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Congressional

Congressional image
Parent Issue
Day
19
Month
February
Year
1844
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

We cannot conjure up any thing of great interest to our readers in the doings of this body. The 21st Rule has been debated an hour fcach morning by various gentlemen from the North and South. It serves as a standing topic for declamation. The decrease of insolence and bullying in the slaveholding members we have already mentioned. But it appears they have becorae so sensitive that they cannot bear even to be laughed a,t. In the course of discussion, Mr. Payne, of Ala. said he didn't believe that an abolitionist had any honor. At this remark, Mi. Giddings, of Ohio, laughed. Mr. Payne asked him if he was an abolitionist. Mr. Giddings said he was. Then, said Mr. Payne, we have proof that an abolitionist is destitute of honor. The Speaker called Mr. Payne to order. ' Mr. Payne said that Mr. Giddings had provoked the reinarle by laughing at him; Poor fellow! To bê laughed at by an abolitionist! A horrible calamity. In the Senate, Gov. Francis, Senator elect from Ilhode Island, appeared and was admitted lo bis seat. Mr. Berrien presented the rcsolution of the Georgia Legislature, counter to the, Massachusetts resolutions on theslave rëpresentatioD. - Mr. Hannegan, also presented resolutions of the Indiana Legislature, in favor of completing the Cumberland road. Mr. Bates of Mass. presented a resol ution from the Legislature of that State, proposing a convention to amend the Consütution so that Ropresentation, shall be confined to free white persons; Mr. B. asked that the resolution miglit be laid on thè table and printed. After some spirited debate the ayes and noes were taken, and the motion was negatived, 26 to 14. A debate aróse on a bilí appropriating $5,000 for a Lunatic Asylum in the district of Columbia, Allen and Tappan, of Ohio, opposing it. In the House, the report of the majority of the Committee on electïöns, declaring the district clause of the ipportiónment act unconstitutionnl, and the members, elected by general ticket indefiance of that clause, duly elected was then taken up. Mr. Dromgoolc moved to discharge the Committee of the Whole, which Messrs. Schenck, G. Davis and Barnard, Whigs, and Mr. Holmes earnestly opposed. The previous question was called, the 20 members whose seats are Envolved, were allowed to vote, and witli their help. the motion cnrried, 107 to 73. A letter-writer from Washington says, Jan. 31:"General McKay will begin with the appropriarion bilis to-morrow. The comraitteé of ways and means are engaged on the tariíE They had a trial vote or two this morning. The raoiion, that there shall be no alteration in the existing laws, was rcjected, by 7 to 2. The motion that it is hiexpedient to cliange the law, so as to reduce on any ai-ticle, was rejected in like manner. The committee are collecting information, and reduc ing th especific to ad valorem, to show the abominations of the present system." In the House, Mr. Wise made a minority report on the Rules, diíFering from the majority report by including the 21st rule. It is signecl by Wise and Chapman and concured in by C. J. Ingersoll. On failure of retaining the rule it recommends thatsouthern members take no part in the voting upon questions arisïpg on Ihat subject, &c. The Senate in Executive session ratified and confirmed the convention with ÏVance, for the reciprocal surrender of fugitivo crimináis. The editor of a Washington paper complains that "Northern Whigs & Northern Democrats unite" and are determined to carry on this agitation. It is already up in four forms. "lst, Petitions in the hands qmembers." It will be recollected that they say here, tliat the attempt to present petitions agitates just as badly as their actual presentation and reception. - '2. The Report of the Committee on the Rules, rescinding the 21st rule. 3. The Committee of Nine on the Massachusetts Resolutions proposing to abolish the slave Representation. 4. The [ tee on the Judiciary, proposing to extend , fhe act of X793 ovr the District." To jthis he will have to add the question in regard to the imprisonment of colored seamen in Southern ports, and the questions of negro suffrage and unequal laws under the new charter of Washington city.

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Subjects
Signal of Liberty
Old News