could not be a State, even under the ordinance, until her admission by Congress.

Mr. CUSHMAN moved the previous question. Mr. THOMPSON, of South Carolina, withdrew his motion to reconsider.

Mr. CRARY was then qualified, and took his seat as ■ Representative in Congress from the State of Michigan. TEXAS.

Mr. HOWARD inquired at what time the motion pending when the House adjourned last evening would be again taken up.

[The motion in question was to commit certain papers and correspondence on the subject of Texas to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, made by Mr. H. himself, with the amendment of Mr. BoYD, to instruct the committee to report a resolution acknowledging the independence of Texas.]

The CHAIR replied that the regular proceedings of the day had so far been set aside by the consideration of privileged question, and he would now proceed to call fr reports.

[H. OF R.

Mr. HOWARD inquired if the motion referred to by him would come up again to-day.

The CHAIR replied that it could not at the present time, nor, in his opinion, to-day, because, at the expira. tion of an hour for reports, the private orders would come up.

Mr. HOWARD remarked that that was his own impression; but his object in making the inquiry was to ascertain it, and, in view of that, to make a suggestion to the House, which he trusted would be favorably received from all quarters. It was that, as the question was not to be resumed until Monday next, and as the documents lying on the table would have a very direct and important bearing upon the question the House would be called upon to decide, by general consent these documents be printed, with the understanding that the motion was in no way to affect the position of the other question which was pending. He would ask the consent of the House to make the motion to print.

This was agreed to, and the documents ordered to be printed accordingly.

ENLISTMENT OF BOYS IN THE NAVY.

Mr. JARVIS, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, moved to discharge the Committee of the Whole from the "bill to provide for the enlistment of boys in the naval service," and that it be now taken up and considered. Mr. BELL objected to giving precedence to bills over other business of an important character.

Mr. JARVIS explained that he had been unanimously instructed to make the motion by the Committee on Naval Affairs, and gave several reasons for the speedy passage of this bill.

Some difficulty of a personal character took place be. tween the gentlemen from Maine and Tennessee, in reference to the objection made by the latter to setting aside pending business, and giving the priority to other bills that would produce debate.

Mr. MERCER, after some few remarks of a conciliatory nature, moved that a pledge be required of the two gentlemen that the difficulty might not be prosecuted further.

After some remarks from Messrs. BELL, JARVIS, MERCER, PATTON, PICKENS, GLASCOCK, WHITTLESEY of Ohio, BOULDIN, THOMAS, PEYTON, THOMSON of Ohio, LAWLER, CRAIG, PHILLIPS, THOMPSON of South Carolina, BYNUM, HAWES, BOON, BRIGGS, EVANS, PARKS, and WISE, mutual explanations took place; and then, on motion, The House adjourned.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 28.

ENLISTMENT OF BOYS IN THE NAVY. The motion made yesterday by Mr. JARVIS, to dis charge the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union from the further consideration of the bill to provide for the enlistment of boys in the naval service of the United States coming up as the unfinished business, was considered and rejected.

AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION.

Mr. DROMGOOLE, from the select committee on that part of the President's message relating to an amend. ment of the constitution of the United States, made the following report, in part, and resolutions:

The select committee to whom was referred so much of the President's message as relates to amending the constitution of the United States, together with all prop. ositions and resolutions submitted at the last and present session of Congress, proposing amendments to the constitution, report, in part: That, according to order, they

H. OF R.]

Hour of Meeting—Buffalo Harbor, &c.

have had under consideration sundry propositions and resolutions for the amendment of the constitution in reJation to the election of President and Vice President of the United States. Upon examination, they find that a report on this subject was made at the last session of Congress, on the 30th March, 1836, by a select committee. The joint resolution reported by said committee was twice read, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. No further action was had thereon, and the said reported joint resolution remains on the calendar, and may, at the pleasure of the House, be considered in said Committee of the Whole. If, therefore, the House be disposed to act on this subject during the present session of Congress, your committee think it more advisable to consider the report now on the calendar than to begin de novo. Your committee, therefore, submit the two following resolutions:

Resolved, That the select committee to which the subject was referred be discharged from the further consideration of all propositions and resolutions relating to the amendments of the constitution on the subject of the election of President and Vice President.

Resolved, That this House will, on the 31st inst., resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, to take into consideration the joint resolutions proposing an amendment to the constitution of the United States, in relation to the election of President

and Vice President.

Mr. WILLIAMS, of North Carolina, called for a division of the question on the resolutions; and the first being agreed to without a count

Mr. W. asked for the yeas and nays on concurring with the second resolution, (which would require a vote of two thirds,) and they were ordered.

Mr. VANDERPOEL moved to insert the 7th of February instead of 31st inst. Lost.

Mr. CAMBRELENG and Mr. BOON both severally expressed a hope that no more special orders would be adopted, since the inconvenience of them had been sufficiently experienced last session. Mr. C. further inquired if it was designed to cut off the appropriation bil's of this session altogether; because, if so, he trusted the order would not be adopted.

Mr. HOWARD inquired, if the order should be adopt. ed, whether it would take precedence of other bills on each day thereafter, or only on that day.

The CHAIR replied that, after that day, it would take its place on the calendar among the unfinished business. The question was then taken, and decided in the negative: Yeas 66, nays 83.

So the second resolution was disagreed to.
Before the decision was announced,

Mr. PARKS rose and stated, that when his name was called he was not in his seat, being in attendance upon a select committee, which had leave to sit during the ses sions of the House; and he therefore asked leave to record his vote.

Mr. MERCER objected.

Mr. PARKS moved a suspension of the rule.

Mr. WILLIAMS, of North Carolina, thought a mem ber had a right to vote under the circumstances stated by the gentleman from Maine, viz: absence under an order of the House.

The CHAIR replied that that question had frequently been decided otherwise by the House itself.

The motion of Mr. PARKS was disagreed to.

HOUR OF MEETING.

Mr. VANDERPOEL asked leave to offer a resolution proposing to change the daily hour of meeting of the House, from and after this date, to 11 o'clock, A. M. Objections being made,

[JAN. 28, 1837.

Mr. CRAIG moved a suspension of the rule. Mr. VANDERPOEL called for the yeas and nays; which were ordered, and were: Yeas 123, nays 45. So the rule was suspended.

Mr. VANDERPOEL moved the adoption of the resolution.

Mr. BOYD moved to amend it by inserting 10 o'clock instead of 11. Lost.

The resolution was then agreed to without a division. BUFFALO HARBOR.

Mr. LOVE moved a suspension of the rule for the purpose of taking up and considering the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to report to this House the survey and examination made of a harbor at the east end of Lake Erie, connecting the present harbors of Buffalo and Black Rock; together with his opinion of the practicability of the construction of said harbor, and of its utility and necessity in regard to the increasing commerce upon that lake.

The motion was agreed to; and the resolution having been read,

Mr. MANN, of New York, inquired of his colleague if he expected to procure any further action of the House upon the subject of the harbors of Buffalo and Black Rock during the present session; because, if he did, he (Mr. M.) had a word or two to say on the subject.

Mr. LOVE replied that all he expected to procure before the close of the present session was the opinion of the Secretary of War in regard to the controverted questions of the practicability and expediency of constructing the work referred to. He had no expectation to obtain legislation early enough this session. The resolution was then agreed to.

CANADA TRADE.

ing resolution; which was read, as follows: Mr. HALL, of Maine, asked leave to offer the follow

Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the expediency of revising the laws regulating the trade upon the frontiers, between the United States and the British provinces, and abolishing duties on lumber, the growth of the United States, States; and also upon produce, the growth of the provsawed in the said provinces and brought into the United inces, brought into the United States.

Objection being made, Mr. H. moved a suspension of the rule. Lost, 86 to 55-not two thirds.

Mr. MANN, of New York moved a suspension of the rule for the purpose of calling the States for resolutions, and considering the same, provided that such resolutions should not occasion debate.

Mr. PARKER suggested a modification, so as to embrace resolutions calling for information from the departments, and now lying on the table for consideration. Mr. MANN assented, but the motion to suspend was

lost.

The House then proceeded to the orders of the day, and took up the private orders.

N. & L. DANA & CO.

The first business in order was the motion made on Saturday last, by Mr. JARVIS, to reconsider the vote by which the bill for the relief of N. & L. Dana & Co. was rejected.

After some remarks by Messrs. JARVIS, ADAMS, PEARCE of Rhode Island, and SUTHERLAND, Mr. McKIM moved the previous question.

Mr. WARDWELL then moved to lay the bill on th table.

Mr. CAVE JOHNSON called for the yeas and nays which were ordered, and were: Yeas 89, nays 63. So the bill was laid on the table.

[ocr errors]

JAN. 30, 1837.]

EBENEZER BREED.

Ebenezer Breed-Abolition of Slavery.

The bill for the relief of Ebenezer Breed was then taken up on its third reading.

Mr. CAVE JOHNSON moved to lay the bill on the table.

Mr. HAWES called for the yeas and nays.

Mr. PATTON said, as this vote would be the settling of an important principle, he moved a call of the House. Lost.

The yeas and nays were then ordered, and were: Yeas 60, nays 90.

So the House refused to lay the bill on the table. Mr. WILLIAMS, of North Carolina, moved a call of the House.

Mr. PATTON called for the yeas and nays on this motion; which were ordered, and were: Yeas 60, nays

[blocks in formation]

The SPEAKER having, on motion of Mr. BRIGGS, ascertained that a quorum was present, the House, on motion of Mr. C. ALLAN, suspended all further proceedings on the call, and the journal of Saturday was then read.

Petitions and memorials were then called for in the order of States and Territories.

ABOLITION OF SLAVERY.

Mr. ADAMS said that he had in his possession a number of petitions in relation to slavery-some praying for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia; some for the abolition of slavery in the Territories; some for the abolition of slavery and the internal coasting slavetrade; and some for the prohibition of the exportation of slaves to Texas, or to the dominions of any foreign Pow er. He was under the necessity of presenting these petitions separately and distinctly, as they came partly from his constituents and partly from people in other Parts of the United States. He asked leave to address the House on the right of the petitioners to have their petitions read. He wished that the request might be entered on the journals, and that he might have the yeas and nays upon it.

Objections were made, and Mr. ANTHONY raised the question whether it was in order to ask for the yeas and nays on a matter of this kind; and whether, if they

[H. of R.

were granted, they would not be granted as matter of courtesy, and not of right.

The SPEAKER said the gentleman from Massachu setts could obtain his object by submitting a motion to suspend the rule.

Mr. ADAMS said it was immaterial to him as to the mode in which he effected his object. He therefore submitted his request or motion; upon which motion the yeas and nays were ordered, and, being taken, were: Yeas 44, nays 124.

So the House would not suspend the rule.

Mr. ADAMS presented the memorial of the Young Men's Abolition Society of the city and county of Philadelphia, remonstrating against the recognition of Texas. Mr. A. moved that it be read, and called for the yeas and nays on that motion.

Mr. JARVIS moved to lay the whole subject on the

table.

The SPEAKER said he would have no hesitation to do so, under the rule of the House, if it should appear that the memorial contained any reference to the subject of slavery. He then (having looked into the memorial) pronounced it to contain allusions to the subject of slavery, and that it must therefore be laid on the table, without being read.

Mr. ADAMS then appealed against the decision of the Chair, and contended that when petitions were before the House, the member presenting had the right to read them; the Chair had decided against this right; against this decision he now appealed. Mr. A. called for the yeas and nays on the appeal.

The SPEAKER said that, by the rule of the House, every petition making reference to the subject of slavery was ordered to lie on the table. He had looked into this petition, and was clearly of the opinion that it did relate to the subject of slavery.

Mr. ADAMS. I deny it. [Cries of "order!" "order!"]

The SPEAKER stated the question before the House, namely: it had been decided by the Chair that this petition falls under the rules of the House, by which it should be ordered to lie on the table; such was the decision of the Chair. Against this decision an appeal had been made; and, further, the yeas and nays had been called for.

Mr. PHILLIPS here rose and demanded, before he could vote on the question, that the petition should be read.

Mr. ROBERTSON moved to lay the petition, the ap peal, and the whole subject, on the table; which motion, after some remarks by Mr. LAWLER, was withdrawn, and the petition was read by the Clerk.

Mr. HAWES moved to lay the whole subject on the table; on which question the yeas and nays were ordered, and were: Yeas 131, nays 62.

So the whole subject, both the memorial and appeal, were laid on the table.

Mr. ADAMS then presented, in succession, thirteen or fourteen additional memorials and petitions, on the same subject, praying against the coasting slave trade, the exportation of slaves to Texas, &c. Each petition was immediately, under the rule, ordered to lie on the table.

For each petition Mr. A. moved a reading; which, under the rule, was refused by the Chair; and against each decision of the Chair Mr. A. appealed to the House.

In each case Mr. CUSHMAN moved to lay the whole subject on the table; and in this manner the whole batch of petitions was summarily and speedily disposed of.

A memorial of certain citizens of Kentucky, in favor of aid and support being extended to the Colonization Society, being presented by Mr. CALHOON, Mr. ADAMS

H. OF R.]

Freedom of Elections-Indian Appropriation Bill, &c.

moved that the memorial be read; which having been done, Mr. A made some remarks in the view that, as this memorial related to slavery, it should meet with the same treatment which his own petitions had. Mr. A. moved, therefore, that the memorial be laid on the table. After some remarks from Mr. MERCER in favor of the petition, the motion was put, and lost by a great majority against it.

The petition, therefore, was received, and lies over. The remainder of the day was occupied in the reception of memorials and resolutions proposing inquiry, till the House adjourned.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31.

[FEB. 1, 1837.

Mr. ASHLEY moved an amendment for the payment of $1,610 for services performed under the superintend ent of Indian affairs at St. Louis.

After some remarks from Messrs. ASHLEY, CAMBRELENG, and HARRISON, the amendment was adopted.

Mr. GHOLSON offered an amendment making an appropriation of $50,000 for compensation to citizens of Mississippi who have lost their improvements under the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek; which amendment was rejected.

Mr. CUSHING said that, as this bill opened the whole policy of Indian appropriations, and as he proposed to submit his remarks to the committee, he would either

Mr. ALFORD, member elect from the State of Georgia, proceed now, or move an adjournment, as the House might think proper. appeared, was qualified, and took his seat.

FREEDOM OF ELECTIONS.

The unfinished business of the morning hour was the motion, heretofore made by Mr. BELL, of Tennessee, for leave to bring in a bill to secure the freedom of elections.

Mr. BELL then resumed and concluded his remarks in illustration of the objects of the bill, and urging the necessity of action upon it. [Mr. B's speech, entire, will be found in preceding pages.]

Mr. B. having concluded his remarks, Mr. GRAVES obtained the floor; when, On motion of Mr. CAMBRELENG, the House passed to the orders of the day.

Mr. W. THOMPSON inquired whether the business first in order was not the motion and resolution pending on the message of the President of the United States on the subject of our relations with Mexico and the condi. tion of Texas.

The SPEAKER said that, after engrossed bills, &c. on the table were disposed of, that subject would be first in order.

Mr. CAMBRELENG moved to suspend the rules, to go into committee on certain appropriation bills; which motion prevailed.

INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL.

The House resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, (Mr. CRAIG, of Virgina, in the chair,) on the bill making appropriations for the current expenses of the Indian department, and for fulfilling treaty stipulations with the various Indian tribes, for the year 1837.

Mr. CAMBRELENG explained that this bill was essentially different, in form, to the bill of the last year. That bill consisted of twenty-seven pages, and embraced every minute stipulation for and every trifling article of expenditure. At that rate, the bill would soon reach to a hundred pages. The department had sent in a statement embracing all things required, which was laid on the tables of members, and a simple provision for each tribe was to be inserted in the bill.

Mr. CAMBRELENG moved to strike out from the 21st and 22d lines the words "the same act." Agreed to. Mr. CAMBRELENG moved to amend the bill by in serting an appropriation of $701,676 for removal and subsistence of Creek Indians, under the treaty of 24th March, 1832; for the subsistence of the females of warriors in the service of the United States; for purchase of articles of defence and clothing, &c.

Mr. CAMBRELENG suggested to Mr. CUSHING that he should permit the bill to be reported to the House. He could then move an adjournment, and claim the floor when the bill came up before the House.

Mr. CUSHING consented, and the bill was laid aside.

LAND OFFICE IN LOUISIANA.

On motion of Mr. GARLAND, of Louisiana, the com. mittee took up the bill to establish an additional land office in the State of Louisiana; and no amendment having been offered thereto,

On motion of Mr. CAMBRELENG, the committee rose, and reported both the bills to the House.

The question being on concurring with the committee in their amendments to the Indian appropriation bill, Mr. CUSHING moved that the House adjourn; but withdrew the motion, to enable

The SPEAKER to present a communication from the Secretary of War; after which, The House adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1.

WESTERN INDIANS.

Mr. EVERETT, from the Committee on Indian Affairs, reported a bill to provide for the security and pro tection of the emigrant and other Indians west of Missouri and Arkansas. Read twice, and committed to a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union.

Mr. E. gave notice of his intention to bring this bill before the House at as early a day as possible, as it was a very important measure, for the purpose of its being acted upon at the present session. He did not wish to interfere with the appropriation bills; and he would, therefore, name a day, before which it was possible those bills would be passed. He accordingly gave notice that he should call up the above bill for considera. tion on this day fortnight.

FREEDOM OF ELECTIONS.

The unfinished business of the morning hour was the motion, submitted heretofore by Mr. BELL, for leave to bring in a bill to secure the freedom of elections.

Mr. GRAVES, who was entitled to the floor, rose and addressed the House as follows:

Mr. Speaker: The highly distinguished gentleman from Tennessee, [Mr. BELL,] whom it is my lot to fol low, in the speech with which he has just favored the House, in support of his motion for leave to introduce this bill, has not only shown a degree of research and preparation highly creditable to himself, and very edify

After some remarks from Messrs. GARLAND of Louisiana, EVERETT, CAMBRELENG, A. H. SHEP-ing to the House, but has displayed a high order of abil PERD, PARKER, and HOLSEY, the amendment was agreed to.

Mr. CAMBRELENG moved an amendment, embracing a number of additional items for various Indian tribes; which was agreed to.

ty, to which it is the fortune of but few ever to attain. And I am not unapprized that it is bad taste for me t follow in this debate, with the crude remarks which propose to submit. I had not determined to say a single word, until just before the honorable gentleman conclu

« ПретходнаНастави »