w
I.
- r -. -.. .
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I
.. .
LI
V ;' r
:.1
.rnpMfifr te t-f war.Ui af.d amcr I
TM least Mischievous i fbe sppUcation
tI Hit word to bank transactions, to a I
ens wholly different frvva it original
meaning. 0-igilly it m:nt thing
placed in trust, or ptedg 4 to be safi-ly
and sacredly kept, HI returned to the
tUpW'ter, vritht bein ttsed' by Uie
depository, while' in his possession.
AM this is changed when applied to a
deposit in batik. Instead ot retera
,JifljJjtjtlenlicaJ.tLuBg, llit bank is on
sietstood to be bouod t return only an
equalvalaet and instead of not having
the e, it is amlerstood to have the
right to loan it mi on interest,1 or to
dispose of it at it pleases, with the sin
gle condition that an equal amount be
returned, when demanded, which ex
perience haa taught ia not al way done.
... r place, then, ike public money in
deposit, in bank without restriction,
ia to give the free e uf it, and to al
low tlie to make at mack aa they can
out of it, between the time of deposite
and disbursement. ' Have we tuck a
right? The motw y belong to tlte pen
pie collected fato them ftw specific
purposesin which ther have a gene
ral interest and fur that onlyt and
what possible right can we have to give
anch Bie of it o certain telecteu cur
porationa? I aak for the provision of
the C inititution that aulhuritea it. i
aak, if we could grant the e, for aim
ilar parpoara, to private aociatiina or
indivulaaiaf. Ur if nut ta them, to in
dividual uffieera of thf gavermnent for
, instance, to the four principal receiv-
era uniier this Dill, annul l
it
p
?!
And if this cannot be dune, that the
diatinctiuu be pointed out
If ffiese iuestions5e satufactortlv
answered, I shall propound others stift
mure difficult. 1 shall then ak, if the
substitute should become a law, and
the twnty-Kve bvnks be selected,
whether her -wHwIo" not in fact' be the
Treasury? And if not, I wuuid auk,
where would be the Treasury? But
if the Treasury, I would ask, if public
money in bank would not be in the
Treasury And if so, hoar ran it be
drawn from it to be lent for the pur.
poae of trade, speculation, or any oth
er use whatever, astinst an express
prevision of the Constitution? Ves, a
express aa word can. make jLJjia)t
the Secretary to read the 1st article.
via section, ana UM clause uett to the
taet. , ' -
JIo money sltall he draw from ih Trea
sury, but ia sonMqumc of appropriations
m4bli vl a regular staiemeitt awl
aocaunl of the woeinia ami tspciulttM- f
ad public mouey shall b publwhed from time
totims.' ' ; " ' N
How clear! How explicit? No mon
ey to be drawn from the Treasury but
in consequence of appropt iationa made
VsrWn, U .tltojttiim tjin which the
nated by law, and (he turn allotted to
effect It, aperinedi and yet w have
lived in the daily and habitual viola
tion of thi treat fumlam-ntal nrovia
ien, from almost the beginning of our
political existence to tnis uay. oenoiu
ttte eonseaueoeea! It has prostrated
and engalphed the very inititution
which hava enjoyed this il licit favor,
and tainted, above all other causes, the
noraU and politic ot the whole coun
ry. Ves, to thi mutt b traced, a
ne of the aaain causes, the whole sys
tom of esceasivu revenue, exressive
expenditure, aod excessive surplusses
and to, them, especially the last, the
disastrous overthrow of the bank and
the currency, and the unexampled do
generacy ofjnnblic and private morals,
.which have followed. We have suf
fered the afflictioo, may the blessing,
which follow chantisemenf, when its
justic i confessed, come indue sca-
eon. -
But IUke a ttiU higher ground. I
ettrlke at the foot of the mischief. I de
ny thi rbht ofthisrovcraineat to treat
" bank notes a money U4te4eaV-tran-1
actions. On this treat question. I nev
er have before committed mrself, tho'
not renerallf disposed to abstain from
forming or expressing opinion. In all
instances, in which a National. Bank
has coma id question, I hava invariably
uses my ground, that u the govern
snent has the right to receive and treat
L L . 1 ' f A. 1 I J. t t
sun, noies as money, ii nau me ngni,
and was bound under the constitution
to regulate them, so as to make them
anuforu and stable as a currency. The
re sobs lor thi opinion are obvious,
nd liave been so often and fully ex
pressed on former occasions, that it
wduld be useless to repeat them bow;
but I never examined fully the right of
! - I . .1 ? I .
receiving, or inauc up lay minu uu ii,
till since the catastrophe in May last,
which, as 1 have said, entirely aepara-
icu io EUTcrniiicm iiom win vuti.
W . .1 1 t.
previous to mat periou, ii jyaa an aw
tncl auettion, with no practical bear
ingiaa much so as ia now theconttita
tionaJ right of admitting Louitiana in-
teihe Union.' . Th'mrs are bow alter
ed. The connexion is dissolved t and
k become ji practical question of
ne nrst niagnti-aae. ,
The mover of the substitute assume
d as a postulate, that thi government
had a right to receive ia it dues, what
rer it might think proper, I deny the
position U lti. J t j one that ought
sot 4 be assumed, jind cannot be pro
ved, and which it opposed by power
ful objections. , , The geaiua - ef our
Constitution 1 opposed to the nutimn.
mq of power. Whatever power it
given is expressly granted j and if proof
were vaureu, u jnumeruos grants oi
powers far more obvious and apparent;
If much more safe to be assumed than
4hf one ia question, weald afford it
f0uil cite a lew stnaiag instances. ,
' f Jut frs ;5ght be ussumoj,
4 s4
on Would upL6e, that of applying
money to pajr the debts of the govern
mcnt, and borrowing it to carry on its
operations would be among them yet
1Mb are ejpreaaiy provinert r wti
Uunstitution. Aram, to Lonzrest is
granted the power to declare war and
raiae armies and navies; yet the power
to grant letter of marque and reprisal
aim to mate rates lor me reeuiaiioo oi
the army and navy are not left to as-
aimpliony-aa obvious as they are, but
are given by ei press grant. W ith
these and other instances not lea stri
king, which miglit be added, it ia a bold
step to sua me, without proof, the far
let obvious poer f the government
receiving whatever it please in it
doe aa money. Such an assumption
would be in direct' conflict with the
great principle which the State Rights
party, with which the 8enator (Mr.
llivesj classes himself, have ever
dopted in the construction of the con
stitution. Hut, if the f.irtner cannot
be assumed, it would be in vain to at
tempt to itrove that it has been grant
ed, or that it ia necessary and proper
to carry any of the granted power in
to elect No auch attempt hat been
made, nor ran be, with success. On
the contrary, there are strong objee
lion to the power, which, in my opin
md cannot be surmnnnted.
If once admitted, it would lead by
oonsequence to a necessary interfer
ence with individual and State con
cern never contemplated by the con
stitution. Let 04, for instance, sup-
pose that, acting on the assumption of
the Senator, the government should
chouse to select tobacco as an article.to
be received in payment of it ddes,
which would be as well entitled to it
a any other product, and in which the
Senator' constituents are so much in
terested. Does he not see the conse
nuences? In order to make it taxes
uniform, which it is bound to do by the
consntution, and winch cannot be
done unles the medium in which it is
paid is so, the government would have
to assume a general control over the
great staple in q test ion to regulate
the weight of the hngthead or package
to establish inspections under ft own
officers in order to determine the qual
ity, and whatever else might be neces
arv to make the payment into the
treasury uniform. So likewise, if
the still greater staple,, cotton, be se
lected. The weight of the bale, the
quaility of the cotton, and its inspec
tion' would all necessarily fall under
the control of the Government; im
doea not the Senator see that the exer
cise of a power that must lead to sueh
consequences consequences so far be
yond the sphere assigned to this gov
ernment by the constitution, must be
jection extend only V WsThntroiflbf
Staple articles. It applies with equal,
if not greater force, to receiving the
note of State bank, a proposed by
thi substitute, in the due of the Gov
eminent and the mangament of it
fiscal concern. It must involve the
Government in the necessity of con
trolling and regulating State banks, as
thi tubstitute abundantly proves,"-as
well as the whole history of our con
nection with themi and it has been
shown that banks are, at least, as far
removed from the control of this Gov
ernment as the cultivators of the soil,
or any other class of citizens. To
this I might add another objection
not lesa atrnng, that for the, Govern
ment to receive and treat bank notra
as mouey in its dues, would be in di
rect conflict, in its ellect, with the
important power conferred expressly
on Congress of coining money and
regulating the valne' thereof: but a
tnia win come in wun more propriety
in answer to an argument advanced
by' the ..Senator fioim Maitachussetts,
(Mr. Webst
tate his
argument and reply to it.
He asserted again and again, botl
now and at the xtra session, that
is the dutv of the Government nut nn
If to regulate, but to furnish a aound
currency. Indeed it is the principle
argument reuen on oy tne senator in
opposition to the bill, which he aaya
abandons this great duty. Now, if
by currency be meant gold and ailver
coins, mere will be but little differ
ence between him and myself. To
that extent - the Government has
ciear aan unqueastonabi ngM by ex
press rrantt out it ne eocs lart her. and
intends to assert that the Government
has the right to make bank note a cur
rency, which it i bound tarfeplate
then hi proposition i ideqtiraf in ef
feet, though differently expressed, with
that or the senator Irom Yirgiutai
( Mr. Hives, J and all the argumenta I
have urged against it are equally ap
plicable IfiTbia. I hold, on my part.
that the power of the Uovernment on
this subject is limited to coioinr mon
ey and reculatin it value, and pun
ishing the counterfeiting of the curren t
cotnsi tbat is, ot the coins Made cur
rent by law, the onlv monev known to
the Constitution. It time to mnla. a
distinction between monev or currencv
if you please between that which will
If gaily pay debts, ana mere circula
tion, -which haa its value from its
nromie to be paid in the former and
under which classification, bank notes
as well as bills or promisor? notes of
individual! fall. These arc all la their
nature private and local, and cannot be
elevated to the level of currency, or
money, in the nca transactions oi
the 6ca
Government, without coming into Con
flict, more or less with the object oft
the- Constitution in vet"wg -the very!
power ia Congress, which shall low I
prorreil fa how I
It will hardly be- iettnetf, that
the object wa to fix a standard in or
der to furnish to the Union currency
of nnifurm and tteadx.yalue,, and wa
therefore united in the sain sentence
ith the relative power, to fix the
standard of weight and measures,"
tli uhlrrts be'uir similar. Now, if
our einerience has proved any thing,
it i imnlr alinwn fliat so lonsss the
fCoveravaaent- ia cnw44yUJhceenU
banks, and their note received J
transactions, as money, soiong it )
impossible to give any thing like ta
mmy to tne 'wanaara oi vaiuej anu
that the power .of coining, and regulat
ing the coins, becomes in a great mea
sure a mere nullity. Every dollar is
sued irubank' notes, when it is made
the substitute for money, drives out of
circulation mure or less or the precious
metal and when the issue becomes
exorbitant, gold and silver almost en
tirely disappear!, aa our experience at
s time proves. I he effects are an
alogous to alloying or clipping the coin,
s Jar aa t ability ot standard is con
cerned and it would be not less ra
tional ta suppose, that such a power on
the part of idividual, would be con
sistent with a uniform and stable cur
rency, than to suppose the receiving
and treating bank notes as a substitute
lor money by tho Government, would
be. The only check or remedy is to
restrict them to their proper solvere, to
circulate in eommon with bills of ex
change or other private and local pa
per, for the convenience of business
and trade. 8o far from such a course
lope tMinginjurkuilyiinJlie people, or.
from being liable to the charge of form
ing one currency for -the people and
another for the Government, as has
ben so often and with such effect re
peated, it is the very reverse. Gov
ernment by refusing to receive bank
notes, as it is bound to do, would in
fact furnish a choice to the people, to
take either'' money or notes at their
pleasure. ' The demand of the Govern
ment will always keep a plentiful sup
ply of the former in the country, so as
to afford the people a choice, while the
apposite would expel the money and
leave no option to them bufc to take
van ouici ur wqtk, as ai present.
1 have now shown how it is pro no
sed to form the league or banks, and
have presented the constitutional im
pedimenta that stand in the way.
These are numerous and strong so
much so, that thev ought to be irresisti-
Die wun an, except tne lancuuir.ous in
construction but I cannot expect they
will produce tlieir lull enect. 1 know
too well the force of long entertained
impressions, however erroneous, to be
anguine how strongly the mind re -
Vt, in thi case, where we clearlv ae
how gradually and ailently error crept
in uniier ne uisguise ei worus, applied
to new and totally different ideas,
without excitins notice or alarm i and
when we have experienced auch deep
disasters in consequence of parting
irani me piain inieni ana meaning ol
the Constitution, I cannot but hone
that all who believe that the success of
the Government depends on a rierid
adherence to the Constitution, will Fay
aside all previous impressions, taken up
wiimrai rrueciiuo; ana Eive 10 Hie DO
r TTtri' .i t .
JeelTona their due weight.
I come now to the next point.
to
show how this leagun is to be revived
;r stimulated into lif-. Till this can
be done, the substitute, should it be
come a law, would be a dead letter.
The selection is to be made from specie
paying banks. . None but such can re
ceive the pnblie depositev,or have their
notes received in the dues of the Gov
ernmcnt. There are none such now,
The whole banking -system lies inani-
mau; and mast be vivified before It
can be reunited with the Government
.T ... ..
no one is bom enough to propose an
union with this lifeless mass. How
then is the vital spark to be revived
how the breath of life, the Promethean
fire, to be breathed into the system a-
iivw, me ucsiiui.r .mi it me tasx.
The mover tells us, that it must be
the work of the Government. He says
that it is bound to aid the banks to re
sume payments and -for that purpose
ought to hoM oat to them some ade
quate inducement. ' He tells ns, that
they have been lonn; preparioff and ha
made great efforts, but can ro ao far
ther have rolled the round, huge rock
almost to the summit, but unless the
Government put forth its giant arm
and give the last push, if will recoil
and rush down the steep to the bottom
and all past tabor be lost ' Now, what
is this adequate inducement? What
this pawerful stimulus, which it is pro
posed the Governmiut should spply,
in order to enable the banks to accom
plish this herculean task? The substi
tute shall answer.
It proposca to fix the 1st of Jul v next
for the period of resumption! and as
the inducement to resume, it proposes
to relect twenty-five of the most re
spectable and solid, nut of the resom
ing banks to be the depositories of the
public moneys, and the fiscal aeent of j
the uovernment, as has been already
stated." , It also proposes, and this is
the stimulus, the essence of the whole,
to make the notes of such banks at
may resume on or before that day ex
clusively receivable In the public dues.
nert is pro quo something pro
posed to be uoue, lor which something
is to be riven. We tell the banks
plainly, if you resume, we, on our part,
stipulate to make twenty-five of yon
our fiscal agfot and depositories "of I
',tl-
the revenue anil we Anther stipulate
that those who resume by the time fix
ed, ehali have the exclusive privilege
fartttr of having their note receiva-
bie in the due oi tne uoverumcm, i
common with gold and ailvcrIf tHe
banka perform their part, we shall be
bound in honor and good faith to per
form ours. It would be a complete
contract, a obligatory "a if signed,
sealed, and delivered. Such is the in-
The ncxt q
equate? Yes, abundautly adequate,
The battery is strong enough to a
wAeri the dead to life; the considera
tion sufficient to remunerate the banks
for whatever sarrifice they may be com
pelled to make, id order to resume
navment. It H ifficelt to-estimaie
the value ol these lngn privileges, r
oreroffatives. as I mi "lit iuSfJy call
. ' . . ... -t
them, Thev are worth millions. 1'
vou were to enter into a similar con
tract with an individual, I doubt not,
that he could sell out in open market
for at least thirty, forty, or fifty mil
lions of dollars. I do then the mover
the justice to say, that his means sre
ample to effect what he proposes. As
difficult as ia the work of resumption,
and difficult it will turn out to be
when tried, -the inducement will
prove all sufficient. But the resump
tion, howeVer desirable, may be pur
chased too dearlyj and such would
prove to be the case, should the project
succeed. Not only is the offer too
great, but the mode of effecting it is
highly objectionable. Its operation
would prove not less disastrous than
Ihc bargain has lieen shown to bo un-
constitutional, which I shall now pro
ceed to establish.
The offer wilt hae a double effect.
It will act an a powerful stimulus ' to
resumption, but will act at the same
time withenual force to excite a strug
gle among the' batiks, not only to re
sume themselves but to prevent others
from resuming. The reason is clear.
The advantage to each will increase.
as the number of the resuming banks
decreases; and of course, the great
point of contest among the strong will
be to restrict the proffered prize to the
smallest number. The closer the mo
nopoly the rreater the profits. In this
struggle, a combination of a few now
erful and wealthy banks, the most re
spectable and solid, as designated in
the substitute, will overthrow and
trample down the residue. Their fall
will spread desolation over tha land
Whstevermsy be the fate of other in
this desperate contest, there is one, in
relation to which no doubt vo be en
tertained I refer to the United States
Bank of Pennsylvania, a lonz name
and a mimomri
and a mianomari 4 wW far ttie
sake of brevity, but with no personal
f 'll distinguished individ
ual at the head, I shall can Mr. inu
tile' bank. That, atleast, will be one
of the winners one of the twenty-five
to whom the prize will be assigned.
Its vast resources, its wealth and influ
ential connexions, both at home and
abroad, the akill and ability of the offi
cer at hia head, and, what is less hon
orable, the great resource it holds, in
the notes of the late United States
Bank, of which more than six millions
hava been put into circulation, in viola
tion, to say the least, of a trust, consti
tuting more than five-sixths of all its
circulation, and which it is not bo-:nd
to pay, with the still greater amount
on hand, making in the whole more
than twenty-six millions, and which
may be used the same way, if not pre
vented, would place it beyond alf doubt
among the victors. He starts without
proper weights, and wHI lead the way
from the first. Who the others may
be is uncertain this will depend main
ly upon his good will and pleasure. It
may-be put down as certain, whoever
theyTmterthaf ther wtttW poweF
ful and influential, and not unfavorable
to his interest or aggrandizement.
But the mischievous effect will not be
limited to this death-like struggle, in
which so many must fall and be crush
ed, that might otherwise weather the
storm. .The forced resumption, for
such it would be in effect, would be
followed by wide spread desolation.
It is easy to sink to suspension, but
hard to return to resumption. Under j
the most favorable circo instances, and
when conducted most leisurelr and
cautiously, the pressure must be severe
uui.ii coci eeu or precipuaicu oy Dahk
rupt laws or temptations such as this.
it will be ruinous. To make it safe
and easy must be the work of time
Government can do but little. The
disease originates in excessive indebt
edness, and the only remedy is pay.
ment or reduction ot debts. It is es
timated,' that when the banks susnend.
ed payments, the community was in
debted to them the enormous aum of
R473,000,000. To reduce this within
the proper limits, is not the work of a
few days, and can be but little aided
by us. The industry and the vast re
sources of the country, with time. ar
the only remedies to be relied on for
the reduction and to these, with tl.
State Legislatures, and the publico-
pinion, the resumption must be left.
To understand the subject fully, we
must look a tittle more into th rut
cause bfihe difficulty.
This enormous debt was incurred in
prosperous tiroes. The abundant
of the banks, from the aurplus revenue
and a combination' of other causes, in
duced them to discount freely. This
increased the circulation, and with its
increase, Jta value depreciated, and
prices rose preportionably. With this
rise, enterprise and spec u1t.u seized
tha whole community , and every one
erptctcd to make a" fortune at oncer
and this in turn gave a new impulse to
' . a
discounts and circulation, tin me swel
ling tide bursted its barriers and del
ued the land. 1 nen Degan mo wppo
t?e prMessbrabsorbmg the excess.
II it had been possible to mum n i
to the banks, the sources from which it
flowed,, through its debtors, the specu
lating. enterprising,' and business por
tion ot the communitv, the mischief
would haveen,jutj-ai-jne
avoided'. But circulation had Sowed
off into other reservoirs those of the
moneyed men and bankers, who hoard
when price are high, and buy when
they are low. The portion thus drawn
off and held indepoaite, either in banks
or the chests ol individuals, was as ef
fectually lost, aa fai as the debtors of
the banks were concerned, as if it had
been burnt. The meins of payment j
was thus diminished; pt ices fell in pro
portion, ami the pressute increased as
thev fell. Thoush the amount in cir
culation be greatly reduced, yet the
banks are airaid to discount, lost on
resumption, the hoarded mass of d
posites held by individuals or other,
banks, should be letjoose, and, in ad
dition to what might be put into circu
lation should discounts be made, would
.... ... . . - i r ii -,i
cause another inunnauorr to oe hhiw
by another suspe Hsion. How is this dif
ficulty to be safely surmounted, but by
unlocking the hoarded means? And
how is that to be done, without dectd-
inz the currency nuesiionr inn i.
the first and necessary st.p. That
done, all will be able t calculate, and
determine what to do. The. period, of
inaction and uncertainty would rease.
and that of business revive. Fund
that are now locked up, would be
brought again into operation, and the
channels of circulation be replenished
in the only mode that can be done with
safety. Thus thinking, I am now and
have been Irom the first in favor of an
early decision, and averse to all coer
cion, or holding out temptation to re
sume; leaving the disease the gradu
al and safe operation of time, with as
little tampering as possible. In the
mean time, I hold it to be unwise to
cease discounting, and to adopt an in
discriminate system of curtailment,
Its iffects are ruinoua to the business
of the country, and calculated retard,
rather than to accelerate a resumption
The true system, I would say, would
be to discount with business paper a
freely as usual, and curtail gradually
on permanent debts - The former-
would revive bus'ness, and would in
crease the debts to the banks less than
it would increase the ability of the
community to pay them.
Tm b eoMcfurletf lit out kext.")
TWE-.TY-FIFT1I COHKi:s.
IN BBTiATK.
Saturday Mutch 3.
Mr. Strange finished his speech on
the Sub-Treasury Bill.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
As soon as the Reports of Commit
tees and other morning business, weif
ovr, Mr. Cambrel ing proposed tosus
Hnd the rules of the house, making
t'us P. ivate Dili day, fur the purpose
ol taking up Ilia Appropriation
This requited a vote of two thirds. Thf
division, i by yeaa aod naysj was a
follows; Veas 181. Nays 3C, and
the rule was suspended.
i-l . n . ... ...
in reosioners' Appropriation Hill
was resuml. The Htbate on this
bill proceeded, upon the same grounds
as oeiore, Cam denyme. in the face
ahd eyes of evidence cief as the day
light that the pension money had been
auvanced ironi lour tosix months be
t .i .
lore tne nine oi payment, in order to
pay" the agents for doing what the
law rx-pretidy say they shall not be
"paid?- W4.in -tl-CurtwTl
Marvin, ot New York, aided bv (lie a.
!.!. ft . ! .
Diiiuesoijutige Chambers o Kentucky,
brought this home to the party, in a
most decide4U-discomlitinr war. At
length oe ofCasnhenchinan, Tsy lr Jjy
name, irom me same oiate. moved the
"P Q"and -ho pension bill wjs passed.
IN SENATE.
Alanday March 5.
BIr. Clay presented the memorial of
a large, number of ciiizens of Virgin
u, remonstrating against exaction of
specie in payments ot postages, These
memorialists state the fact that Stock
ton SrStnkes, mail contractors, while
tuey were in the rereipt of specie kept
in issue their own individual small
notes.
As being a matter appertaining jrn
the Post office, Mr. Clay noved to
reier mis memorial to the committee
on that department. As beings mat
ter of finance, Mr. Grundy was fin- re
ferring it to the committee of Finance.
Mr. Clay said that wherever it went
it would elicit no rapnrt, nor n: aduee
any remedy. Mr. Grundy's nionosi-
tion
prevailed.
Mr. Buchanan, from the committee
on -fore urn Relations, i-on...! ih
Neutrality Bill passetl a few ilavs (.in re
by the House. -The committee reported
some amendments One proposes to
restrict the seizures, und-r the art,
to arms and munitions uf war. An.
other limits 'the provis (that the act
sha'I not interfere wijh any trade car
iieI on accordin? to existing Iipsi'ip.
audlhe law of nations.) to ships at sea.
Anoiner prooes to lemit the 0M-fa
tion of the" bill to two years. There
were 1 two more, but very unimpor
tant. Tho. amended, the Bill was or
dered to be engrossed and read a third
.time, - . ; ' ' ' :
Tha Pension Appropriatioa ' ; Sitl'w
fwi.M. fed tie House on i.
dayj was read twire ,na rttrJ
the committee of Finance. "
Mr. Herrick occupied there-..' ,
oniriaday-aseaaiooor ,ht
an able, eloquent, and forcible sn!l
bVP rw7 I
HOUSE OF UKPRESENTAT1VM
Ihtolutiimifreun'ed. "
One by Mr Morgan f ly . .
proposing such an amendment J .?
!QeJpiteda
would render the wrryingnr
a challenge to a duel, fighting ,Jj
or aiding and assisting in t jLt I
land, as to make the offender ia 2
gible to any office of honor" w nr(r
under the government. ;
A nioion being made by Mr. J,
? of Maryland to lav this UuT
on th taule.tbe Speaker remarked ik
the resolu tion, if it givt rise raa.w,.
must lie over. And it IU-oyer aW
dingly.
One by Mr. Graham proposing (U
the committee of Elections rnquirt h
to the expedifney of institutina tt
mode of settling contested eieehM.
appointing the committee, at evert
of Congress, by drawing from a bq
oic, somewnat anerihe lashion ns.
:. . . i -.; l ii r r . r""i-
en in uie nnuxn iinusrsni VOMhiom
-r-u-t' . .l.i.:j - .
i tic r.oijoirT wit nrnereu. ' ;
One of Mr. Adams pmnosint tL
a select committee be appointed, iB
power to send for pt rons and ftfm,
and to report upon a letter and mean,
rial whi h. on leave, he sent to H
chair, and hid read. This letters
dated at Ruck y Mount, Vain F-bot-ry,
1838, and " was signed by J. i
Brown and twelve others, si
Smith ami such other nanus it is.
pealed to Mr. Adams as being a vira
and consistent advocate ol the sacrti
of the
right of petition to "offer a me moral
w hich they encloed. ThatmeinoTitf
reouested Conjrrrss to expel Mr. Ai.
ams from the House, for hatinvoflerei
to mint niemorinl for the aholiriM J
j .. w n
slavery in the District of Columbia
I he letter and memorial being read,
Mr. Stewart of ra., rose and r
marked that ihey purported to eomr
irom ins (iismct, anu ne was eta
vi need that the names- pp-mlrf w
them were a I ' fictit'mns. Hemnvei
tliercfore, that ihey lie upon tie b
ble Mr. Patton of Va. moved they k
not rerriv.d, V 1 . "
Tlie Chair remarked that that mo-
f Un was not then in time:an"tM
mo'ion to lay on the table prevailed.
Mr. I.nwler of Alabama prestntef
certain resolutions f the legislatirc f
that State, favorable to the auorxafioi
f Texas t the Union. He moved they
lay on the table, and be printed.'
Mr. Adams asked for the rn(
of the resolutions, and they were mL
accordingly, at length. Whereasl
Mr. Adams remarked that, as the res
olution contained a labored argument
upon this subject, professedly lounded,
ton, on the ground that that existing
balance between the North and SatH.
em sections of Union, would bt
thereby altered, he fMr. Adamn)
hoped that they would be referred to
elect committee. The motion of
Mr. Lawlrr, to lay them on the ta
ble, having precedence. Mr. Adaau
raUed for the yeas and nays, whirs
being ordered the mof.on prevail!
by a tite of 109. to 40. . ,,-
IN SENATE.
" Tuetdatf, March 6V
Mr. Clyton,rron.ftheCoinmilreoti thejii
dicsry, r, jinried the bill rtlerred to litem
prrvrni the j(iiir or accoptitigrof dulWn
Rr lo tlnrli in the Ui.triet itf Cnhimkit, vrtk
amvndm' nl , the principal on- of which vm
the suWitutiti; fi,r. (he penalty of dVslli,
from ten to twenty years' cotifiiiemeat iti Id
peoitrirtinry.
- The amroilinrnt were rd, ad the kiB
wt mle llir 7ircial tmkr stir Mtmtliy
The SfnHii rcdtmrd the coimideisruiii rf
Ihc Snb Tn -snrj t, !', and lifelubwilus
it, ttfftrrrd ly Mr. Rives '"
Mr. Norvi'll inoke two hours In Ctrotsf
lh bill.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The Neutrality Bill as snvadtd by II
S itator c.n.e on for cona'uleral'an. TW-
riotnte airrrril to all the Senate ame
bilt one, an, I acnt it back. The Senata fct
aiatrit. 'l ive toue in,itflt and .0V II
mittee of cunfi ranee are ducaming th
lr. -;
The lloiite : to frohiVit all jntrft'
reoee with tit- tratle aith tertinioniouicOtia.
tries ioarnia Ac. by IuihI aixt art 4"
Tlte S-t!le were 'toe ra-ortcllng by b"
only, . tl her lies tha . diurrcaca. Mrs-Bit(-.han..i,
Clay, uf Kv. and wrrt f
poiot-il on lite Co.tf-jrence, and Mrt
Iln arl, Pitton: ami Car in. were tp)6uHi
by the Hmiar.
The renmintlrrnf the day wa apenl ia
cnntitlcratinii of the 'general approp'iao"
bill. , .
IN SENATE. . Tt,
. H'ednttttuf Mmrk 1.
XlrBiiclaan moved to postpone the S1
Treawry Hill, in wlrdiene to the loir
tirnu of the I(f'a!a'ure of Pennsylvania.
upon llm (iteatioit- the yras and a
were ordered-and below roo bae , lb
riaton. .
Yea Me.ra. nleard, Ditchsnan, thy, "
Kv. Claylon, Cr-ttfrnlrtt, Davis, GnHvty
Knight, .M'Kea-i, slerrick Trent Pre,
Mivea, H..l,ins Itul.a, miib, of 'A
S.xitlurd. Spence, Bw.ff. Tsihnad.C. 'ftp-
Ion, W btrr. White-33-. -
Xata Mrasr. Allen. Renlan. Ttrnwr.. CJ-
boon. Clay cf Ala. Cothber. Fohon, Hwk
hard,. Kmir of Ala. Linn. Lumkir, Lr"
Morria, JUMitum Kicholas.. Nilcs KorveH,
Pierce, tt i u-, Hohhi-a-m, Ferier, SmitUw
Conn.. StianL-e. Tuiton. Tr.rti.r. Walker,
Wall, liVtUiams, Wrigtit; Yoo-.g 29.
But this flitiiioit i Pol a Derfeet crttetli
oi Uie lillim-ita t ntp. iirxm tl.a nilL H
said lnj,t CuthlMcrt, atkl Nicltolaa will
Uii ly ote -Kjioat the Bill. , And why shookl
not Wall Lo,kjn. Trotter, and Walk'
Rot the wnold nroberlv bus th Senate,
by vote rr two. '- n l' f ! i '
.TbcaueMiai. iltcreearrtiie oti M. m
aubatitaU for the bill, lin Prestoa ataU
tu aiNiHdme.,is t th tubal Uyts, M b