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Mr. POINDEXTER submitted an amendment, providing that no money, to be paid out under this act, or any other act passed at the present session of Congress, shall be paid in any bank note or notes not at par value at the place where they shall be paid.

Mr. FORSYTH expressed his approbation of the amend

ment.

[JUNE 21, 1834.

Mr. WRIGHT said, that it was well known to the Senate that the laws provided that the revenues of the United States should be receivable in notes of the United States Bank and its branches. Now, this would compel the deposite banks in the city of New York, to pay out, on the drafts of the Government, money better than they received, because the notes of the United States Bank Mr. POINDEXTER observed, that the object of the were not, at all times, at par in the city of New York. He amendment must be evident to every honorable Senator: himself had known an instance where the notes of the it was to make the notes of the deposite banks receivable mother bank at Philadelphia were refused in payment of by the Government, and payable at par value in any part a debt due to the branch bank at the first named city. He of the country, to the officers of the Government, who must, therefore, vote against the amendment as injuriouswould be called upon to go to the brokers and get their ly affecting those banks where United States Bank notes notes cashed at the rate of ten per cent. discount. He were not considered at par. was desirous that those notes should be taken at their par value, and he had no doubt that there was no officer of the Government who would thrust from him the notes of the Bank of the United States, or of any of its branches. Mr. CALHOUN said he had some doubts as to the effiIn point of fact, he believed that many of the notes of the cacy of this amendment. To make it effective there local banks of the District were scattered over the West- should be some provision attaching a penalty to the disern country to a great extent, and he believed they had bursing officers of the Government, for paying out money been sent to the brokers. Mr. P.'s object, in introducing in paper not of par value. the amendment, was to put an end to this, and to compel Mr. POINDEXTER said, the amendment was intended the Government to pay dollar for dollar. to prevent the officers of Government from sending to the Mr. WILKINS called for the reading of the amend-deposite banks money to be paid out to officers, contractment, and then said, the amendment would be entirely ors, or to any individual whatever having a claim on the useless. Bank notes were not a legal tender; no one was Government, which was not at par at the places where it obliged to take them, above or below par. It was not the was to be paid. intention of the honorable Senator to make notes a tender to any creditor of the General Government.

Mr. WEBSTER observed that there could be no difficulty on that account, as the deposite banks were not bound by the act of Congress.

Mr. SPRAGUE said, it appeared to him that the objec tion of the Senator from South Carolina ought not to preMr. POINDEXTER said, it was very evident that no vail against the amendment. It could not be, and was bank notes, either of the Bank of the United States or of not intended to be perfect. But it would certainly be any other bank, were a legal tender; but the object of the making it the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to amendment was, that, when payments were made by the see that the disbursing agents of the Government were Government in bank notes, they should be payable at par provided with good money. He had been willing to vote value. for the amendment providing for paying the public dues Mr. WEBSTER said, he would only mention an in-in specie, and certainly those who had claims on the Govstance which went to show the necessity of the amend- ernment were entitled to be paid in notes that were equiv ment. One of our ships, some time ago, had arrived at alent to specie. New York to be paid off. The crew were paid in notes of the Brooklyn Bank, and, in a week after, some of them being here, were compelled to dispose of their notes at a loss of 10 or 15 per cent. discount.

Mr. BENTON was opposed to any provision whatsoever, that would legalize the tender of paper. If the amendment was persisted in, he should move to strike

it out.

Mr. B. then asked the yeas and nays on the amend

ment.

Mr. CALHOUN feared that the adoption of the amend ment was calculated to make a wrong impression on the public mind. Our laws recognise no money but gold and silver, and there was danger, in passing this amendment, of producing a contrary impression.

It certainly would be a great violation of law, and one that deserved the severest punishment, for a disbursing agent of the Government to pay out a depreciated currency; yet, he feared there had been some instances of it since the removal of the deposites. He heard of a reMr. POINDEXTER again explained the object of his cent instance of the kind, where the notes of obscure amendment. It did not provide that the Secretary of the banks, in a remote part of Virginia, had been paid out to Treasury, or the Government of the United States, should the workmen at Norfolk, and that the deposite banks pay in bank notes, but that when they were paid, it should there refused to receive them the very next day in depos be at their par value. ite. He should be glad to adopt any measure calculated After a few words from Mr. BIBB and Mr. CAL- to effect the object of his friend from Mississippi; but the HOUN,

evil was too great to be cured by the amendment. The evil was in that unlawful interference of the Executive with the public finances, by which the constitution and

Mr. BENTON submitted an amendment to the amendment of Mr. POINDEXTER, to strike out all of the latter after the word "Congress," and insert the words, laws had been violated. "unless in specie, if so required by the holder of the What had been done when the Post Office commitwarrant or the payee;" and, after some remarks from ted such abuses? The head of that Department was Messrs. BENTON, POINDEXTER, WILKINS, SHEP-neither censured nor impeached, but continued in office LEY, and WEBSTER, Mr. BENTON's motion was reject- to this day. ed, as follows:

The question was then taken on Mr. PoINDEXTER'S YEAS.-Messrs. Benton, Bibb, Forsyth, Grundy, Hill, original amendment, and decided in the negative, as folKane, King of Alabama, Morris, Robinson, Shepley, lows: Sprague, Tallmadge, Tipton, White, Wilkins, Wright. YEAS.-Messrs. Black, Chambers, Clay, Clayton, Ewing, Frelinghuysen, Mangum, Naudain, Poindexter, PorNAYS.-Messrs. Brown, Clayton, Ewing, Frelinghuy-ter, Prentiss, Robbins, Robinson, Silsbee, Sprague, Wagsen, Hendricks, Kent, Leigh, McKean, Naudain, Poindex-gaman, Webster.-17. ter, Porter, Prentiss, Robbins, Southard, Swift, Tomlinson, Tyler, Webster.-18.

-16.

The question recurring on the original amendment,

NAYS. Messrs. Benton, Bibb, Brown, Calhoun, Forsyth, Grundy, Hendricks, Hill, Kane, Kent, King of Alabama, King of Georgia, Leigh, Linn, McKean, Morris,

JUNE 23, 1834.]

New Hampshire Resolutions.

[SENATE

Shepley, Swift, Tallmadge, Tipton, Tomlinson, Tyler, The audacity of the President of the United States, in White, Wilkins, Wright.-25.

declining to be misrepresented by the whig committees, has been the subject of strong reproach on this floor; and it has been said that a British King would not dare to treat his petitioning subjects in the manner that Andrew Jackson has treated the distress committees who came here to petition Congress.

It is believed, when a petition, intended not for either House of Parliament, but for the monarch's ear himself, is preferred, the King of England does not receive it in person. I have before me the Gentleman's Magazine for May, 1834, from which I will read an extract.

Mr. CHAMBERS said he had to propose an amendment, which, if objected to at that late period of the day, he would postpone until Monday, when the bill would be reported to the Senate. He would, however, state, at present, what the amendment was, in order that gentle men might determine whether they would receive it now or on Monday next. That amendment was, to strike out the clause which provides for the payment of the salaries of the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of the Treasury. Those individuals had now been in office a long time, and the Secretary of the Mr. H. here read from the Magazine an account of the Treasury more than a year, and that without the Senate "Trades' Union" of the British metropolis, attempting having been consulted, which was, in his (Mr. C.'s) hum-to present a petition to the King, through Lord Melble judgment, contrary to the spirit of the constitution. bourne, in favor of a remission of punishment on six laHe was aware that the President had claimed the au- borers who had been sentenced to transportation for adthority-and some of his friends had claimed it for him- ministering illegal oaths. The petition was carried in a to create an officer, and keep him in office, without nom- car or coach, borne on the shoulders of twelve men, and inating him until the last hour of the session. He (Mr. C.) was preceded by a procession of 30,000 workmen, arbelieved that the President possessed no such power, and ranged according to their several trades. It was of great that the true construction of the constitution was, that bulk, and signed by 260,000 persons, 100,000 of whom the nominations should be made to the Senate within a belonged to the metropolis. Lord Melbourne refused to reasonable period after the assembling of Congress. He receive the petition in that way. The immense crowd of (Mr. C.) would not, at present, make that a point. The people who were thus refused, not by the King, but by fact was, that they had now been in session ever since De- the King's servant, retired, without offering any violence cember last, and none of the nominations of those indi- whatever, and his lordship had the condescension, some viduals had been sent to the Senate. They had no more days afterwards, when the "petition was presented in a reason to suppose that the nominations would be sent in becoming manner," to deign to receive it. now than they had in December last, or at any other | An attempt has been made to swell the number of petime. The President had carried out the doctrine in re-titioners sent here on account of the bank and the deposgard to nominations, to such an extent, in the case of ites, by counting all that have been received. As many Gwin, that the Senate had no reason, at this time, to be- persons, from some of the cities, have sent their names lieve that he would not do so again. here more than once, it is fair to presume that the numMr. WEBSTER hoped the gentleman from Maryland ber has been much increased on that account. But taking would postpone his amendment until Monday next. the whole number, they fall far short of the number on a Mr. CHAMBERS complied with the honorable Sena-single petition to the British King, in the month of May tor's request. last, on a subject relating to six individuals-a concern of

The bill was then reported to the Senate, and all trivial moment. If all the names that were sent to Conthe various amendments adopted in Committee of the gress a few years ago to prevent the mails from travelling Whole were concurred in, with the exception of the on Sundays, had been counted, they probably would have amendment relative to the appropriation for the publica- been double the number the bank and its friends have tion of the Documentary History of the Revolution, by preferred.

Clarke and Force; and, on motion of Mr. WEBSTER, it The King of England, it appears, receives no petitions was postponed to and made the order of the day for Mon-in person-even the King's creature, the minister, refuday next. ses to receive them until they have humbled themselves; Several other bills were then taken up, read the third and this when the petition is especially directed to the time, and passed.

MONDAY, JUNE 23.

King. How does the attempt to criminate the President fail, not for refusing to receive petitions to him, but for simply avoiding such an interview with committees who are here for the purpose of petitioning Congress, as would enable them to misrepresent his language and conLegis-versation!

NEW HAMPSHIRE RESOLUTIONS. Mr. HILL presented certain resolutions of the lature of New Hampshire, sustaining the course of the Executive in his measures in relation to the public finances, and against the Bank of the United States.

On presenting the above resolutions—

Mr. HILL said: I have received resolutions of the Legislature of New Hampshire, expressing the sentiments of the people of that State in relation to the great subjects which agitate the public mind.

The parade that has been made of the names sent here by the bank and its friends, contrasts singularly with the manner in which a petition of more than a fourth of a million of the subjects of the King of Great Britain is treated by my Lord Melbourne. By dint of pay and perseverance, after sending the names of persons here over and over again, and many names of persons who have not an existence in the places to which they purported to beOne ground of complaint against the Chief Magistrate long, the bank and its friends are able to tell you they of the Union, has been his having declined, personally, have, on something like two or three hundred petitions, to meet the distress committees which have come here some hundred and forty thousand names, not all asking from several places with memorials addressed not to him, for a restoration of the deposites, not all asking that the but to Congress. Having been grossly misrepresented bank shall be re-chartered, but requesting Congress to by some of those committees, he declined meeting and relieve the country. And how does this Senate proceed conversing with others who should wait on him for a sim- to relieve the country? By spending the greater part of ilar purpose-at the same time manifesting his willingness to meet them as citizens, in the manner in which he meets all who call upon him, and offering to answer any communication which these committees might make to him in writing.

six months in preaching up panic-in inviting more distress petitions-in making the country be distressed whether, it will or not. And how sadly have the distressing predictions of Senators failed? Every thing turns out contrary to those predictions. In England,

1

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New Hampshire Resolutions.

[JUNE 23, 1834.

two hundred and sixty thousand persons petition the The national administration has been signally successful King, and this petition, backed by a collection of thirty in our foreign negotiations, allaying the apprehension of thousand laborers in person, is refused even to be re-internal dissensions, and reconciling conflicting interests, ceived by a creature of the King, until those laborers and during this period it justly received the cordial apshall have dispersed; and all this not even a subject to be probation of a large majority of our fellow-citizens. The noticed on the floor of the British Parliament, and merely long-tried and faithful services of our present Chief Mamatter for a passing paragraph in the periodical press of gistrate, in peace and in war, his personal valor, his unthe day!

bending integrity, his patriotic devotion to the welfare of his country, and the moral courage which impel him to the conscientious discharge of his official duties, have powerful claims upon the affection of an intelligent people, which have been, and I trust will continue to be, duly appreciated.

Ever since the quiet of the nation has been disturbed by public agitators in many portions of the country, relative to the Bank of the United States, the State of New Hampshire has pursued the even tenor of her way-she has lent no helping hand to stir up the embers of public strife-she has taken no part in creating public panic and "The principles and proceedings of the great moneydistress. Three panic memorials only have been present- ed institution of our country have been such as to awaken ed to Congress from New Hampshire, and these were a deep interest among the enlightened citizens of our nafrom a corner of the State, embracing three towns, in tional republic. And there is evidently a violent struggle one of which is a branch of the United States Bank, and going on by this institution to extort a re-charter, and coin each of the two others are manufacturing establish-erce an assent, by oppression of the people. But if the ments, principally owned and controlled by persons living character of the American people is not entirely misconbeyond the limits of the State. The first memorial was ceived, and has not degenerated in patriotism since the originated by the bank itself the two others were the declaration of the independence of our country, and it is work of persons under the influence of the bank, and fully believed it has not, every effort at coercion, and not belonging to the State. The three contained about eleven hundred names, of a population comprising nearly or quite three hundred thousand souls; and counting all the petitioners as citizens, scarcely one-fiftieth part of the legal voters of the State have come here to ask either for the restoration of the deposites, or the re-charter of the Bank of the United States.

every attempt at wanton oppression, will but add strength and energy to the resolution to put down the oppressor. Upon a thorough investigation of the character and influence of this institution, it will be found, it is believed, both in principle and practice, incompatible with the genius and spirit of our Government. The present session affords a convenient opportunity for the Legislature of The citizens of New Hampshire, of the months that this State to express its views on this interesting subject." have been expended in reading and listening to speeches The resolutions which I shall present, were offered in on memorials, have not probably taken a single hour of the House of Representatives on the same day that the this session of Congress as their share. The democratic Governor's message was communicated. Although the majority of that State has taken up none of your time-it Legislature of this State has always been very decided in has freely expressed its opinions, both at public meetings its political character, it is believed no parallel case since and at the polls, but it has contributed nothing towards in- the adoption of her constitution, exists, where both a terrupting the deliberations of Congress-it has sent no new Governor and Legislature have evinced so unequivocommittees here to overawe the constituted authorities. cal and decided a spirit on national politics, as have this And now, sir, the Legislature, the immediate representa- Governor and Legislature. This expression was moved tives of the people of New Hampshire, have a right to at the first moment after the organization of the State claim your attention. Government; and it proves the deep interest that is there This Legislature was elected by the people on the sec- felt in the present crisis, and the determined spirit of the ond Tuesday of March last, at a point of time when the people of New Hampshire to resist all encroachments on greatest alarm pervaded the community. The friends of their rights, and to put an end to that odious monopoly the bank, and the party opposed to the general adminis-which assumes to stand in the place of the Government. tration, made greater efforts to elect members of the The resolutions which I shall ask to be read, are not House of Representatives in the several towns, than they couched in language disrespectful; they speak as freemen had done at any time since 1830. The result of those have a right to speak, in a tone worthy the best days of efforts is seen in the vote of the House on these resolu- the republic. The opinions here given, are in the main tions one hundred and sixty-three Representatives, after decidedly averse to those of a majority of this Senate. a discussion of three days, voting for the resolutions, and These resolutions say, that the course of the adminisonly sixty-two against them. If all the Representatives tration and of the President, is entirely approved; and had been present, the vote would have been one hundred that the latter, by his endeavors to restore the constitution and sixty-seven to sixty-three. to its original purity; by his integrity and firmness; by But in the Senate these resolutions had a unanimous staying the expenditure of the public money in an unvote. That body consists of twelve members, elected an- constitutional system of internal improvements; by settling nually, in as many districts; and in these twelve districts not a single opposition man was returned.

the tariff on a satisfactory basis; by his resistance of all measures tending to a dissolution of the Union; by his The Governor of the State, elected at the same time as veto on the bank bill, and the stand he has taken against the Representatives and Senators, was not opposed. He the alarming proceedings of the bank itself, has proved received more than twenty-eight thousand votes of the himself to be a true disciple of Thomas Jefferson, the fifty thousand voters, although no candidate was in the father of American democracy: that he only exercised field against him. He made his first communication to a power conferred on him by the constitution, recognised the Legislature, on the 6th of June; and the following by the example of all his predecessors, when he removed extract from that communication, shows that he coincides from office the late Secretary of the Treasury: that the in sentiment with both the Legislature and the people: present Secretary of the Treasury, in removing the de"By the construction of our system of government, posites of public money from the Bank of the United our sphere for official duties lies within the limits of our States, has violated neither the letter nor the spirit of the own State, beyond which we have no control. But as charter of the bank, and that his course is fully approved individuals, we are immediately interested in the pro- by the people, and was demanded by the profligate conceedings of the General Government, the perpetuity of duct of the officers of the bank: that the Bank of the the Union, and the prosperity of our common country. United States ought not to be re-chartered, because, un

JUNE 23, 1834.]

New Hampshire Resolutions.

[SENATE.

constitutional in its creation, it has proved itself to be an 2. And be it further resolved, That, in the removal of the institution of the most deadly hostility to the free princi- late Secretary of the Treasury, the President exercised a ples of our Government, attempting to sustain itself and power conferred upon him by the constitution, and which to obtain for its friends political power, by a course of has been recognised by all his predecessors in office; and bribery and corruption, setting at defiance the represent- which it was his duty to exercise, if he believed that offiatives of the people, and veiling its transactions in secre- cer to be unworthy or incapable, or that he was pursuing cy and darkness: that the late protest of the President measures detrimental to the interests of the public. of the United States, against that extraordinary and un- 3. And be it further resolved, That in removing the deprecedented resolution of the Senate, which pronounced posites of public money from the Bank of the United him guilty of a most flagrant offence without either hear- States, the present Secretary of the Treasury has violated ing or trial, was a measure justified by his personal right neither the letter nor the spirit of the charter of the to vindicate his own character from unmerited reproach, bank, and has pursued a course, the expediency of which and by his imperative official duty to defend the Execu- was clearly indicated by the decision of the people in the tive branch, while in his charge, from all intemperate late Presidential election, against the re-charter of the assaults or unconstitutional encroachments; and that the bank, and which was imperiously demanded by the profliSenate, in passing such a resolution, violated the first gate conduct of the officers of that institution. principles of justice, and unfitted themselves for the prop- 4. And be it further resolved, That the Bank of the er discharge of those official duties which, by the consti- United States ought not to be re-chartered; that, uncontution, (if their charges were true,) they were bound to stitutional in its creation, it has proved itself to be an inbelieve the House of Representatives would soon invoke stitution of the most deadly hostility to the principles of them to perform; and they instruct the Senators in Con- republicanism; that we view with indignation its desperate gress from New Hampshire to vote that the resolution struggles to obtain political power by a shameless and which they condemn be expunged from the Journal of barefaced course of bribery and corruption; and that we the Senate. They approve of the course of their dele- witness with alarm, the attempts made by its advocates to gation in both branches of Congress, with a single ex-set at defiance the representatives of the people, to veil ception; and they request him to resign his place, who its transactions in secrecy and darkness, and to justify pro"has long misrepresented, and now misrepresents, the ceedings which, should they be upheld, must end in subopinions of a majority of his constituents." I have the jecting the people of the United States to the dominion of pleasure to state, from intelligence received this morning, a gigantic moneyed monopoly.

that a new choice, in this solitary case, has been made- 5. And be it further resolved, That the late protest of and that the expression in this new choice is no less deci- the President of the United States, against the extraordided than was that in each branch on the resolutions in fa-nary and unprecedented resolutions of the Senate, provor of the administration.

nouncing him guilty of a most flagrant offence, without either hearing or trial, was a measure justified by his personal right to vindicate his own character from unmerited reproach, and by his imperative official duty to defend the Executive branch of the Government, while in his charge, from all intemperate assaults or unconstitutional encroachments, and that the Senate, in passing such a resolution, violated the first principles of ordinary justice, and deliberately unfitted themselves for the proper discharge of those judicial duties, which, by the constitution, (if the charges in their resolution were true,) they were bound to believe the House of Representatives would soon invoke them to perform.

These, Mr. President, are the sentiments of a State, which, although inferior in wealth and numbers to many of the other States of the Union, is second to no State in point of intelligence, integrity, and patriotism. The citizens of this State have ever been among the first to come forward in defence of the country's rights. The war of the Revolution, and the war of 1812, bear witness to their valor. No State, in proportion to her size, has sent forth more warriors, fought more valiantly, or bled more profusely. The time has been, before she knew herself, that this State was led in her political opinions by the influence of the metropolis of a sister State-when the money and the mercantile cupidity of that metropolis kept her in 6. And be it further resolved, That our Senators in Conleading strings. That day has gone by. The hardy yeo-gress be, and they hereby are instructed to vote that the manry of New Hampshire have become independent in resolution passed by the Senate on the 28th day of March "property, as they are free in spirit. They rest on their last, that the President, in the late Executive proceedown resources and their own judgment-they are under ings in relation to the public revenue, has assumed upon the lead of no man or set of men. The millions of a mo- himself authority and power not conferred by the constinopoly cannot corrupt them, nor can a hundred thousand tution and laws, but in derogation of both," be expunged bank speeches, circulated gratuitously among them, from the Journal of the Senate. change their opinions. The resolutions follow:

7. And be it further resolved, That we approve of the course of the delegation from this State, in the Congress of the United States, with the exception of that of the honorable Samuel Bell.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened, That we approve of the course of the administration of the General Government, and that the President of the United States, by his ardent en- 8. And be it further resolved, That the honorable Samuel deavors to restore the constitution to its original purity, Bell, since his re-election to the Senate of the United by his stern integrity and unbending firmness in resisting States, has pursued a course in defiance of the wishes of the approach of corruption in every Protean shape; in the people of New Hampshire; that he has long misreprestaying the lavish expenditure of the public money in an sented, and now misrepresents, the opinions of a majority unconstitutional system of internal improvements, by the of his constituents, and that he be and hereby is requestNational Government; in settling the tariff on a more ed to resign his seat, agreeably to the solemn pledge hereequitable basis; in his prompt resistance to all measures tofore made by him. tending to the dissolution of our Union; in his veto on the 9. And be it further resolved, That the Secretary of State re-charter of that dangerous institution, the United States be, and he hereby is, directed to furnish a copy of these Bank, and in the unyielding stand which he has taken resolutions to the President and Vice President of the against the recent alarming proceedings of that institu- United States, and to each of the heads of the Departtion, has proved himself to be a true disciple of Thomas ments-to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Jefferson, the father of American democracy, and has and to each of our Senators and Representatives in the greatly increased the debt of gratitude due to him from Congress of the United States. the American people.

After a rejoinder by Mr. BELL—

2063

SENATE.]

Portage County (O.) Memorial.—General Appropriation Bill.

Mr. WEBSTER said that this paper could not, properIt was not a memorial, ly, be received by the Senate. contained within it no request to be laid before Congress, and its presentation was wholly unauthorized.

Mr. BENTON replied, that it was a document coming from the Legislature of one of the States of the Unionand though it contained no request to be presented to Congress, it conveyed instructions to their representatives and as such was proper for the consideration of the Senate. It was usual, he said, to receive and refer such papers, and precedents could be found on the Journal. Mr. WEBSTER said he would consent to lay the resolutions, for the present, on the table, and if the gentleman from Missouri could, in the course of the day, find any precedents to justify the receiving of the paper, he would not oppose it.

The resolutions were then laid on the table.

PORTAGE COUNTY (OHIO) MEMORIAL. Mr. EWING presented a memorial from Portage county, Ohio, complaining of public distress, occasioned by the removal of the deposites from the Bank of the United States, and praying Congress to adopt some measures to relieve their pecuniary embarrassments. Some reference was made, Mr. E. said, to his course in the Senate, and the memorialists sustained him in disobeying the instructions of the Ohio Legislature, as. not in accordance with the sentiments of a majority of the people of that State. After disposing of various bills, &c., the Senate resumed

the consideration of the

GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.

The question being on concurring in the amendment of the Committee of the Whole, concerning the Documentary History of the Revolution

Mr. SOUTHARD moved to strike out the amendment, and to substitute an amendment making an appropriation without interfering with the contract, and instructing the Secretary of State to institute an inquiry into the character of the contract, &c., during the recess.

and nays The discussion was renewed on this motion, by Mr. yeas SOUTHARD and Mr. FORSYTH, and the being taken, the question was decided in the affirmative, as follows:

2064

There was some discussion on this motion, in which Mr. PRESTON, Mr. BIBB, Mr. CHAMBERS, Mr. SMITH, SIIEPLEY, and Mr. GRUNDY, took part; after which, Mr. CLAYTON, Mr. FORSYTH, Mr. EWING, Mr. the question was taken, and the amendment was rejected, as follows:

YEAS-Messrs. Bibb, Calhoun, Clayton, Ewing, Grundy, Kane, King of Georgia, Linn, Mangum, PoinNAYS.-Messrs. Bell, Benton, Black, Brown, Chamdexter, Prentiss, Preston, Silsbee, Tyler, Webster.—15. bers, Clay, Forsyth, Frelinghuysen, Hill, Kent, King of Alabama, Knight, Leigh, Naudain, Robbins, Robinson, Shepley, Smith, Southard, Sprague, Swift, Tallmadge, Mr. CLAYTON moved further to amend the bill, by Tomlinson, Waggaman, White, Wilkins, Wright.—27. adding an additional section, providing for the pay and mileage of the honorable Elisha R. Potter, while attending here, to contest the election of the honorable Asher Robbins, as a Senator from Rhode Island. Mr. C. said he made this motion under instructions from the Committee on the Judiciary, though he would vote against it

himself.

The amendment was supported by Messrs. WRIGHT and KANE, and opposed by Messrs. POINDEXTER and

SPRAGUE; when

Mr. WEBSTER moved to amend the amendment, so as to provide only for the travel of Mr. Potter to the seat of Government, and his attendance of one day, until Mr. Robbins was declared the sitting member; which having been rejected, yeas 16, nays 21, the question recurred on the original amendment of the committee, and it was adopted, as follows:

YEAS.--Messrs. Benton, Bibb, Brown, Chambers, Grundy, Hendricks, Hill, Kane, King of Ala., Knight, Linn, Preston, Robinson, Shepley, Silsbee, Tallmadge, Tyler, White, Wilkins, Wright.-20.

NAYS.-Messrs. Black, Clay, Clayton, Ewing, ForMangum, Naudain, Poindexter, Porter, Prentiss, Smith, syth, Frelinghuysen, Kent, King of Georgia, Leigh, Mr. ROBBINS was present, but declined voting. Southard, Sprague, Tomlinson, Webster.-19. Mr. WHITE submitted an amendment, appropriating one thousand dollars to be paid to the legal representaYEAS.-Messrs. Bell, Chambers, Clay, Clayton, Ew-tives of the late William Wirt, for professional services ing, Frelinghuysen, Kent, Knight, Leigh, Moore, Nau- rendered the United States in land cases, in Florida, Misdain, Poindexter, Porter, Prentiss, Preston, Robbins, souri, and Alabama. This amendment, after some reagreed to. Silsbee, Smith, Southard, Sprague, Swift, Tomlinson, marks from Messrs. WHITE and WEBSTER, was Tyler, Waggaman, Webster.-25.

NAYS. Messrs. Benton, Bibb, Black, Brown, Calhoun, Forsyth, Grundy, Hendricks, Hill, Kane, King of Alabama, King of Georgia, Linn, Mangum, Morris, Robinson, Shepley, Tallmadge, White, Wright.--20.

Mr. CLAYTON moved to amend the bill, by introducing an appropriation for the Delaware break water.

After some remarks by Mr. CLAYTON, Mr. WEBSTER, Mr. NAUDAIN, and Mr. CLAY, in the course of which the importance of the amendment was universally admitted; but it was suggested by Mr. WEBSTER, that the motion should lie over until it should be ascertained whether the harbor bill would be passed by the other House. Mr. CLAYTON, on the assurance of Mr. WEBSTER that he would not place the bill out of the reach of amendment, withdrew his proposition, giving notice that he should, on to-morrow, renew it, unless the harbor bill should by that time be passed.

Mr. CHAMBERS gave notice that circumstances had occurred, which would render it unnecessary for him to renew the proposition which he suggested on Saturday, to strike out the salaries for the cabinet ministers not nominated.

Mr. PRESTON moved the amendment made by Mr. BIBB in committee, to appropriate four hundred dollars for recording the opinions of the Supreme Court.

Mr. POINDEXTER then renewed the amendment the appropriations which he moved in Committee of the Whole, making it in notes at par value, at the place where they are paid, obligatory on the Government to pay The question was then taken, and decided as follows: and asked for the yeas and nays, which were ordered. YEAS.-Messrs. Bibb, Black, Chambers, Clay, Clayton, Ewing, Frelinghuysen, King of Georgia, Knight, Mangum, Naudain, Poindexter, Porter, Prentiss, Robbins, Silsbee, Smith, Southard, Sprague, Tomlinson, Waggaman, Webster.-22.

NAYS.-Messrs. Benton, Brown, Forsyth, Grundy, Hendricks, Hill, Kane, Kent, King of Ala., Linn, Morris, Mr. CHAMBERS then moved to amend the bill, by Preston, Shepley, White, Wilkins, Wright.--16. public buildings. He stated his conviction that, in its ingrafting upon it the bill making appropriations for the Mr. WEBSTER opposed the motion, not being willing separate form, this bill could not pass at this session. that the general bill should be made a cart to carry every After some remarks from Mr. PORTER to the same man's load which could not move in any other direction. purport, the question was put on the first clause of the Mr.ROBBINS moved to amend the bill, by introducing bill, and rejected. The amendment was then withdrawn.

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