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SENATE.]

Day of Adjournment.-Pensions to French Seamen.-Post Office Affairs, &c.

[JUNE 25, 1834.

proceeding of Congress was intended to express the sense YEAS. Messrs. Benton, Bibb, Black, Calhoun, Chamof the Legislature of the United States, and of the Amer- bers, Clay, Clayton, Ewing, Frelinghuysen, Grundy, ican people, under this mournful event. It was not desi- Hendricks, Kane, Kent, Knight, Linn, Mangum, Moore, red that either party should take precedence of the other Naudain, Poindexter, Porter, Prentiss, Robbins, Silsbee, upon this occasion, but that whatever was done, should be Smith, Southard, Shepley, Sprague, Swift, Tyler, Tomconsidered as expressive of the nation's gratitude to the linson, Waggaman, Webster, White.-33. nation's benefactor. He (Mr. W.) hoped the vote upon NAYS. Messrs. Brown, Forsyth, Hill, King of Alathe resolution would be such as would enable posterity to bama, King of Georgia, Morris, Robinson, Tallmadge, speak of the unanimity with which they had united in re- Tipton, Wright.--10. lation to this matter.

The resolution was then unanimously adopted, and such unanimous adoption, at the request of Mr. WEBSTER, recorded upon the Journals of the Senate.

DAY OF ADJOURNMENT.

Mr. PRESTON submitted a joint resolution to rescind the resolution of the two Houses fixing on the 30th day of June as the day of adjournment, and authorizing the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to adjourn the two Houses on the day of July next; which was read and ordered to a second reading.

So the resolution was agreed to.

Mr. CLAYTON moved to be excused from serving on the committee, alleging that he had been absent from his family eight months, and that his affairs would require his attendance at home. After some remarks, which were replied to by Mr. GRUNDY, the motion was agreed to, and Mr. CLAYTON was excused accordingly.

After taking up, and going through with several bills,
At two o'clock the Senate took a recess for two hours.
EVENING SESSION.

The resolution reported by the Committee on Indian Affairs, on the petition of John Ross and others, delegates PENSIONS TO FRENCH SEAMEN, &c. from the Cherokee tribe of Indians, requesting the President to ascertain and inform the Senate, at the next sesThe amendment of the House of Representatives to sion of Congress, on what terms the claims of the State the bill of the Senate granting pensions to certain citi- of Georgia, and of her citizens, can be extinguished to zens of France, sufferers in consequence of the unfortu- the Cherokee lands within her limits, coming up, nate accident at Toulon, was considered and agreed to. After some remarks from Mr. FORSYTH, in opposi[The amendment provides that the President of the Uni-tion to the resolution, and from Messrs. WHITE and ted States shall make an arrangement with the Govern- FRELINGHUYSEN in its supportment of France to pay, through them, the pensions to the same amount, and in the same proportions, as provided for by the original bill.]

POST OFFICE AFFAIRS.

The resolution submitted by Mr. SPRAGUE, providing for the appointment of a committee to continue the investigations into the affairs of the Post Office Department during the recess, was taken up for consideration, and having been modified by Mr. S., so as to refer the investigation to the standing Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, instead of to the select committee,

Mr. FORSYTH suggested that it would be the better course to refer the subject, by an especial resolution, to the President of the United States, and to throw on him the responsibility of making the examination. He did not suppose that the object of the resolution was to establish criminality, because that would be travelling out of the line of duty of the committee.

Mr. CLAY moved to lay the resolution on the table. Lost-ayes 16, noes 17.

The question was then resumed, and Mr. FORSYTH asked for the yeas and nays, which were ordered.

Mr. PORTER then moved to lay the resolution on the table, and the yeas and nays being ordered on motion of Mr. SHEPLEY, the question was taken and decided as follows:

YEAS.-Messrs. Black, Brown, Calhoun, Clay, Forsyth, Hill, Kane, Kent, King of Alabama, King of Georgia, Linn, Mangum, Moore, Poindexter, Porter, Preston, Robinson, Shepley, Tallmadge, Tyler, Webster, Wright.

-22.

NAYS.-Messrs. Benton, Chambers, Clayton, Ewing,
Frelinghuysen, Grundy, Hendricks, Knight, Naudain,
Robbins, Smith, Southard, Sprague, Swift, Tipton, Tom-
linson, White.-17.
So the report was ordered to lie on the table.
APPROPRIATION BILL.

Mr. SPRAGUE referred to the bankrupt condition of the Department, and the abuses which had prevailed, The bill making appropriations for the civil and diploand stated that it was his object to authorize an examina- matic service of the United States, was then taken up. tion by a committee who would have ample opportunity. On motion of Mr. WEBSTER, the bill was amended The next session would be a short one; and, unless there was previous investigation, there would be no chance of any measure being then adopted which would apply a remedy.

Mr. FORSYTH rejoined, insisting on the course which he had suggested as the only one proper to be pursued. He wished to know the particular object of the mover.

Mr. SPRAGUE replied, that it was his object to have a full examination. It was not his object to establish criminality, but that might be one of the results. He had no desire to put responsibility on the President, as he was sufficiently disposed to assume responsibility. The business had been already in his hands, and if he was disposed to do his duty, no act of the Senate, in authorizing an investigation, would prevent him.

Mr. FORSYTH denied that the information collected by the committee, and at present only known to them, was yet before the President. He moved to postpone the consideration of the resolution till Saturday.

The motion to postpone was negatived, and the question on the resolution was then decided, as follows:

by striking out four and inserting eight, in the appropriation for a custom-house at Newburyport, making the ap propriation $8,000 instead of $4,000.

The amendments were then ordered to be engrossed, and the bill was ordered to a third reading.

The Post Office report was then called up; and, on motion of Mr. EWING, it was laid on the table for the present.

The bill making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of the Government, for the year 1834, was read the third time, passed, and sent back to the House for concurrence in the amendments.

Several private bills were now taken up, and disposed of.

Mr. HENDRICKS at this stage of the disposition of business, moved that the Senate pass over the House bills, and consider the Senate bills only, until the last three days of the session, after which, by the rules of the Senate, the House bills only could be acted on.

After some conversation between Mr. CLAY, Mr. PORTER, Mr. FORSYTH, and Mr. POINDEXTER,

JUNE 26, 1834.]

Day of Adjournment.—City of Wshington.

the motion was agreed to; and several bills were consider-
ed and finally acted on; when, at eight o'clock,
The Senate adjourned.

THURSDAY, JUNE 26.

DAY OF ADJOURNMENT.

After the reading of the Journal—

Mr. PRESTON moved that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the resolution submitted by him yesterday, for prolonging the session of Congress; which was agreed to.

On motion of Mr. PRESTON, the blank was filled with the 7th of July.

Mr. BROWN asked the yeas and nays on the adoption of the resolution; which were ordered.

[SENATE.

On motion of Mr. SPRAGUE, the Senate proceeded to ballot for a member of the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, in the place of Mr. CLAYTON, who was yesterday excused from serving; and, on counting the ballots, Mr. SOUTHARD was found to have been chosen.

The Senate then took up and went through with numerous bills.

Mr. POINDEXTER moved to take up the bill authorizing the relinquishment of the sixteenth sections granted for the use of schools, and the entry of other land in lieu thereof.

Mr. MOORE called for the yeas and nays on the question; which was decided in the negative, as follows: YEAS.-Messrs. Benton, Black, Calhoun, Chambers, Mr. PRESTON said, he did not wish, at this period of Grundy, Hendricks, King of Alabama, Linn, Moore, the session, to consume time in a discussion of the ques-Poindexter, Preston, Robbins, Robinson, Tipton, Wagtion. There were several very important bills now be- gaman, White, Wilkins, Wright.-18. NAYS.-Messrs. Bibb, Clay, Clayton, Frelinghuysen, fore the Senate, involving immense expenditures. There

EVENING SESSION.

was the fortification bill, the harbor bill, and a variety of Hill, Kent, King of Georgia, Knight, Mangum, Naudain, others. The bill regulating the deposite of public moneys Porter, Prentiss, Shepley, Sprague, Smith, Southard, in the State banks also remained to be acted on. This Swift, Tomlinson, Tyler.-19. The Senate then took a recess until 4 o'clock. bill had not been sent here till Wednesday, and according to our rules, it was impossible to give it that consideration which its importance required. It had the appearance of the House being unwilling to allow the Senate sufficient time to consider it. There were also the coin bills, nearly connected with this bill, and also many private bills yet to be acted on, in which almost the existence of many individuals having claims on the Government was involved, and which, if not passed, would inflict very general distress and ruin.

Mr. CLAY said, if we would economize our time, we could get through without difficulty. If we would cease discussion, and act on the reports of committees, we could do much business. He was opposed to the resolution. If the House wished a prolongation of the time, they could ask it; if not, he would not urge it

on them.

Mr. POINDEXTER said, the House had sent us several important bills, without leaving us time to consider them. Would not the Senate be placed in a better attitude before the country, by asking a day or two more to act on them?

Mr. TIPTON asked the indulgence of the Senate to take up the bill providing for the admission of the Territory of Arkansas into the Union, intimating his intention to move to take up the bill for the admission of Michigan also.

Some objection being urged by Mr. CLAYTON,

Mr. TIPTON said his only object was that the people of the Territory might be authorized to have the census taken, preparatory to their final admission. He had been waited on by the delegates from the Territories, and requested that these bills might be acted on; and as they were not represented here, he was desirous of showing the people of the Territories that he had not neglected their interests. He therefore asked the yeas and nays upon the motion to take up the bill; which were ordered, and are as follows, to wit:

YEAS.-Messrs. Benton, Black, Chambers, Grundy, Hendricks, Hill, Kane, King of Alabama, Linn, Robinson, Shepley, Swift, Tallmadge, Tipton, White, WilNAYS. Messrs. Bibb, Calhoun, Clayton, Ewing, there were several very important bills to the people of Kent, King of Georgia, Porter, Preston, Robbins, SilsMissouri yet to be acted on, which could not be passed, bee, Smith, Southard, Sprague, Tomlinson, Waggaif we had not more time; many of these were of thirty man, Webster.-16. years' standing, and imperiously demanded attention. the resolution were passed, it did not follow that the House would concur in it-next Thursday, perhaps, might be fixed on by them, the day previous to the 4th. He hoped the resolution would be agreed to.

Mr. BENTON was in favor of the resolution. Con-kins, Wright.-17. gress was the local legislature of the new States; and

If So the Senate determined to consider the bill-which having been read in part,

It was

Mr. WEBSTER moved to lay the bill on the table; which was disagreed to-yeas 15, nays 16.

Some further progress was made in reading the bill and amendment; when,

Mr. SPRAGUE renewed the motion to lay the bill on the table; which was agreed to-yeas 17, nays 14.

Mr. KING, of Georgia, thought there were many reasons against the prolongation, and but few for it. certainly impossible to get through all the important business even by the 7th, but we could get through a considerable portion of it. Another serious objection against it was, that many members had already left town, on Mr. CHAMBERS moved that the Senate take up, for the belief that the day of adjournment would not be consideration, the bill for the benefit of the city of Washchanged-some were going to-day, and many more to-ington; which was agreed to.

morrow.

CITY OF WASHINGTON.

Mr. CHAMBERS said, he did not desire to spend time Mr. CHAMBERS earnestly urged the indispensable in the discussion of this matter. The object of the bill business applicable to the District of Columbia, as requir- was understood. It was to pay to this city $70,000 annuing more time-these people had been entirely neglected; and if something was not done for their relief, some of the private property in this city would be brought to the hammer in a very short time.

Mr. CLAY said this discussion had already occupied one hour: he therefore moved to lay the resolution on the table. The motion was agreed to-yeas 25.

ally, for three years, in quarterly instalments, for the purpose of paying the interest on their canal debt. He would only say, that the property of the citizens of the city was mortgaged for this debt, and if the relief was not

extended to them, they would be ruined.

Mr. CLAY was disposed to give the city something,

SENATE.]

City of Washington.-Pennsylvania Memorials.

[JUNE 27, 1834.

The bill for the relief of Tench Ringgold was then

although he thought the inhabitants had been extremely improvident. He was willing to give them something, taken up. because the city was once in the hands of the English, Upon the consideration of this bill, a desultory converand if we did not pass the bill, it would fall into the hands sation ensued between Messrs. CHAMBERS, CLAYof the Dutch. The bill, however, extended the sum to TON, SHEPLEY, BIBB, BLACK, PORTER, and three years; he would rather limit it to one year. SOUTHARD. Mr. CHAMBERS hoped the Senate would not press a reduction of more than two years; he thought three was indispensably necessary.

Mr. WEBSTER opposed the bill very warmly. He said he predicted this state of things when the citizens of Washington urged it upon Congress to incorporate them to make this improvement. He recollected well, having warned them of this result, and that it would be their ruin; but they gave no heed to it. He considered this bill as nothing more than an application of charity to the amount of a million and a half of dollars, because he foresaw that it was only the beginning of the assumption of the whole debt by Congress. He was, however, willing to give them one year's interest, so as to allow them time to look about and see how they could extricate themselves, but they must get out of it as they got in it. For, as to making this debt a perpetual charge upon the Government, he, for one, would never consent to it.

Mr. CLAY moved to amend, by reducing the grant to

one year.

Mr. POINDEXTER said, if you reduced it to one year, the same application would be made next session. It was better to refuse it altogether; if we gave any thing, he thought it best to give it for two years. He moved to amend the amendment by inserting two years.

Mr. TYLER was opposed to the bill. But if we did any thing, it was best to assume the whole debt at once. And we could not do this, and pay their whole dest, but upon a surrender of the stock held by the corporate authorities in the canal.

Mr. SOUTHARD was in favor of the bill, if for nothing more than because it was the city of Washington, which he was unwilling, for the credit of the country, should be sold under the hammer of the auctioneer. He was in favor of the two years.

Mr. CHAMBERS made some further remarks in favor of the bill. He did not view this appropriation as at all like an act of charity. We had now a large sum in the Treasury of the United States, due to this city, and if it were paid them, they would not require a cent more to relieve them from their debts. The sum alluded to, was derived from the sales of alternate lots in the city, and besides this, the public property never had paid

one cent of taxes.

Mr. TOMLINSON also made some remarks in support of the bill, when the question to insert two years was disagreed to.

The question of limiting the appropriation of $70,000 to one year, was then agreed to.

The question recurring on the engrossment of the bill for a third reading,

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Mr. SHEPLEY proposed an amendment, striking out an appropriation for the costs expended by Mr. Ringgold in a suit in the Supreme Court of the United States; upon which the yeas and nays were ordered, and are as follows:

YEAS. Messrs. Bibb, Black, Ewing, Forsyth, Grun-
dy, Hendricks, Hill, King of Alabama, King of Georgia,
Leigh, Mangum, Morris, Preston, Robinson, Shepley,
Swift, Tallmadge, Tomlinson, Tyler, Webster, White,
Wright.-22.
NAYS.-Messrs. Chambers, Clay, Clayton, Kent,
Knight, Poindexter, Porter, Robbins, Southard, Tip-
ton.-10.

The bill, as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading.

On motion of Mr. HENDRICKS, the Senate again took up the bill to enable the people of the Territory of Arkansas to form a constitution and State government, and for the admission of such State into the Union, upon an equal footing with the original States, in all respects whatever.

Mr. HENDRICKS observed, that, as there was some opposition to considering this bill at so late a period of the session, he would explain to the Senate that his only ubject now was, to amend the bill, so as to provide for taking the census of the Territory preparatory to its admission at a future session.

Messrs. POINDEXTER, SPRAGUE, and CLAY, opposed the further consideration of the bill at that late hour; and, on motion of Mr. CLAY, At eight o'clock, the Senate adjourned.

FRIDAY, JUNE 27.

PENNSYLVANIA MEMORIALS.

After the reception and reference of sundry other memorials

Mr. CLAY said, he wished to discharge a duty which had devolved on him, of presenting certain memorials and proceedings which he had been desired to offer to the Senate. The first was a memorial from the populous and highly respectable county of York, in Pennsylvania, subscribed by about 1,700 of its inhabitants; all of whom, or nearly all, are, he was instructed to say, qualified voters, and about one moiety of them had sustained the election of the present Chief Magistrate of the United States. Mr. C. was desirous, late as the period of the session was, that it should be received, couched, as it was, in respectful language, since a former memorial from the same county had experienced a fate which the Senate would recollect. The second was a memorial from Bourbon county, in Kentucky, one of the most respectable and substantial counties in that State, subscribed by about 700 signatures. The third were the proceedings of a public meeting held at Butler, in Pennsylvania. YEAS.-Messrs. Chambers, Clay, Clayton, Ewing, These memorials and proceedings all relate to the reFrelinghuysen, Hendricks, Kent, Moore, Naudain, Poin-cent course of the Executive towards the public treasudexter, Porter, Robbins, Silsbee, Southard, Sprague, ry, and the Bank of the United States; all condemn that Swift, Tipton, Tomlinson, Waggaman, Webster, Wil- course, and all deplore the injurious consequences which kins.-21. | have resulted from it. But Mr. C. regretted that the few NAYS.-Messrs. Benton, Black, Brown, Calhoun, precious hours which remain of the present session would Grundy, Hill, King of Georgia, Leigh, Linn, Mangum, not allow him, without an inexcusable trespass upon the Morris, Prentiss, Preston, Robinson, Shepley, Smith, time of the Senate, to dwell upon the several topics adTallmadge, Tyler, Wright.-19. verted to, or suggested by, the memorialists. He would, So the question was determined in the affirmative. At therefore, restrict himself to calling the attention of the a subsequent stage of the day's proceedings, the bill was Senate to a single statement contained in the York meread a third time and passed.

Mr. WRIGHT said, he could not give his support to it, and as he was desirous of recording his vote against the bill, he asked the yeas and nays; which were ordered, and are as follow, to wit:

| morial. It is there stated that all of the subscribers who

JUNE 27, 1834.]

Harbor Bill.

[SENATE.

voted for the present Chief Magistrate, voted under a full ty-pure charity-a very praiseworthy motive, but one belief that he was not inimical to the Bank of the United which cannot properly enter into our consideration as leStates; and that a large meeting of his friends in Lycom- gislators. We have no right to do charitable acts at the ing county, in 1832, embracing citizens from several expense of others. What motive can be assigned for this parts, pronounced in an address, or resolutions, which appropriation to the company? Why, we are to save were published, that the allegation of the hostility of the President to the bank was an unfounded calumny. Mr. C. moved the reference and printing of the memorials and proceedings; which were ordered accordingly.

HARBOR BILL.

Mr. SILSBEE, from the Committee on Commerce, reported the bill from the House making appropriations for the improvement of certain harbors, and clearing out obstructions in certain rivers of the United States, for the year 1834, with sundry amendments; and the bill being under consideration as in Committee of the Whole, and the amendments of the committee having been gone through with,

them from bankruptcy. He denied that we can be influence by such reasons. Objects for relief would present themselves more than sufficient to exhaust the whole Treasury, if we listen to such applications. Sir, said Mr. B., I have heard much, during this session, of profuse expenditure of money by this administration, and have thought these charges well founded, particularly as respects some of the Departments. With what propriety, he asked, can those on this side of the House hereafter make such charges? When they do so, they will be shown these two appropriations, that for Washington, made yesterday, and this, if it should be made, based alone on charitable considerations. For one, I shall, said he, if this amendment be adopted, be compelled to say that charges like this will come with a bad grace from this quarter.

Mr. CHAMBERS moved to amend the bill by introducing a clause on the subject of the Chesapeake and Mr. BENTON referred to the remarks which he had Ohio canal. He had been instructed to move this by made when the grant for this canal was made. He then the State of Maryland, for the purpose of completing contended that the United States had become partners in certain contracts. He then moved to amend the bill a bankrupt concern; and the application which had been by introducing a clause appropriating $250,000 to be now made proved this to be the fact. He suggested that paid to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Company, in access ought to be allowed to the accounts, and that the consideration of which, certain specified commodities directors and their books ought to be brought before are to be transported free of charge. Congress, to show what course had been taken.

Mr. WRIGHT said, this amendment had been pre- Mr. PRESTON said, he had been forcibly struck sented to the committee, but was deemed not to be with the remarks of the Senator from Missouri in relation relevant to the character of the bill. He hoped the to the proposition before them. One step in matters of amendment would not be appended to the bill. It was this kind, involves us in another, and we are ever and merely an appropriation for a canal, and its introduction anon called upon to take further steps. He had already, might hazard the fate of the whole bill. He was opposed in relation to the Cumberland road, said that the approto appropriations of money on such considerations. It priation already made furnished no reasons for going furwas represented that the work must stop unless some ther; that it would be better, at all hazards, to go back; further aid should be furnished: but, if any appropria- that is, it would be "better to suffer those evils we tions were to be made, they ought to be made on the now endure, than fly to others that we know not of." grounds on which they had originally been made. He Yesterday, a grant of $70,000 was made to the city of said that one object of this aid was to discharge debts; Washington to pay the interest on their canal debt; and the company could now pay all their debts within to-day a proposition is made to give to the canal company $85,000. $250,000 to preserve them from ruin. To-morrow a Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN could not vote for this amend- proposition of a similar kind will be made, and there was ment. He could not answer to his constituents to go any further than he had gone. Already a million of stock had been subscribed by the General Government. If our committees were instructed to look into this matter, they would make a proper report. He could not sustain the amendment.

Mr. CLAYTON expressed a hope that his friend from Maryland would not press the subject.

Mr. CHAMBERS made some reply, with a view to sustain the application, as founded in justice.

Mr. CLAY made some remarks on the character of the work, and expressed his intention to vote for it.

Mr. SILSBEE suggested that the form of the amendment was objectionable. The best way was to make the grant by way of loan, and moved to that effect.

Mr. CHAMBERS accepted the amendment, after a few

remarks.

no knowing where these demands would end. Why, said Mr. P., should we proceed in this eternal career of extravagant generosity? The city of Washington was said to be bankrupt, and this canal company was also said to be bankrupt. Why, then, should we be deluded with the idea of giving this money as a loan? It would be nothing but a salvo to our consciences, for there certainly never could be any rational expectation that the money would be refunded. If we do give any thing, (said Mr. P.,) let us give it boldly, at once, as a gratuity. He had some feeling for these people, but there was something startling in the boldness of these demands. We yesterday, said he, gave three or four dollars a head to every citizen of Washington, counting their population. They have been bankrupt, not by their own acts, but by their corporate authorities, elected by voters, many of whom owned no property, and were therefore not interested in the city.

Mr. BLACK opposed the amendment, and called for the yeas and nays. It would make no difference to him If this money was to be considered as an advance to whether the sum proposed was given directly as a gratui- this people, you contribute more than the whole State of ty, or whether some pretext was inserted as a mere guise Pennsylvania ever did to its whole population for a like to cover it. What is the difference between giving and purpose. That they deserved some compassion, he adloaning to those from whom we expect no return, to re-mitted, but he would ask the Senator from Maryland, [Mr. lieve them from notorious insolvency? On yesterday CHAMBERS,] if this appropriation were made to-day, we voted $70,000 to pay the interest on the debt whether more would not be asked for on a future occacontracted by the city of Washington, to purchase stock sion. If the gentleman from Maryland would go with in this canal company. What was the inducement held him, he would be willing to give to this company and to out to us to make that appropriation? What obligation the city of Washington, as much as his sense of propriety were we under to redeem the promises unadvisedly made would admit, and what he thought ought to relieve them by Washington City? The only motive was one of chari-from all their difficulties. That is, he would be willing

VOL. X. 131

SENATE.]

Harbor Bill.-Post Office Resolutions.

to give the company the million of dollars already subscribed by Congress to its stock, which would sell in the market, notwithstanding its depreciation, for the $250,000 they ask for. He was told that the Government was pledged for the redemption of the Holland loan to the city of Washington. Now, he was willing to redeem that pledge, for which purpose he would give a million of dollars more to be released from that obligation, provided the city and company would agree not to call on Congress again.

He regretted that this people had not been more prudent in the management of their funds. It was not doubted here, he said, but their expenses have been most prodigal and wasteful. He had heard that they had expended the principal part of their funds for a canal on the borders of tide water, from Georgetown through this city, a thing never before heard of. He repeated, he was willing to give the million of canal stock held by the Government, and even to give a million more for the Holland debt, provided Congress is not again to be called on, and, if the Senator from Maryland would bring forward such a proposition, it should have his hearty con

currence.

After some further remarks from Mr. CHAMBERS and Mr. SPRAGUE, which are necessarily deferred

Mr. CHAMBERS withdrew his amendment.

Mr. SPRAGUE moved to amend the bill by inserting an appropriation to rebuild the monument at Steele's inlet, Penobscot bay; which was agreed to.

Mr. CLAY moved to insert appropriations for the improvement of the Cumberland river, &c.; which were agreed to.

[JUNE 27, 1834.

with that view; it related to another part of the business. I recollect stating to the committee that those accounts were in the Department; they sent for them, as I was informed, and they were not sent to the committee with the other papers, nor were they sent until it was too late for the committee to examine them. And this is all I know of that matter.

Sir, I will notice some other erroneous statements contained in this memorial.

Mr. Blair, in his memorial, says: "The routes advertised in 1832, which are the ones to which the committee allude, were those in the New England States and the State of New York, and the new routes in all the States and Territories of the United States, making together 2,044. The letting of the routes in New York, amounting to 835, was postponed on account of the cholera raging here at that time, and they were re-advertised for six weeks longer; making the number advertised and readvertised, amount together to 2,879-more than five times the number advertised by Mr. Green. The statement X, to which Messrs. Ewing, Clayton, and Knight refer, shows all this, and they could not, therefore, be ignorant of the true state of the facts."

Now, sir, let us examine the facts stated in this place. I yesterday went to the Post Office Department, and asked for a copy of the routes advertised in the Globe by Mr. Blair at the time referred to: they were given to me, and I now hold them in my hand, ready to be examined by any person who desires to do so. They are certified by Mr. Hobbie, the Assistant Postmaster General. I have enumerated them, and they amount to 1,039, and not 2,044, as stated by Mr. Blair. The 835 that he states Mr. LINN moved to amend the bill in the clause ma- were to be found in New York, have dwindled, on countking appropriations for the improvement of the Mississiping, to the number of 335, making a difference of 500. pi river, by striking out 50,000, and inserting 75,000 dol- And the whole number of routes advertised and re-adverlars, with a provision that 25,000 shall be expended at St. tised, amount to 2,879, as stated by the memorialist; but Louis. the Post Office documents show that the total amount advertised and re-advertised, was 1,574, and no more; not one-half the number stated by Mr. Blair. And this man accuses the committee of wilful misrepresentations.

The motion to amend was decided in the negative. Mr. TIPTON moved to amend the bill by inserting an appropriation of 500 dollars for the improving of Trail creek, Indiana.

Mr. T. explained the object of the amendment; which was negatived.

The amendments were ordered to be engrossed, and the bill to be read a third time.

POST OFFICE RESOLUTIONS.

On motion of Mr. EWING, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolutions reported by the majority of the Committee on the Post Office; when,

The Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads appointed three printers in the city of Washington to examine the account of Mr. Blair's charge of printing, and they reported the amount paid the Globe $8,386 50 Actual charge for the same advertisements in the National Intelligencer

- 2,763 371 $5,623 12

branch of the business, other members were pursuing
other parts of it. But nothing is wilfully wrong; and I
believe the facts stated will prove substantially correct.
other members of the committee.
The other accusations in the memorial, I leave with the

more than Gales & Seaton charge for advertising the same. Mr. KNIGHT rose and said: Mr. President, my inten- the committee: it was not possible for me to do it. The I have not examined all the facts stated in the report of tion in rising is to correct one or two statements in a me- labor was partially divided: while I was pursuing one morial of F. P. Blair. I did not know that such a memorial had ever been presented to the Senate, until I saw a copy of it in the Globe. Sir, it is stated in the report of the committee, that the papers containing the accounts of Mr. Blair were not sent to them until it was too late to examine them in time for the report. I was not present when these accounts were sent for by the committee, and, therefore, know nothing except from the statements of the other members; but the chairman was present, and can give full information on that point, and no doubt his The committee state the Department owes, after a final statement will be fully accredited by the memorialist,* if the other members are not. settlement of all accounts, except old balances prior to October, 1833, the sum of

I will say something as to the difference in the statements of the report of the chairman from that of the committee, in regard to the amount of the debts against the Post Office Department.

is to be deducted. I believe it to be a small The report of the chairman states the deficit sum, in comparison with the sum stated.

Sir, in the course of the examination, I called at the De-Whatever is available prior to October, 1833, partment, to see the items contained in the account of incidental expenses; it was a very cursory examination, and I did not even take the amount of Mr. Blair's account, nor is his name noted on the paper among my minutes. I was not seeking particular accounts to compare with the statements in the Blue Book. My examination was not

Mr. Grundy read a statement confirming the report of the

committee.

to be

Making a difference in the report of the
chairman from that of the committee, of

$802,444

292,109

$510,335

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