APRIL 28, 1834.] Utica (N. Y.) Memorial.-Huntingdon County Proceedings. [SENATE. nounced its judgment against the removal of the depos Mr. WILKINS then asked, that the proceedings be ites: it is for their restoration, and for their being re-read, referred to the Committee on Finance, and printed. placed under the custody of the law. But the people of The proceedings were then read. Oneida will see, that the Senate can do nothing alone; Mr. CHAMBERS observed, that he had listened with that opinions, in another part of the Capitol, are different great attention to the reading of the proceedings, though from those of the Senate; and they will see, too, by the he confessed that he did not exactly understand them. late protest especially, as well as by previous publications, He was delighted, however, to learn that the gloom was what opinions still prevail with the Executive. passing away, and that the people of that portion of While, sir, whatever of hope does exist is not to be Pennsylvania were cheered with such increasing prospergiven up, and while every effort is to be made which may ity, and that the products of their labor found so ready promise relief and redress, at this session, yet undoubted- a market. The Senator from Pennsylvania told us, that ly it becomes the people of Oneida to act on the belief the sentiments expressed in these proceedings were dithat, in all probability, a change of public councils may rectly in opposition to those expressed in the memorial not be effected, but through the means of the will of the presented by the gentleman from Massachusetts. Well, people, expressed at the polls. then, that memorial informed us, that every thing was de The memorial was then read, referred to the Commit-pressed; that produce found no market, and labor no retee on Finance, and ordered to be printed. HUNTINGDON COUNTY PROCEEDINGS. ward. Now these proceedings say, that the products of their industry command high prices. Do they (said Mr. C.) venture to tell us this, in defiance of facts well estabMr. WILKINS rose and said, he very heartily concur- lished throughout the whole country? Would the Senator red with the honorable Senator from Massachusetts, in from Pennsylvania tell us this, in spite of all the expethe principal part of the sentiments he had just present- rience he has had? The time had gone by, that even the ed to the Senate. He, himself, was laboring under no Senator from Pennsylvania denied that distress, deep dissuch excitement as that the gentleman had described, nor tress, prevailed throughout the country. Would any body did he at all despair of the republic, though he did de- of men venture to tell us, that the products of agriculspair of any thing being done at this session of Congress, ture bore as fair prices as formerly. The fact was, the in consequence of the lamentable contrariety of opinion proceedings said that there had been depression, but it prevailing in the other House and this, and out of doors was caused by that monster, the bank, and then they among the people at large. If it were possible (Mr. W. hurrahed for General Jackson. They told us that after said) for us to find out what the public sentiment was, on all this depression, things were a little better. Thus, the subject so continually discussed in the Senate, he when a man is in the agonies of death, if, presently, a litagreed with the Senator from Massachusetts that some-tle respiration comes, it might be said that he was better. thing could be done to relieve the public distress, and It would, most likely, be the same case with these people that all the members of the Senate would concur in ef- of Pennsylvania. The patient would die if he had no fecting that object. more favorable symptoms than a slight respiration. He had long despaired of ascertaining, by the proceed- As the Senator from Pennsylvania thought that nothing ings of public meetings and memorials, so many of which was to be done, at this session of Congress, to relieve the had been presented, what the public sentiment was, as public distress, he called on him to speak with candor to to the object on which they treated. He had for a long this people, and to tell them what he really thought of time had several of them in his possession, which he did the present condition of the country. He asked him, in not think proper to present, because he did not believe candor, to say, if he had any expectation that nothing that any thing could be done by Congress, for the rea- would be done before the end of the present session. He sons he had mentioned. The Senator from Virginia had did not pretend to say that there was any thing in our just said, on presenting the proceedings of the young present condition likely to depress the price of bread. men of Richmond and Manchester, that they were as The crops of the last year were small, and were generally deeply interested in the prosperity and vital interests of sold out before the grand experiment of the Executive the country, as any other portion of its population. This commenced; and besides, people would buy bread at was very true, and it was to be presumed, that all the pe- whatever price, to escape starvation. He should like to titioners who came here were equally as deeply interested in preserving the institutions of the country, in its vital interests and in its prosperity, as they were. There was no doubt, that all the petitioners who came here, gave us their candid sentiments; and it was to be presuined, that they were all as deeply interested in doing so. He had determined to present no more of these pro- Those who had done all in their power to put down ceedings; but he had recently received one, that he felt this bank, surely would allow it to call in enough of its called upon to lay before the Senate. It was from the loans to meet the demands made on it by the Government. county of Huntingdon, a central county of the State, sit- If the bank only called in from its debtors precisely what uated on the great canal which this spring had been put the Government called from it, how was it possible that into operation, and promised to be a source of so much this pressure could be ascribed to its proceedings? It prosperity to the industry and enterprise of that county. might as well be said that by abstracting from any given It is a rich county, extensively engaged in agricultural amount you increased its product. Now he did not depursuits and in manufactures, and an iron region too,sire that the people should be misinformed, either by where that branch of manufacture is extensively and prof-what had been said by the people of Huntingdon county, itably conducted. This makes them peculiarly interest- or by the Senator from Pennsylvania. They admitted in those subjects on which the general prosperity of that there had been great pressure; but they now say e country depends. that prices are better than before. The people, said Mr. C., are to believe from the evidences before them, from their own experience of distress, and not from the assertions of a single set of proceedings, where even the numbers attending are not given. These proceedings presented sentiments directly the reverse of those in the memorial handed in by the Senator from Massachusetts. On the contrary, they say that the products of their industry meet with a ready demand, and bear a good price; that they are cheered by increasing prosperity; and that their spirits are high. know from the Senator from Pennsylvania, who had told us that the Bank of the United States was grinding down the people, in what manner the bank could have acted otherwise than it did, without sacrificing its own interest; and how its proceedings could justly be charged as an injury to the people? Mr. CLAY said, that if these proceedings were a specimen of the mass which the gentleman from Pennsylva SENATE.] Huntingdon County Proceedings. [APRIL 28, 1834. nia [Mr. WILKINS] had in his drawer, and which he had communication or correspondence conveying to him the forborne to present, he was not surprised that he had not fact of there being any distress in the city of Pittsburg, produced them. He thought that this memorial from the and he said then that he believed there was none prerespectable county of Huntingdon, in which there were vailing there. But, so soon as the announcement which great iron works, forges, &c., had been written under he had made here had reached the place of his residence, the operation of these. There was abundance of figure a meeting was held in consequence, and in one of the and metaphor, but further the deponent sayeth not. But resolutions which were passed by it, and which he was he had risen only for a single purpose. The resolutionists had referred to him as a retained advocate of the bank. Mr. WILKINS. No. Mr. CLAY. Certainly: I heard such a charge in one of the resolutions. sorry he had not observed till some time afterwards-not because it was in justification of himself-but because they had in it distinctly admitted that they had kept their complaints to themselves, and that the cry of distress had not proceeded from the citizens of Pittsburg. Mr. WILKINS. Not by name. In one of their resolutions they pointed to the future, Mr. CLAY. Oh! no, not by name! Good breeding pre- and expressed themselves alarmed at what it might devented that. He desired, however, to contradict the velop. That was the extent of the declaration, and there statement in direct terms. He said that when the gen- was his justification for it. He acknowledged that distleman from Pennsylvania addressed the framers of these tress did overspread the land, and, to the utter condemresolutions, he would thank him to present his respects nation of the bank, let him say it. He would confess to them, in the most courteous terms, and to say that that he had been disappointed; for he did not anticipate there was not a word of truth in the assumed fact that he that the power of the bank, by its machinations and miswas the retained advocate of the Bank. He had not for chievous proceedings, could have caused such distress more than nine years been in any way connected profes- in the country. With respect to the people of Huntsionally with the bank. He knew from what quarter ingdon, he knew not whether they spoke the truth: but these charges came; but he wished it to be distinctly un- he believed them. They had spoken of the price of their derstood, that for nearly ten years he had been in no agricultural products as being better than was supposed connexion with the bank. by the friends of the administration. Notwithstanding Mr. WILKINS said, it would be recollected by the Sen- they were in the midst of a country liable to be materialate, that, on an occasion similar to the present, he had ly affected by the distress which prevailed elsewhere, announced his opinion that our fellow-citizens had a right yet they did not complain of any particular distress. to be heard there in any language they chose to adopt. As to this memorial being a contradiction to that from The Senators could not examine very critically the terms Oneida, he merely meant to say, that it was a contradicin which their memorials or remonstrances were couched. tion to the great question-whether the Government or If they did, it would be, in his opinion, an infringement the bank had been the cause of the present distress? He upon an invaluable right secured to them by the consti- would beg to refer honorable Senators, and the gentletution. It was for the Senate, after the presentation of a man from Maryland in particular, to the price of agriculpaper, to say what it was their pleasure to do with it. He tural produce, by which it would be seen that things were was aware of the allusion in the memorial to the honora- looking up. Let gentlemen look, for instance, at the ble Senator from Kentucky, and which that gentleman price of flour and other articles in Baltimore and Philahad noticed, and he (Mr. W.) decidedly disapproved of delphia. He, and every one living in Pennsylvania, must But when he received a communication from his con- admit, that the opening of the canal in that State had stituents, which they desired him to present to the Sen- been the means of spreading universal prosperity there. ate, his own individual opinion, or his personal feelings It was with much regret that he perceived, in one of the towards any Senator, was not to influence him in his duty. resolutions, allusion was made to the two honorable genThe Senator from Kentucky would have a right to rebuke and complain of him when he should find him using language of his own at all disrespectful towards him or any other member. Will he now, said Mr. W., in justice to myself, point to a case in which I have at all sanctioned, by the most distant implication, language of that sort? Mr. CLAY said he could not. it. it. tlemen from New Jersey. The resolution merely spoke of the question which those Senators were in the daily habit of advocating-whether they were representing truly or not, the sentiments of their constituents. That was the question. His (Mr. W.'s) constituents believed that they did not: but he would not pretend to decide the matter. Had he, however, been at liberty to express Mr. WILKINS resumed. He was sure the Senator could his sentiments, he could have wished that they did." not. So much for the language; the gentleman was not But, on the side of the administration, the Senate had named. There were many high and distinguished citizens prima facie evidence, in the instructions of the Legislature now held up-he knew not with what truth-as candi- of New Jersey, that the honorable Senators from New dates for the Presidency. That language might apply to Jersey did not represent the sentiments of their constituothers; but, if it was applicable to the honorable Sena- ents. The gentleman combated the testimony produced tor, he was not aware of it, and should the more regret against them by giving the proceedings of meetings held The honorable gentleman from Maryland had been in New Jersey. He would not pretend to decide the again pleased to allude, and call to the recollection of the case. One party believed that the public sentiment in Senate, an expression of his (Mr. W.'s) in reference to reference to the bank was one way, and the opposing the city of his residence, which he had used at an early party conceived it to be on their side. However, the period of this discussion. The gentleman, in his recol-people, who were the ultimate arbiters in every question, lection of the phrase, had made it rather too general. would show by their action which party was right. He (Mr. W.) never did deny that there was distress, and Mr. CHAMBERS said he had but one more word to a pressure weighing heavily upon the community; though add, in reply to the Senator from Pennsylvania. He unin the month of January, he did deny there was any dis- doubtedly considered him as having said, in very distinct tress among the citizens of the place to which he had ref- terms, that the proceedings of the Huntingdon coy erence. He had a paper in his possession, though unfor- meeting contradicted the memorial presented by the gentunately it was not by him, which fully justified him in tleman from Massachusetts; that is, contradicted the making the assertion. He had used the phrase attribu- idea that the Government, as it is termed, has produced ted to him, it was true; but then, it was so qualified at the distress to the extent described in the New York methe time, as to justify him, and would justify him now. morial. He did not mean to involve the Senator in any He had, at that time, denied that he had received any further difficulty with his constituents. APRIL 28, 1834.] Huntingdon County Proceedings. [SENATE. Mr. WILKINS. You cannot do it, sir. fore the people? It was the removal of the public deMr. CHAMBERS said he did not intend by any means posites from the Bank of the United States. Would any to convey the idea that he could; for he had previously de-man say that he doubted whether a majority of the people clared that the language of the Huntingdon proceedings approved or disapproved of that measure? He knew that was an exaggeration. The gentleman did not pretend to many supported the Executive who, perhaps, would consay that there had been no distress, and he (Mr. C.) was tinue to support him. But did they do it because of this glad that he was right so far. A little reflection, he measure, or in despite of this measure? Did any man thought, would set him right farther. I am not willing, doubt that a great number of the Executive's supporters said Mr. C., to believe that public sentiment will not op were in favor of the bank? He had certainly no objecerate on Congress until after the elections. He hoped tion to give the people of Huntingdon the exercise of the the public sentiment would be felt long before that time. same rights with all others who had expressed their senWhat would the gentleman say, if the whole State of timents here. They, however, had not, in expressing Pennsylvania would speak as Philadelphia had spoken? their sentiments, given the names of those who attended The gentleman from Georgia consoled himself with the the meeting, nor the number of them; but simply gave idea, that, although matters were all wrong in Philadel- the sentiments of a public meeting, the names not menphia, yet there was a redeeming spirit in Pennsylvania. tioned. Mr. W. did not know the reason why the SenaNow if the whole State of Pennsylvania would speak as tor from Pennsylvania had selected those Huntingdon proPhiladelphia had, would those gentlemen be satisfied ceedings from the number of memorials and proceedings with respect to public sentiment in that State? Yet there in his possession, and which he said he had not thought had been enough heard from Pennsylvania to satisfy proper to present. Whether on account of its superior them that public sentiment there was not with the ad-style, the propriety of its sentiments, or the decorum in ministration on the bank question. He, Mr. C., did hope which they were expressed, it was not necessary to nothat the people were not to be ruined, and say nothing tice. He had only to observe, that public sentiment about it. Office-holders, to be sure, would praise the ad- could only be ascertained from the mass of resolutions ministration and cry out that there was no distress. So and memorials which came here from all quarters. would many of their friends. But the man, who had Against the conduct of the Executive, memorials and resgone without his breakfast, if a warm friend of the admin-olutions were daily coming from every part of the counistration, might still hurrah for Jackson. When his din- try. Persons had been selected to obtain names, some ner and supper were non sunt inventi, he would not hur-on one side, and some on the other, and a vast majority rah so loudly. But if he missed his breakfast the next of those names sent here were in opposition to the adminmorning, he would not hurrah at all. istration. He was sorry he had expressed any doubt, as Whether the Legislature of a State, said Mr. C., is or noticed by the honorable Senator from Maryland, that is not competent to instruct its Senators, is not a matter any relief would be had from Congress at this session. of much moment; but we all agree, that, when it is as- But such were his fears. He had expressed no doubts certained that the people have spoken, no manner of which should slacken the exertions of those who thought doubt is left. He regretted to hear that his friend from with him, and something could and ought to be done. Massachusetts failed to respond to the confident hopes of His purpose for action was the same that he expressed in the people of Oneida county; that is, that something would the beginning of the session, that Congress was bound, be done for the relief of the people by the present Con- before it adjourned, to give that relief which the condition gress. He for his part, still indulged the hope that of the country required. something would be done, and that the voice of a suffer Mr. WILKINS rose to correct an error into which the ing people would still have some influence. He called gentleman from Massachusetts had fallen. He (Mr. W.) upon his friends here, not to lock up public sentiment: did not admit that he could not make up his opinion as to to let them speak in the majesty of their strength, and what was the public sentiment in regard to the present to let their voice be pronounced here. Their verdict state of affairs; but he had said that such was the diversiwould then be unanimous, with the exception of office- ty of opinion existing, that it retarded the action of Conholders, who turn a blind eye to Executive usurpation; gress. As to himself, he had no doubt on which side the who see nothing in the statute-book to prevent the Presi- public sentiment lay in relation to the removal of the dedent from using the public money, and assuming to him- posites, and the recent action of the administration in self powers not granted by the constitution. Let us, said reference to the finances of the country. He should say he, expect to witness such a burst of popular feeling as the public sentiment was with the administration; at the will compel us to act, and settle at once the unhappy dif- same time he was free to admit that, in the great commerference of opinion prevailing here as to the state of pub-cial cities of the Union, the administration had lost ground; lic sentiment. for the commercial community would always go with the Mr. WEBSTER rose to express his dissent to the idea moneyed interest. But those cities were not to be taken that there was any difficulty in ascertaining the sentiments as a fair test by which to ascertain the opinion of the of the people on the great question before them. The great mass of the people-the yeomanry of the country. Senator from Pennsylvania had said that there were so He knew perfectly well that, in Philadelphia proper, the many memorials before the Senate, he could not for his administration had vastly lost ground with the commercial life understand in which way public sentiment was direct- community; but that city had been for some years oppoed. This was to him strange. Could any candid man sed to it. In Pittsburg, too, the administration had lost say that he had a doubt on the subject? Memorials were ground, and he knew that he had been stripped of a great constantly coming in, and how did they range? How did portion of the favor which he had had the honor to enjoy they compare? Why, as twenty to one against the meas- in the eyes of his fellow-citizens. He had been under the ures of the administration. There was no doubt that impression that he stood well with them, and he might many memorials came here expressing sentiments in ap- say, without any vanity or arrogance, that he considered probation of the measures of the administration, in regard himself somewhat popular. It was now, however, very to the public moneys. They were such as had been likely that he should stand in a different light, and be passed at Baltimore, and at other places, and it was just looked upon, when he should return to his constituents, as preposterous for a man to say that he could not under- with great coldness, for the course he had taken in regard stand the state of public sentiment because of these few to the removal of the deposites. It was a course which, proceedings, as to say that he could not distinguish the he could declare before God, his conscience dictated to difference between numbers. What was the question be-him to pursue. He could not but regret that he had lost SENATE.] Huntingdon County Proceedings. [APRIL 28, 1834. But, to be serious: if it was at all relevant to the mat. ter before the Senate, or of any importance, it could be easily shown that the majority which sent him here was similar to that which, for years back, had sent most of his predecessors to the Senate. the confidence of many of his neighbors and friends, but expression, and the ideas attached to it from the use to that should not prevent him from doing his duty here. which it was once applied in a certain high quarter, gave With regard to the dominant party, the yeomanry of it no favor in his (Mr. P.'s) eyes. His anxiety to get Pennsylvania, there could be no doubt that their spirits clear of it was so great, that he was compelled to state it were up, for they were sensitive enough on this question. had no application to his election. No, sir, said he, I They were compact, stood together, and were unmoved was elected by the decisive and overwhelming majority by all the operations of the bank. What, he would ask, of two! must have been the flagrant and mischievous conduct of that bank, when it had weaned from itself an invaluable and numerous body of friends, who, two years ago, supported it? There was now a total revolution in the State, in regard to that institution, from the Governor down to the most private citizen. The Legislature, too, had plainly expressed what was their opinion on the subject. Now, what rule was there by which they were to judge of the state of public opinion? Would Senators take the elections which had occurred since October last? Let them be taken as the touchstone, and what must be the verdict of every impartial man? The Pennsylvania elections occurred after the removal of the deposites, which was the subject of conversation on the election ground, and what had been the result? Senators were to judge of that act by the effects which followed, not immediately, but by the subsequent conduct of the bank. What change had the removal of the deposites produced in Louisiana? Why, the gentleman on his right [Mr. PoRTER] had been elected by a majority of one vote. What was the public sentiment in Alabama? How it stood in Mississippi, he could not tell. [Mr. POINDEXTER said: Pretty well.] How the gentleman came to select his election as evidence that the State of Louisiana approved of the course of the Executive, in removing the deposites, when his (Mr. P.'s) opinions in opposition to it were avowed and known before the election, he could not possibly divine. It seemed curious. It was not, however, for him to find fault with the gentleman's skill in selecting topics to sustain his views; his business was to show that they did not sustain him. Still he must be pardoned for saying, that it did appear to him most amusingly strange, why the election of a man opposed to a certain measure was adduced as evidence that those who elected him approved of that measure. But as he was no great logician, there was, perhaps, something hidden in the argument which he could not discover; and, as the fact of his election seemed to afford the gentleman so much pleasure, he was enabled to give him some other information of a similar kind, in regard to public opinion in Louisiana, which would increase his satisfaction. Mr. WILKINS resumed. What was the public opinion in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana? It was in favor of the administration. What was the opinion in Ohio? There, the He admitted the truth of the honorable Senator's reelection of members to the Legislature took place on the mark, that the question in relation to the deposites had second Tuesday of October, and they had since instructed entered into the late election for Senator in Louisiana-their Representatives and Senators in Congress to pursue but it was not the sole question. At that time, the puba particular course. We had, then, prima facie evidence lic mind there, though awakened to a consideration of the what was the sentiment of that State. Pennsylvania stood subject, was not, as since, intensely fixed on it. It was in the same position; so did New Jersey, as was shown discussed more as a matter of speculation than as one in by the instructions which her Legislature had given the which we were practically concerned. It had not then Senators from that State. The sentiments of the people produced the bankruptcies, the ruin, which have since there might have since changed, but he should wait for followed it. If it had, the same opinions would have further evidence on that point. In New York, it was been then entertained of it in New Orleans that are now sufficient to say, that the administration had not been held there. Evidence had reached him, since he took beaten. So far as concerned the result, even in that his seat here, of a decided change in public opinion on great emporium of commerce, where all the power and this subject through the whole State. There could be influence of the bank were brought to bear on the elec- no doubt, that, if his election were to come on there totions, to a degree that had never been known before, morrow, and the wisdom of the Executive in removing and perhaps would never be repeated-where the oppo- the deposites was the test applied, that his majority would nents of the administration had every advantage-yet be much greater than it was last winter. He hoped this they sustained a defeat at all events. These were the intelligence would increase the delight of the Senator facts from which he drew his conclusions with regard to from Pennsylvania. public opinion. But he had still further gratification in store for the In Virginia, the contest was not yet over. But, had honorable Senator. It was only this day, said Mr. P., the administration gained or lost there? that I had the pleasure of shaking by the hand a valued friend who has just taken his seat in the other House, to [Mr. CLAY said: Look at the result in Hanover.] Mr. WILKINS Continued. Had the administration gain-fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Mr. Bullard. ed or lost? That was the question. He, like myself, is decidedly opposed to the act of the Now, with respect to granting relief-there was no President removing the deposites, and yet he has been one more heartily disposed than himself to legislate on elected without opposition, in a district which, since the the subject for the purpose of restoring harmony and late party divisions sprung up among us, has sent memgood feeling to the country. But he was free to confess, bers opposed to each other in politics, to Congress. that, in consequence of the great diversity of opinion This is an additional proof, of the kind furnished by my which existed in the public mind, he despaired of any election, of the opinions of Louisiana in relation to the immediate relief being given-though he hoped that some-late Executive measures. I commend it to the special thing might be done. attention of the Senator, and hope that when he is next Mr. PORTER said, he should not have risen but for marshalling his evidence, he will not omit it. the particular allusion which had been made by the Sen- As to the satisfaction the Senator derives from the elecator from Pennsylvania, to the circumstances attendant tions in Virginia, I shall say nothing. Certainly there is on the election which brought him here. The compla- no means of destroying a pleasure which increases with cency with which the gentleman had dwelt on his (Mr. the news of each successive defeat. It would be uncharP.'s) majority of one, shows the great value the gentle-itable to do so, if one could. I leave, however, the Senman places in government on a unit. But this famous ator, on this score, to my friend behind me, [Mr. LEIGH,] APRIL 29, 1834.] Huntingdon Proceedings.—Edgecombe (N. C.) Resolutions.—New Hampshire Memorials. [SENATE. who has but this morning informed me that the returns 4th. That, during the same period, there has been an from Virginia show that ancient commonwealth to be in actual increase in the total loans of the bank of one mildecided opposition to the late acts of the Executive. Ilion two hundred and fifty-six thousand three hundred hardly, however, required any information of that kind and sixty-eight dollars sixteen cents. to instruct me as to her course. I knew that the mother How, said Mr. P., after this exposition of facts, any of statesmen, ay, and of States too, would not be found one can still remain under the delusion that the bank has wanting, in this struggle, to her known devotion to prin- caused the present distress, is more than I can compreciple, and to her ancient renown. And now that her ban hend. ner is shaken loose to the wind, I feel that it will be a rallying signal to her talented sons, from the shores of the Potomac to the banks of the Sabine. EDGECOMBE (N. C.) RESOLUTIONS. Mr. BROWN presented the proceedings and resoluThe honorable Senator seems delighted that they were N. C. Among the resolutions, Mr. B. said, was one tions of a meeting of the inhabitants of Edgecombe county, not beaten in New York. This is now the burden of the which denied the power of the Government to incorposong of those who, before the late expression of opinion rate a national bank. If any doubts had previously exthere, claimed the State as their own. I tell the Senator,isted as to the injurious tendency of such an institution however, they were beaten there. They have lost the whole administration of the city, save its chief magistrate, it was now exercising over the country, the despair as the Bank of the United States, the great power which and he has succeeded but by a majority of 183, when which prevailed, the statement which had been made, his party, in the contest preceding, had a majority of 6,000 that many of our citizens had been deprived of their breakvotes. Does the gentleman quote this, too, as evidence fasts and suppers, ought to remove those doubts. He of public opinion being in favor of the Executive, and is he glad of it? Be it so he is certainly grateful for small mercies. concurred fully with the resolutions which he had the be read and referred to the Committee on Finance. As to the price of agricultural products, the gentleman did well to dwell on flour alone. This is an article of first necessity; it enters largely into the food of man; and the gentleman's assertion amounts to nothing more than that the people are not actually starving. Does not the honorable Senator see, that, whether the people who The resolutions were then read, and referred. are deprived of employment eat bread at their own exMr. CLAY presented the following resolutions, which pense, or at that of others, there can be little or no difwere considered and adopted: ference in the price? If, however, the Senator had carried his inquiries beyond articles of primary necessity, ed to report to the Senate the gross amount of the proResolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directhe would have found a material change in their value, ceeds of the sales of the public lands, and the number of Had he done so, and convinced me that sugar had acres which have been sold during the year 1833, includmaintained its price, the intelligence would have been of much more importace to me than all the other mat-ing the last quarter of the year, and distinguishing the amount received, and number of acres sold, in each State and Territory. ters he has communicated to the House. But there was another subject touched on by the honorable Senator, which Mr. P. said he could not Resolved, also, That he report to the Senate the manallow to remain unnoticed. A sense of justice forbade time to time, the "twentieth part of the nett proceeds ner in which has been ascertained at the Treasury, from him. He could not remain silent, and hear the charge of the lands lying within the said State, (Ohio,) sold by which the gentleman had made againt the bank. He Congress, from and after the 30th day of June next, says the distress which now pervades the country is produced by the machinations of that institution, in withdrawing its capital, in contracting its discounts. Sir, said Mr. P., I am surprised—I am actually astonished to hear on this floor such assertions made by a gentleman and by a gentleman too, of known integrity and talents. Sir, I call on him to show how the bank has produced this distress. I demand of him his evidence for the assertion he has made. If the allegation be true, the facts must be known on which it is based. Give us then, those facts. If you have not the facts, you are not justified in making the accusation. Sir, as the gentleman seems in some difficulty in this matter, I will help him to some. facts, with which he should have been familiar before he put forth his charge. I hold in my hand, sir, the last official document of the bank. Its veracity cannot be called in question. Well, sir, what do we see by it? Why these conclusive facts: that, from the 1st of October to the 7th of March 1st. The reduction of the loans has not been, by upwards of four millions of dollars, as great as the reduction of the deposites. (1802,) after deducting all expenses incident to the same," which, by the compact with Ohio, was set apart for laying out and making public roads; and the manner which the like allowance made to other new States has been ascertained at the Treasury, showing, especially, the deductions made from the gross amount to ascertain the nett proceeds. PRESIDENT'S PROTEST. The Senate then proceeded to the consideration of the special order, being the resolutions offered by Mr. POINDEXTER, as modified by Mr. CLAY. The question being on the motion of Mr. BIBB to amend, Mr. BIBB resumed and concluded his remarks, as giv- TUESDAY, APRIL 29. NEW HAMPSHIRE MEMORIALS. 2d. That the withdrawal of nearly eight millions of Mr. BELL presented a memorial from Somersworth, dollars of those funds on which the bank has based its in the State of New Hampshire, signed by 452 citizens accommodation to the community, has not yet been fol- of that place, and another from Dover, in the same State, lowed by a reduction of accommodation equal to one-half the amount of funds thus withdrawn. 3d. That, from the 1st of January to the 1st of March, the increase in the line of domestic bills amounted to nearly two millions and a half of dollars. VOL. X.-97 signed by more than 500 of its citizens, both complaining of great and unparalleled distress, general stagnation of business, and reduced demand for the products of industry; all of which the memorialists ascribe to the measures of the Executive in relation to the Bank of the United |