Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856.

INDEX. 751 proper, 389; no step been taken to make Spain respon- Postmaster General's Salary.-In the House, the item of sible for the depredations on our commerce, 340; can we $4,000 proposed, 676; debate, 676. act on the dominions of a foreign power because the Post Office.-See Index, vol. 1. people are vicious or the tribunals impure? 340; you Post Office patronage.-See ~Index, vol. 5. cannot act against the Spanish dominions without a pre- Potomac River Bridge.-See Index, vol. 3. vious demand for justice at the hands of their Govern- POWELL, ALFRED H., Representative from Virginia, 596; ment, 340; whenever our naval power was where it relative to losses in the collection of customs, 605; on ought to be, piracy was suppressed, 340; this bill in- the Congress at Panama, 669; on the election of Presivolves no question in regard to our negotiations with dent and Vice-President, 699. Spain, 341; is piracy of a character, and has it an ex- Pre-emption, the right of —See Index, vols. 7. istence to demand of us effectual measures for its sup- Presents to 3finisters.-See Index, vol. 2. pression? 341; enormities committed, 341; will all these Presidency, vacancy in.-See Index, vol. 1. provisions remedy the evil complained of? 342; in our Presidential Election in the Iiouse. —In the House, rules efforts to vanquish or exterminate a common enemy, we reported by the committee, 288; rules considered sepamay make war with him upon the ocean, or upon land, rately, 298; moved to strike out from third rule relative or both, 342; this experiment, of this description ot to clearing the galleries on the request of any one State force, has been tried, and fairly tried, and failed, 343; delegation, 292; no good reason for putting it in the another provision of the bill relates to the permission to power of a State delegation to clear the galleries, 292; arm merchant vessels, 843; what are we to expect from better make the rule absolute at once, 292; question a fresh pursuit of pirates by a force that in two years' should be considered as involving an important precesearch, has scarcely come in sight of one? 343; points dent, 292; why ought the galleries to be open? 292; who shown, 344. has a right to inspect my decision between conflicting The President now has, and has had means and power claims to the Presidency? 293; members should be left to suppress it, 344; in 1822 you were told that light ves- to act from the cool dictates of their judgment, and they sels were wanted to go into shallow waters, and you gave alone are the judges how they ought to act, 293. them, 344. The American people have a right to be present and Moved to strike out the seventh section of the bill, inspect all the proceedings of their representatives un 344; we cannot increase our rights in respect to other less their own interest forbid it, 293; in electing a Pres powers by municipal legislation, and certainly we do not ident we are peculiarly the representatives of the people, wish to diminish them, 345; motion carried, 345; vari- 293; it is said there might be disorder, 294; no necessity ous amendments made, 345. for any farther rule than that now existing, 294; no Moved to amend by reducing the number of sloops of practical inconvenience arise whether the motion prewar from ten to five, &c., 345; the bill is for the sup- vails or not, 294; mode of conducting the ballotings on pression of piracy, and not for an increase of the Navy, a previous occasion, 295; secresy is not imposed by 345; the mode in which the expense is to be applied is merely closing the doors, 295; it is said the people of the to be considered, 845; can we not repose confidence in United States are not expected to be here, and those who the next Congress? 346;, was it proper at this late meo- will be present are not such as are entitled to any conment to enter into a discussion on the increase of the sideration, 295; it seems to be well settled that it is a Navy; 346; tendency of the bill to diminish the expense great public misfortune that the election of a Chief Magof the Navy, and to improve its discipline, 346; motion istrate should devolve on this House, 296; it is as " what carried, 346. right has any man to go into the galleries to see what Question on the passage of the bill, 346; the bill is no we are doing in regard to an election of President?" 296; longer a provision against piracy, but a bill for the in- danger at a future period if we adopt the precedent of crease of the Navy, 346; the bill is unnecessary and ex- admitting the people into the galleries now, it is said, travagant, 347; mistake to suppose this bill at war with 296; one gentleman declares he does not feel bound by the principles of economy, 347; if' the IHouse reject this the wishes either expressed or implied of those he repbill it is too late to originate a new one, 347; bill laid on resents, 297; we are bound to surrender our prejnthe table, 347. See Index, vol. 7. dices to carry into effect their wishes, 297; the precedent PLruiER, GEORGE, Representative from Pennsylvania, 570 of 1801, 297; object to prevent the exertion of an infiuSee Index, vol. 7. ence which at some period hereafter might operate to POINSETT, JOEL R., reports on piracy in the West Indies, warp and swerve members from the conscientious dis84; on the navigation of Western rivers, 68; on the charge of their duty, 298; there should be no secresy on occupation of the Columbia river, 208. See Index, this subject, 298; no occasion to set a precedent now in vol. 7. anticipation of what has never happened, 299; allusion POLK, JAMES K., Representative from Tennessee, 596; rela- to the old Federal party, 299; they built a navy, and they tive to public lands in Tennessee, 627. sold it too, 299; the Federal party has contributed to In the Senate his letter communicated, 366; moved the formation of these great and valuable institutions, to refer the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry and 300; misapprehensions explained, 300; too much imof the Court Martial to the Naval Committee, 36T; facts portance should not be attached to the question, 301; relative to the matter, 36T. important as furnishing a precedent for future times, In the House, a resolution calling for the proceedings 301; the strongest objection to the measure grows out of the Court of Inquiry and Court Martial in the case, of the fact that it will furnish a precedent, 302; whence 602; what is the purport of this resolution? 602; it this extraordinary providence for the security of our has been said that this House ought not to call upon any successors, 302; the idea advanced is, that in the elecDepartment for any documents unless the mover will tion of a President we act wholly independent of the avow he has a specific object in doing it, 603; what is the people, and are under no obligation to regard their will, nature of the question presented by the resolution? 603; however solemnly expressed or clearly ascertained, 302; resolution passed, 603. the pernicious uses to which this rule may be applied as PORTER, TIMOTHY I., Representative from New York, 596. a precedent, 302; are we, indeed, independent of the Portugal, comunnerce with.-See Index, vol. 7. people in the exercise of the high trust of electing a Postage of Newspapers.-See Index, vol. 3. President? 303; in matters of general legislation the re