The New York Herald

House of Representatives. Washington, Thursday, Feb. 13, 1845. The first business in order this morning was, the motion to lay on the table, the resolution offered by Cave Johnson providing that all debate on the bill to admit Iowa and Florida into the Union, should cease in twenty minutes after going into Committee of the Whole. On this the yeas and nays had been ordered, and the motion to lay on the table was lost, 50 to 84. The motion was then amended so as to allow two hours for debate, and was then adopted. On motion. the House resolved itself into Committee of the Whole. to consider the bill to admit into the Union IOWA AND FLORIDA, Mr. BELSER, of Ala., in the chair. The question under consideration was the motion of Mr. Morse, of Maine, to oblige Florida to strike out two of the provisions of her constitution relating to emancipation of slaves and admission of free blacks to her soil, before her admission into the Union. Mr. BARLETT, of Va., spoke in opposition to the proposed amendment exposing its absurdity. Mr. MORSE replied defending his amendment as right and proper. Mr. RATHBUN, of N. Y, explained in reference to a law of the State of New York, which had been mentioned Mr. CLINEMAN, of N. C. thought that the gentleman had forgotten what was the question before them-the only question they had a right to ask, was the constitution of the State a republican one? He then agreed that slavery did not conflict with a republican form of government, nor were the provisions of the constitution objected to unconstitutional-if they were, then they were nullities for the constitution of the United States was the supreme law of the land; therefore there was no need for the motion of the gentleman from Maine. But if those clauses were constitutional, then was Congress to say to a sovereign State, "You shall not do what you think proper, although it be constitutional?" Mr. DOUGLASS, of Ill. spoke in opposition to the amendment, and said that although he should vote for the admission, his vote would not declare that he approved of all the provisions of the constitution of Florida-far from it; but they had no right to ask any other question than whether the form of government were republican. He wished to state this, that it might not be supposed that all the provisions of that State constitution were approved by him. Mr. ADAMS asked Mr. Douglass what he would think if the constitution of Iowa contained a provision prohibiting any of the citizens of Illinois from entering that State. Mr. Douglass said that any such provision would be a nullity, for it would be clearly in conflict with the provisions of the United States Constitution, and there was not a Court in the land but that would pronounce it unconstitutional, and therefore a nullity. Mr. ADAMS asked if he would vote for the admission of Iowa with such a clause in her constitution. Mr. Douglass-Yes! Nullities are no great terror to me-I'm not much afraid of those sort of things. Mr. LEVY, of Florida, then addressed the House in opposition to the amendment, and in support of the right of Florida to make her constitution to suit herself. The hour for voting having arrived, Mr. McCLERNAND of Ill, offered as proviso, that after the government had realised from the lands of the States of Iowa and Florida as much as the original cost of those States, then the balance unsold within their limits should belong to the States.-Lost. Mr. BLACK of Ga. offered an amendment to Mr Morse's amendment providing that Iowa should not be admitted till she had stricken from her constitution the clause prohibiting slavery. He said, if the amendment should be amended by the adoption of this amendment, he should vote even then for its rejection. It was put to the vote and lost. Tellers were then demanded on Mr. Morse's amendment. Yeas 77, nays 87. So it was rejected. PARSON KING of N Y., offered a substitute for the entire bill, which merely provided for the admission of Iowa as a State. Mr. A. V. BROWN rose to a question of order. The Chair decided that Mr. King was in order. Mr. Cave Johnson made an appeal to Mr. King-if he desired a separate vote, it could be had. Mr DUNCOMBE asked, if Mr. King wanted to admit them separately, that the vote should be taken first on Florida. Mr KING said, he had not any objection. Mr. Jameson, of Mo., asked what was the purport of the amendment-was it not to strike out all, and insert the amendment ? Mr. KING.-Yes. Mr. JAMESON then said, "It is then, to admit Iowa and exclude Florida" Mr. DUNCOMBE.-Mr. Chairman-Then the proposition is to admit Iowa, and to exclude Florida The question was then put, and tellers demanded and ordered. Yeas 67: nays 89, Mr. MORSE, of Maine offered another amendment respecting Florida, containing the substance of the proviso attached to the admission of Missouri. Mr. LEVY wished to read some extract from the laws of Missouri. Mr. HUDSON objected. out of order. All debate had ceased. The Chair decided it was out of order Tellers were demanded on the amendment. Mr. BARLEY. of Va., asked if it were in order to move an amendment to the amendment. The Chair said it was in order Mr BARLER then offered as an amendment the law of Missouri which Mr. Levy had wished to read, and handed it up to the Clerk, who read it for the information of the House. It having been read, Mr. BARLER withdrew his amendment, his object having been attained, viz : to expose the folly of the proposed amendment Tellers were then appointed, and there voted for the amendment of Mr. Morse 48, against it 75. Mr. KENNEDY, of Md, offered an amendment to tack on proviso to the section respecting the public lands. Mr. A.V. BROWN made an explanation. Tellers were asked on the amendment and ordered. In the affirmative 64, in the negative 67. Mr. Duncan offered a substitute for the section defining the boundaries of Iowa. so as to be more definite than the ones which were in the bill and some others, which were adopted. Some member offered an 'amendment providing for an enumeration of the inhabitants of the Territories. Lost. The Committee then rose and reported the bill to the House. floor, and moved the previous question. Cave Johnson, of Tennessee, as usual, obtained the previous question. Mr. BRINKERHOFF, of Ohio, inquired if it were in order to call for a reading of the bill as amended. The Speaker said it was. Mr BRINKERHOFF orr then asked for the reading. It was so read. The Speaker having put the previous question, tellers were demanded and ordered-affirmative 80-negative not counted. The main question was then ordered, and the question was then on agreeing to the amendments made in committee .. These were agreed to, and on motion of Mr. A. V. Brown, the amendment previously offered by Mr. Kennedy, of Md., was unanimously received. question on striking out the proviso respecting the division of Florida Some member enquired of the Speaker whether the division of Florida would not be submitted to the House. The Speaker decided that the Committee had reported the bill without the clause, and therefore it did not come before the House. Mr. RHEITT, of S. C. submitted to the Speaker that his decision was incorrect, inasmuch as the committee had only power to propose amendments for the action of the House, and a striking out was an amendment. The Speaker confirmed his decision. An appeal was taken therefrom. Mr. WINTHROP, of Mass., read the rule which said that the committee was not to blot or deface the bill, but to set down the amendments on a slip of paper for the action of the House The Speaker having read the rule and considered thereupon, reversed his decision, and the question recurring on the amendment to strike out the proviso, the yeas and nays were demanded and ordered- Yeas 115, nays 77 The question was then put on the engrossment and the third reading of the bill, which was carried. Mr. COBB, of Ga., then moved the previous question. Mr. SEMMES, of Ind., offered a resolution to recommit to the Committee on Territories, with instructions to report separate bills for the admission of Iowa and Florida-Not received. The previous question was then seconded and the main question ordered, and on the question of the passage of the bill the yeas and nays were demanded and ordered-Yeas 146, nays 24. When the names of the persons were called over with the way in which they voted, the following incident occurred. Mr. RATHBUN of New York.-Mr. Speaker. The Speaker-The gentleman from N. Y. Were you in the bar at the time your name was called. Mr. RATHBUN-I was, Sir I find my name recorded.- I did not vote and did not intend to do so. He then resumed his seat. The vote having been announced and the bill passed by its title, Mr. SLIDELL, of La., moved a reconsideration of the previous question, which was seconded, and the House refused to reconsider the bill. Mr. THOMPSON, of Miss., moved to reconsider the vote by which the bill to purchase the bridge over the Potomac, was laid on the table yesterday. He did this at the request of the friends of the measure. Mr. A. V. Brown moved the previous question. Some member moved an adjournment. Mr Brown wished it to be withdrawn to allow of the postponement of the reconsideration. The Member refused. Mr. Brown-Then I move to lay that motion on the table. (Laughter all over the House) The motion to adjourn was withdrawn. The motion to reconsider was postponed till to-morrow. A joint resolution was received from the Senate for the appointing a Committee to inform Polk and Dallas of their election Mr. HOLMES, of S. C., hoped it would be adopted, else they would not know. (Laughter) After some merriment, the resolution was adopted. Mr. A. V Brown moved that the House go into Committee of the Whole. Considerable disapprobation was manifested at this move. Mr. DODGE, of Wisconsin, stated that the bill proposed to be taken up for the improvement of the Fox and Wisconsin rivers was an important one, and as he did not of en trouble the House, he hoped they would indulge him. The House then went into Committee of the Whole, took up the bill, which was read, when Mr RATHBUN, of N. Y., proposed to strike out part of the third section. providing that the general government should construct the canal, and pay itself out of its own lands. He had no objection to give Wisconsin the land. or if they preferred to vote for the general government to build the canal, but not in the way the bill proposed. Mr Dodge, of Wisconsin, hoped the motion would not prevail. Mr. JAMESON, of Mo., opposed the amendment The amendment was adopted. Cave Johnson moved that the bill be laid aside, and reported to the House, with a recommendation to reject the bill. Withdrawn. After some discussion, Mr. KENNEDY, of Md., moved that the Committee now rise, which was adopted. The House then adjourned.