Friday, February 7.
Non-Importation of Slaves, into Territories.[32]
On motion of Mr. D. R. Williams the House came to the following resolution:
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to inquire whether any, and if any, what additional provisions are necessary to prevent the importation of slaves into the Territories of the United States.
A committee of five members were appointed.
Removal of Federal Judges on the Address of Congress.
Amendment to the Constitution.
Mr. J. Randolph, agreeably to notice given by him yesterday, made the following motion:
Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two-thirds of both Houses concurring, That the following article be submitted to the Legislatures of the several States, which, when ratified and confirmed by the Legislatures of three-fourths of the said States, shall be valid and binding as a part of the Constitution of the United States:
The Judges of the Supreme, and all other courts of the United States, shall be removed from office by the President, on the joint address of both Houses of Congress requesting the same.
The House having agreed to consider the motion, it was, at the instance of Mr. J. Randolph, referred to a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union.
Mr. J. Randolph gave notice that he should call up this motion on Thursday.
Naval Peace Establishment.
The House went into a Committee of the Whole on the bill relative to a Naval Peace Establishment.
Mr. Gregg explained at some length the provisions of the bill. The bill, he said, corresponded with the intimations of the President relative to giving an opening to the promotion of several officers who had greatly distinguished themselves in the Mediterranean service. He stated that the bill contemplated giving the President power to keep in service nine hundred and twenty-five able and ordinary seamen and boys, making two-thirds of the full complement of six frigates, two of forty-four guns, two of thirty-six, and two of thirty-two; that it contemplated the increasing the number of captains from ten to thirteen; the creation of nine masters-commandant, and the increase of lieutenants from thirty-six to seventy-two. This arrangement was proposed, in order to give to the young officers in the navy that rank and reward merited by them, and to enable the doing this, without interfering with the rules of promotion usual in the naval service.
Mr. Leib spoke against the feature of the bill that augmented the number of officers. It appeared to him, indeed, a pension bill, and to make large allowances without services rendered. It also contemplated the keeping six frigates in service, and provides for them thirteen captains, nine masters-commandant, and seventy-two lieutenants. He did not consider the Treasury in such a state of overflow as to justify this liberality.
Mr. Gregg said the gentleman had misunderstood his remarks as well as the nature of the bill, which, so far from directing six frigates to be kept in actual service, repealed that part of a former law which contained this provision.
No motion having been made to amend the bill, the Chairman proceeded in the reading of the remaining sections; when
Mr. Goldsborough expressed his opinion that the bill required considerable amendment, and that he had understood from the Secretary of the Navy that its provisions were not consonant to that system which he considered the most conducive to the public service. With a view to obtain fuller information relative to the subject, he moved that the committee should rise and ask leave to sit again.
This motion obtained, without opposition, when the committee rose and received leave to sit again.