2D SESS.] Three Million Loan Bill-The Wilmot Proviso. and the editors thereof, be held and deemed to be on an equal footing, and have equal privileges with other editors and papers for printing the debates of the Senate, any thing in said rescinded resolution to the contrary notwithstanding." Mr. BENTON said he offered this to produce harmony. Mr. R. JOHNSON asked if the amendment was in order. The VICE PRESIDENT decided that it was. Mr. BENTON had no doubt that it was in order. The resolution giving to this Dr. Houston-why called Doctor he knew not-still less why he was borne upon our Journal with a title, when no other person ever was-not even General Jackson, whom our Journal always calls Mr.-why this Dr. Houston was thus entitled and thus recorded he knew not; but supposed the aforesaid Doctor did, as it was believed he wrote the resolution himself which the Senator from Indiana offered; but if he was correctly informed, to be critically accurate, the said title of Doctor should have a prefix to it: this said resolution directed this Doctor to furnish copies of his reports to the principal newspapers in the United States; and unless the resolution expelling Mr. Ritchie was rescinded, he might, in the opinion of this Doctor, not be a fit person to receive that distinction at his hands. Mr. BUTLER inquired of the Senator from Missouri, as the representative of the editor of the Union, if he was to come to this floor, and repeat his slander just as he thought proper? If Mr. Ritchie would not retract his insulting remarks against Senators-nulla vestigia retrorsum; and thereupon, Mr. BUTLER facing round to Mr. BENTON, repeated his questions to him. Mr. BENTON said the editor of the Union had answered for himself in his daily paper; and as for himself, (Mr. B.,) he only answered interrogatories in writing, before commissioners in chancery, or under a dedimus potestatem, to take depositions. But if the Senator would write down his questions, he would write down his answers; and they would make up a case for the consideration and judgment of the Senate and the people. Mr. BUTLER. I can soon do it. Mr. BENTON remarked that this was not a court of chancery. Mr. BUTLER. No; it is a court of honor. Mr. BENTON. Oh, no; we have nothing to do with honor here. It is justice only that we want-the justice of putting the organ of the Democratic party on the same footing as the other presses here. This would be done by the adoption of his amendment. Mr. CASS said he had taken no part in this discussion. When the subject was first introduced he was in favor of it. He thought it might be a plan that might be acceptable. It was a subject in which the country had a deep interest; but suggestions had been made which induced him to doubt its propriety. He would [MARCH, 1847. not vote for any proposition which was subject to the objections which had been enumerated. Mr. BENTON said this amendment was a peace offering. It was submitted to produce harmony. It was the right hand of fellowship at the winding up of an ugly debate. Mr. WESTCOTT called for a division of the amendment. The latter part he thought perfectly unnecessary, for Mr. Ritchie had now the same privileges as were enjoyed by the press generally. Mr. HUNTINGTON contended that it was indivisible. After debate the amendment was disagreed to-yeas 18, nays 26. Mr. BENTON said they were voting away this money when there was not a shilling in the contingent fund. Mr. WEBSTER called for the third reading now. Mr. BENTON objected. So the third reading was postponed until to-morrow, under the parliamentary law. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. WEDNESDAY, March 3. Three Million Loan Bill-The Wilmot The House resolved itself into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, (Mr. COBB in the chair,) and took up the three million bill as it passed the Senate. clause generally known as the Wilmot proviso, in the following words: Mr. WILMOT moved to add to the bill the "Provided, That there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in any territory on the continent of America, which shall hereafter be acquired by or annexed to the United States by virtue of this appropriation, or in any other manner shall have been duly convicted: Provided always, whatever, except for crimes, whereof the party That every person escaping into such territory from whom labor or service is lawfully claimed in any one of the United States, such fugitive may be lawfully claimed and conveyed out of said territory to the power claiming his or her labor or ser vice." Mr. GRAHAM moved to amend Mr. WILMOT'S proviso by striking out all after "provided," and inserting "If any territory be acquired by the United States from Mexico, the Missouri compromise line of 36° 30' shall be extended direct to the Pacific Ocean; that is, slavery shall be prohibited north of that line and allowed south of it." Disagreed to-ayes 64, noes 96. The question recurred on the proviso moved by Mr. WILMOT, and it was agreed to-ayes 90, noes 80. The committee then rose and reported the MARCH, 1847.] Compliment to the Speaker. [29TH CONG. was ordered and put, viz., "Will the House | Ellsworth, Erdman, Faran, Ficklin, Fries, Garvin, agree to the amendment reported by the Com- Giles, Gordon, Harmanson, Henley, Isaac E. Holmes, mittee of the Whole?" (the Wilmot proviso.) Hopkins, Hough, George S. Houston, Edmund W. It was decided in the negative by yeas and Hubard, Hungerford, James B. Hunt, Hunter, Charles J. Ingersoll, Jenkins, James H. Johnson, nays, as follows: Joseph Johnson, Andrew Johnson, George W. Jones, Seaborn Jones, Kaufman, Kennedy, Lawrence, Leake, Leffler, La Sere, Ligon, Lumpkin, McClean, McClelland, McCrate, McDaniel, Joseph J. McDowell, McKay, John P. Martin, Barkley Martin, Morris, Morse, Newton, Niven, Norris, Owen, Parrish, Payne, Perrill, Perry, Pillsbury, Reid, Relfe, Rhett, Ritter, Roberts, Russell, Sawtelle, Scammon, Seddon, Alexander D. Sims, Leonard H. Sims, Simpson, Robert Smith, Stanton, Starkweather, Strong, Sykes, James Thompson, Jacob Thompson, Thurman, Tibbatts, Towns, Tredway, Wick, Williams, Woodward, Woodworth, and Yost-115. YEAS.-Messrs. Abbott, John Quincy Adams, Anderson, Arnold, Ashmun, Benton, Brinkerhoff, William W. Campbell, John H. Campbell, Carroll, Cathcart, Collamer, Collin, Cranston, Cummins, Darragh, Delano, De Mott, Dillingham, Dixon, Dunlap, Ellsworth, John H. Ewing, Foot, Fries, Giddings, Gordon, Grinnell, Grover, Hale, Hamlin, Hampton, Harper, Henry, Elias B. Holmes, Hough, John W. Houston, Samuel D. Hubbard, Hudson, Hungerford, Washington Hunt, James B. Hunt, Joseph R. Ingersoll, Jenkins, James H. Johnson, Kennedy, D. P. King, Preston King, Lawrence, Levin, Lewis, McClelland, Jos. J. McDowell, McGaughey, McIlvaine, Marsh, Miller, Moseley, Moulton, Niven, Norris, Perrill, Pettit, Pollock, Ramsey, Rathbun, Ripley, Ritter, Julius Rockwell, John A. Rockwell, Root, Runk, Sawtelle, Scammon, Schenck, Seaman, Severance, Truman Smith, Caleb B. Smith, Starkweather, Stewart, Strohm, Sykes, Benjamin Thompson, Thurman, Vance, Vinton, Wentworth, Wheaton, White, Williams, Wilmot, Winthrop, Wood, Wright, and Yost-97. NAYS.-Messrs. Abbott, John Quincy Adams, Arnold, Ashmun, Barringer, Bell, Brinkerhoff, Milton Brown, Buffington, William W. Campbell, Carroll, John G. Chapman, Cocke, Collamer, Cranston, Crozier, Darragh, Delano, Dixon, Dockery, John H. Ewing, Edwin H. Ewing, Foot, Gentry, Giddings, Graham, Grinnell, Grover, Hale, Hamlin, Hampton, Harper, Henry, Hilliard, Hoge, Elias B. Holmes, John W. Houston, Samuel D. Hubbard, Daniel P. King, Preston King, Thomas Butler NAYS. Messrs. Stephen Adams, Atkinson, Bar-Hudson, Washington Hunt, Joseph R. Ingersoll, ringer, Bayley, Bedinger, Bell, James Black, James A. Black, Bowdon, Bowlin, Boyd, Brockenbrough, Brodhead, M. Brown, William G. Brown, Burt, John G. Chapman, Augustus A. Chapman, Reuben Chapman, Chase, Chipman, Cobb, Cocke, Cottrell, Crozier, Cullom, Cunningham, Daniel, Dargan, Garrett Davis, Dockery, Douglas, Edsall, Ellett, Erdman, Edwin H. Ewing, Foster, Garvin, Gentry, Giles, Graham, Harmanson, Henley, Hilliard, Isaac E. Holmes, Hopkins, George S. Houston, Edmund W. Hubard, Hunter, Charles J. Ingersoll, Joseph Johnson, Andrew Johnson, George W. Jones, Seaborn Jones, Kaufman, Thomas B. King, Leake, Leffler, La Sere, Ligon, Long, Lumpkin, McClean, McDaniel, McHenry, McKay, John P. Martin, Barkley Martin, Morris, Morse, Newton, Owen, Parrish, Payne, Pendleton, Perry, Pillsbury, Reid, Relfe, Rhett, Roberts, Russell, Sawyer, Seddon, Alexander Mr. DROMGOOLE moved to take up the bill D. Sims, Leonard H. Sims, Simpson, Robert Smith, amendatory of the act to provide for the better Stanton, Strong, Thomasson, James Thompson, organization of the treasury, and for the collecJacob Thompson, Tibbatts, Towns, Tredway, Trum-tion, safe-keeping, transfer, and disbursement, bo, Wick, Woodward, Woodworth, and Young -102. So the amendment was rejected. Mr. WILMOT moved to lay the bill upon the table; which motion was decided by-yeas 87, and nays 114. So the three million bill was passed.* The Sub-Treasury. The House resolved itself into Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, (Mr. COBB in the chair.) of the public revenue. Agreed to. Mr. WINTHROP said that he could not forbear calling the attention of the House to this second section of the bill. It furnished an admirAdministration. The Government was to reable illustration of the financial policy of the The bill was then read a third time. ceive from its debtors nothing but gold and The previous question was moved and sec- silver, or treasury notes at par; but when it onded, and the main question ordered to be came to its creditors, the case was to be changed. put, viz., "Shall the bill pass?" It was de-If the Government had no gold and silver, and cided in the affirmative, as follows: its notes were at a discount, the creditor was YEAS.-Messrs. Stephen Adams, Atkinson, Bayly, Bedinger, Benton, James Black, J. A. Black, Bowdon, Bowlin, Boyd, Brockenbrough, Brodhead, William G. Brown, Burt, John H. Campbell, Cathcart, Augustus A. Chapman, Reuben Chapman, Chase, Chipman, Cobb, Collin, Cottrell, Cullom, Cummins, Cunningham, Daniel, Dargan, De Mott, Dobbin, Douglas, Dromgoole. Dunlap, Edsall, Ellett, * [And without the proviso, the fact being established that slavery was extinct in the Territories referred to under the laws and constitution of Mexico, and therefore needing no further prohibition. The real view of Mr. Calhoun with respect to the proviso, may be seen in a confidential letter to Percy Walker, Esq., of Alabama, and since come to light, and preserved in the 2d vol. of the Thirty Years' View, ch. 168.] 2D SESS.] Adjournment. [MARCH, 1847. to be forced to take the notes at par, or to go | the Speaker. It is drawn up in the language without his payment. The coolness with which in which other resolutions have been presented this was held out as a positive privilege to the on similar occasions. I believe it has been creditor was quite amusing. If the creditor usual to present the resolution of thanks withprefers depreciated paper to nothing, (this sec- out remark or commendation, other than what tion provides,) he shall be permitted to receive is expressed on the face of the resolution itself. such paper! To this complexion it had come But I hope I shall not be thought too far to at last. The Government was to turn banker, encroach on the usage in such cases, if I say, to become a grand dealer in paper money, and in one word, that personally it gives me great to be allowed to pay its debts in its own de- pleasure to offer this resolution, and that the preciated notes. Thus at last were accom- ability, fidelity, dignity, and, above all-and far plished the predictions that the sub-treasury better than all these the impartiality with system was only a Government bank in dis- which the Speaker has discharged the duties guise, and a bank, as it now appeared, which of his office, richly merit what I doubt not will was to be authorized to commence its career be accorded to him, the unanimous thanks of by dealing in a depreciated currency. the House. Mr. SEAMAN moved as an amendment to this bill the Senate bill of last session, to establish a branch mint of the United States in the city of New York. Mr. HUNGERFORD moved to amend the amendment, as follows; which was agreed to: "And be it further enacted, That whenever the treasurer shall be appointed, named in the ninth section of this act, all moneys, books, and papers in the hands of the assistant treasurer in the city of New York, shall be transferred to the treasurer of the branch mint established by this act; and said branch mint shall thereafter be the place of deposit for the public moneys instead of the rooms now used in the custom-house; and the treasurer Mr. V. then sent to the Clerk's table a resolution, which presented the thanks of the House to the Hon. JoHN W. DAVIS, for the able, dignified, and impartial manner in which he has discharged the duties as Presiding Officer of this House for the 29th Congress. Mr. GARRETT DAVIS and Mr. ISAAC E. HOLMES rose and seconded the resolution, and it was passed by a unanimous vote. Adjournment. Mr. JONES then moved that the House adjourn sine die; which motion was decided in the negative-yeas 33, nays 83. Mr. ANDREW JOHNSON, from the committee of said branch mint shall be subject to all the pro-appointed to wait on the President to ascertain if he had any further communication to make to Congress, made a report. visions contained in an act entitled 'An act to provide for the better organization of the treasury, and for the collection, safe-keeping, transfer, and disbursement of the public revenue,' approved August 6, 1846, which relate to the treasurer of the branch mint at New Orleans." The question recurred on agreeing to the amendment as amended, which was agreed to. The Committee of the Whole rose, and reported the bill. Mr. MOKAY moved the previous question; and under its operation the amendments of the Committee of the Whole were concurred in. Mr. JOHN A. ROCKWELL moved to lay the bill on the table; which motion was decided in the negative: Yeas 42, nays 75. The question recurring on the passage of the bill, it was put, and the bill was passed, and sent to the Senate for concurrence. The title was amended by adding "and to establish a branch mint in the city of New York." On motion of Mr. MOKAY, the sixteenth joint rule was suspended, on the part of the House, for the purpose of sending the foregoing bill to the Senate. Compliment to the Speaker. Mr. VINTON rose and said: I avail myself of the temporary absence of the Presiding Officer of the House, to make a motion which I am sure will be acceptable to us all. In testimony of the respect and good will of the House, I offer for its adoption a resolution of thanks to VOL. XVI.-8 Mr. Cовв then moved that the House adjourn sine die. The question was put, and decided in the affirmative. Speaker's Valedictory. The SPEAKER then rose and addressed the House, as follows: determined that the 29th Congress shall now close GENTLEMEN: By the vote just taken, you have its labors, and the members composing it are to be separated, many of them forever. The separation is painful to many of us: I trust it is so to all, for we met as friends. It cannot, it must not be, that we part as enemies. If, unhappily, any unkind feelings shall have been engendered within this Hall, during the excitement of debate or of social intercourse, I conjure you as a friend and brother, that within these walls they now be forever buried and forgotten. This Congress has been one of unusual and momentous interest-passing upon questions of war and of peace-questions upon which differences of opinion must of necessity exist, and upon which it is advantageous to the Republic that differences of opinion should exist. It prevents the abuses to which majorities so often tend, and excites a vigilance, a prudence, and a care always promotive of the best interests of the commonwealth. It is trite, but true in politics, at least, that it is manly to differ, but childish to quarrel because we differ. I have endeavored, to the best of my ability, to redeem the pledge I made you at the opening of this Congress, viz., that, in my official duties as Speaker, I should strive to know no party but the people, and no locality but the country. In how far I have failed to be thus governed, must be left to you and your constituents to determine. I return to you, gentlemen, my sincere and heartfelt thanks for the resolution which you have adopted approbatory of my conduct as your presiding officer; and permit me to assure you that I view it not as a commonplace compliment, offered by your hands and sanctioned by your voices, without your feeling what the resolution itself expresses. The kindness and courtesy, the forbearance and liberality, with which you have always treated me, teach me that you feel what you have so kindly expressed; and, in return, I can say that, to each [29TH CONG. and every member of this body I entertain not only the kindest feelings, but there is implanted in my breast feelings of interest and attachment that shall only go out with my life. To those gentlemen who have so kindly relieved me in the performance of the arduous duties of the chair, I am under particular and personal obligations. And now, gentlemen, with a fervent hope that each of you may long live to enjoy the approval of your country, your consciences, and your constituents, I proceed to consummate your last official act, by pronouncing this House adjourned without day. So the House adjourned sine die. LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE SENATE. Maine. John Fairfield, James W. Bradbury. New Hampshire.-Charles G. Atherton, John P. Hale. Massachusetts.-Daniel Webster, John Davis. Rhode Island.-Albert C. Greene, John H. Clarke. Connecticut.-John M. Niles, Roger S. Baldwin. Vermont.-William Upham, Samuel S. Phelps. New York.-John A. Dix, Daniel S. Dickinson. New Jersey.-William L. Dayton, Jacob W. Miller. Pennsylvania.-Simon Cameron, Daniel Sturgeon. Delaware.-John M. Clayton, Presley Spruance. Maryland.-James A. Pearce, Reverdy Johnson. Virginia.-James M. Mason, Robert M. T. Hunter. North Carolina.-George E. Badger, Willie P. Mangum. South Carolina.-Andrew P. Butler, John C. Calhoun. Georgia.-Walter T. Colquitt, Jno. McPherson Berrien. Kentucky.-John J. Crittenden, Joseph R. Underwood. Tennessee.-Hopkins L. Turney, John Bell. Ohio.-William Allen, Thomas Corwin. Louisiana.-Henry Johnson, Solomon U. Downs. Indiana.-Edward A. Hannegan, Jesse D. Bright, Mississippi.-Jefferson Davis, Henry S. Foote. Illinois.-Sidney Breese, Stephen A. Douglas. Alabama.-Arthur P. Bagby. [Vacancy.] Missouri.-David R. Atchison, Thomas H. Benton. Arkansas.-Ambrose H. Sevier, Chester Ashley. Florida.-James D. Westcott, David L. Yulee. Michigan.-Lewis Cass, Alpheus Felch. Texas.-Thomas S. Rusk. [Vacancy.] All the Senators were present except Mr. CLAYTON, of Delaware; Mr. PEARCE, of Maryland; Mr. CALHOUN, of South Carolina; Mr. BELL, of Tennessee; Mr. BENTON, of Missouri; Mr. YULEE, of Florida; Messrs. DAVIS and. WE WEBSTER, of Massachusetts; Messrs. NILES and BALDWIN, of Connecticut; Messrs. COLQUITT and BERRIEN, of Georgia; and Mr. BAGBY, of Alabama. *LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Maine.-Hiram Belcher, Asa W. H. Clapp, Franklin Clark, David Hammons, Ephraim K. Smart, James S. Wiley, Hezekiah Williams. New Hampshire.-James H. Johnson, Charles H. Peaslee, Amos Tuck, James Wilson. Rhode Island.-Robert B. Cranston, Benj. B. Thurston. Vermont-Jacob Collamer, William Henry, George P. Marsh, Lucius B. Peck. Massachusetts.-Amos Abbott, John Quincy Adams, George Ashmun, Joseph Grinnell, Artemas Hale, Charles Hudson, Daniel P. King, John G. Palfrey, Julius Rockwell, Robert C. Winthrop. Connecticut.-James Dixon, Samuel D. Hubbard, John A. Rockwell, Truman Smith, New York.-Ausburn Birdsall, William Collins, Harmon 8. Conger, William Duer, Daniel Gott, Nathan K. Hall, John M. Holley, Elias B. Holmes, Washington Hunt, David S. Jackson, Timothy Jenkins, Daniel B. St. John, Orlando Kellogg, Sidney Lawrence, William T. Lawrence, Frederick W. Lord, William B. Maclay, Dudley Marvin, Joseph Mullin, Henry C. Murphy, William Nelson, Henry Nicoll, George Petrie, Harvey Putnam, Gideon Reynolds, Robert L. Rose, David Rumsey, Eliakim Sherrill, John J. Slingerland, George A. Starkweather, Peter H. Sylvester, Frederick A. Tallmadge, Cornelius Warren, Hugh White. New Jersey.-Joseph E. Edsall, Dudley S. Gregory, James G. Hampton, William A. Newell, John Van Dyke. |