H. OF R.] FORTIFICATIONS. Fortification Bill. The next bill on its third reading was the following: A BILL making appropriations for certain fortifications of the United States, for the year 1834. Be it enacted, &c., That the following sums be, and the same are hereby, appropriated, to be paid out of any unappropriated money in the treasury, for certain fortifications, viz: For the preservation of Castle island, and repair of Fort Independence, thirty-four thousand seven hundred and fifty-eight dollars and eighty cents. For a fort on George's Island, one hundred thousand dollars. For Fort Adams, one hundred thousand dollars. For repairing Fort Columbus and Castle Williams, fifty thousand dollars. For a fort on Throg's Neck, East river, New York, one hundred thousand dollars. For rebuilding Fort Delaware, seventy-nine thousand dollars. For fortifications in Charleston harbor, fifty thousand dollars. For the fort at Cockspur Island, Georgia, eighty-two thousand dollars. For completing a fort at Pensacola, forty thousand dollars. For a fort on Foster's Bank, Florida, fifty thousand dollars. For a fort at Grand Terre, Louisiana, fifty thousand dollars. For contingencies of fortifications, ten thousand dollars. For completing Fort Macon, repairing the wharf and dike, and for the protection of the site of that work, seven thousand dollars. Mr. McDUFFIE regretted that he had been prevented, by indisposition, from opposing this bill in its progress through the House. It contained appropriations for four or five new fortifications. He had given notice two years since that he should oppose appropriating for any new works; and now, in the spirit of fairness, he would move that the bill be recommitted to the Committee of Ways and Means. No new forts should be built till we were at least able to arm and man those already erected. Mr. BARRINGER concurred in the views of the gentleman from South Carolina; but, having examined the fortification bill of last year, he found that there had been preparatory appropriations for the works proposed to be appropriated for in this bill. He rose, however, to state a fact which had been ascertained by Colonel Drayton, when at the head of the Military Committee, viz: that, at the present rate of appropriating $100,000 a year for the arming of our fortifications, those already built would not be armed under forty years. Mr. Drayton, he said, had moved the House to double the annual sum; but the House had refused, though that very session they appropriated $800,000 for new works. This did not look like that wise foresight which ought to guide the legislation of a great nation. FEB. 19, 184. Mr. McDUFFIE further urged his motion. He & claimed any intention of abandoning the fortifications of the country; but the system, with a few exceptions, was now complete, and Congress had resolved, as he under stood, to go no farther at present. The approprat of last year had been $600,000; that proposed for tes year was $900,000. It was not for him to exhort the Committee of Ways and Means to take care of the tre ury. But when Congress were told, from high authorit that it was doubtful whether the Government would mat both ends meet-when a recommendation the most traordinary that had ever been addressed to such a bodyhe would not say in a republican Government, but ei in a monarchy-had been addressed to that House by President, not to waste the people's money, but to economical in the use of it-to have such a comment on the exhortation at the same moment presented, fifty per cent. to the public expenditure in this branch it, was almost as extraordinary as the admonition d If economy and retrenchment were to be any thing than mere names, be trusted that such a measure wo not be sanctioned. Mr. POLK replied, and further explained. If the sums were not granted, what had been expended mus į to loss. Mr. SELDEN advocated the item for the fortificat on Throg's Neck; explained the exposed situation of ́city of New York on the side of the Sound, and the ciency of that fortress to defend the pass. Frigates. large size had passed Hurlgate; and it was the opin one of our most distinguished naval commanders that, x favorable state of the tide, even a seventy-four might through. Large sums had been spent to defend the of avenue to the city, but in vain, if this were left up tected. Mr. WAYNE, admitting the good intentions of MCDUFFIE, Corrected him in some of his facts. The appropriated last year had been over $800,000; the this bill was a little under $900,000. He adverted to sum provided for the fort in Boston Bay, and hos would not be suspended when in progress. What could be answered by recommitting the bill, unless a was intended at some one of the works provided Hands and materials were collected, and great loss m accrue unless the works went on. Mr. GORHAM explained the localities of Boston its inner and outer harbor, and the need of the for proposed. Mr. HALL, of North Carolina, said he should vo the recommitment; not, perhaps, precisely for the reasons that some others did, but because he was and thoroughly a retrenchment man; and, in saying he meant not the slightest reflection on any one gentlemen had spoken of retrenchment. He was to go with them, not only upon this bill-this par case-but all others where it was proper. He wou with the gentleman from New York [Mr. SELDIS Blue Book, as he had alluded to that as a proper c Mr. H. said this was a very good ground to stand It might not be critically correct to say a good gr which to raise a superstructure of retrenchment, Mr. POLK replied and explained. The bill did not was a good ground to stand upon to carry into effec contain appropriations for a single new work. He refer- large retrenchments. But he would tell the gen red to the particulars of the last year's bill to prove that that it was very inadequate. It was entirely useles for some of those works $25,000, and for others $50,000 expect any great or beneficial results from atten had been appropriated. The sums in the present bill to cut off a little here and a little there. He had cat corresponded with the estimates from the War Depart- from long experience and observation, through ment. It was not for the Committee of Ways and Means between fifteen and twenty years that he had be to presume, as of course, that the House was going to member of the House, the utter futility of attemp change its settled policy in reference to the fortifying of lop off the branches piecemeal; the only remedy s the country. Mr. P. called for the reading of commu- go at once to the main body of the evil. Red nications from the Secretary of War and from the en- revenue; this was the only remedy. Sir, (said he, gineers. willing to lop off the branches as I go along; but l 0, 21, 1834.] Death of Mr. Wirt-Correction of the Journal. [H. OF R. to the source of the evil, to the body and soul of mains to the tomb. It is not my intention to pronounce schief. And I repeat, that I am convinced, from a eulogium-an unnecessary eulogium on the deceased; have seen and experienced, that so long as we have but I may be permitted to speak of his urbanity of manus revenue, we shall continue to scramble for and ners, his fidelity to his friendship, his gentleness of disit to purposes many of them entirely valueless or position, his benevolence of heart, and of those eminent evous. As to the bill now under consideration, he literary attainments which have shed so bright a lustre on id he should vote for the recommitment, because his country. eved that many (he would by no means say all) of It is due to the exalted merits, to the virtues, and to the jects were entirely unnecessary. purity of mind and heart of the lamented and illustrious dead HARPER, of Pennsylvania, defended the appro- that some signal mark of public respect should be awarded n for Fort Delaware. He adverted with much earn-to his name. To us, in Virginia, where the prime of his s to the defenceless state of the whole Delaware river, life was passed, and where his example can have, as it has the burning of the late fort and the decay of Fort had, the most beneficial effects, the honor rendered to -; and dwelt on the evil of leaving the city of Phila-him will be the more peculiarly gratifying. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21. a liable to be laid in ashes by any enterprising foe. BROWN said he was willing to give his vote for l under consideration, if the state of the revenue admit such an expenditure of the public money ut any serious embarrassment to the treasury. He vote for the bill, not because a portion of the money o be expended in the State of New York, which he e honor in part to represent on this floor; nor would e for it because it contained an appropriation for Mr. Speaker: A rule of this House directs that the arbor of Boston, or the mouth of the Delaware; but Speaker shall examine and correct the journal before it ould do so because it was a part of our great system is read. I therefore now rise, not to make a motion, nor blic defence, provided and projected for the security to offer a resolution, but to ask the unanimous consent of efence of the whole country. Before he did vote this House to address to you a few words, with a view to e bill, however, he should be glad to have some in- an addition which I wish to be made to the journal, of the tion from honorable gentlemen upon the Committee adjournment of the House yesterday. ays and Means as to the probable state of the reve- The Speaker, I presume, would not feel himself auWe had been admonished by the President in his thorized to make the addition in the journal which I proal message to be cautious of making unnecessary ap- pose, without the unanimous consent of the House; and I riations of the public money. Our revenue laws had therefore now propose it before the reading of the journal. rgone a very recent and very important change; and I ask that, after the statement of the adjournment of ffect of such a change upon the treasury was a sub- the House, there be added to the journal words importof uncertainty, if not anxiety. He therefore thought ing that it was to give the Speaker and members of the the suggestion which had fallen from the honorable House an opportunity of attending the funeral obsequies leman from South Carolina [Mr. McDUFFIE] entitled of William Wirt. e serious consideration of the House. If there was At the adjournment of the House on Wednesday, I did any considerable falling off in the receipts of the rev-not know what the arrangements were, or would be, for for the coming year, he thought this very bill, above that mournful ceremony. Had I known them, I should thers, making appropriations, should be drawn with have moved a postponed adjournment, which would have ence to that deficiency; and before he was called enabled us to join in the duty of paying the last tribute to vote for its final passage, he hoped that the of respect to the remains of a man who was an ornament se would be put in possession of the views of the of his country and of human nature. mittee of Ways and Means upon the subject of the nue for the coming year. When the SPEAKER had called the House to orderMr. ADAMS, of Massachusetts, addressed him, before the reading of the journal, as follows: The customs of this and of the other House of Congress warrant the suspension of their daily labors in the r. E. EVERETT further advocated the defence of public service, for attendance upon funeral rites, only in on Harbor. The inner basin was already defended, but cases of the decease of their own members. To extend at the cost of the General Government. The United the usage farther might be attended with inconvenience es had expended nothing in the defence of so im- as a precedent; nor should I have felt myself warranted ant a point as Boston. As to the objection of Mr. in asking it upon any common occasion. DUFFIE, Mr. E. was in favor of arming all the for- Mr. Wirt had never been a member of either House ses, and had endeavored to increase the annual pro- of Congress. But if his form in marble, or his portrait on for that purpose, but without success. But their upon canvass, were placed within these walls, a suitable rmed state was no good argument against erecting inscription for it would be that of the statue of Moliere in the hall of the French Academy-"Nothing was wanting to his glory; he was wanting to ours." works which were needed. In motion of Mr. BRIGGS, The House adjourned, before any question was taken on bill. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20. DEATH OF MR. WIRT. Mr. Wirt had never been a member of Congress; but for a period of twelve years, during two successive administrations of the National Government, he had been the official and confidential adviser, upon all questions of law, of the Presidents of the United States; and he had discharged the duties of that station entirely to the After the reading of the journal, satisfaction of those officers and of the country. No dr. MASON, of Virginia, rose and said: Mr. Speaker, member of this House needs to be reminded how importas become my melancholy duty to advert to a recent ant are the duties of the Attorney General of the United pensation which has deprived the bar and the country of States, nor risk I contradiction in affirming that they were of the greatest ornaments of both: I allude to the never more ably or more faithfully discharged than by ath of William Wirt! The funeral ceremony takes Mr. Wirt. ce this day, and it is the wish of many members of this If a mind stored with all the learning appropriate to use to pay that tribute of respect to his memory which the profession of the law, and decorated with all the elefeel to be due--the accompanying of his mortal re-gance of classical literature-if a spirit imbued with the Trip permi delph sensibilities of a lofty patriotism, and chasteneing me- stances of the exisit, to reward which ditations of a profound philosophy—if a brillantimaria ported. Mr. P. then went into the cre tion, a discerning intellect, a sound judgment, as inde- cinstitutional objection, which had firmesteri ma fatigable capacity, and vigorous energy of application, in opposition to the bill. He next expanel and vivified with an ease and rapidity of elstation, cap pus ed the disposition of the reward among the dam without redundance, and select without affectation—f all and closed with a warm and merited conti these, united with a sportive vein of humor, an inoffen- valor and enterprise of Commodore Deater. sive temper, and an angele purity of heart- f all these, in their combination, are the qualites suitable for an Attorney General of the United States, in him they were all eminently combined. Mr. GRAYSON said he hoped the b writ object was to reward an action of the highest pay a deutung,estionably just. It was, ales, surprising that the settlement of a claim so strug But it is not my purpose to pronounce h's eulogy, for which the bil provides should have been sic That pleasing task has been assigned to abler hands, and lorg and so earnestly in vain. He was reminded unt to a more suitable occasion. He will there be presented had been the case by recollecting that the cam in other, though not less interesting lights. As the pe- many years ago the support of a gentleman, wat netrating delineator of manners and character in the occuped the seat which be has the host to beld British Spy-as the biographer of Patrick Henry, dedi- who has been at all times distinguished for the g cited to the young men of your native commonwealth- ardor with which he embraced any cause which as the friend and delight of the social circle—as the bus- support, and for the talent and zeal with which bri band and father in the bosom of a happy, but now most tained it. Since that time, the case of the petrin afflicted family-in all these characters I have known, ad- been pressed upon Congress by gentlemen of the h mired, and loved him; and now, witnessing, from the ability. It was sustained by the clearest to very windows of this hall, the last act of piety and affec- rested upon facts which make a part of our history. tion over his remains, I have felt as if this House could yet, from some unfortunate difference of past an scarcely fulfil its high and honorable duties to the country details of the bill, the widows and children of t which he had served, without some slight, be it but a ants have been again and again disappointed is thecla transient, notice of his decease. The addition which I He had said that the claim rested on facts which t propose to the journal, of yesterday's adjournment, would a part of our history. He would not relate thes be such a notice. It would give his name an honorable gentleman who introduced the bill had done the place on the recorded annals of his country, in a manner justice. We must all agree with him that the a equally simple and expressive. I will only add that, while one of the most heroic character-that the capta I feel it peculiarly incumbent upon me to make this pro- Philadelphia frigate, secured as she was supposed posal, I am sensible that it is not a fit subject for debate; and, if objected to, I desire you to consider it as withdrawn. The CHAIR stated that the rule, in reference to the journal which had been read, referred to the duties of the Speaker when out of the chair, not in it. The Speaker had not felt himself warranted to insert any further record in the journal of yesterday than the simple fact of the adjournment: but if it was the pleasure of the House that the clause proposed should be added, the Chair would most cheerfully assent. under the guns of the Tripolitan forts, in the mist of And was the glory of this achievement its only Mr. J. K. MANN, of Pennsylvania, objecting— tage? It was productive of the most substantial bent Mr. BLAIR, of South Carolina, inquired whether the hastened the termination of a troublesome and expe pleasure of the House could be obstructed by the objec-war, carried on many thousand miles distant from br tion of a single member? The CHAIR said that, if a motion should be made, a majority of the House could, of course, have their journal modified to suit their own pleasure. Mr. ADAMS then observed, that he had hoped no objection would have been made; but as it seemed not to be sustained by the general sense of the House, he would renew his motion that the clause he had read be added to the journal of yesterday's proceedings. The question being put, it was agreed to without a division, (by nearly a unanimous vote.) PUBLIC DEPOSITES. released from a dungeon the officers and crew of the delphia; it relieved this nation from a disgraceful tr pirates. It did much more; it gave a permanent rak influence to our navy and country among those ba and piratical hordes of the Mediterranean. Until tat our flag was unknown among them; the star of tional banner had not yet risen in that region; the merce of our country was indebted for protection courtesy of other nations. But, from that time for ship was safer in those seas than the ships of the 3 can merchant. They were guarded by the glory exploit. The very name of Decatur, like that of a ancient warrior in those eastern countries, acquee The House then resumed the consideration of the re-power to awe those rapacious and ferocious hard solution moved by Mr. MARDIS, directing the attention permanent peace. of the Committee of Ways and Means to certain propo. We cannot easily estimate the good effects of the v sitions concerning the deposite and custody of the public some terror--the thousands which it saved to the co money; and Mr. M. continued his argument in sup-cial industry of this country--the hundreds of brave port of his motion until the arrival of the hour of one men whom it preserved from the chains and lash of o'clock; when the House passed to the orders of the day, and took up the bill for the relief of SUSAN DECATUR. barian taskmasters. Neither was its influence of tra duration. When, during the late war, the attention c nation was occupied by a powerful enemy, the State Barbary committed some depredations on our commer It became necessary, in 1816, to demand reparatie to chastise the delinquents. It was enough that C Mr. PATTON, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, dore Decatur commanded the fleet to produce a s opened the case on behalf of Mrs. Decatur, and the other settlement of all difficulties. The salutary awe prod persons concerned, and went into a detail of the circum- by the exploits for which we are now asking a tardy " This bill was, as heretofore whenever before the House, the subject of a protracted discussion. ward remained yet undiminished in the minds of the Tripolitans. [H. of R. mated the hearts of men in battle. They have bequeathed their rights to their widows and orphans. These are now Such, sir, was the glory, the immediate advantage, the waiting at your doors. They ask for your sympathy, your permanent benefit resulting from the capture of the Phila- liberality, your justice. It is hoped they will not ask them lelphia. And what is the objection to rewarding this ac- in vain." Mr. CRANE, though not opposed to the appropriation of the sum proposed, objected strongly to the proportions in which the money was to be shared. The bill assigned to the commander the lion's share. In such an expedition, the services of the men were of great value, and they ought to receive in analogy to the provisions of the prize law. ion as others of a similar nature have been rewarded? By He would add nothing to the remarks made as to the somewhat singular fatality, the objection arises from cir-distribution of the sum to be appropriated. It had been cumstances which add to the merit of the exploit. In the made by the committee, in conformity with the judgment nidst of the most brilliant success, the brave men who ob- of distinguished naval officers, and with what was believed ained it did not forget their duty. The frigate might have to be the equity of the rule. een preserved: she might have been carried out of the arbor of Tripoli. But they had been ordered to destroy er, and she was burnt. If the Philadelphia had been preerved, according to the prize laws then existing, the capors would have been entitled to her value. She was not reserved, in consequence of the orders of the commandng officer of the squadron. The capture was completed; he ship was in the possession of Captain Decatur and his rew; the enemy were killed or driven into the sea, when he was virtually taken out of the possession of the captors y the command of the officer who represented this Govrnment and nation. The ship's not being preserved proeeded not from the conquerors, but from the authority of his Government. It was in obedience to the command of his nation, delivered through the proper officer, that Deatur and his crew destroyed the trophy of their victory, nd the certain guaranty of their reward. And shall we unish them for having done their duty? Shall we refuse o pay them for having obeyed their orders? Shall we place hem in a worse condition for having set an example even nore important to the character of our rising navy than the rilliant exploit which they had just achieved--an example of strict subordination and complete obedience to their ommanding officer? Are we prepared to say that, having beyed their orders and destroyed the Philadelphia, they hall lose the reward which they would have obtained had hey disregarded their orders and preserved the ship? But it may be said that the frigate could not have been reserved. If this was the case, it must have been owing o the intrinsic difficulties of the enterprise, to her situaion under the guns of the castle of Tripoli, and within each of the Tripolitan gunboats. And if we reject the laim now made, we shall establish the singular rule, that, xactly as the difficulty and danger of the enterprise inreased, the chances of reward for success were diminished. It was not in this spirit that Congress legislated during he late war. They passed laws not extending to cases sinilar to that of the Philadelphia, but beyond them. They aid for captured vessels destroyed, not at the command of a superior officer, but at the discretion of the conqueor. Every ship taken from the enemy has been paid for, whether destroyed or preserved. These were destroyed, is the captor judged it expedient; the Philadelphia, at the command of a superior officer. In all the conflicts of the late war, there was nearly an equality of force between our own vessels and those of the enemy. In the capture of the Philadelphia, there was an immense disparity of force. The nation has paid for the Java and Guerriere, taken and sunk by vessels of equal or superior force, with crews of four hundred men; and will they refuse to pay for the Philadelphia, captured and burnt by seventy men, in a vessel of sixty tons? Mr. PARKER replied, and defended the bill. He insisted that the great glory of this exploit lay in the chivalry and enthusiasm of the officer who planned and conducted the expedition. The men, by this bill, would get twice what they would have been entitled to under the prize law, had the vessel been brought out. Mr. CRANE replied; and Mr. PARKER rejoined. Mr. CHILTON then made a very animated speech, in opposition to the bill, and alluded to the grounds of debate on former occasions. He argued that Decatur had received the highest reward, in promotion, fame, and fortune; and that he never in his lifetime had thought of urging any such claim. On motion of Mr. HAWES, the committee then rose, reported progress, and had leave to sit again. Mr. WHITTLESEY, of Ohio, asked leave to make a motion for granting the use of the hall, on Tuesday evening next, to the Congressional Temperance Society. Mr. HAWES objecting Mr. WHITTLESEY moved to suspend the rule; which was carried, ayes 98, noes 19; and the motion was then made, and agreed to. Mr. THOMAS, of Louisiana, observed, that to-morrow was the 22d, a day when it was not usual for public bodies to sit. He therefore wished to move that the House, when it did adjourn, would adjourn to Monday next. Objection being made, he moved for the suspension of the rule. It was suspended accordingly--ayes 114, noes 7; and thereupon the House adjourned over to Monday. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24. MEMORIAL FROM BANGOR, MAINE. Mr. PARKS presented the proceedings and a memorial adopted at a meeting of citizens of Bangor, in the State of Maine, praying that the charter of the Bank of the United States may be renewed, with modifications; or that another bank may be incorporated, which shall be the depository of the public money. On presenting this memorial, Mr. P. addressed the Chair as follows: Mr. Speaker: I am requested to present a memorial, report, and resolutions, adopted at a meeting convened, it is said, without distinction of party, in the town of BanIf we were called upon to select from our naval history gor, in Maine, and which memorial is signed by two hun(rich as that history is in gallant achievements) any one ac-dred and eighty-eight inhabitants of said town, praying tion which more than any other would deserve the rewards for a recharter of the present Bank of the United States; and honors due to brave men for services rendered to their or that another, on similar principles, may be chartered. country, there is not one which would deserve to be named Before, sir, passing this memorial to the Chair, there in preference to the destruction of the Philadelphia frigate; and yet it is the only one which has not been rewarded. Let this odious distinction be abolished; let this stain on the justice of the nation be wiped away. Many of the brave officers and crew are dead--among them, their gallant commander. A nobler spirit never cheered or ani are a few observations which I feel myself called upon to make, not only on the subject-matter of the papers themselves, but as regards the relation in which I stand to the petitioners. The town, sir, from which this memorial comes, has, for a number of years past, been progressing in a state H. OF R.] Bangor Memorial. [FEB. 24, 1834. of flourishing prosperity, such as has seldom been equal- were, for the first time, made known. Wealth, popeled, never surpassed, in New England. It now contains, tion, enterprise of every character, flowed in upon us. sir, six thousand people, all actively engaged in commer- every thing seemed, as if touched by Midas, to be turned cial pursuits, and in the various avocations incident to gold. This state of things has continued to the pres thereto. It is from a town so circumstanced that this ent hour; so that, instead of suffering, a state of actel memorial, signed by two hundred and eighty-eight only prosperity has existed, such as I never saw before, and of its citizens, comes. had never supposed to be capable of existing. In such a It is professed, Mr. Speaker, that the meeting where state of affairs, a population, composed principally of a this memorial was got up was called without distinction tive, enterprising young men, would naturally, with ner of party. It is no doubt true, sir, that it was so called; inducements daily opening before them, extend their e but it is not true that it was so attended. It was a politi-rations to the full extent of their means and credit. N cal meeting, got up for political purposes, and attended evil has yet resulted from this state of things; it has been by one political party only. I will not undertake to say, supported by the ample resources which have been bor sir, that no man was there who ever gave a vote in favor ly developed; and, sir, the probability is, that those w of the administration. There are, sir, in every community still support it. But there is always danger lest se where political parties run high, some few persons with-in such a state of affairs, should overtrade; therefore out any fixed opinions, who are always vacillating from is not impossible, although improbable, that some of t one party to another, as the one or other may, to them, fears entertained by these memorialists may be we seem to preponderate in power and strength. That some grounded. such persons, who may have occasionally given a vote In the next place, sir, these memorialists go on to to the administration, were present and acting on that that even if there had been any pressure among the occasion, I do not deny. But, sir, I do deny that any they should not have known what cause to have assigned one firm friend of the administration was present acting it; whether it was the conduct of the bank, or the core there. Sir, the attempt was made to give this meeting of the President. The committee even say that that wa the appearance of being what it purports to be, "without question upon which they differed so much, that th distinction of party," by putting on to a committee three concluded to leave it as they found it. So, sir, with gentlemen, friends of the administration, whom I am glad gard to the question whether the bank has forfeited to call such, and with whom I am always proud to act. charter, whether it has fulfilled its duty to the country I have before me one of the daily papers of that town, not: all these questions, and others of a similar charac in which those gentlemen state that their names were they conclude to leave undecided; and yet, Mr. Speaker made use of without their knowledge or consent; and they ask this Congress to recharter a bank whose con they add, that "they regret that any of their fellow-citi- according to their own account of it, may well be cra zens are disposed to countenance or approve of the course ered a matter of doubt and suspicion. pursued by the United States Bank, in its unhallowed attempts to perpetuate its power by its oppression; and that they can never lend their aid, however feeble, to aggravate the public distress which that institution is attempt ing every where to produce.” There is one other matter here, Mr. Speaker, to w I wish to allude. In the papers, sir, which I am ab to present, immediate action is asked for. The memor ists, sir, and the persons who attended that meeting, a most faithful and thorough-going party men; they live, £, So much, sir, with regard to its being without distinc-in a remote quarter of the Union, and we are now rece tion of party. ing from them the echo of the petition of the advocates the bank on the floor of this House, at the comme ment of the session, asking for action, action-no m what it might be. Sir, had the persons who got up meeting and this memorial known that the friends of bank on this floor had changed their course of policy, that they had from the beginning of the session against action, and for some time past ceased to ask f these same persons, sir, who have here asked for would have begged for delay, investigation, debate, t doomsday; and in so doing would have acted with no inconsistency than their friends upon this floor. One subject more, Mr. Speaker, and I have done; that, sir, is of so extraordinary a character, coming fa the source it does, that I must ask leave of the House read the resolution to which I refer. It is as follows. Allow me now, sir, to call the attention of the House to one of the statements and admissions in the report and resolutions. In the first place, these petitioners say, and very truly so, that there has been no unusual pressure in Bangor; that there have been no failures, but such as might have happened in ordinary times. Sir, from the very nature of the business of Bangor, it is impossible there could have been any pressure of a very serious nature there. The principal of the business of that place is the lumber trade; the lumber is cut in the winter, brought down the river in the spring, manufactured, and sent to market during the summer. During the winter season, nature lays a very effectual embargo on the foreign commerce of that port, by closing the river for miles below with ice. The goods, therefore, which are wanted for the winter consumption are brought there in the fall; and "Resolved, That the custody and control of the p no payments, to any amount, are either expected or prom- money was never intended by the constitution to be ised to be made until the produce of their winter's work trusted exclusively to the President of the United 28 is ready to be shipped for market in the spring and sum-and when they considered this power in connexion w mer. But these memorialists state further, that, although the extraordinary military power granted to that office there has been no pressure as yet, they fear there may be. Congress last session, slight memorials indeed seemed I am not, sir, entirely without apprehension of that event remain, either in the people or in the States, of freed myself; but, sir, there are other causes to which, if such sovereignty, and independence." an event happens, I can ascribe it, as well as to the remo- And this resolution, Mr. Speaker, has been adopt? val of the deposites, or to the deranged state of the cur- men who are consolidationists, who last year claime rency. Until within a very few years, Mr. Speaker, the President as their President; the very men, sir, immense resources for trade and enterprise, of every de-defended and insisted upon exclusively justifying and scription, which are to be found in the Penobscot section porting that very grant of power, as an act based upon t of Maine, appear to have been passed by unheeded and principles of the party to which they belong. St. unknown. It appeared that, as if by magic, the veil which had hitherto concealed them from the eyes of men had suddenly been lifted, and as if all the advantages and opportunities for enterprise, which were so abundant, feeble voice was drowned among the shouts of tr which they uttered. "Redeunt saturnia regna" was the cry then. But there has been, sir, a wonderful cha of opinion in these people on this subject within a ver |