OF THE DEBATES OF CONGRESS, FROM 1789 TO 1856. FROM GALES AND SEATON'S ANNALS OF CONGRESS; FROM THEIR REPORTED DEBATES, BY JOHN C. RIVES. D. APPLETON & COMPANY, 346 & 348 BROADWAY. 1860. In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. LIST OF MEMBERS. Maine. Jeremiah Bailey, George Evans, John Fairfield, Joseph Hall, Leonard Jarvis, Moses Mason, Gorham Parks, Francis O. J. Smith. New Hampshire.-Benning M. Bean, Robert Burns, Samuel Cushman, Franklin Pierce, Joseph Weeks. Massachusetts.-John Quincy Adams, Nathaniel B. Borden, George N. Briggs, William B. Calhoun, Caleb Cushing, George Grennell, jr., Samuel Hoar, William Jackson, Abbot Lawrence, Levi Lincoln, Stephen C. Phillips, John Reed. Rhode Island.-Dutee J. Pearce, W. Sprague. Connecticut.-Elisha Haley, Samuel Ingham, Andrew T. Judson, Lancelot Phelps, Isaac Toucey, Zalmon Wildman. Vermont.-Heman Allen, Horace Everett, Hiland Hall, Henry F. Janes, William Slade. New York.-Samuel Barton, Samuel Beardsley, Abraham Bockee, Matthias J. Bovee, John W. Brown, C. C. Cambreleng, Graham H. Chapin, Timothy Childs, John Cramer, Ulysses F. Doubleday, Valentine Efner, Dudley Farlin, Philo C. Fuller, William K. Fuller, Ransom H. Gillet, Francis Granger, Gideon Hard, Abner Hazeltine, Hiram P. Hunt, Abel Huntington, Gerrit Y. Lansing, George W. Lay, Gideon Lee, Joshua Lee, Stephen B. Leonard, Thomas C. Love, Abijah Mann, jr., William Mason, John McKeon, Ely Moore, Sherman Page, Joseph Reynolds, David Russell, William Seymour, Nicholas Sickles, William Taylor, Joel Turrill, Aaron Vanderpoel, Aaron Ward, Daniel Wardwell. New Jersey.-Philemon Dickerson, Samuel Fowler, Thos. Lee, James Parker, Ferdinand S. Schenck, William N. Shinn. appointed tellers; and, on counting the ballots, it appeared that 225 had been given, as follows: For JAMES K. POLK, JOHN BELL,Scattering and blanks, 132 84 9 The honorable JAMES K. POLK, of Tennessee, having received a majority of all the votes given, was declared duly elected Speaker of the 24th Congress; and returned his thanks for the honor conferred, in the following address: Pennsylvania.-Joseph B. Anthony, Michael W. Ash, John Banks, Andrew Beaumont, Andrew Buchanan, George Chambers, William P. Clark, Edward Darlington, Harmar Denny, Jacob Fry, jr., John Galbraith, James Harper, Samuel S. Harrison, Joseph Henderson, William Heister, Edward B. Hubley, Joseph R. Ingersoll, John Klingensmith, jr., John Laporte, Henry Logan, Job. Mann, Thomas M. T. McKennan, Jesse Miller, Matthias Morris, Henry A. Muhlenberg, David Potts, jr., Joel B. Sutherland, David D. Wagener. Delaware.-John J. Milligan. Maryland.-Benjamin C. Howard, Daniel Jenifer, Isaac McKim, James A. Pearce, John N. Steele, Francis Thomas, James Turner, George C. Washington. Virginia.-James M. H. Beale, James W. Bouldin, Nathaniel H. Claiborne, Walter Coles, Robert Craig, George C. Dromgoole, James Garland, G. W. Hopkins, Joseph Johnson, John W. Jones, George Loyall, Edward Lucas, John Y. Mason, William McComas, Charles F. Mercer, William S. Morgan, John M. Patton, John Roane, John Robertson, John Taliaferro, Henry A. Wise. North Carolina.-Jesse A. Bynum, Henry W. Connor, Edmund Deberry, James Graham, Micajah T. Hawkins, James J. McKay, William Montgomery, Ebenezer Pettigrew, Abraham Rencher, William B. Shepard, Augustine H. Shepperd, Jesse Speight, Lewis Williams. South Carolina.-Robert B. Campbell, William J. Grayson, John K. Griffin, James H. Hammond, Richard J. Manning, Francis W. Pickens, Henry L. Pinckney, James Rogers, Waddy Thompson, jr. Georgia.-Jesse F. Cleveland, John Coffee, Thomas H. OF R.] Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: Election of Printer. Mr. COFFEE, submitted a resolution, in substance, that the House proceed to the election of a printer for the 24th Congress; which was agreed to. Mr. JOHNSON, of Kentucky, nominated Messrs. BLAIR & RIVES; Mr. WILLIAMS, of North Carolina, nominated Messrs. GALES & SEATON; and Mr. PEYTON, of Tennessee, nominated Messrs. BRADFORD & LEARNED. In accepting the high station to which I am called by the voice of the assembled representatives of the people, I am deeply impressed with the high distinction which is always conferred upon the presiding officer of this House, and with the weight of the responsibility which devolves upon him. Without experience in this place, called to preside over the deliberations of this House, I feel that I ought to invoke, in advance, the indulgent forbearance of its members, for any errors of judgment which may occur in the discharge of the severe duties which will devolve upon me. It shall be my pleasure to endeavor to administer the laws which may be adopted for the government of the House justly and impartially towards its members, and with a view to the preservation of that order which is indispensable to our character as a body, and to the promotion of the public interests. To preserve the dignity of this body, and its high character before the country, so far as shall depend upon its Whereupon Messrs. Blair & Rives were depresiding officer, will be objects of my deepest so-clared duly elected printers to the twenty-fourth licitude; and I am sure I shall have the co-operation and support of all its members, in the discharge of my duty, with a view to these objects. I return to you, gentlemen, my sincere acknowledgments for this manifestation of your confidence, in electing me to this high station; and my ardent hope is, that our labors here may merit and receive the approbation of our constituents, and result in the advancement of the public good. Mr. WILLIAMS, of North Carolina, (the oldest member in the House,) administered the usual oath to the Speaker, when the latter qualified the members by States, as also the territorial delegates from Arkansas, Florida, and Michi Whole number of votes 223; necessary to a choice 112. For Messrs. Blair & Rives, - 66 Scattering, Congress. TUESDAY, December 8. 133 59 26 7 Messrs. JACKSON of Massachusetts, GALBRAITH of Pennsylvania, and TURNER of Maryland, appeared, and were qualified. President's Message. A Message was received from the President of the United States, by Mr. DONELSON, his private secretary; which was read. (See Senate proceedings of this date.) Mr. BEARDSLEY submitted a resolution, comap-mitting the Message to a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union; and that 10,000 copies, together with the accompanying documents, be printed for the use of the members of the House; which was agreed to. A message was received from the Senate, announcing that that body, having assembled and formed a quorum, were ready to proceed with legislative business; and that a committee had been appointed on the part of the Senate, to meet such committee as might be appointed on the part of the House, to wait on the President of the United States, and inform him that Congress, having assembled, are ready to receive any communication which he may choose to make. Glascock, Seaton Grantland, Charles E. Haynes, Hopkins Alabama.-Reuben Chapman, Joab Lawler, Dixon H. Ripley. Tennessee.-John Bell, Samuel Bunch, William B. Carter, William C. Dunlap, John B. Forester, Adam Huntsman, Cave Johnson, Luke Lea, Abram P. Maury, Balie Peyton, James K. Polk, E. J. Shields, James Standefer. Kentucky.--Chilton Allan, Lynn Boyd, John Calhoon, John Chambers, Richard French, William J. Graves, BenJamin Hardin, James Harlan, Albert G. Hawes, Richard M. Johnson, Joseph R. Underwood, John White, Sherrod Williams. Ohio.-William K. Bond, John Chaney, Thomas Corwin, min Jones, William Kennon, Daniel Kilgore, Sampson Mason, Jeremiah McLene, William Patterson, Jonathan Sloane, David Spangler, Bellamy Storer, John Thompson, Samuel F. Vinton, Taylor Webster, Elisha Whittlesey. DELEGATES. Arkansas Territory.-Ambrose H. Sevier. attend the funeral of Mr. SMITH, and would wear the usual badge of mourning for the space of thirty days; which was agreed to. MONDAY, December 14. Messrs. GRAVES of Kentucky, and GARLAND of Louisiana, appeared, were qualified, and took their seats. Death of Mr. Wildman. [H. OF R. Mr. WILLIAMS, of North Carolina, asked the division of the question. Mr. MASON, of Virginia, asked the yeas ana nays on the motion to print, and they were ordered. The question being taken on the motion to lay on the table, it was decided in the affirmative, as follows: YEAS.-Messrs. C. Allan, Anthony, Ash, Ashley, Bailey, Barton, Beale, Bean, Beardsley, Beaumont, Bell, Bockee, Bond, Boon, Bouldin, Bovee, Boyd, Brown, Buchanan, Bunch, Burns, J. Calhoon, Cam Mr. HALEY, of Connecticut, announced the death of his colleague, the Hon. ZALMON WILD-breleng, Campbell, Carr, Carter, Casey, George MAN, a Representative in Congress from the State of Connecticut; and, after a few remarks in eulogy of the deceased, submitted a motion for the usual demonstrations of respect for his memory; which was unanimously adopted. Death of Mr. Kane. A message was received from the Senate, announcing the death of the Hon. ELIAS K. KANE, Senator from the State of Illinois, and informing the House that the funeral will take place in the Senate chamber at half-past 12 o'clock. Whereupon, Mr. CASEY, of Illinois, moved the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, unanimously, That, in testimony of respect for the memory of the Hon. ELIAS K. KANE, late a Senator in Congress from the state of Illinois, the members of this House wear crape on the left arm for thirty days. WEDNESDAY, December 16. Mr. THOMPSON of South Carolina, and Mr. RIPLEY of Louisiana, appeared, were qualified. and took their seats. Slavery in the District of Columbia. Mr. FAIRFIELD, understanding, he said, that by a presentation of a petition, a member was not made responsible for its propositions, presented a petition signed by 172 females, praying the abolition of slavery and the slave trade in the District of Columbia, and moved that it be referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia. Mr. CRAMER moved that it be laid on the table; which was agreed to. Mr. FAIRFIELD then presented a similar petition, which he moved to lay on the table. Mr. MASON, of Virginia, said, as it was extremely desirable to have an expression of sentiment on this subject, by the House, he would ask for the yeas and nays on the motion; and they were ordered. Mr. Boon called for the reading of the memorial. After it was read, Mr. EVERETT rose to ask whether the motion to lay on the table was made by the member who presented the petition. Mr. FAIRFIELD replied in the affirmative. Mr. SLADE moved that the memorial be printed. Chambers, John Chambers, Chaney, Chapman, Chapin, Claiborne, Coffee, Coles, Connor, Corwin, Craig, Cramer, Crane, Cushman, Davis, Deberry, Dickerson, Doubleday, Dromgoole, Dunlap, Efner, Everett, Fairfield, Farlin, Forester, Fowler, French, Fry, Philo C. Fuller, William K. Fuller, Galbraith, James Garland, Rice Garland, Gillet, Glascock, Graham, Granger, Grantland, Graves, Grayson, Griffin, Haley, Joseph Hall, Hammond, Hannegan, Hard, Hardin, Harlan, Samuel S. Harrison, Albert G. Harrison, Hawes, Hawkins, Haynes, Hoar, Hopkins, Howard, Howell, Hunt, Huntington, Huntsman, Ingersoll, Ingham, Jabez Jackson, Jarvis, Joseph Johnson, Richard M. Johnson, Cave Johnson, Henry Johnson, John W. Jones, Benjamin Jones, Judson, Kennon, Kilgore, Kinnard, Klingensmith, Lane, Lansing, Lawler, Lawrence, Lay, Gideon Lee, Joshua Lee, L. Lea, Leonard, Lincoln, Logan, Loyall, Lucas, Lyon, Abijah Mann, Job Mann, Martin, John Y. Mason, William Mason, Moses Mason, Samson Mason, Maury, May, McComas, McKay, McKeon, McKim, Mercer, Milligan, Morgan, Muhlenberg, Owens, Page, Parks, Patterson, Franklin Pierce, James A. Pearce, Pettigrew, Phelps, Phillips, Pickens, Pinckney, Reed, John Reynolds, Joseph Reynolds, Ripley, Roane, Robertson, Seymour, Shepard, Shepperd, Shields, Shinn, Sickles, Spangler, Steele, Storer, Sutherland, Taliaferro, Taylor, Thomas, J. Thomson, W. Thompson, Toucey, Towns, Turner, Turrill, Underwood, Vanderpoel, Vinton, Wagener, Ward, Webster, Weeks, White, Lewis Williams, Sherrod Williams, Wise -180. Briggs, W. B. Calhoun, Clark, Cushing, Darlington, NAYS.-Messrs. Adams, H. Allen, Banks, Borden, Evans, Grennell, Hiland Hall, Harper, Hazeltine, Henderson, Heister, Hubley, William Jackson, Janes, Laporte, Love, Morris, Parker, Dutee J. Pearce, Potts, Russell, Slade, Sloane, Sprague, Wardwell, Whittlesey-31. |