th.— May 1846—
I took a long walk last evening, around across the Tiber, and down to the
Bridge over the Potomac, and after an almost sleepless night, find my
reply to Lord George Bentinck
languishing; so that I fear it will never be completed— I continued
however to write, this morning, till the time for meeting 561of the House.— On my way to it, I stopped at the Office
of the Franklin Insurance Company, and received the half yearly Dividend
by a Check on the Patriotic Bank, for Virginia Money— At the House, a
motion was made to dispense with the reading of the Journal of
yesterday, which was refused— Garrett
Davis of Kentucky moved to suspend the rules, to enable
him to present, three resolutions, of enquiry, of the President, for information, concerning
hostilities between the American and Mexican Armies, on the Rio Grande,
and whether any Naval Commander of the United States, has Blockaded the
mouth of the Rio Grande or Metamoras— The motion to suspend the rules,
was refused by yeas and nays—64 to 85. This is a sequel, to my
resolutions, of last week, smothered in the same manner— Douglass of Illinois, asked leave to
make a Report from the Committee on the Territories, but it was refused—
John Pettit of Indiana,
Chairman of the Select Committee, upon the impeachment of Daniel Webster, reported a
Resolution, authorizing the Committee to sit during the Sessions of the
House, and to employ a Clerk.— The request to sit during the Session of
the House was granted, but that to employ a Clerk was rejected as was
that of Robert C. Schenck, from
the Committee of Investigation on Charles. J. Ingersoll, for the same permission— Pettit
then asked, to be excused, from further service, on the Committee—
Private Bills were again taken up, and a Bill for the allowance of the
Bounty, on vessels engaged in the Cod Fishery to the Owner and Crew of
the Schooner Success, wrecked without completing her voyage, was passed,
by yeas and nays, 80. to 72, after a refusal to lay it on the Table 71.
to 83. The Bill, for the payment, of a Revolutionary Loan Office
Certificate to Nathaniel Bird
was also passed after a sharp debate—76 to 66— I took part in favor of
both these Bills— After some further unimportant debate, the 562Speaker presented a
Letter from David Wilmot, a Member
of the Webster impeachment Committee asking to be excused from further
service thereon being confined by illness.— He was accordingly excused,
and Jacob Brinkerhoff of Ohio
was appointed in his place— Committee of the whole House again, Caleb. B. Smith, of Indiana in the
Chair, on Private Bills, one of which, was reported with recommendations
that it do not pass, and another, in favor of a b