The Daily Madisonian

TWENTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.

SENATE
Wednesday, January 31, 1844.

Numerous memorials on the subject of postage were presented and referred.

Mr. WRIGHT presented a joint resolution of the New York Legislature, on the same subject.

Mr. CRITTENDEN, from the Military Committee, to which had been referred the memorial of Mr. Pennington, asking an appropriation for his flying machine, asked to be discharged from the further consideration of the same, and that it be referred to some more appropriate committee.

Mr. C. observed that the business of the Military Committee was to stand and fight, instead of flying.

The same Committee reported back the papers relative to the trial by court martial of Lieut. Buel, with a view of having them printed.

The resolution of Mr. Benton, relative to an abrogation of that article of the treaty relating to the joint occupation of Oregon, was postponed.

The resolution calling for information as to whether any slaves have escaped to the British dominions since the treaty of 1842, was adopted.

The bill making appropriation for the Lunatic Asylum of this District, was considered, and again postponed.

After the disposal of several unimportant matters, the Senate went into an Executive session, and then adjourned.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Wednesday, Jan. 31, 1844.

Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Tuston.

The Clerk then read the Journal of yesterday.

After which,

The SPEAKER announced the first business in order to be the
REPORT ON THE RULES.

And that Mr. A. Johnson, of Tennessee, was entitled to the floor.

Mr. JOHNSON then took the floor and made an argumentative speech in favor of the retention of the 25th rule, and in favor of the rights of the South, guaranteed by the compromises of the Constitution. He said that his constituents were not suppliants, asking favors of this body. They were his masters, and had a right to demand him to perform certain duties without assuming the attitude of petitioners. They were the sovereigns of the country, and from whom all power is derived; and this Government is nothing more nor less than the creature of the sovereign States. He ridiculed the idea of the creator humbly petitioning the creature of their own creation; but there was a difference between the right of petition and legislation. The right of petition was inherent in the people, and legislation was derived from them, but he was of opinion that the moment a petition was presented by a Representative, the right to petition, according to the Constitution, was fully complied with, and he denied the constitutional power of Congress to abolish slavery in the District, because the Legislatures of Virginia and Md had not the power themselves to abolish slavery, because their bill of rights secured the people in their rights to their property, and if they had not the power, how could they delegate a power to this Government which they did not possess themselves?

Mr. BURKE offered a resolution, authorizing the Speaker to adjourn the House at 2 P. M., but withdrew it.

Mr. HAMMETT renewed the resolution offered by Mr. Burke, which was decided in the affirmative, so as to allow the members an opportunity of attending the funeral of Mrs. Reding, consort of the Hon. Mr. Reding, of New Hampshire.

The SPEAKER presented several Executive communications; which were appropriately disposed of.

The SPEAKER then announced the next business in order to be the
TRANSFER OF NAVAL APPROPRIATIONS.

Mr. CAVE JOHNSON suggested the propriety of his colleague (Mr. Milton Brown) to allow the rules to be suspended to receive reports from committees.

Mr. BROWN then asked the Chair if his amendment was in order.

The SPEAKER said it would be in order when the question came up.

Mr. CAVE JOHNSON then moved a suspension of the rules, so as to allow the standing committees to make reports, which should not create debate.

The question recurred on a suspension of the rules, and it was decided in the affirmative.

So the rules were suspended.

The SPEAKER then called the committees in order, for reports.

COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS.

Mr. VANCE made several reports, which were appropriately disposed of.

Mr. VANCE reported several private bills, which were referred to a Committee of the Whole, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and printed.

Mr. VANCE also presented additional papers in relation to the claim of Joseph M. Fernandez; which were laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed with the report, made a few days ago, adverse to such claim.

Mr. RAMSAY reported a bill for the relief of Mr. J. Kellard, deceased, late of Maryland; which was referred to a Committee of the Whole House, and made the order of the day for to-morrow, and the report ordered to be printed.

Mr. COBB reported a bill for the relief of Daniel Steenrod; which was read the first and second time, and referred to a Committee of the Whole, and made the order of the day for to-morrow, and the report and bill printed.

Mr. BOWLIN reported a bill for the relief of Alborne Allen; which was read the first and second time, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and referred to a Committee of the Whole, and printed.

Mr. BOWLIN also reported a bill for the relief of J. Hood, which was read the first and second time, referred to a Committee of the Whole House, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and the report and bill printed.

COMMERCE.

Mr. LABRANCHE reported a bill for the relief of the New Orleans and Carrolton Railroad Company, which was read the first and second time, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and referred to a Committee of the Whole, and the report and bill ordered to be printed.

PUBLIC LANDS.

Mr. J. W. DAVIS made an adverse report on private claim, which was laid upon the table and ordered to be printed.

Mr. HUBARD reported a bill extending the time of locating Virginia military land warrants, &c., which was read the first and second time, made the order of the day for to-morrow, referred to a Committee of the Whole, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. HOUSTON reported a bill for the relief of G. U. Hollinsworth, of Lowndes county, Alabama, which was read the first and second time, made the order of the day for to-morrow, referred to a Committee of the Whole, and the report and bill ordered to be printed.

THE POST OFFICE AND POST ROADS.

Mr. HOPKINS reported back to the House a resolution, with an amendment, which had been referred to the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, which was ordered to be printed.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Mr. CAMPBELL reported a bill authorizing the sale of a part of certain public reservations in the City of Washington, and for other purposes, which was referred to a Committee of the Whole, made the order of the day for to-morrow, and read the first and second time, and the report and the bill ordered to be printed.

JUDICIARY.

Mr. WILKINS made an adverse report in the case of Mary Reeside, explaining the grounds of the objection of the committee.

Mr. C. J. INGERSON moved to refer the subject to a select committee. He said he knew something about the claim, and no standing committee of the House could discharge its appropriate duties, and at the same time investigate this claim.

Mr. CAVE JOHNSON objected.

The SPEAKER then suggested to Mr. Wilkins the propriety of withdrawing the report, and present it some other day; because the rules had only been suspended to receive reports upon which there was no debate.

Mr. WILKINS withdrew the report.

PRIVATE LAND CLAIMS.

Mr. DILLETT made two adverse reports against private claims, which were laid upon the table and ordered to be printed.