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SENATE.]

Memorial from Boston.-President's Protest.-Cumberland Road.

[Mar 8, 1834.

had their share in this matter. He did not know how it Mr. BENTON. He complained of the bank dealing in was at present, but last summer the State banks had car- | coin, first, because it was a breach of the charter; second. ried off the specie by wagon loads. The fact was, that ly, because it was a positive injury to the country, conwe exported articles from New Orleans which brought verting the bank into a great shaving shop for specie, and specie to that place, and imported articles at the Atlantic enabling it, by its capital and organization, to monopolize cities which required to be paid for in specie. Specie that article, to raise its price, to convert it into a comwould therefore always find its way from New Orleans modity of merchandise, and to export it from the counto the Atlantic cities. Take away the facilities afforded | try. This was what the bank had done. Up to 1832 it by the bank, and the merchant would have to pay both had collected above forty millions of specie from the for the time and cost of transporting that heavy article, States where she had branches, and sold or exported a specie. The censure passed by the honorable Senator large portion of it. It had collected the greatest part of from Missouri was not just; he (Mr. E.) felt satisfied that this sum from the South and West, say twenty-three milthe honorable Senator had misunderstood the operations lions up to May, 1832, and several millions since. In of the bank. place of this specie carried off from the South and West, Mr. E. said that the Senator from Missouri had replied the bank had issued small notes and checks, chiefly five to statements which he (Mr. E.) had never made. He and ten dollar notes, and these had fallen into the current (Mr. E.) had stated distinctly that it was in the power of trade, and flowed to the northeast; so that the South of the people of this country to have either a gold or and West lost both their specie and their paper by the silver currency; but that they could not prevent the ex-operations of this bank. It may have issued fifteen portation of one or the other of these articles. He had or twenty millions of paper in the South and West, of said nothing to convey the idea that this country could not have a metallic currency. He had long known that the low price of gold was the cause which deprived us of it. The honorable Senator from Missouri seemed to think that he (Mr. E.) contradicted the fact, that a large amount of specie had been taken from the West. He had not done so; he had admitted the fact, but had said that if the bank had not taken the specie, it would have been withdrawn in the ordinary way of commerce.

which very little now remained in those sections of the Union, perhaps not more than three or four millions, while the specie taken away certainly amounted to twenty-three millions two years ago, and probably amounted to thirty millions now. Certain it was, that near a million of specie was taken from New Orleans last winter, which certainly depressed the money market there, and contributed to that depression in the price of flour and bacon which the Senator from Ohio [Mr. EwING] mentioned a The Senator from Missouri had also stated that the few days ago. Mr. B. did not complain of the specie amount of specie taken from the Western country was which went from New Orleans and the West in the course in addition to the amount carried away through the me- of trade; what was incident to commerce must be borne dium of commercial transactions. Where was the evi- with, and is not to be counteracted by law; but he comdence of this? Such a procedure was againt the nature plained of the Bank of the United States for adding its of things; was a violation of commercial principle, and vast operations to those of commerce, and carrying off required proof. He asked if the bank had never sold twelve or fifteen millions from New Orleans, which that bills payable in the Eastern cities; if the bank had not city ought itself to use and distribute through the chansaved merchants the expense of exporting specie. How nels of its own trade. These twelve or fifteen millions, was it? In the case of a simple mercantile transaction, thus taken off by the bank, diminished the ability of the the merchant bought drafts at the bank, with which he city of New Orleans to purchase Western produce, and paid his bills in New York or Philadelphia. Otherwise was thus an injury to the whole West. It also diminished he would have to carry the money by wagon, or by pack-the supply of specie at that place, from which place the horse, as the amount might require. The bank having Western country received those metals. Mr. B. repeatsold its drafts to the amount of ten thousand dollars, sends ed, it was not of the operations of commerce that he comthe money through New Orleans, by steamboat, to Phila-plained, but of the operations of the bank, which had delphia. The country lost nothing by this, and he did engaged in the specie trade in violation of its charter, not see how that abstraction by the bank was over and and by its capital and organization, had deprived the above the regular mercantile abstraction. For this spe- South and West of, probably, thirty millions of specie, cie the Western country must have received an equiva-substituting a large issue of small notes and checks in lent. What was it? Why, the paper of the Bank of the place of that specie; these notes and checks had chiefly United States, which paper sold in his part of the coun-gone off to the Northeast; and thus the South and West, try at a premium for specie. But the honorable Senator by the operations of the bank, had suffered an actual had said that the bank had violated its charter by selling diminution of more than twenty millions of their circulaspecie. He was not disposed to discuss that subject now. ting medium. The question was, whether the country was injured by the transactions of the bank. The gentleman had asked whether he (Mr. E.) sustained the Bank of the United States in withdrawing specie from New Orleans. No, he had been complaining, all the winter, of the Executive act which had compelled the bank to do so. tleman had made a small mistake in his estimate of the settling of the affairs of the bank; he had forgotten eight millions of stock, which was beld by parties in the West. That would be withdrawn; and it would be a long time ere confidence would be restored in the monetary system. It would be restored in time-the wound would heal itself. Mr. E. understood the gentleman to blame the bank for taking away specie, not in the course of trade, and then taking its notes in the course of trade. The whole subject of complaint was, that the bank became the carrier of money from one part of the country to another, instead of another and a more expensive agent being employed.

The memorial was referred and ordered to be printed.

PRESIDENT'S PROTEST.

Mr. CLAYTON, who voted with the majority on the reection of the motion of Mr. KANE, to allow him to record his vote on the resolutions of yesterday, moved a reconThe gensideration of the vote taken on that motion-Mr. MOORE also withdrawing his opposition to it; and after a slight

discussion between Messrs. CLAYTON, MOORE, EW. ING, PRESTON, and CALHOUN, the Senate refused to reconsider the vote.

CUMBERLAND ROAD.

On motion of Mr. HENDRICKS, the Senate proceeded to the consideration of the bill for the continuation of the Cumberland road-Yeas 15, nays 10.

Mr. HENDRICKS moved to amend the bill by striking out the sum of $662,400 and inserting $652,130.

After a discussion by Messrs. HENDRICKS, FORSYTH, PRESTON, WHITE, and SOUTHARD,

MAY 9, 1834.]

Cumberland Road.-Memorial from Rhode Island.

[SENATE.

Mr. SWIFT submitted as an amendment to the amend- and the just hopes and expectations of the memorialists ment, "that, as soon as the sums appropriated by this shall be realized, and they shall not only know, but feel, act shall be expended, the road shall be surrendered to their country's respect and gratitude. the States through which it passes, and that the United I will not detain the Senate with a recapitulation of the States shall not be subjected thereafter to any further statements of the memorialists, but will notice one fact expense on its account.' only. They state that 50,000 cotton-spindles were stopThis amendment was then carried without a division, ped at the time of subscribing the memorial: at this time and the question being taken on the amendment as amend- a greater number are in that condition-100,000 have ed, it was carried; whereupon the bill was ordered to be tried the experiment, and now are standing still. The engrossed-yeas 21, nays 13, as follows: memorialists tell their own story, and have made several YEAS.-Messrs. Benton, Ewing, Frelinghuysen, statistical statements of great interest, which I move may Grundy, Hendricks, Kane, Kent, Linn, McKean, Poin- be read, and the memorial printed, and referred to the dexter, Porter, Prentiss, Robbins, Silsbee, Smith, South-Committee on Finance.

ard, Swift, Tallmadge, Tipton, Tomlinson, Webster.-21. After some remarks by Mr. ROBBINS, the memorial NAYS.-Messrs. Black, Brown, Forsyth, Hill, King was read, referred, and ordered to be printed.

of Alabama, King of Georgia, Leigh, Moore, Naudain, Preston, Shepley, Tyler, White.--13.

On motion of Mr. POINDEXTER, the Senate took up the bill authorizing the relinquishment of the 16th sections of public lands granted for the use of schools, and the location of other lands in lieu thereof: the bill being on its third reading, it having been laid on the table on motion of Mr. POINDEXTER.

Mr. WEBSTER, from the Committee on Finance, reported the bill from the House of Representatives making appropriations for the army for the year 1834, with two amendments; and moved that the Senate proceed to its consideration; which was agreed to.

The amendments were an appropriation of $2,000 to certain Michigan militia, to compensate for the expenses of the late war with Black Hawk.

Also, $700 to Captain McGeorge's company of Indiana dis-militia, for services in the same war.

Mr. CLAYTON having suggested that this bill, being an important measure, would doubtless occasion some cussion at a late hour in the day, and that there was Executive business requiring the action of the Senate,

Mr. POINDEXTER moved to recommit the bill to the Committee on Public Lands; which motion was agreed to.

On motion of Mr. CLAYTON, the Senate proceeded to the consideration of Executive business; and when the doors were opened,

The Senate adjourned.

FRIDAY, MAY 9.

MEMORIAL FROM RHODE ISLAND.

The bill being considered as in Committee of the Whole, these amendments were agreed to.

Mr. BENTON then offered an amendment, appropriating $968 79 for arrearages of pay and subsistence to Col. A. R. Woolley.

Mr. WEBSTER had no objection to the item; but he thought it a case of claim, and preferred that it should be made the subject of a private bill.

Mr. TIPTON was not opposed to the allowance, but he was unwilling to embarrass the military appropriation bill with a claim.

Mr. BENTON explained the nature of the case. It was not properly a claim, but arrearages of pay, to supply an Mr. KNIGHT said: Mr. President: I have been request-outstanding deficiency; and it had been submitted by the ed to present to the Senate the memorial of 2,238 mecha- Military Committee, in accordance with the recommendanics and artisans of the State of Rhode Island, who feel the tion of the Secretary of War, to incorporate it in the genpressure of the times, perhaps, with as great if not greater eral appropriation bill.

severity than any other class of the community. The daily The amendment was disagreed to, on a division: yeas bread of many of them depends on their industry and em-11, nays 16.

ployment. It is true that many of these memorialists have The rules being suspended, and the bill having been a habitation and a home-a shelter for themselves and fam- ordered to be engrossed, it was read a third time and ilies-but their chief means of support is derived from the passed. sweat of their face. It is also true that many of them are The bill for the preservation and repair of the Cumbernow unemployed, except to a small extent, compared land road was then read a third time and passed. with former years, and when employed, their wages are On motion of Mr. HENDRICKS, the title was amendgreatly reduced, and, consequently, their means of living ed, by inserting the word "repairs," and striking out the words, "Indiana, Ohio, and Illinois," so as to leave the

more uncertain.

Sir, these memorialists are among the most useful class-title "A bill for the making and repairs of the Cumberes of society; their business, collectively, embraces al- land road."

most all the useful arts of civilized life. Whatever is Mr. CLAYTON reported a bill, the object of which necessary or convenient, or adds to the comfort and hap-was, to reform the treatment, and discipline of criminals piness of man, is the work of their hands. Among these sentenced by the United States courts, and confined in memorialists are inventors and projectors of many useful the jails and penitentiaries of the States. machines, now in use in the various manufactories of the Mr. WILKINS said there could be no objection to the country, and others are men who carry out the designs of bill. There was now a want of harmony between the the great geniuses of the age in which they live. With-treatment of prisoners sentenced by the United States out such men the inventions of an Arkwright, of a Watts, courts and those who were sentenced by the States. The and Fulton, would have been useless and almost unknown; but by their skill and ingenuity the inventions of those great men have been improved and established, and are now the wonder and delight of the age in which we live. It is deeply to be regretted that so much skill, ingenuity, and capital, should be paralyzed by the hand that should have fostered and protected them. Although suffer they have, and suffer they must, I hope and trust they will survive this wreck of matter, and that their ingenuity, skill, Mr. GRUNDY objected to the adoption of the resoluand industry, will not be lost to their country, nor to them-tion. The Post Office Committee, of which he was chairselves, but that the time will come when they will revive, Iman, were engaged in a most laborious and extensive in

criminals sentenced by the United States courts were now allowed to go about the prison idle, and it was desirable that they should be kept to labor, and treated in all respects in the same manner as the other prisoners.

The bill was read a first and second time, and ordered to be engrossed for its third reading.

The Senate then took up the resolution to meet at 11 o'clock for the remainder of the session.

SENATE.]

Territory of Michigan.

[MAY 9, 1834.

vestigation, and the time now afforded them was scarcely descent of property, and holds out inducements to young sufficient for the purpose, and if they were compelled to men to emigrate to the West. Article 5 provides that the meet in session at eleven, it would be impossible for Northwest Territory shall be divided into not less than them to do what was necessary or expected of them by

the Senate.

Mr. TIPTON'S object was to facilitate business, and he thought most of the business now to be acted on was in the form of bills, but he had no objection that the resolushould be laid on the table.

On motion of Mr. EWING, the resolution was laid on the table.

The resolution setting apart Fridays and Saturdays, during the remainder of the session, for the consideration of private bills exclusively, was taken up for consideration, and after some conversation between Mr. WEBSTER and Mr. HENDRICKS, it was adopted.

TERRITORY OF MICHIGAN.

The Senate then proceeded to consider the bill authorizing the people of Michigan Territory to form a separate State Government.

Mr. EWING moved to lay the bill on the table, as the Senate was thin, and the subject was important.

Mr. TIPTON urged its consideration without delay, and asked the yeas and nays on the motion; which were ordered, and are as follows, to wit:

YEAS.-Messrs. Brown, Calhoun, Clayton, Ewing, Frelinghuysen, Knight, Naudain, Porter, Prentiss, Robbins, Silsbee, Smith, Southard, Sprague.-14.

NAYS.-Messrs. Bell, Benton, Black, Grundy, Hendricks, Hill, Kane, Kent, King of Georgia, Linn, McKean, Shepley, Swift, Tallmadge, Tipton, Tomlinson, Webster, White, Wilkins, Wright.-20.

So the motion was decided in the negative; and the bill, and also an amendment submitted as a substitute for the whole bill, were then considered.

three, nor more than five States, as Congress might deem proper. The western State to be bounded by the Mississippi, the Ohio, and Wabash, and a due north line from post St. Vincennes to the Canada line. The middle State bounded by the north_line, the Wabash, the Ohio, and a line drawn due north from the mouth of the Great Miami. The eastern State by the last mentioned north line, the Ohio, Pennsylvania, and the Canada line, and each State to be not less than 100 nor more than 150 miles square. The ordinance also provides that Congress shall change the boundaries of these States, if found expedient, and to form one or two States north of an east and west line drawn through the southern extremity of lake Michigan; and whenever any of the said States shall have 60,000 inhabitants, it shall be admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States in all respects whatever. The same ordinance also goes on to say, that so far as it may be consistent with the general interest of this confederacy, States may be admitted at an earlier period and with less number than 60,000. In 1805 the Territory of Michigan was organized, north of an east and west line drawn through the southern point of lake Michigan. The three first-mentioned States, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, have been admitted, and in forming the State of Indiana, ten miles were taken off the south of the Michigan Territory and added to Indiana. The bill now proposed to admit Michigan and Arkansas both at the same time. In 1832, the question of applying for admission was submitted to the people of Michigan; they decided by a very large majority in favor of establishing a State Government. I find, on examining the population of other Territories that have been admitted, that the Territory south of the Ohio, now State of Tennessee, had a population of Population. Year. Admitted. 1790

Tennessee,

Mr. TIPTON said he would not disguise the fact, that he felt more than an ordinary solicitude for the passage of the bills admitting the people of Michigan and Arkan- Ohio, sas Territory to form constitutions, and for their admission Louisiana, into the Union of the States. His anxiety was increased Indiana, about by having had charge of their applications from an early Mississippi, day in the session. It would be recollected by the Senate that he introduced bills for their admission some months ago. These bills were referred to a select committee, of which he had the honor to be chairman. The committee was divided in opinion, and the subject was suspended by circumstances beyond his control, for months, and finally a majority of the committee instructed him to report an amendment to strike out the bill from the enacting clause, an insert an amendment authorizing the taking of the census. The census thus taken, is to be laid before Congress at its next session.

35,791

1796

[blocks in formation]

1818 Kentucky, Alabama, Maine, and Missouri, when admitted, had less than Michigan and Arkansas. Five Territories were admitted on less population than these Territories have, and four had a greater population. Arkansas had 41,000 one year ago, and Miller county not included,

It is not a matter of surprise that the people of the Territories should be anxious to form State Governments. This is always the case. The Federal officers in the Territories depend upon the President and Congress for office and for emolument, and not on the real sovereigns, the This amendment, if adopted, would be dilatory in its ef- people; and, in his opinion, the people acted wisely in subfects, and would postpone the decision to one year. Tomitting to the burden of State Government, for the dearthis he hoped the Senate would not give its sanction. He est right of freemen, that of choosing their rulers. The had prepared an amendment authorizing the taking of the people of that Territory made application to the last Concensus by the United States marshals for each Territory, gress, but it was not acted on. Their Legislative Council and if there are 47,700 inhabitants, federal numbers, in sent us a memorial, and Mr. T. hoped the Senate would both or either Territory, the Governor is to lay off dis- not longer neglect to do these people justice. The tide tricts and order an election of delegates to form a consti- of population, like the tide of our Mississippi, he said, was tution. What could be said in favor of one of these continually rolling westward-nothing could prevent it. Territories might as truly be said of the other, and his We might retard the growth of the West, by refusing amendment, if adopted, placed the admission of both on them the protection of our laws, but it would progress equal grounds, depending on the contingency of each westward to and beyond the Rocky mountains. A large Territory having 47,700 inhabitants, the same population proportion of the emigrants of this day were graduates that entitles a like number to a representative in Congress from your colleges in the Eastern States, and nothing was from the other States. He was at a loss to see how the so animating to a young adventurer, as to know that as Senate could reject a proposition, in itself so just. The soon as he locates in a Western Territory, it will be admit ordinance of July, 1787, for the government of the Terri- ted into the Union, and that he will be eligible to the tory northwest of the Ohio river, may be called the foun- highest office in the State.

dation of good government in that country. This ordi- Mr. T. said we might as well undertake to stay the hand nance provides the means of education, regulates the of time as to prevent the growth and power of the free

MAY 12, 1834.] Exiles from Poland.—Memorials from New York, Pennsylvania, and Michigan.

-16.

[SENATE.

NAYS.-Messrs. Benton, Black, Clayton, Ewing, Frelinghuysen, Kent, Naudain, Poindexter, Porter, Prentiss, Robbins, Smith, Southard, Sprague, Swift, Tallmadge, Tomlinson, Waggaman, Webster.-19.

men that will inhabit the valley west of the Allegany YEAS.-Messrs. Forsyth, Grundy, Hendricks, Hill, mountains, and between the great Lakes and the Gulf of Kane, King of Alabama, King of Georgia, Linn, Moore, Mexico. Already a settlement on the west bank of the Preston, Shepley, Tipton, Tyler, White, Wilkins, Wright. Mississippi, north of the State of Missouri, has laid on our tables a petition praying Congress to extend the protection of our laws over that country. We owe it to our constituents, to our country, and selves, that our legislation should keep pace with our population and the extension of our settlements; and he hoped, before Congress The question was then put upon ordering the bill to be adjourns, we will authorize the admission of Michigan and engrossed, and decided by yeas and nays, as follows: Arkansas, and form the territorial government of Wiscon- YEAS. Messrs. Benton, Black, Calhoun, Clayton, Ewsin. In this territory the Indian title has been extin-ing, Frelinghuysen, Grundy, Hendricks, Kane, Kent, guished to twelve millions of acres of land that will soon King of Alabama, King of Georgia, Knight, Linn, Naube in market. dain, Poindexter, Porter, Prentiss, Preston, Robbins, Silsbee, Smith, Southard, Sprague, Swift, Tomlinson, Waggaman, Webster, Wilkins.-29.

Mr. CLAYTON said he had no objection to the bill, but the question of settling the northern boundary line of Ohio was before the Judiciary Committee, and he thought| this bill ought not to be passed till that was settled.

Mr. BLACK said he saw no provision in the bill exempting the public lands from taxation for five years. There were also some other amendments not in the bill, which he deemed it very proper should be put in it.

Mr. TIPTON said he had no objections to any amendments which might be thought proper.

On motion of Mr. CLAYTON, the bill was then laid on the table for the present.

The Senate then proceeded to consider the bill granting a township of land to certain

EXILES FROM POLAND.

Mr. POINDEXTER moved to amend the bill by requiring one settler for every five hundred acres, instead of three hundred, as provided for in the bill; which was agreed to.

Mr. LINN then moved an amendment to insert "Missouri," so as to authorize the location in that State, if the President shall think proper.

Mr. POINDEXTER said, that these exiles preferred a location in a non-slaveholding State.

Mr. LINN remarked, that his wish was not to restrict these persons; he rather wished to give them a greater latitude for their choice.

The amendment was not agreed to.

Mr. KANE was opposed to the bill. In its present form it would authorize a location on the Galena lead mines. He did not approve of the preference given to these people over our own citizens, and he, for one, was unwilling to make the discrimination. He therefore moved an amendment, confining the location "to lands subject to sale at private entry."

The amendment was not agreed to.

NAYS.-Messrs. Brown, Forsyth, Hill, Moore, Shepley, Tallmadge, Tipton, Tyler, White, Wright.-10. Mr. CALHOUN moved that when the Senate adjourn, it adjourn to meet on Monday.

On this question the yeas and nays were ordered, and the question being taken, it was decided in the affirmative: yeas 26, nays 14.

The Senate then adjourned.

MONDAY, MAY 12.

NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, AND MICHIGAN

MEMORIALS.

Mr. WEBSTER presented a memorial from citizens of Rochester, in the State of New York.

This memorial, said Mr. W., is signed by 1,371 persons, and, I am authorized to say, contains the names of persons who have been heretofore friends and supporters of the present Executive. The city of Rochester is one of those new creations which have sprung up, in western New York, as by a sort of enchantment. Some twenty years ago, it was a wilderness; it is now a city, of twelve thousand inhabitants. With vast water power at command, and a great wheat country around it, it is nat urally a place for extensive manufacture of flour. The manufacturers of this important article find themselves greatly embarrassed by the state of public credit. A great portion of the signers of the memorial are mechanics, and they suffer from loss of employment. The memorial declares that the value of products is diminished; the usual means of obtaining credits cut off; business suspended; the demand for labor diminished; and the undertakings and enterprises which promised benefit to the community suddenly arrested.

I have some knowledge of some of the persons whose names are to this paper; and I have received assurances Mr. HENDRICKS was opposed to the bill. He was of the respectable character of others. Their representwilling to sell these persons the land at a minimum price, ative in the other House is so capable of doing them juson a long credit, but not to give it to them. A case of tice, in all respects, that I need not dilate on the various foreigners, similarly circumstanced, existed in Indiana. topics of the memorial. I have no doubt of the truth and A large number of emigrants from the cantons of Swit-accuracy of their statements, nor of the correctness of zerland settled there, in the most abject poverty, and hav- their judgment in assigning their suffering to the removal ing devoted themselves to the cultivation of the vine, by of the deposites. In this respect, I believe a great maindustry and economy they had accumulated a respecta-jority of the country concurs entirely with these memoble property. He merely suggested the plan of sale, on rialists; and it seems strange to me that any intelligent and extended credit, to the chairman of the Committee on well-informed person can entertain a different opinion. Public Lands. Mr. W. next presented a memorial from the citizens

Mr. PRESTON and Mr. SHEPLEY made a few re- of Mifflin county, Pennsylvania. This memorial, he marks, the former in favor, and the latter against, the said, was on the same subject, and expressed similar bill; when it was ordered to be engrossed for a third sentiments as the preceding. It prayed earnestly for rereading. lief. The county of Mifflin, said Mr. W., is a central

The bill to provide for the legal adjudication and set-county of Pennsylvania; its products are those of agricultlement of the claims to land therein mentioned, was then ture, and of the manufacture of iron. Every body knows taken up; upon the consideration of which, a considerable the character of the Juniata iron, and this is one of the debate ensued. counties in which it is made. I have received this memorial from a committee appointed to transmit it, composed of persons whom I believe to be very respectable. I am assured, sir, that the produce of this county, including

Mr. SHEPLEY moved to amend the bill, by allowing testimony to be taken in courts of justice, upon which the yeas and nays were ordered.

SENATE.]

Polish Patriots.—Michigan and Arkansas. —Rhode Island Election, &c.

[MAY 12, 1834

iron, has sold for half a million of dollars a year. It is ites, in the manner in which they were removed. They supposed that this produce has fallen twenty per cent., so think they daily see an assumption of power; and they that the loss to this county, in one year, by this depression cannot approve it. In consequence, they express an of prices, is no less a sum than one hundred thousand earnest hope that the "experiment" may be abandoned, dollars. It is believed too, sir, that if it were thought and the public money restored to its proper custody. that memorials, remonstrances, and petitions, would in- The memorials were then referred. fluence the determination of Congress, two-thirds of the On motion of Mr. WILKINS, the Senate proceeded to citizens of Mifflin county would be found uniting in ma- ballot for a member of the Committee on Foreign Relaking application to Government, although it is a county tions, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the resignation which has been strongly in favor of the present adminis- of the honorable Mr. RIVES; and, on counting the ballots, tration. The pressure of the times has fallen on them it was found that Mr. CLAY was chosen.

with great-force, perhaps with peculiar and extraordinary DONATION OF LANDS TO POLISH PATRIOTS. force, from the nature of one of their leading pursuits. These memorialists think that the removal of the depos-triots who have been sent to this country by the EmpeThe bill granting a donation of lands to the Polish Paites, with the panic and loss of confidence thereby occasioned, is the obvious and true cause of the difficulties ror of Austria, was announced on its third reading; when under which the country labors; and they earnestly hope question, and they having been ordered, the bill was passMr. WAGGAMAN called for the yeas and nays on the Congress will not delay proper measures of relief. They ed by the following vote: think a national bank necessary to a sound and well-reguYEAS.-Messrs. Benton, Calhoun, Clay, Clayton, Ewlated currency, and they see no wisdom in trying uncertain and dangerous experiments. These memorialists, sir, ing, Frelinghuysen, Kent, King of Georgia, Knight, are free and independent citizens; they are among the McKean, Moore, Morris, Naudain, Poindexter, Porter, great body for whose good government is established. Prentiss, Preston, Robbins, Silsbee, Smith, Tallmadge, They are tax-payers, and support Government cheerfully, Tipton, Tomlinson, Webster, Wilkins.-25. NAYS.-Messrs. Black, Brown, Grundy, Hendricks, in all its just and necessary measures. But then, they think that Government is made for the people; that, in its Hill, Kane, King of Alabama, Robinson, Shepley, Swift, administration, regard should be had to nothing but the Tyler, Waggaman, White, Wright.-14. public good; and that they have a right to expect such a course of proceeding, by Government, as shall not reduce the value of their property or their labor, or derange the credit and business of the community, or essentially interrupt their industry and prosperity. It seems to me, that this is a reasonable expectation, and no more than a reasonable expectation: and I assure these worthy citizens of Mifflin county that, for one, I shall persevere, with unabated zeal, till the currency of the country is restored, till property resumes its just value, and till American industry shall be again made sure of its honest earnings.

Mr. McKEAN asked if Mr. WEBSTER would read the names of the committee.

Mr. WEBSTER then read their names as follows, viz. William Mitchell, Jacob Haller, sen., C. Hoffman, George W. Patton, James Culbertson, Jas. T. Hall, John I. McCoy. I presume, said Mr. W., that the honorable member from Pennsylvania knows these gentlemen, or some of them.

Mr. McKEAN said, he knew some of the gentlemen, and presumed them all to be respectable.

So the bill was passed, and sent to the House of Representatives for concurrence.

STATE GOVERNMENTS FOR MICHIGAN AND

ARKANSAS.

The bill to authorize the people of the Territories of Michigan and Arkansas to form for each a constitution and State Government, came up as the special order of the day; when,

On motion of Mr. EWING to lay the bill on the table, Mr. TIPTON called for the yeas and nays on the question, and it was decided as follows:

YEAS.-Messrs. Bell, Calhoun, Clay, Clayton, Ewing, Frelinghuysen, Kent, King of Georgia, Knight, Moore, Naudain, Poindexter, Porter, Prentiss, Robbins, Silsbee, Smith, Sprague, Swift, Tomlinson, Waggaman, Webster.-22.

NAYS.-Messrs. Benton, Black, Brown, Grundy, Hendricks, Hill, Kane, King of Alabama, McKean, Mangum, Morris, Robinson, Shepley, Tallmadge, Tipton, Tyler, White, Wilkins, Wright.-19.

So the bill was ordered to lie on the table.

RHODE ISLAND ELECTION.

Mr. WEBSTER said he had yet one other memorial to present, and that came, not from citizens of any State, On motion of Mr. POINDEXTER, the Senate then but from citizens of a Territory. It comes from citizens of Detroit, opposed to the recent measures of the ad- proceeded to consider the report of the select committee ministration in regard to the deposites. These citizens on the Rhode Island election; when held a meeting, at which a memorial was adopted, which|

Mr. WRIGHT, in behalf of Mr. POTTER, one of the inhas been signed by nearly four hundred names, and which dividuals interested in the result, requested that the subI now present to the Senate. The memorial is ably and ject should be postponed until Monday next, and made spiritedly drawn, and sets forth the manner in which the the special order for that day.

great check which credit and confidence have suffered, The request was acceded to by Mr. POINDEXTER, operates upon the interests of the people of Detroit. and the consideration of the report was then postponed The very life-blood of Western enterprise, they say, is and made the special order for Monday next. credit; and this credit has received a most severe shock. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. The existing state of things checks emigration into this On motion of Mr. BIBB, the Senate proceeded to congrowing Territory. Emigrants, the memorialists say, are sider the resolutions offered by him some time since, not only less able to buy lands, but less able, also, to incur the expense of removal from other places. It is quite the further consideration of the resolutions was then proposing certain amendments to the constitution; and evident, Mr. President, that the present state of things postponed till Thursday next, and made the special order must greatly diminish the amounts received at the land for that day. offices, and keep back capital from the new States and Territories. These topics, it will be perceived, the memorial treats fully. But the memorialists have not shut

PENSION BOOKS.

On motion of Mr. CLAYTON, the Senate proceeded

their eyes to the other view of this great subject. They to consider the report of the Committee on the Judiciary, have looked to the question of legality, and they cannot on the subject of the message of the President concernfind the constitutional or legal right to remove the depos-ling the pension books.

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