Phenix Gazette

CONGRESS.

No business of importance was transacted in the Senate on Tuesday.

In the House, the joint resolution from the Senate, proposing a recess of Congress to Monday next, was read a first and second time, and ordered to a third reading, by 90 votes to 70.

On the question of its passage, a debate arose in which its passage was opposed by Mr. Coxe, Mr. Vance, Mr. Richardson, and Mr. Whittlesey, and supported by Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, Mr. McDuffie, and Mr. Cambreleng.

Finally, the question on the passage of the resolution was determined by yeas and nays, as follows:

For its passage : : : : : : 63
Against it : : : : :-: : : 121

So the resolution was rejected.

The following are the remarks of some of the members on this question, as reported in the Telegraph:

Mr. Conner said, that if there was no business before the House, perhaps he might vote for the resolution. He however, recollected that yesterday there were a number of bills reported, and made the order of the day for this day. The House had leisure now, and why, he asked, should they not proceed to their business? It was in the knowledge of most of the members, that the haste with which the accumulated business occasioned by these delays, was dispatched at the close of the session, was by no means creditable. As there appeared a disposition to pass this matter, he felt it his duty to call for the ayes and noes. A sufficient number rising to sustain the call, they were accordingly ordered.

Mr. Johnson, of Kentucky, said, that he was not afraid of his motive being misinterpreted by his constituents in this matter. He was not afraid that the world would charge him with a disposition to neglect his duty, or would suppose him more unwilling than others to perform it fully. A devotion of 23 years to the service of his country and his constituents, had given him evidence enough of their confidence, and the willingness of the latter to confide in his judgment in these small matters. In these four pound ten shilling and two penny matters he believed they would trust to his judgment. Although disposed to push the business of the House, he should vote for the resolution, and he should have voted for an adjournment if even it had been proposed to the 1st of January. It was well known that it had invariably been the custom for Congress to do little business, before the holidays--that many members from the contiguity of their residence to Washington, were accustomed to go home during that season, and the House was thus deprived of the services of valuable members. The remaining members, as was well known also, merely met for form, and adjourned over from day to day; so that in point of fact, very little business was ever done at that season. In the mean time the committees to whom business was referred were diligently at work in forming their reports. An adjournment would be a benefit to them, and the House would be thereby, (having the subjects more thoroughly prepared by the committees to do their duty.) more understandingly, and quite as faithfully. Mr. Johnson said, that he spoke singly, and for himself. As one having some experience in the modes of legislation, he thought that the duty of Congress would be fulfilled by concurring in the resolution. He was willing to meet the responsibility, with confidence in the discernment of his constituents.

Mr. Vance said that he had certainly not been in Congress so long as the gentleman from Kentucky, who had just sat down; but in the experience of about half that time his observations were different from those which that gentleman had made. He had never remarked but that business went on, daily, from the beginning of the session. As for the question of responsibility, he would only answer for himself; he would not answer for other gentlemen. He, however, remembered the Fifteen hundred dollar law, and that members were held responsible to their constituents for their votes in that case; and he thought that the pay of the members for the time for which the adjournment was proposed, would more than equal the difference between the sum of $1500 and his present compensation. He had, however, no disposition to be stigmatized, as the gentleman from Kentucky had spoken of the opponents of the resolution as cavilling about a four pound ten and two penny matter.

Mr. Johnson replied, and Mr. Vance spoke in explanation.

Mr. McDuffie said he was disposed to vote for this resolution, unless it was ascertained that the House would be more profitably employed than is usual at this season. An adjournment would not interfere with the duties of Committees. This course of proceeding was familiar to the usage of Congress. His object in rising was to ask whether any of the orders of the day were in such a state of progress as to enable the House to proceed with them to morrow?

The Speaker observed that they were not.

Upon the question coming under discussion, Mr. Richardson said:

Mr. Speaker, I shall vote against the passage of this resolution. The pretext for adjournment from this day to Monday next, is, that Congress has no business to act upon. Is this pretext founded in truth? To-day this House has been fully occupied in receiving petitions and resolutions, and referring them to the appropriate Committees, and other matters. There are many gentlemen now waiting for an opportunity to present petitions and to offer resolutions upon important subjects of legislation. These matters must all receive attention. It is said that the several Committees require further time to prepare business for the House. But, Sir, some of the Committees have reported bills, and many more, which are of a private nature, may be immediately reported, on which the House, without delay, may act. Year after year a multitude of private claims have been brought before Congress--have been favorably reported upon by Committees--have been passed by one House, and, for want of time, have stopped there. Although these claims were unquestionably just, yet, after expensive journeys from distant parts of the Union, loss of time, and heavy expenses incurred by residence here, session after session, the claimants have been sent home disheartened and ruined, because of the want of time. There is an accumulation of business for the present session now pressing for the attention of this House.

It has been said by one of the wisest and best of men of our country, "that time is one of the greatest blessings given to man." Sir, upon reflection, who can doubt the truth of the saying? Waste of time is, then, one of the greatest sins of which man can be guilty.-- Waste of time is one of the greatest sins of which the patriot can be guilty, if by such waste his country suffers. Waste of time is one of the greatest sins of which the Representatives of the people can be guilty, if by such waste their constituents suffer injustice and even cruelty. The time of Congress is the property of the United States, and therefore not to be passed away in holidays. For these reasons, I am ready to record my vote against the passage of the Resolution.

Mr. Whittlesey observed, that it had been understood that a bill and report would have been laid upon the tables of the members this morning; but such had not been the case, although he believed a request to that effect was made to the public printer. The bill to which he alluded, he said, contained only four pages, and might, he conceived, have been furnished as required. He proceeded to observe, with reference to the question before the House, that probably the bill and other documents might be furnished to morrow morning; when, if the resolution from the Senate were adopted by the House, the House would not be in session: He also said, that he concurred in opinion with the gentleman who last spoke (Mr. R.) as to the value to be set upon the time of Congress; which, in common with him, he conceived to be the property of the public. He said that there were numerous bills which had been before Congress for four or five years. Many of them had been passed by the House, and not by the Senate; and some by the Senate, and not by the House; and he asked if members could reconcile it with their sense of justice to the various claimants to suffer their affairs to be again neglected until the latter part of the session, and perhaps deferred to a succeeding Congress. It was the rule of the House that private claims, by petition, or otherwise, might be presented on two days of the week--to wit. Friday and Saturday. It was, however, the practice of the House to adjourn over from Thursday to Monday--thus depriving petitioners, of the days specially assigned to them. As to the time proposed to be afforded to Committees by adjournment, he would appeal to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Johnson) and inquire whether there were ever more reports given in, in consequence of long adjournments than short ones. In addition, we have reason to expect the report of the Committee on elections in the four cases in contest ad seats. There were also reports expected from the Committees to whom the President's Message was referred. He, therefore feared that, among the important matters, the claims of individuals might be put off to the close of the session, and perhaps postponed to another session. Upon this view of the subject, he felt it an imperative duty to oppose the resolution for an adjournment. After some remarks with respect to the heavy pressure of business before the Committees, in particular that upon Elections, before which there were four contested cases, as well as the other business to be brought under the consideration of the House, he concluded by repeating his dissent from the resolution, and his determination to vote against the proposed adjournment.

Mr. Cambreleng said that it must be borne in mind that the accumulation of the public business was such as to render it utterly impossible for members of that house to come to a decision upon questions submitted to their consideration; without being afforded time for discussing the merits of them. He would only call to their attention the fact of the flood of petitions which continually poured upon the House, and which petitions were of course referred to the various committees in order to be reported upon. and how he desired to know; could an opportunity be obtained of ascertaining what was the proper course to be pursued respecting them. without a sufficient time being allowed for deliberation previous to reporting to the House? For those reasons he was in favor of an adjournment, as proposed by the resolution from the Senate.

The question being taken by yeas and nays, was decided as above.