University of South Carolina Libraries
debate II* THF STATU legislature. tl From the Charleston Courier, * ^ j| Rcpealibility op Charters.?W e hay* bet'u favored by a correspondent with , he following sketch of the debate to the J Hous.1 of Representatives, on Friday and Sat. c urday last, on the bill *to amen i the Consti. 1 lutioi) in relation to granting charters of in a corporation." tl BILL. Be it enacted, die., That every charter 1 6 of incorporation hereafter granted in this ^ State, shall at all time* remain subject to ai* deration, amendment, or repeal by the legisla. ? live authority." " Mr. Rhett opened the discussion. He It boo?d that there would be no division in the House. The bill was intended to exercise g a wh desome restraint. It could have no effect on corporations now existing. But a , ^ taiutary pow? r was* reserved by it to ail sue- j cessive legislatures. ,tf,*. Phillip was opposed to the bill. It & gave the Legislature a reserved power which ji would be so inconsistent with the grant of p charters of incorporation t^a' 1 o individuals would ho found who won d uni e while the j Legislature h id a power ul dissolvng them at will. 8 M". Bhck, of Rich! tnd, followed on the aine s;d?\ a Mr. II. II. Thompson was in favor o' the ii bill. The abu-o-s of corporations were so v . grp*t tnat it was absolutely necessary to J apply a corrective to thein. Mr. Frost moved to am-nd the hill by confin ii|f it to corporations ??r hanking purposes. . an I addressed the Hou-e at hmg'h ?n favor j 1 of his amendment and m oppositio to the * ^eflcral ptinriplos of the bill. u Mr. Henry, of Sp rtaubursrh. wan glad n tha* the amendment had been otf-red. lire. 5 lieved him of some d flri.riilt v. He wou'd su j port the amendment and \v is opp?*i d to the ; Mr. Magrath was npp-ised to the amend- ! nn-nt and also to the'bill, lie saw no reason j why any difference sh u'd be made between j corporations lor banking purposes and enrpnr. j aiions for other purpo-e*. The evil in 1 (j corporations of all kinds was the tendency j ^ they induced to confide in tic m; and the! frequent bankruptcies which ruined those who j " Confided in them. This was an ev.| c >mmon 1 ri to all corporations, and it i- the true evil to be ( n corrected. The bill in its prov si ?ns d d not j h furnish 'he remedy. It punished the stock- J c holders, hut it punished the cred>'ors and 1 ^ sufferers also. Its operations would be lo j j annul the charter of a corp? ration?to compel j J _ ev.... ! o iijc corporation in wind up i:s anairf, wu?-u such a consequence would be ruinou* to those i l' who were creditors. The object.or to the tl hill is that it afford* no guarantee from the i p stockholders as individuals to general credi-j s< tors, while a tyr.tnnical jowor is reserved 1 ti the State. He would go for a provision that p would make stockholders, in proportion to fhetr shares, responsible to creditors in case ll of the bankruptcy of a corporation. 0 Mr. Perry, from Greeny lie, followed on the <>! same side and in opposition to the hill. g Mr. Davie, from Chester, was in favor of a the bill. He did not consider the objection to the bill good. It was competent for the f. Leg slature u? make such regulations as would preserve the rights of creditors as well as ,f s" holde-8. The quest.oti was one het\ .en these corporations and the State. He ti wap more inclined to trust the S'ate. He si denied that the Legislature wou'd ever be < , found dispossd to exercise tyrannical conduct rr towarcs corporations. ^ Mr. Afcnrninger addressed the House at ! . length in support of the bill, tie contended that it. was right that this power should he in Sl t ie State. It would not be abused; He *j believed the State had the right no .v. C - Mr.. Bellinger, from Bmiwell. re; lied to A7r. | \ t Memminger He was opposed to the bilk i f)] L proposed to give judicial ja>wer to 'lie Leg. j ^ n-lature?it violated the Constitution. If! . there is now a popular feeling a-.?amst cor | Vl poraJ'ons, .t exists recause we h ivc neglected to make proper conditions in the charters, ri lie admired tlie independence of the Judicia. h< r>. and wouid do nothing that would indirectly v< reflect upon that, branch of the Government. w v?- -11 -f D;..l,|.?wl r.,n?u-a<t \tr ?ir. i i cim~v> i~u, vii ivikiiimi"! v? i-.-. I*e|!ii!jjer, and ut support of the opinions he h:?d advocated. *' Mr. S emm-ngf-r replied, and ar the clone ^ of his argument the debate was adjourned w to Saturday, at 11 o*cl<?ck A. M. w SATl'RDA V. P Mr. Car roll, of Barnwell. addressed the <? House in opposition to the hill, and con- v< eluded l>v offering an amendment, to w make stockholders liable in proportion to t| the shares held at the time of failure, or j V for one year pievious?and that this fog. ! p ulatiori should npplv to hanks. a< Mr. H H Thompson, moved to strike S out hank-. p. :V1{ Kheit was opposed to the amend. I rr inent. lie did not think its proper place f< was in the constitution. i h .Mr. Belli !?? r did not understand how ir the friends of the lull, from the Commit- it tee. could oppose tho amendment. The fi amendment nfftrdcd substantial relief, ft The hill was vague, unlimited and ah- w n w surd,-. . j e * Mr. Menuninger. moved to lay the . r? amendment on the tahle. The amend- li luent was laid on the I a hie, r* Mr. Adams, moved to amend, by in- ; ai verting, that no hanking corporation.shall j '|' he chartered, unless uiih tiie concurrence ' a< of two-thirds of each house, and that the ! fi same may be dissolved with a vote ofje' I wo- thirds. 11 On motion the limitation to hanking w was stricken out, and the amendment was i o laid on the table. j n Mr. Burt, of Abbeville, addressed the tl ILitise in siiunurt of the bill fjom the ! fi ? ? ? rr - - , committee. , j si Mr. Specrs, of Laurens, was opposed il to (he hill, fie thought it violated some , h of the fundamental provisions of the con- j n utitution. If substantial relief was to he j n afforded, it could only he done bv the ! a passage of such a bill as was proposed by w Mr. Carroll. t< Mr. Walker, of Charleston, felt some i J hesitation in entering into the discussion. , ( His opinions during the last session were ' ;V in opposition to the law of the last se*. ! ti liioii. He deprecated the idea of the j n Legislature interfering at all with the j p concerns (*f corporations. They had ; a \fc??ted rights. We could not tourfh. v them. He was opposed to riieddiing with ti the constitution. The same purp?ise b might be effected by a general act. To > n touch \he constitution, without pressing j ti necessity was a telcm, arid therefore per. j p nichitU?, I a ' JK * . \ or of i\ ? Ml!, hut! C 1 m%'. - - f" ? lie difference in opinion in the house, on lie subject, was, in his opinion, a-strong eason against taking the vote now. He enied the truth of the position that a harter waa a contract. It was absurd o say that bonus paid by a bank was ny thing more than an equivalent for axe*. Mr. Memminger insisted that the house hould return to-the true question. All hat has been said amounts to a distrust f the Legislature, There was no founation for this, while the necessity for ;gislation was strong and pressing, Mr. Myers billowed, and replied at ome length to the remarks of Mr. Hunt. Mr. Sims of Darlington, insisted that he friends of the bill wished to bring ark the constitution to what it waa oriinally. It had, through the process of ndicial exposition, departed from first irinciples. The question was then tnken on send rig the hilt to the Senate and watt lost by vote of 61 to 46. Mr. Hunt, then moved the following 9 an amendment. That no charter of neorporation should he granted, except kith the concurrence of two*thirdsnf the legislature?and that all charters so [ranted, shall he revoked hy a vote of wo thirds of the Legislature, unless there < contained in the charter an express ex* million. Mr. Perrv, strongly objected to the mondment, and it was lost by a vote of >3 to 53* AOBTCULTURAL AND GEOLOGICAL SUB* VBY. From the same Paper. t n*. n l/V<tt/H '(U< X/M/? *7. Your liberal views on Agriculture inure me to vivo you some sketch of the ebnte on that subject, which took place n Tuesday. Mr. R>per called up the ejxirt of tlie Committee ??n Agriculture n?l moved the resolutions he rend and dopted. A proposition was offered to onsider them separately, nnd the two rst expressing the great advantages to e derived from an Agricultural Survey i the State, were adopted ; hut when the lird was approached, which appropriated le means of effecting this desirable purose, a great many political?financial? wial?scientific and superficial objecons were marshalled against it. Mr. 'aimer thought we might procure a sta stical account of the value of the lands f the Slate from the tax book?that a gelogical survey of the slate might do some ood, but where could a man be procured broad, who could teach how to plant otten. Mr. Davie thought no good ould result, he was satisfied with the ?x hook, and the exertions of the district gricultura) societies. Mr. Frost would ot vote for the appropriation till he could ;e the good result to he derived?000 nuId not produce a full survey, nnd we iust spend more, and he was not satised as to an individual who could effect Mr. Middleton was for a geological irvey, hut saw no advantage from an ? 1 itf. nf,. grirni! tirai survuv. jri r. *??<- imn^ci, lhairman of the comrri'f '.ee of Way* and leans, the great high priest of the ternle of our mammon, approached, and put ie sword of the State to the throat of the ictim, pronounced n kind of funeral panjyrio on the merits of the intended sactiee, how we all lived bv agriculture, and iiw he hoped one of these days to be a itary himself; but declared that $3000 ould hardly aurvev one district?it ould require $30,000 to effect a survey, nd if gentlemen were prepared to go thus ir, they should sound"ratand it??S3QOO ould not effect a useful object, and there ere no means in the trensury. Mr. erry,?who last year delivered an address n agriculture, avowed he had been caught nting for internal improvements, and ould not be caught again. Meantime ih friends of the measure were not idle. Ir. Roper maintained thit an agricultu. t! survey was necessary to develope the irririiliural manures and resources of the late, that this would retain our migrating upulation at home, nnd hy the improve, lent of our lands create valuable capital ir the State to tax upon, and so increase er resources; that we expended too inch for w hat we could produce at hotne i the necessaries of life, as two millions >r stock of all kinds, and half a million ir hav, corn, oats, <kc.?that hay which e could so easily produce, was carried vm to Camden, and distributed hy the ill road to other parts of the country, le mentioned the object of an agricultu>1 survey and maintained its advantages t this time over a geological survey.? 'he people were not prepared to take dvar.lage of the last; while, from the rst. immediate advantages would flow to very class of the community throughout le State. Gen. Adams nnintained that bile something wa-> done for every l her class of people throughout the State. j ,i.?. uunu^ wua Uuiiu tut uiu [iinnici ?uiai ie tax collector could not give the in. >rmation required by an agricultural iirvey?that we wanted the manured of ie State sought out and analyzed, and t* called on the planter* to unite on the icnsure. Mr. Carroll said the property f tt?e State was valued at one hundred nd ninety.two million, of dollars, of diirh the agricultural portion amounted > one hundred and seventy-four million, /r. ?Bellinger begged leave to inform the 'hairinan of the committee of Ways and leans, that there were $5500 in th/? easurv, the balance of a fund formerly ppropriated, an i not now required, indc nrlent of furt'ier taxation. Mr. Rhett Iso said that there were $3500, which ould not be r quired, for nn appropriaion for the College Library, that might e employed f >r thin survey-?thathe whs o planter, but was aware of the ad vanriges to he derived from fostering thnt ijrfttiit?that wc were foremost in passing bstract resolutions on government, whilo her Stnt'e were fa* outstripping us in improving: their internal reaources?that South Carolina would s6on tag behind the age. Mr. Henry* in * liberal and polished speech, advocated the survey? adverted to the advantage* proceeding from Van Nu? em Y researches, and the fine quality of iron ore. now produced in Spartanbjrgh, and spoke also of the other indication* of mineral and other' wealth hid in the enrlh, which ought fo he fought out and employed. Mr.' Phole moved the indefinite postponement of the reaolutions, for the purpose, 'he said of inviting discussion, saving of $3 500 from the College and Library'blight moderate the taxes to that amount; JSfr. Roper, on the indefinite postponement; called for the yeas and naya, when {he'propoai. tion was voted down. At last, after a lit* tie more skirmishing, a final*'vote was taken on granting the appropriation wnen ine yeas anu naya were agmn railed for by Mr. Roper, and the question decided by a majority of about 20, if I recollect right, against the apptapriatiop. I am told this van the moat favorable vote the Legislature* has ever made on the subject. If the planters arid farmers could have agreed, they vvnuJdhave car. ' ricd it; but we realize thn OiMe'of the dragons' teeth and tyring armed from the aoil to destroy each other. The :Hous? was rather in favor of an agTiddltu'rill sur. vey, bul because the friends of axgeologi. cal survey could not, accomplish,, their object, they rejected any .expefiment. The Senate was prepared to ,ha*e ic? corded with any resolution of the House, and from these petty feelings the measure was lost. To-day Henry's resolutions of instruction come up, and somespright Iv discussion will ensue, hut the Hons*1 will not agree i0 the doctrine of imttruc. tion. . :t columbia, dec. 11.1841. The h'mhc was engaged a const lerable fH rti'?n of yesterday, in-.. discussing the prop ?sition io amend the Constitution, ho a to grant i ow<r to the Legislature to niter >r amend a c larlcr after granting it. This discussion was *rnnsferied to this day and resumed accordingly; and a hard, contes. o ^ 7 ted controversy it proved. The vote was at length taken on an. amendment of (?on. a darns, proposing that only two. thirds of the Legislature should in future grant charters, but this resolution was lost; and the question recurred on the hill of the committee, to alter the Constitu. tion, so as to give the L gislatorn power to amend charters. On this the yeas end nays were taken arid tne bill lost. Im. mediately a motion whs made to reconsid. or. and the yeas and nays railed on that question and carried. Mr. Hunt then proposed, that after the enacting clause, an amendment which he offered should he adopted. It proposed, that nr. charter in future should he "ranted unless r?v a O majority of Iwn.thirds, the identical pro position of Gen. Adams, only in other language; hut the House refuvcd. on n vote of yeas and nays, to adopt the resolution. The hill was consequently rejected. Mr. Memminger then paoved t? take up the resolution offered hvjhe comI mittee, and called the veasitnd, mivs on etery resolution. The first, u deprecating a suspenaion of specie payments, and 'hat it wan the duty of the Legislature In prevent its recurrence by lawful and constitutional means," was carried almost unanimously. The second, " proclaiming that a i exemption from legislative authority by anv class would establish an aristocracy contrary lolaw," was alsn carried without dissent. The third, "that the Bank of the State, the South Western Rail Road Bank, the Planters and MeR:inL Mini thp Union RhoU. de. serve the confidence of the people for their co-operation with the State in promoting thrxie measure* which have been deemed essential to the public welfare," was. very much dissented from iirtd discussed?not from opinion* hostile to the import of4be resolution, hut that it was arraying cor* poration* against corporations?that .the Legislature took part with some of these corporations against others, a position in which it ought not to be found?that il was undignified and unworthy of a legislative b.nly?tlint the resolution was a pettifh assault on the hanks who refused to comply with the act of 1840 Those hanks were not applauded, hut were not to be condemned for defending what they considered an invasionof their chartered rights?and this expression of confidence in only three banks might by inference affect the stocks of the hanks alluded to, and for these reasons most of the votes ngainst the h:ll were given?gentlemen thought the resolution unnecessary^ uhcalled for, ought to be stricken out, and the Legislature not exhibited as entering the arena of parly feeling, hut tt)H aye? and noes had their usual eff et and the third resolution was adopted. The last r.'so re had no'hin; pnrticulaifyobjection, able, and was carried by a<:clain.\ti<m. This discussion carried us to five o'clock nni a recess was then taken to half-past six o'clock. Such labor is pretty severe, and I trust our constituents will show their j gratitude on a proper occasion. 1 resuin" i my pen to say that on again convening the military bill camp up. An effort to defeat the encampment system was made but failed. A party then endeavored to defeat the bill by parliamentary trick ol every kind?by constant amendments? by speaking?by calling t'<?r yeas and nays?by motions to postpone, to adjourn, Arc., but the friends of the bill stuck to it nt two o'clock at night, finally got it ordered to the Senate, when life House ad. journed. THE DISTRIBUTION ACT. Columbia. Due. 13,1841.. Mr. Perry m?de an able argument thi* morning agnina.' the resolutions proposi j to receive the distribution funcf. : H* maintained that (he act was extremelv impolitic and unwise, but that it was an act passed, an1 the question was, bow eugbt ,8ju1!? Carolina to act V That 'the SMB=WHB=HH-BH= States had bought tfie domain of Flor* | the ida and Louisiana, and the people'* money ! Ada had paid for it?and the other land* had ^gm lieen ceded to the people of the United Stale*. That therefore the distribution j ft.ml belonged to the people, and the Leg* fDj|( islature had no right to come between the ( people and their property, and prevent p,| them receiving, what of right belonged a||( to them. That the portion allotted to an(| South Carolina was not her fall share, { that the people were robbed, but that what gra# was offered was their own and they ought wa not to decline receiving it. He said, j \\ however, we ought not to act, now, but ( endeavor to get the act repealed. He said the reception of the surplus fund was noj( a principle identical with this, and there ^|ei was no hesitancy in receiving the amount ( there proffered us. He said we should ne<j wait for a new representation* and as it was noi ansoiuieiy necessary in act now, jjar wait till the money wa? tendered. He ^ then said in proper time he should offer yjc some resolutions, Mr, Frost, thought we (jei ought not to take too high ground, it was r sufficient not to appoint an agent to re. j ceicr?we would not then be committed ^ ?and he moved to strike out the word*. jjar th? State of * South Carolina will not" ?hut retain the proposition that the #n( Go vernor he enjoined to appoint no agent ( to receive the money. Mr.. Henry sup. _| ported Mr. Frost, he was not disposed to (]er ' commit the State ; hut he thought the Mor monny might remain on deposit till we gj( could see what ought to be the policy of j the State. He would give no pledge that the State would never receive the money. Mr.. Hunt was glad that gentlemen had brought the subject to its true issue?they ( were afraid to decli ne the money?we jyje ought not to play the coquette, but say (?R at once whether they will receive the pa money or no:, for the act is unconxtitu. ( tioual. and the money ought to he appro. ? printed for a naty. The surplus fund 1 wa?a deposit, and ready to b? paid when ^ ' public necessity required; and the case ' entirely different from that now proposed. 1 Mr. Rhett thought the resolution did not ' . i ? . i VVi go as Tar as was wild, it simpiy siaieu ** that this Legislature would not receive I'd the money?that this Legislature would 1 not bind another Legislature or future 3a generations of men not to receive a dollar. Hu He thought the distribution bill, luit n Br base electioneering bribe, and a party , move to elect a particular limn. It will ?)(, be economy not to receive a dollar?be- q(] canso we pav more in taxes than we re. ? , cvive.' Mr. Palmer thought if genii men thought the subject was unconstitutional they were bound to all cternitv to vote a. * li gainst them, and ho was not willing to place the State in an improper position. an lie was not disposed to commit the State. Mr. Henry again said he was for postpon- Sis ingthe action ot the State. He was not Ca for cutting summersets. It was a dan- ter gerous feat for grey headed men. and he ] was not disposed to pledge the State at K< present. Mr. Frost said there wett many gc contingencies we ought not to anticipate, .j|f for, if som of the States refused to accept mid accumulated a fund, and the que* tiou came up to divide this surplus, how ^ ought we to act ? Swell the proceeds .to.'those States who were disposed to np. nn 1 press u>?be apprehended not. Mr. Bellinger thought there was no necessity to decide the question of receiving the money now?ought to use every nn means to produce the repeal of this actnot to declare now whnt we ought P?> i <Ia?,K* wmilil nnl i/n further than Hh. I); dure At prevent we ought not to Appoint H; ' n receiver, and he careful of what Ian. g?Wge we use non-wait until we find __ the act cannot be repealed, and then say what he shall do. If we cant do this, we co wili then receive it; as to refuse it will be ' playing into the hands of other States, and whilst assisting them we will be rob. bed. Public lands are common property, ' ' and if so, we cannot any how the proceeds ^ of the State shall bo appropriated?-refuse an to receive what is tendered as her share. If We refuse the 80 000, the deficiency in ! Mi the treasury will still have to he supplied J *??i > .without helping us at all, and the money j YV left idle. Mr. B. then proposed resolu. I tions simply saying that the State would Cl not appoint a receiver of the money, but gj containing the spirit of the other resolutions they were received as substitutes. q ?' n J A | ltir. rerry movea 10 Biinmnuir imuch i offered by h.m, in place?th?y were re. 1 ceived as substitutes. Mr. B's. were ^ ! then taken up, snd separately voted on? . the two first bv acclamation, unanimous. ' iy. On the thi d, the ayes and noes Were called for Mr. Memminger said he wonld then he glad to have the ayes and an noes on all the resolutions?or, if no per. son objected, to have them entered as un. as 1 aniinously agreed to. Mr. Blakely objec. wa ' ted. Mr. Memmingar then moved that the ayes and noes be taken on the two tht first, separately, w hich were accordingly ordered. The resolutions '*ere all . carried, and all of thein nearly unanimously. ' j Mr. Rhott then moved to lay the bill of the Senate on the table, which was agreed to. The question was then taken ^ on the report, and agreed to, and a recess ' taken to 6 o'clock. i ?e "Who Pays !?The counties of A ? darns. Amity, Hinds. Jefferson. Madison, of Noxubee, Warren, Wilkinson, Washing (3r - ton, and Yazoo, gave at the late election Jo I *2.500"majority in favor of paying th VV , State bonds. These ten counties pay in to the State Treasury 8155.633 75, or yj, 8!:?,000 more than halfof the whole rev. enue of the State! Those who pay the m<a/t taxes are in favor of paying tin ? bonds at any sacrifice, while those win pay the least keep up an eternal hurra a i bout the burdens of taxation. ; " The count} of Adains pays over 835 i 000 annually in taxes! This county K< ' gj:ve 440 majority in favor of paying ttn i State bonds. The county of Lawrence [r< ' pays less than two thousand dollars taxes, tit ;; and gave 440 majority against paying WPP - HI M.ITT7bonds, and thus silences the voice of p m* county V'?Vickskurg Wiiig. I ??- ( CONGRESS. t he. 18?The Speaker announced the n >winjar Standing Committees: s Committees of Elections.?Messrs. p tiled, Blair, Cravens. Benjamin Rand, t Bordon, Barton,' Turnoy, Houston, , Reynolds. V , ommittee of Ways and Means.?tVles- ^ Fillmore, Bntta, Sampson Mason, . Ilace, T. F. Marshall, J* R? Ingersoll. 1 Jones, Atherton, and Lewis. Committee of Claims? Messrs. G id- 1 jjs, Osborne. Cowen, Tomlinsoi, Ar. ri, Hubard, Burke, J W Williams, and 1 dill. c 1 Committee on Commerce?Messrs KenIv. Winthrop, Toland, J C Clark, I yner, Allen, S J Andrews, T W Wil- I as. and Funis. "ommiltceon Public Lands.?Messrs | rrow, Lewis Williams, Truman Smith, ntry, Branson. Howard, Casey, Brew. ' , and Jacob Thompson. I Committee on the Pott office and Post ids?Messrs Biigg*, Jo?cph L Wil ns, Russell, Brock way, Owsley, Hop- , ?, Andrew Kennedy, John G Floyd I Plmner. { Committee for the District of Columbia 1 Hessrs Underwood, Summers, Alexan* ' Randall, Powell. Rirharirl W. Thorn p. ' >, John Campbell, Ward, Dawson, and flnrk. Committee on the JudiciaryMessrs. rnard, Trumbull, Pearce, Maxwell, omas F. Foster, Milton Brown. C'has. Ingersoll. Roosevelt, and Saunders. Committee on Revolutionary Claims ? i-ras. Hull, PG Goode, Triplett, Thos. tiiphcl?, Maynard, Washington. Juiues, iriienter, and W 0 Goode. Committee on Public Expenditures.? ;ssrs. Shcppcrd Linn, Hudson, John Stuart, Meriwether, Green, Clinton, j th-field. and McClellan. Committee on Private Land Claims.? ;ssrs. Moore, A. H Stuart, John Young, in. 0. Johnson, R. I). Davis, Cross, rnev, P.tvne, and Charles Brown. Committee on Manfacturcs ?Messrs. Ilonsiali, TiUmghasi, Randolph, Slad", int, Henrv, Hah'-rshnm, Aaron V. , iwt, and P. C. Cal !we!l. Committee on Agriculture ?M-ssrs. i lierry, R.dgway, Suiionton, Mattocks, ?.g, Saaw, Klwurds, Patridge, and hi Ilust.ngs, Committee on Indian Affairs.?Messrs. op?r, Ca rut hers, Chittenden, Sellers, . Butler, Watterson, Harris, Weller, d John C. Edwards. Committee on Military Affarg.?Messrs ?* / *?r:n: l> inly, renctleton, uoggie, ?* mmm it. inphel', Stokefy, Win. 0. Butler, Suni, Miller,and J. T. Mason. Committee on the Militia.?Messrs. dm, Coirs, Wnrd, Boyd, S. H. Butler, I ding, Alfred Marsliall, Sweeny, and ujston. j Committee on Naval Affairs.?Messrs. | is1, Kn/, Callio'tn, John C. Clark,! irnell, Frssenden, Graham, Mallorv, d Clifford. Committee on Foreign Affairs.?Messrs. | (in Q. Adams, Cashing, Rvvrctt, W. C. I hnson, Granger, Gilmer, Hunter, Rhett, | d Profit. I Committer, on the Territories.?Messrs. pe, Cnnstophcr, H. Williams, Garret ivis, Sailors, Gates, Green, Caldwell, ivs, Dean, and Charles A. Fioyd. Committee on Revolutionary Pensions Messrs. Taliaferro, Rodney, Sialey N. arke, Mathiot, L. VV. Andrews, Bah. ck, Matthews, For nance, and Win. nil h. Committee on Invalid Pensions.?Mes. i. Morris, Aycrigg. Baker, Gordon, j ration, Isaac D. Jones, Doan, Sanlord, J d Augustus Young. i Committee on Roads and Canals.? ?ssrs. Lawrence, ]*inc, John B Thump n, W. W. Irwin Sprigg, Stcenroit, j ood, Daniel, and Rigg?. Committee on Patents.?Messrs R Me., ellan, Cransloi, G* rry, Ramsay, and ; nfonl. Committee on Public Building* and Messrs Board man, Ward, Anstus Young, Cranston, and BoWnr. Committre on Revival and Unfinished j jlftamrH Eastman, Beeson, C I Floyd, Jack, and Mattock. Committee on Accounts. Messrs. J irc'liand, York, Carey,Sialey N. Clarke d Joseph L. Williams. Committee on Mileage,?Messrs. Thorn. W Williams, Meriwether, John C. E Iirda, West brook, and Egl>crt. Committee on the Library on the. part o f j : //nut*-.. Messrs Tillinchast, Aycrigg, i d Sumter. The Speaker also announced the fol. I vinji Select Committees, appointed un- I r the order of Friday last: Select committee on the Finance and irrcjicy.?Messrs Cushint'? John P usnedv, Gilmer, G Davis, Wise, Roosc. j It, Proffit, McKay, and Win W Irwin, j Select Committees on the Apportionment ! Representatives.? Messrs Everett, j lilds Cnthruthers, Summers, Pearce, j tin T. Stuart, Bidlack, Cross, and I eller. Select Committee on the Smithsonian \ finish?-Messrs J Q Adam-, Hulier. | am, Truman Smith, Underwood, Benj. | incla!', Char cs J Inger.-oll, Hunter, I ouston, and Bowne. Select Committee on the National Foun-1 y --Messrs. Win CJohnxon, Smuon ;;? ?!, King, Randolph, Mal ory, Hunt, im, Rurmenter, ami Cave Johnson. Mr Talliftfcrro offered the following solution, which was read for informant Resolved, That the several memorials* / &< ?t it ions, n mi resolutions preaentfd to tho louse of Representative at tho lust Jongress, and winch were not finally ac*df ed on, also all hills which were reported, ictedon, and lost in the Sdftate, and itch hills as were referred to committees md not reported on, be again referred to lie committee* to which the strnie wort cs.x ctively referred at the last Congre*, i written request to tha't effect being landed by any member to tbw.(Jqrk of the fiouse, Whose duty it shall be Je .enter he same upon the journal as if.printed n the House. Mr. Wise inquired whether thi* reao* ution would not -ewbtftCP'sundry abolilion petitions? - I-'* The Speaker replied;. Nonsuch petitions not having .lieen reoetved, the' rosolution would not embrace them. * Mr. Wise shid he had taken nd objec* lion to the adoption of the n^fuYidh. And the resolution was adopted.'.;*' - - . V* tm _ it. Mr. Underwood desired, lo nogr we Inflowing resolution, which wiuyead ft* informatibh : . Resolved, That theSpeaker engage the seivie^s of four stc/Vigraph^flb-iat compensation not exceeding $$fpec day for each, lo he paid-out uf-the*tie*<fhgent fund of the H?>u>e, whoac ttuty.'ifcwhfll be to re|>orl the debates end pibiff bed rwfcl of the House daily, nndlruty,*fl>r*rtelidHion in the newspapers published in TRfii^city. The stetiognraphersVi engaged ihnll reg* ulale among themselves thfe time y which each shall employ in taking' short-hand notes of the debates and prenjeedings, and preparing the same for the press. .^Hiey shall furnish the public printers, with ail practicable despatch, a copy of the^f reports for insertion in their, paper, and such printers shall publish the namu at v length in the newspaper edited and pub lisiifd by them without charge-to the Government ; and. in ease they decline doing so, the reports of the stonographera shall he delivered to such other printer or editor as the Speaker may designate who will insert the reports in his paper. Any stenographer so employed inay lie removed hv the 8,-ieaker at any tiinc, and a1 other emp'oved in his place. The Speaker shall locate the stenogruphera an employed in a ich place in the Hall as ho inay deem proper. The stenographers shall in ike known to any member which 01 them reported any speech attributed to such member. > FOREIGN. STATU OF TRADK tX KXGLAXD. Manchksteu. Nov. 17.?Wo regnt to sav. that, discouraging as the state of business has been in the town for some weeks past, it was worse yesterday than on any former occassion- Ow ing to the - - ?<. . present severe weather, ,inovo vn^imoii a total cassation-in the purchase* of yarn for the continent: and:, the market. * wan, consequently. exceedingly Hat* arjlh a decline of 1 2d to 4-Id. . }?er pound on many descriptions of yarn. For good*, t*n>. the demand was very trifling, apd prices of most descriptions continue gradually do decline. ' STATKtflF THE COUJCTEt. . Ciiorley.?The cntton.spinner* of Chorley having given notice of their., in* tention to reduce the wages of their.hands twelve and a half per cent-, the workmen have attempted lo'rcsist Ilio reduction Ity turning out. With on^ exception, the whole of the mills in Chorley nrn .now * stan I ng; und. if I ho Hi p ate be not specdi* ly settled. the prosj-e Is of the Workmen during the writer must he v'e'ry gloomy. Paisley.?The gloomy fore boding*'on the subject of trade, consequent on the near approach of the most flat season of the year, are more than heing realized. During the past week, the, number of work-people, with their wives and fanji. lies, depending on the relief committee for subsistence. has increased upwards of two thousand?the total number being no less than eight thousand, eight hundred and thirty.six persons who have no means of supporting themselves except by chari* *y- r . . ' Stockcort.?The distress of the work* ing classes of this town, instead elf diritii). ishing, is on the increase: Out 'oPS.OOO persons who were assessed, upward df 2,? 000 have been summoned as defaulters, and a new two-shilling rate has been: fig. ured. . : ?* * Scores of families aro literally-starving and no less than nine .families hare not tasted bread for three weeks. -The streets are crowded with men, woman, and chiK dren seeking relief, while- the: sertwl shopkeepers arc completely besieged* bjt impoitupate beggar*. - . . IRELAND. Failukk or thk Potato C*of land ?The correspondent of the Morn, ing Chronicle says that he has M aster, tained upon the best authority that the Irish peasantry will this year be exposed to the terrible calamity of a failure of tht imiaioeroi). The failure is most appar. I I t t f (flit upon the rich and heavy soils, such as the southwestern.parts of Tiperary. II is now known that the wheat and oat crops are one.third below the average. The price of meat is rising, and is likely K to he further enhanced by a distemper a% mong the cattle. We receive similar ac.. j counts of the potato crop frcm Scotland, where the lands had been Hooded in niaay ! places. " ' FitANCE. The French Government is n*?embltlif? 25 000 men at P.rpi^ntn, and 25,009?t Bayonne. with a strong force at Toutoat, which is to arswer the double purpose of " " ' ' ? A' ? J, reserve t<>r a apun *n inierTenuan, ana p.> i e t< k jep the Toutousteitsqtitet. Tbie formidable army, to be collected at the font of the Pyrenees, Vs said to he in con? j sequence of fears - entertained by tfrfr ' ' ' French of Spanish machinations, ... > r : ? .. ..... . * * ; ? < * , * <i?r f- * **