* ;
Congressional.
Corrcspoizclcnce of the N. Y. Jour-. of Cami
, Moxoxv. May 2.
Mi‘ Allen was thundering against the Seu-
ate for_,n-ot allowing him to take up his res-
. olutibn calling for the correspondence,~ &.c.
on the R'Izocl_e'-I~‘la.nrl. qnesti0n._
Mr. Proictor and others deprecated the. con-
sideration or discussion of the subject, in any
way whatever; and the President pro tem-
'por'e‘ decided that under a decision of the
_- Senate made last yeir. the question of con-
sideration was not debateablc. Various
questions were started and debated, occupy-
ing m.o.hom-s,. without touching any but
technical points, but those were <llSCl1SSt‘fl
. with a velicmence that showed the feeling
that. pervaded the Senate on the subject.
At length Mr Allen appealed from the
decision that the motion to consider was not
debatable. He would Say Yl0ll‘”‘{-" “hm”
Ryuyja [,.ja,,,d.gfi‘ai-rs, for the reason that he
held that this Govcrrimeiit /tar/. no rig‘/it to
inle rfere icif/1. t/rem. _
Mr Preston made it a point of order,
whether this course cf ai‘gumE‘Bl C0Ulfl bf‘-
tolcrated. ,
M,» Allen, however, went on, and said be
r" wished to state (b fact as a reason why the
resolution should be considered : viz. thattbc
Presirlenf hurl orriercrl 0- 7J0"'ll07l of ill”
5m,m1in,g or-my of the U/tite:<lSta{cs to R/node
Islanrl. and tlirca conzpanics of U 8. iron?‘
. from, Old Point Comfort. 73/£3304 1/mug/L
Baltimore yestarrloy on their wa-]/ [0 R/W10
‘Island ! ’
The question being finally taken, after a
mere t‘)Cl]nlCal debate of three hours the
Senate determined tliat“they vxoulil not con-
sider the resolution of Mr Allcn—~yc'aS l5;
nays 23. _
‘phc House, as you will see, did not suc-
ceed in l.ll{ll'lQ’ up the Custom House Rc]7”7"i5v
and the President's message communicating
. - I ' '
them, this morning. . oe impatience of
. the House to seize upon the Sl]lljt‘Cli and ille-
fact mm, in compliance with their manifest
wishes, he has been obliged to give up to
them the whole of the voluminous pap:-rs.
without having had time to read them, com-
pletely relieves him fi'om all further respon-
sibility in the matter. He throws it upon
Contrress, to make all 7zcccs.mT_7/ reforms.
withaout recommending any specific meas-
ures himself. ’ _ _ _ _
[ri thel-Iousc oi Repi'esentativcs,.‘\ii'Briggs
offered a resolution that in order to give
_time for changing the carpets and Wfllllallng
the Hill when this House adjourn on
i Thursday next, it adjourn to meet on Mon-
d.iy next. C.-irried. _
‘Mr Fillmore, from the Committee of
ways and means, reported the Naval Ap-
pointment Bill from the Sen-ite with amend-
ments, which having been read twice. was
refered to the Committee of the Whole.
, Mr Wool, under the rule. laid UPOD llle
table the following memorial: .
From the ship masters of Bsiltiinore pray-
'ing forthe abolition ofthe practice cftbe Gen-
eral Government of appoin ing foreigner-3 to
Consulship, and for a gcueml "9 °f£'““lZ3'
tion ofthe Consular system.
' TUESDAY. ‘vfay 3’.
In Senate, to day, the subject of the ab-
straction of certaih letters, confidentially
-communicated to the Senate, was again taken
up. Those letters related to the application
for the ofiice of Postmaster at St. Louis. Mo.
The following letter addressed to the Son-
ator (Mr McRoberts) at whose request the
letters were sent to the Senate for informa-
tion in regard to the nomination of the Post
Master at St Louis, will explain the matter.
“Sta 2‘ _
Among the papers sent you vxere two let-
ters from Mr Wash to the President of the
United States. which had been received by
my prdecessors, and placed among the
archives of the Department. These letters
have recently been published in one of_ the
newspapers of St. Louis. The President
has called upon me to inform him how cop-
ies of these letters had been obtain d. Up-
on inquiry I find that copies were not furn-
ished at this office; and not knowing wheth-
er you or the committee have furnished cop-
ies, or permitted them to be taken, to enable
‘me to comply with the President’s request, I
have deemed it proper resp:-ctfiilly to inquire
whether you gave or authorised copies of
these letters to be taken, and by whom they
were taken. C. A. WrcKLi1-‘re.
Mr. Benton explained that this letter re-
lated to fourletters which be (Mr B) had sent
for publication to St Louis, where the parties
who wrote them reside, and were accompani-
ed by 21 letter which showed who sent them
and for what reason they were sent.
The four letters contained untruths in re-
lation to himself and one of his constituents
and also solicited a change in the St Louis
post office for unworthy party purposes.
The letters in qiiestion wei‘e placed on
file in the Generil Post Office, according to
all practice and usage, such letters when on
file, could be examined. They were brought
here, not from the President. but from the
General Post Office. _ .
-One o’clock came, and Mr.Ei-ans insisted
on ‘taking up the Civil and Diplomatic Ap-
propriation Bill. .
The debate was continued on the appro-
priation by the House for Books.
In the House, Mr. Adams presented a pe-
tition of 176 masons, ac. praying an appro-
priation for the completion of the Public
Buildings in Washington, in order that they
at their families might obtain bread by labor.
Mr Fillmore presented a-;ldition:il state-
ments from the Nivy D-..-paiiinents respect-
ing the Navy Appropriations. . .
' Apportionment Bill.--—This bill was taken
upzagain, the question still being on the
amendments adopted and proposed by the
committee on elections.
.1 The hour of2 o’clock having arrived,the
vote commenced on the amendments.
-..» The-question was taken on Mr. Halsted's
section authorizing the disiricting of states,
which was adopted, ayes 92, noes 02. _
' The question was then taken on the motion
that the committee rise and report to the
House which was carried‘. .
The House then went into consideration
of the“am_end:iicnts proposed by the Commit-
we and by members in (‘.‘0mml-E'!F.6’
Mr. Everett then" called up his amendm-nt
fixing the ratio of representation at 70 680.
The 3pe;iker‘decided that the amendment
was not now in order.
‘ Mr R VV Thompson then moved to amend
the proposition of the Com of the Whole by
striking out 50,l79, and inserting 75,000_. ,
The Speaker decided that this motion
was not now in‘ order. -- ~ — _
Mr Thompson tookan appeal from this
decision, and entered into an argument I0
sustain his appeal. - '
Mr Everett followed in support of the ap-
peal, &. was replied to by the Spealcerjvhen
Mr Wise moved the previous question, at
asked for the yeas and nays on the question
of appeal. S
, ‘VEDA’!-1SDAY_v May 4. _
The passage of the Apportionment Bill.
involving as it does new and important prin-
ciples, would, at any other ‘time than the
present, create much of popular interest and
feeling. _
The principle which it assumes, &. which
may be perfectly correct, is that Congress,
under the. Constitution, have the right to. di-
rt-ct the manner ofchoosing representatives
in the States, have the right to say whether
the l'epl‘(;‘St‘ntdtlVt.‘S shall be chosen by gen-
eral ticket or by districts—-liave the right to
say whether the States or the people shall
be represented in the. House of Representa-
tives. This is the most important pct that
has ever passed since the Constitution was
formed. ‘It gives us, in fact, a new Consti-
tulimz, !
It is extraordinary that these’great ques-
tioris,—-it has always been so—are decided by
accident. Just 200“ members out ofibe whole
body of 242 were present and voted on it:
and the vote stood yeas 101, nays 99, only
two majorit‘y~—-one vote changed to the neg-
atives would have lost it by a tie. In Coni-
niittec ofibe Whole, the majority for the dis-
trict system was l/tree. ‘A
I hope you will give us an analysis ofthe
votes. lti will be found curious and inter-
esting. In regard to the South Carolina
votefyou will be surprised to see it divided.
The reason isihis. Mr Holmes foresaw, as
every one niu-:.t, if Congress has the power
to eiiacta District system. it has also the
power to enact a general ticket sg/stem: The
example. of interference. is set and will be
acquiesced in, Mark the consequences i-
In the next Congress, tbelarge States will
come forward and say: ‘l'Ve have tried your
District system, a-, we find that it puts us on
a level in legislation with the smaller states
-——-we find New York with 48 representatives
gives a vote of t-zoo l'Dt‘lYll.‘)t’fS-—(2‘lS she did in
the 27th C-oiigress)——and that lihode Island
gives the some number of votes-—it is suffi-
cient that the small States should have an
equal representation in the Senate—-here the
people are to be repi'esented—-we will there-
fore, if you please, or whether you please or
not. try a. general ticket system.”
This will be the sure, the certain result.
Four or five States sending representatives,
elected by general ticket, will then combine
and overpower the smaller States. This is
the mode indicated by Hamilton and others,
in which the Union will be destroyed. The
very first effort of the general system will
be to ride and over overthrow the ‘peculiar
institutions’ of the South. The Abolitionists
have now nothing to do, but to assert the
power which Coiigress claims in this Ap-
portionment Bill——and two or three years
hence. to demand, under it, a general ticket
system. VVere l. not a believer in destiny,
ll shold become so fro-m the remarkable
course here lately taken. \
In the S‘.-note, to day Mr Benton finished
his remarks in his defense froiu the accu-
sation ofviolating confidence in publishing
the letters aboiit the St. Louis Post Office.
The Senate after some discussion to day,
passed‘ the Generil Appropriation Bill. The
amendinents are not ofa character to d-etain
the House long.
Irithe House of Representatives, Mr Bar-
nard asked’ leave to present two papers from
the I-Var Department, relating to the im-
provement of the Hudson and Mississippi
Rivers, which, ifadopted, would save an im-
mense expense to the country, which he
moved should be referred to the Committee
on Commerce and printed. Agreed to.
The Orders of the Day being called for,
The Speaker said that the first business in
order would be the reception of Executive
Documents. V
The question being on printing the Re-
ports of Messrs Kelly and Stewart on the
Investigation authorized by the Prcsitlenl.
into the frauds ofthe N. Y. Custom House.
Mr Underwood called for the reading of
a _letter of Mr Stewart, accompanying the
Reports sent in by the President. as an act
of justice to him, which accounted for his
delay in not making his report to Congress
or the Executive sooner, and what had pre-
vented him from not reporting in full. Hav-
ing done this, he proceeded to denounce the.
creation ofthe commission as unauthorised,
dangerous. and uiiwarrantable.
Messrs Cashing, IV C Johnson, F \Vood
Proffit and others, called for the reading of
authorities on which the President had acted
in C0:lll'YllSSl0l'll|'l'g a secret inquisition to de-
tent frauds, briberies and crimes, of which
agents under the government might have
been ,c_ruilt}'. '
Mr Underwood said he was anxious that
all the authorities on which the President
based‘ his action, should be before the House
they had been read, and it was seen that the
friends of the Executive had left the Consti-
tution, and fell back upon law and precedent
to ‘sustain him.
Mr Proflit said that since the Extra ses-
sion, the opinion of Whig members had un-
dergone a strange change, for the leading
Whig papers in the United States, hadall
oftbem lauded theinstitutions ofthese coni-
missionsto the skies; VVliy was it that the
Arguseyed Whig party slept until the pre-
sent time ? The reason was plain, the quar-
rel had not then broke out between the
Whig party andthe President.
Mr Cushing obtained the floor—said that
two classes of questions had sprung up in
this debate, which it was his intention to re-
ply to in order. He first went into a critical
history oftbe proceedings of the House, in
‘relation to the Reports ofibe Commissioners
appointed to iuvestigntejthe frauds alleged to
exist in the conduct of the New York Cus-
tom House,“ and the_manner in _ which that
report came before the House, and into the
hands of the printer; the House had not
been led to believe that the Poindexter Re-
-poit was a report of a comm-.ittec of tlicir
own body. He then went on to show that
it was the intention of the President, if this
House had acted with such hot haste, to
have examined and divided the Report under
cliflerent heads, and submitted the same to
the Cabinet. to recommend such action to
' this House as might be thought necessary
in the premises. The House had prevented
this course, and it now devolved upon itself
to orginzite such measures as might be
thought necessary after the reading of the
Reports. VVitbont concluding, he‘gave way
to a motion that the House adjourn.
, THURSDAY, May 5.
The Senate sat but a few minutes, and ad-
jourm.-d till next Monday.
Though the house remained in session untill
I o’clock. little or no progress was made in the
public business. Adjourned to Monday.
Meeting of the Legislature.
The Legislature of this State assembled at
New Haven on Wlednesday the4tli inst. Still-
man K. VVigbiinan, Esq. of Middletown, was
chosen Speaker, having 119 votes out of 175.
Chas. J. l\l'Curdy. \Vbig. received 54 votes-
Wiglilmau's majority 35. there being 2 scat-
tering. The following are the remarks of Mr.
Wigbiman on taking the Chair:
G'e7z.llemen: Allow me to tender you my
grateful acknowledgernenis for this expres
sion of your confidence and esteem. In ac-
cepting the high and rcsposible trust coin-
mitted to my care, I pray you credit the as-
surance that every effort in my power will
be exerted, to discharge the_ duties,of the
chair, with strict fidelity and iinpzirtiality.
\Ve are convened together in obedience
to the lavts and long established usages of
the State, under circumstances peculiarly
interesting, and calculated to inspire us with
a due sense of responsibility. In all our
acts and deliberations, let us be faithful to
the Constitutions, faithful to our constituents
and faithful to the acceleration ofthe progress
of freedom throughout the land.
In the opinion ofthejhumble individual
who now addresses you, it should ever be
the high purpose of every patriotic legislative
assembly, in the exercise of all its important
and deversifit-d powers, to be governed by
the cardinal principle ofdispensing ‘ equal
and exactjiisiice to all men, ofwhatevcr state
or persuasion, religious or political.’ By a
firm adhesion to such a principle, a spirit
of liberality and benevolence is enkindled
which never fails to scatter in_ its train, bless-
ings in rich profusion ; while the people
are cheered and animated by the reflection,
that in the practice of honesty, integrity, iii-
dustry and economy, they are ever sure of
receiving their merited reward.
It should never be forgotten, that it is only
by the enactment of just and equal laws,
that equal rights and privileges can be main-
tained and secured for the benefit of the
great mass of our constituents ; and that le-
gislation can alone be dcemnd wise and pro-
dent, or will finally receive the plaudits of
the people, whose policy is based on the
primary principle of liberty and equality--—
tliat liberty and equality for which our fath-
ers in the war of the Revolution, periled
their property, their freedom and their lives
——that liberty and equality which lies at
the foundation of all our social, civil and re-
ligious institutions, and isjustly regarded the
pride and ornament of the republic.
That such may prove to be the measure
of our policy, and such the fruits ofour toil,
during the present session, I cannotdoubt for
a moment, is the sincere desire of every
member of this House.
Let us, then, in the spirit of harmony and
with becoming zeal, prepare to enter at once
upon the discharge ofthe duties that may
respectively devolve upon us ; and with all
the economy and despatcb that the nature of
the times and circumstances will permit.
endeavor to urge forward and bring to a
spcerlyantl successful conclusion, the business
ofibe session, in a manner that shall be cred-
itble to ourselves, and forever redound to the
pride, the honor, and glory of the State.
The House proceeded to ballot for Clerks. _
John C. Palmer, Esq. of East Haddam, and
Nathan J. Wilcoxson. of Oxford, were elected.
The Whig candidaies were E. C. Herrick, and
W(l),,E Vibhert, Esqrs.
The Senate was organized by the appoint-
ment of \Vm. H. Burrell. Esq_. of Canaan. as
President pro team. and E. S. Abernetby, Esq,
ofLiichfield, Clerk.
After the appointment of Messengers and
Door Keeper, messages were sent informing
ibe two Houses of each others readiness to pro-
ceed io biisiuess. ,
Resoluiions were passed appointing 2: Com-
miiieeof 3 to siipcrintend the printing of the
House--directing ilie Clerks to furnish 24 co-
pies of Statutes. 50 Green's Registers, and
Stationary for the use ofthe House.‘
Resoluiioo pa.-sed appointing a ébmmiiiee
of3 to wait upon the Governor and inform him
ibe House was really to proceed to business.-
Smitli ofSliaron, Perkins of Hartford and On-
ley appointed. -
Resolutions ofibe House and Senate appoint-
ing a Comrniiine to canvass the votes for Siaie
Officers, l\dr.Ingl‘iam. ofSaybrook was appoint-
ed on the part ofibe Senate. and Messrs Niles,
Woodward, Billings, Hawley, Chiilenden,
Strong ofChatbam. Whiieof Bolton, and Ben-
ham ofjgshjford, on the partvofthe House.
Resolution auiliorizing the Committee on
election reiurns.io add the names of such mem-
bers as iliey suppose elected, as ilie returns of
the Secretary are very deficient.
Resolutions passed providing seats for repor-
iors,and inviting the _ministers of the several
u
'corigregaiioiis to officiate as chaplains of the
Hoiise. House adj. iill 2 o'clock.
Afternoon.—House assembled at 2 o'clock.
Mr Smith, one of the Committee iowaii on
ilie Governor, reported that His Excellency in-
formed them be had no Cf)t]'ll'BUnlCt]ll_()n to make
to the House. Mr Copp, Chairman of the
Committee to exarriiiie the credentials ofibe
‘members. reported a roll ofthe House, which
was read and ‘laid upon the table till engrossed.
The Committee to canvass ilie votes for Siate
Officers. repnried that there was no choice of
State Officers by t.he people. Report read and
accepted. The accompanying documents laid
upon the table.
Messrs Copp. Hubbard ofEast Hartford and
Minor of Stamford. appointed 8 Commiiiee ‘on
the printing ofibe House. Mr Copp offered a
resolution for the meeting of the Senate with
the House forilie election ofSi,ate Officers.
Mr McCurdy moved ibatihe word Comptrol
ler be struck out of the resolution. Mr M. ad-
vocated his amendment on the ground that
there was no provision in the constitution for the
election ofCompiroller by the House. Mr M.
regreitcdiliere was no such provision—ar-id ii
was on noflpai-iy grounds that he ofiercd this
amendment. His impression was, that the
matter could be come at in anoIber‘rnanrier.--
There would probably be a vacancy. and 8 (gm
could be passed authorizing the House and
Senate to fill the vacancy. _
Mr Seymour of Liichfield, said that it was
conceded‘ by Mr M. that we ought to have the
power to elect a comptroller.
He thought that in the legislature was vested
the supreme power ofibe State, and ofnecessiiy
they had the power io.elect'iri case ofa failure
by the people. He said there was no inconsis-
iency between iliis and the‘ former law for the
choice o_fSiaie Oflicers, inasmuch as there was
no provision in the present law for the choice
of C0mpiroller‘—of course the right to elect ex-
isis underibe old laws in the two houses.-
Certaiulv ii was fit and properiliai it Sl)0lfl be so.
Mr. McCurdy in reply said, he should
have been happy to have been convinced by
the reasoning of the gentleinan—-but he was
not. The appointment of Controller was
originally vested by the constitution in the
General Assembly. It then belongs exclu-
tivcl_-2/ to that body. By an amendment to
the constitution in 1836, it was given to the
people, and thereupon vested as exclusively
in them. There was no exception or reser-
vation in case ofa contingency. The oi igin-
al article was repealed. If then the people
in whose hands alone this power is placid,
neglect in a given case to exercise it, I/‘ml
does not revive and re-enact the repudiuiid
clause. ,
Suppose the power ofappoiniing a State’s
Attorney, which now belongs to the county
court, should be transferred to the Superior
Court, and the latter should fail to make the
appointment, would the power revert to the
County Court? Formerly the power of
granting licenses was given to the justices,
selectmen, &c.—-now it is given to thetoivns.
Should a town refuse to act on the subject,
would that revive the authority of the former
board? But it is said, there isa precedent.-
that :1 Lieutenant Governor was chosen by
the Assembly when there was no provision
for his election by them, than there is now
for the choice of a controller. It should,
however, be remembered that soon after the
act the constitution was so amended as to
vest in [Item the power of electing a Lieut.
Governor. thereby clearly implying that
provision to the amendment, and when the
appointment was made they had no such
power. There was a palpable rebuke of
that Assembly for their usiirptiou. The leg
islature at two successive sessions, and after-
wards the body of the people, solemnly de-
cided that the Assembly. under circumstances
similar to the present, had not the power now
claimed. Shall this House say they have’!
Again, it is said,that the amending clause
of 1836, speaks of the Controller being ap-
pointed in the same manner as the Secretary,
etc. But taking the whole sentence togeth-
er, which says, it must be done in the month
of April, by the electors, and the votes re-
turned to the cauvassers,it is perfectly evident
that the clause refers solely to the election
by the people, and not by this body. There
is therefore no direct authority given by thr-
constitution to the Assembly. Certainly
none can be implied by virtue of its general
Legit-latii:c Jrwisdiclion, because that would
be to imply the existence of a power in one
body, against the express provisions of the
supreme law, vesting it solely in another.
If however, it could be so implied from
our sovereign authority as a le<__risl-.aturc, it
must be exercis--d according to the forms of
legislation in other cases—tbat is, by separate
action of each House, and not byjoint ballot
The procrcdings of the House must, by
the constitution, be keptdistinct. in all cases,
xcs-pttbose particularly specified in it. This
is not one of the cases excepted. Ifthey can
act together on this suojeci, they may on
the appointment of ajndge or a justice of
th peace, or on the passage of any law, and
the two Houses would become inergi d in
one. The attempt now made is doubtless
unwarrantable; in the first place, the As
sembly have ‘no power to make the ap
pointment; and in the’sccond place, if they
have, it must be done in the ordinary mode
b-y_the distinct action of each House. *~'
Mr. McCurdy said he had no disposition
to interpose with any appointment, or any
power properly belonging to, or exercised by
those who now have tlie"asc.<-nde-n_cy in this
State ;‘ but he was unwilling to witness what
be deemed a manifest violation of that con-
stitution which they were all sworn to sup-
port and be silent.
The amendment of Mr. McC. was reject-j
ed, and the resolution, as originally offered.
passed. The-"House then adjourned.
T7i.ursday Morning. Zlfay 5.—The House
was called to order by the Speaker at quar-
ter before 8 o’clock. .
Win Peck of Waterbury, moved that the
rule requiring the Journal to be read ‘be
dispensed with. Motion passed.
Motion passed to inform the Senate that
the House was ready to proceed to the
choice of Governor, Lieut. Governor, Secre-
tary, Treasurer and Controller, and Messrs
Arnold of Haddain, and Peck of New Haven
were appoinied a committee for that purpose.
The Committee reported that the Senate
would meet the House Kb proceed to a choice.
The members of the Senate zissegibléd with
the Representatives in convention, on a prayer
- was offered tip by the Rev. Mr Cleveland.
The convention then proceeded to ballot
for State Officers. Upon counting the bal-
lots, the vote was declared to be
Cleveland ..... _.. ...-139 maj.
F0‘ G°Ve“‘°‘ i Ellsworth ___________ __ (58.71 .
For I-L Gorr { l§‘.‘.’.‘.’.‘l}’.‘f‘.‘:::::::::::::1é§:'é-9
, VVliite ............. -.138 maj.
For Treasurer i Brown ............. - . 64-75
, Phelps ............. . -138 maj.
F" Se°‘e‘“’Y Tyler .............. . . 64--74
~ \Vclles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136 maj.
For Controller Kilboiirn ..-... ...-18
Blank . . :. .. . .... . .20—47'—89
‘Where upon, on motion, the convention
dissolved.
The Speaker announced to the House
that Messrs. Cleveland, Hollabird, VVhite,
Phelps, and Welles were elected to the offices
of Governor. Lt. Governor, Tr_easurer, Sec-
retary. and Controller, respectively.
Resolution passed that a Committee be
appointed to wait upon the Governor, and
Messrs. L’Homrnedieu, Smith of Sharon,
and C-ase’_were appointed.
Resolution received from the Senate, on-
nouncing Mr. Blackman as a committee on
the part of the Senate to wait upon the Gov-
ernor, and requesting the House. to appoint
a Committee for that purpose. "
I
E .,,, ‘ .‘.A -
Frirlay morn-ing. May 6 - Committee ap-
point:-d'to wait on the‘ Governor and"inform
him of his electionpireported that the Govern-
or would meet thetivo Houses in the Rep-
resentative’s chamber, at 10 o’clock, to
receive the oath ofoffice.
At 10 o’clock the Hon.
House in convention- .
His Excellency, the Governor, met the
General Assembly in the Hall ofthe House
of Rcpr_esentatives. The oathof office wa s
administrzred to the Governor, by the Hon.
S. J. Hitchqock, Judge of the.County Court,
when the Convention was dissolved,
I-louse came to order.
Resolution for a flint Committee to wait
on His Excellency the Governor, and in-
forui him that the two Houses are organized
and ready to receive any communication he
may have to make--passed, and l\_/lessrs,
Seymour of Litchfield, and Perkins of Hart-
ford, appointed on the part of this House.
The l-‘louse l‘-"CL’lVt',Cl from.His Excellency
the Governor, by the hand of J:i's A. Hovev,
Esq, his private Sccrr-t_ar_y, the following—
Goverinews Message.
Fellow Citizens nfIIze,Scnule.,,: _
and of the IIuusc of Reprcscntrzliccs:
W'e have assembled, according to the provisions
oftlic Constitution, to (leliberzite upon the interests
of the people of Connecticut. As the first duty of
citizens of a Republic, it bccoiiics us with devout
gratitude, to acltiiowlcdge our dependence upon
our Divine Cre=.i‘Cor and Bciiefiictor, and to invoke
His aid and guidance in all our delibcratioiis. The
office of the Chief Executive of the State haviiig
been Coiistitiitionally c0nf'crred upon me. I have
taken the oath prescribed by law; and with a reli-
ance upon the blessing of God, and the candor and
support ofmy fellow citizens, I shall proceed to the
execution of tlfe duties assigned me. .
We are not to induge in the exercise of mere
discrc‘iionar_y powers, nor to speculate upon novel
tlieoi'ie.s of government; our powers and our duties
have been prescribed by our coustitiicnts themselves,
in the adinirable Constitution which for their own
security and protection they have adopted. \Vbile
we sliould, fearlessly, (lit-'Cl1‘.l1‘gc every duty devolv-
ing upon us as public men, we should scrupulously
Senate met "-the
prescribed by the pcople—tlie source of all political
owcr.
The blesssings of the Goveriiiiicnt under which
we live, are seen in the general happiness of our
eitizeiis—thc security given to personal rights—tlie
guards thrown arouiid the enjoyment of civil liberty
—tlie means fui'i1isliedf'oi' the intellectual and moriil
iiiiprovement of our _youth—the independent execu-
tion of equal laws——t.lie protection afforded to the
various eniploynients of society. In the elianges
incident to liuiiian afl'airs, as the exercise of that im-
coiitrolled spirit of enterprise which our itistitiitions
are czilciilzited to C11C01U.‘(:.gL‘-, occasionl Cll1l)2l1‘1'itSS-
iiients will, almost iicce.-rsiirily, mingle with our
p1'0:t])C1‘ii_‘,’, and iinpiiir some of our iiitcrcsts. ' ‘he
cliicfrcmedy for such evils, lies in the practice of
(.‘C(:l1G'.ll_V, fi'iig:ility, and indiistry, for which we have
still: rules in the wise examples of our f'atliers.—
W'liilc sonic iizeii, siifferiiig under the paiigs of dis-
appointiiient, iniiigiiic the caii.-'e of all troubles to
lie in some siippo.-ted iiiisiiiiinagciiicnt oftlie public
iitliiirs, and iiiipzitienlly expect it l'€‘pm‘iltiOn of their
f'o1'tiines tliroiigli the action of the govcremcnt, the
wise man places his confidence of success and pros-
perity, under Providence, iiiaiiily upon his own un-
traiuinelled exertions. Still it is the duty of everv
goveruincnt, as an agency, cstiiblislied by the people
for their own benefit, within the rule of exact justice
to all, promptly, and freely, to exert its con.-titiitioiiul
powers, in belialf of the various interests ofsocicty.
In the eye of public aiitlioritty, every interests stands
on the broad plzitforiii of’ an equality of'i'iglits.
Under our coniplox systcni, by wliic‘.-i political
power is distijibiiteil between the Fetlerzil and State
Governments, the whole poivcr over at revenue from
iuiposts, has been V(‘:3iC(l in the C0iigi'c-ss of the
United States. VVli:itcver opinion.-' iiiiiy li:i\'e g1'o'.\'ii
up amid the ci1'c.uinistziiiccs of the past, and however
reluctant men may be to ab:ii1:'.oii cherished theories,
I cniuiot believe there is any d'ivei‘.<ity of sentiment,
at the present day, among the ,::re:'.t body of our
citizens, as to the extent to which this taxing power
should be exerted. Indeed, it .-iceiiis now to be gen-
erally, if not uiiivcrsiilly, admitted, that the amount
of revenue iiiipo;-ed arid collected, should be limited
to the current expen.-ze.-2 of an cconoiiiiczil (l(lt!lini.\‘fl‘{l-
tioii of the govcriiincnt, including provisions for the
defence of the country. For this purpo:-‘o and to
this extci1t,tliere can be no rcliictaiicc, from any
quarter, to the iiiipnsitioii of illlpflsli duties.—
In the selection of the objects of tnxzition for these
purposes, Congress from the natiirc of the case,
must necessarily exercise their discretion. The very
nature of the autliority given to Coiigrc;-ts over this
subject, would seem to iiiiply, not only the right but
the duty, to be gcvernedby :1(ll>‘(::‘ll1lll1I1l.i1]g wisdoni
in‘ the selection of the subjects of i1ll1l(‘l>‘IS, and in de-
teriniiiiiig the aiiiomit to be as.-re.-;;<eil upon each,
fiaving 1'efc.i'ence to the iiitci'e.~;t and rights of all
classes. Indeed I am n'otznvar‘c that the right of
discriiiiinatinii in ‘iltc C.\'('.l’C-lS‘C oftliis power has been
seriously questioned by any considerable‘ portion of
the Aincricziii people.» If Congi'c.-‘s’ have not this
right, every iinpost law which omits from its list of
taxable subjects a single imported article, or which
from any motive wlziitevcr, lDiIli(‘S the duty upon
one article gro:itcr than that iipoii ziriother, is of
course unconstitntimial and void". The 1leCCSSfll‘lCS
and the liixiiries oflife must be the subjct.-: of equal
taxation, and the (liscrimiiuitirig favor‘ which has been‘-
shown to the former by almost cv‘er_v- law which has
been enacted on this subject since the organization
of the govcrnnreiit, has been an act of direct usurp-
tion. As a legitimate consequence from this theory,
nearly every revenue act which hasbeen passed by
COtlg1'eES,‘l’mS been an al).-r'o_lute niility; and the acts
of every public officer, under them, have been tres-
passes. -Such an interpretation of the Constitution
eiiiiiiot, I am sure, receive the sanction of the peo-
ple of this State.
The right to tax for rcveniie, and‘ to di.-tc1'iminat_e
as to the subjects, being cstablislied, it is in m_vji1dg-
meat, the part of ‘true wisdoni so to exercise this del-
ciite power as to furnisli incidental encouragement to
American labor. - In the successful exercise of man-
ufacturing skill, and the promotion of the mechanic
arts,‘ every portion ofsociety has a deep interest. In
the vzirio'us relations and professions of civilized and
refined life, men are dependent upon each other.——
The farmer, the professional man, the merchaiit,
should reniember that their prosperity, their happi-
ness, their wealth, are all dependent upon the success
of humzin laboi:. \Vithout the exercise of the me-
Cllttlllo arts, society, in a retrogade progress, would
at once fall back into a periotl of comparative dark-
ness, and some of the chief‘ sources of human hap-
piness would be dried up. \Vhile it is the duty of a
legislator for this great nation, to look away from all
sectional and selfisli views, and to plant himself upon
the principle of‘ doing justice to all, I cannot , but
express my most decided opinion, and, as I believe,
the opinion of the great body of the citizens of Con-
r1ect.icut,.tliat it is the dirty of Congress in a spirit of
patriotism, with taxation for revenue and defence as
a principle, and.protection to/American labor as ‘an.
incident, promptly to adjust a tariff ofimposfs, upon
a reasonable, conciliatory, and above all-a permanent
basis. It is now admitted on all hands, that under
existing laws, the receipts are inadequate to meet
the current and legitimate demands upon the Treas-
ury, without reference to a provision for the pay-
ment of principle or interest of the public debt;
and that a revision of the revenue laws has become
indispensable. In adjusting it tariff of duties, it is
of the highest importance to avoid the necessity of
frequent changes,’ and consequent fluctuations.
which, in the experience of the past, have proved so
destructive to many interests. If the avails of the
public lands could be pledged for the payment of the
public debt, and the necessity of resorting to the
current income from duties, for that purpose be
avoided, the estimated amount ofnecessary rev-
enue could then be assessed on imporiaiions upon
principles in which I have referred, without an
exposure to any iminealiate change. The arnouni
of duties imposed upon particular articles is not
so im portaiit to those interests. i-ncideutally af-
fected by the results, as that they be fi'-xed upon a
,permanent foundation. Whatever opinions may
have been entertained as to the policy of a dis-
avoid even the tem itation to transceiid the limits‘
I
iiibuiiou of life’ income from the public lands "
among the States, especially while the duty or .
putting ihe country in a proper state of defence
remains unperformed, the propriety ofiucreas-
ing the ‘ public debt, by borrowing money -{‘(;r-
this purpose, to be repaid by further taxation, is“
certainly, much more than questionable. ' '
In lcgislaiing for this nation. amidst its was-
rious, and in souie respecis,,perfia_ps, cnnflictirig ‘
interests, there must be a spirit af concession 6:
conciliation. With the opinions known to be
entertained by agreai portion of [he Ame.-it-an
people, upon the subject of Distribution, and the
uncertainty which will attend the legislation
uponevery relative subject, so long as iherxp-
cuiinu ofiliis measnie is persisted in, ii would
seem to beibe part ofirue wisdom to yield io_
Ilie evidentdemands of the public will, and
apply the incoine from this fund in aid of the
naiio'nal__faizli, and in pay meni of the national
debt. Let this be done, and ibezi let the neces-
sary amount of revenue be imposed in duties,
(llSll"ll)U|(;’d on Ilie principle to which I have re-
ferred. aovl ibis interesting question may be
settled upon satisfactory term . -
. It is a maiier of congratulation that this sub-
ject has been urged upon Congress by ilie Na-
ll_0UUl E-XCCll|i\'e_. in terms which, underrtlie
circiiiristances‘ in wliicli be was placed, mam.
fesieil a_spirit of pairioiisiii worthy of his elem-
‘ted Sli.ll0n. ‘It .would be foreign to this occasion
in express my opinions upon the various meas-
ures \\l’)l(:ll have engaged the attention of the I
Federal Goverr.-meni within the lastyear ; but
lcannoi but give uiierance to my feelings, in I
in ibe succe.-sfnl preservation or ilie cuunIr$.\
by the cnnsiiiuiiuuzil exercise ofibe veto power
from the threatened calamities of a National
Bank, amidst lflflll€l_lCPS which few men could
have overcome, the President of the United
Siaies has displayed a firmness of principle in
the iliscliarge ofdiiiy, which deserves our graii.
iude. li was an act of severe duty, fearlessly
perfirmed, ofwliicli I desire to express my full
appribaiion, and that too, as l siiic-_ere'i_v believe
with ilie concurrence of a large niajoriiy of the
people ofihis Stale. Without quesiioiiing the
puriiy ofibe moiivcs of those who differ from
tire on ibis subject, and yielding to iliem the
same right in express their opinions, which I
claim to myself, I cannot but regard every efibrt
fora combination of inonied power, in a Na-
iioiial Bziiik of any description, or under any
form. as callirg for ilie puirioiic resisiance of
every friend of political liberty. VVe are b
yond the reach ofsucli influences now, an
is the part of wisdom I0 remain so.
In the ailjusiineni. ofilie laws relating to i
posts, some settled rules for the collection so
keeping. and disbursement nflha public monies
are imperiuusly demanded. Unless this is
aiiainetl, every branch of bi.-siness will be ex-
posed to consinut fluctuations and (lcrangement.
Letibe public funds be collected and paid out
in the legal currency of ihe couniry. and with-
held from all Cf)nl)(‘Cli(‘l) with banliing institu-
tions, and let ibe principle of demanding cash
for all duties be fairly carried um, and a most
cffiiciiial auxilliary in business and ilie currency
will be SPClll'(‘Ll. It is deeply to be regretted
iliai o-,.niea.-iire. securing this object, and wisely
scpnraiinc ilie governnieui from ilie banking
power, should, while in successful operation.
have been disturbed. But it is a matter of
proud saii.~faction iolhe friends ofaconsiiiiitional
treasury, a sound currency. and a sound credit
and is a striking insiaiiceofihe triumph ofiruih
over prr-judice, iliat many ofiliose who concur-
red in ilie repeal of that measure have, with
an honorable candor. reco;_-nizs.-d many of ilie
most ifllj‘-0l'l€ll’|f. principles, in their proposed
cumbersome and more expensive subsiiiute.—
As it is evident :liai public sentiment on this
S.lll)_j“C'l has been entirely misappreliended, it
would sceiri to be extremely desirable that Con-
gress should at once resiore, with such modifi-
cation as experince shall siiggesi that which"
donbiless from honest but mi.-taken views. has
been destroyed. The principle ofihis measure
must and’ will, ultimately, be adopted as the
Sellletl policy of‘ the couniry ; and ibe sooner
ilic work is done. the sooner the people will
be relieved from the embarrassments and un-
certainty in wliicb its repeal has enveloped them.
In connection with ilie manuliiciuring inter’-
csts ofibe State, I‘ take the liberty iocall vour
attention tofbe relations bCl\\'C(?[l the mimo-
faciurer and those in his employ. A great 8-
mouni of capital has been invested in this busi-
ness, and as incidental in ilie management of
associato. (l wealth, especially under corporate
powers, there is a tendency to the exercise of
unreasonable influem.-es over the minds ofoiliers,
VVhen ilie business of one is made depciident
upon the will of another, he is in.(lari,<:_er oEsu.-
crificiiig his own convictions of duty. in the de-
mands of _him upon whom be is ihusdependenr.
Though I am happyin the belief, ihat there is
as great an amount ofimanfy independence and
siern integrity among the laborers in our man-
iifacti-iriug establishments, as among any other
classes ofonr ciiizens,~yei there is too much rea-
son to believe, that the power incident in this
relation has. in some cases. been most siguallly
abiised. The privilege-‘of the elective franchise
is one ofrlie highest privileges of the citizen“ ;'-—
and the whole community have an interest in
its unirammelled and uncontrolled exercise.
That one man should exercise the power of"an
accidental relation over others at ilie ballot box,
and by the ierror of a discharge from Business,
compel‘ obedience to his will, is not merely a
most’ censurable species of petty tyranny, but
is ofserious offiznce agai_nsi the community. I
suggest for your consideration, the expediency
of making some further provisions for securing
the right of private ballot, and for punishing,
by suitable pi=nali'i-es, an-y interference by em-
ployers or oihers with the uncontrolled exercise
ofibe privilege ofan elector. _
In many of our m -nufaciuring establishments
a large amount of ilie labor is performed by
children andyouili. of tender years, many of
whom, from a variety of causes, are deprived
of ibe sympathy and care of parental oversight.
While I would not intimate that there is any
general want of humane feelings among_ihe
managers of those establishments, yet, from the
manner in which these children are employed
and the circumstances of their situation, it is
obvious that there may be occasions for the in-
terposition of public authority in their behalf.
There is. to say the least. a tendency to ‘evils.
wliich require the protective arm of the law. It
cannot be claimed that the yoring-er children in
‘these manufaciories are physically competent,
without great danger to their health, to labor
the same length of time as persons of mature
vears. The labor ofien_ hours a day for- those
finder 14 years of age, is as much as, undn'r‘_any
circiimsiances. they ought io'perform- Iiarn
aware ofibe delicate nature of this suliject,'and
ofibe objection which may be ‘urged tu.an in: ;
ierference with the aiiiboriiy of the parent_over
the child—ibe master over the "apprentice :, but
when Ilook at ibe subject inall its beilrings, I
cannot hesitate to recommend the propriety of"
prohibiting any manufacturer from employing
in. his establishment. any children u.nder-foui'--
teen years ofage lorigerihan ten hours in a day".
By existing laws, the owners of the various
manufacturing establishments are required-‘to
furnish the means of education to, the children
in‘ their employ ; and it is made-ilie‘duiy'of’-thie
civil. auiboriiy of the several towns annually
to appoint visitors to seeihaiihe law is executed.
But as m.a_n_y of these-children. ‘are elairnedkio
be beyond the control of their employers, and as
Norwalk Chronicler