JUNE 11, 1834.]

Reports on the Post Office.

[SENATE.

his place here, by a member of the other House, who in all its troubles-then what, he (Mr. B.) would ask, represents the State of North Carolina, that he was offer- would be the inference? Let honorable Senators opposed

ed a very large quantity by a certain press in this city, without being charged one cent for them. Now this practice had been resorted to with a view to operate on public opinion, and to break down the administration by calumnies and falsehoods.

to the bank, adopt the rule which those favorable to it acted upon-then how would it operate in that case? That he would leave honorable gentlemen to determine. He would not make the application himself.

With respect to the Post Office Department, he would His colleague had said that war had been made on the say that he was not the advocate of abuse there, or in "monster" for the last five or six months by the friends any other department of the Government. Now, honof the administration. If that had been the case, the orable gentlemen on the other side, pursuing the course monster, with its gigantic powers, had resisted the war, of conduct which they did, and when they talked about backed and sustained as it was by a coalesced party here. economy, did not speak in their vernacular tongue. He What had been done? The committee which was sent would appeal to the Journals of the Senate, to its records, to Philadelphia to make investigation into the unexam- to show the contrary. There it would be seen who had pled corruption, which there was every reason to believe occasioned the extravagant expenditures that had been existed, had been driven back by it; while the Post Office made. Who had been the means of increasing the exconcerns, as they always should be, were thrown open to penses of the Government? Why, the opposition-those public view, and all its transactions were bared to the pub- who had upheld the tariff system, contributed to pass lic eye. We were informed, one or two weeks before the the pension law, which has been the cause of adding return of the committee from Philadelphia, by a press greatly to the expenses of the Government. Who had devoted to the cause of the bank, published in this city, contributed to pass every bill in relation to internal imthat members of Congress need have no apprehension provements, and making the most extravagant approthat their correspondence would be exposed-that he priations? He well recollected, when the President, in (the editor) had no doubt that the institution would take 1830, thought it his constitutional duty to step forward care to keep in secrecy that which ought not to be ex- and interpose his veto to the extravagant and corrupt hibited. Now, the friends of the administration were system going on, and put his veto on the bill making an desirous that the doors of every department of the Gov-appropriation for the Maysville road, the denunciations ernment should be thrown open, and that the strictest that came from the opposition party. It was called the scrutiny should be made into their affairs; but he (Mr. New York policy; and it was said that the Executive had B.) had been astonished, surprised, and felt the greatest adopted the Virginia rule of construction. And now honindignation, that members should get up here and vindi- orable Senators reproached him for his extravagance. cate the bank, while they, at the same time, talked about The Journals of the Senate, however, would show several corruption in regard to the Post Office Department, about bills granting large sums of the public money away, but an investigation, and of disseminating information. If which were either vetoed or retained by the President, they were enemies and the adversaries of corruption-if and thus were prevented from passing. And yet those they wished to give light to the public as to the affairs of honorable gentlemen were now denouncing him for his that institution-why should they not set an example in extravagant administration! He (Mr. B.) believed that the case of the bank, by having its doors thrown open to there was not a bill passed granting money, but what the an investigation? Why were they not for disseminating opposition party had the most material agency in passing light on that subject? Instead of doing that, honorable it. The Executive branch of the Government was not to gentlemen were ready to defend its course, and all its blame; he did not deserve the censure which had been sinuosities, no matter what they might be. And yet they cast upon him. When he had used the veto power to talked about corruption, and of disseminating light among arrest extravagance, he was abused; and when an extravthe people, when they were advocating a course which agant law had been passed, he was likewise abused. was sustaining corruption, and calculated to shun inquiry and investigation.

Mr. B. had heard the honorable Senator from Ohio say, on that floor, that the very fact of the Postmaster General having negotiated a loan for $1,000, or some small amount of that kind, was, to his [Mr. EwING's] mind, conclusive evidence of corruption.

Mr. EWING. I made no remark of the kind: I merely said that such a negotiation had taken place.

Mr. BROWN resumed. He understood the honorable Senator to use the expression he (Mr. B.) had just named. If he did not intend any imputation on the character of the Postmaster General

The Senate had not evinced much economy by ordering so many books, &c. for their use. Honorable gentlemen ought, therefore, to show a little charity to others; and a regard for truth required that they should take some responsibility upon themselves.

As regarded the Post Office establishment, he did not defend it. He belonged to that old school of politicians who were denounced some years since as radicals. He well recollected that gentlemen of a certain political school in 1823-4, denounced as radicals those who were for bringing the constitution within strict limits and retrenching the expenses of the Government.

Mr. CALHOUN. 1 wish to know to what party the gentleman refers.

Mr. CALHOUN. The honorable Senator is entirely wrong.

Mr. EWING. I shall not say what I meant; so that the gentleman may make what he pleases of my intention. Mr. BROWN. I believe it is that party to which the Mr. BROWN proceeded. He should certainly not in-honorable gentleman from South Carolina belongs. sist on placing the gentleman on the confessional as to what he meant. But the fact had been stated by the honorable gentleman yesterday, and had since been reiterated Mr. BROWN continued. I did not make any direct by him, that there had been a little pecuniary transaction reference, until called upon to do so. He (Mr. B.) well of $1,900 between the Postmaster General and a con- remembered that the term "radical" was applied, by the tractor. He (Mr. B.) had no doubt of the expression, political friends of the honorable Senator, as an epithet and, as he understood the honorable Senator, he seemed of reproach, to those who were at that time endeavoring to cast a reflection on the moral character of the Post- to reduce the patronage of the Government. He (Mr. master General. Now, let the rule be applied elsewhere. B.) had a distinct recollection, that, when the extravaSupposing an individual, or individuals, having large pe- gant system of fortifications was upheld, the party opcuniary transactions with the bank, and being members posed to it were designated "radicals," and it was a of either House of Congress, having advocated the bank system which absorbed, uselessly, millions of the public through good and bad report, and having sustained it money. The system of internal improvement, too, was

Reports on the Post Office.

[JUNE 11, 1834.

advocated at that period by those in power, but the party ber of the reports to be printed, he did not believe opposed to it were denounced as radicals. should therefore vote against printing more than the it would at all conduce to the public interests, and usual number.

The

He was strongly disposed to correct any abuses which might have crept into the Post Office Department, and to introduce a system of economy and retrenchment. He doubted not that there had been mismanagement, but it thanks to the honorable Senator from North Carolina, Mr. SPRAGUE observed, that he had to return his ought to be remembered that it was in part caused by [Mr. BROWN,] for defending his (Mr. S.'s) constituents Congress itself, by having established, from time to time, against a supposed attack made by him on their intelli a number of new routes. Where, then, was that spirit of gence. economy of which the opposition party boasted? Let able gentleman their thanks, for interposing his ample He had no doubt they would return the honorhonorable Senators recollect the importunity the Post-shield between them and their representative. master General had undergone, on all sides, to extend honorable gentleman, however, would do well to underthe facilities of the Post Office Department. He had stand the facts before he volunteers in their cause. been importuned, not only by the people, but by members (Mr. S.) did not say that the people of Maine did not of Congress, who, after having obtained what they re- know whether the protest of the President, as publishquested, now came forward and denounced him for ma-ed in the papers, was genuine or not. king extra allowances! Yes, it had been said that he had been written to by one or two individuals, requesting granted extra allowances to favorites; but how had it him to send a copy of the official paper, that they He said he had turned out? Why, that some of them had been made to might convince some of the incredulous that such a opposition men. them for political purposes. Well, then, he could not have given document did emanate from the President of the Uni

ted States.

[Mr. BROWN explained.]

He

In regard to the loans of money, which it was said the Postmaster General had obtained, the practice was cer tainly indefensible. It was contrary to law and the prin-able gentleman was, that the people of Maine had been Mr. SPRAGUE Continued. The language of the honorciples of economy which the administration ought to charged with want of intelligence to understand that the carry out. He (Mr. B.) pledged himself to go as far as protest was an official paper. his honorable colleague, or any other honorable member, man, if this was not his meaning, think it necessary for in the correction of any abuses that may exist in the De-him to come all the way from North Carolina, to defend Did the honorable gentlepartment, but he could not sit still and hear such sweep-some two individuals in Maine against the imputation ing denunciations made, without making some reply, for of not knowing that the President's document was genthe purpose of reminding the opposition party what had uine?

been their course formerly. Doubtless, as he had said

before, there had been mismanagement in the adminis- of the remarks of the honorable gentleman, in return for While up, Mr. S. said he would take notice of some tration of the Post Office Department, but, in his opinion, the kindness he had shown in volunteering for the deit was greatly exaggerated. Much had been said con- fence of the people of Maine. The honorable gentleman cerning the two reports on the subject. The report of gives his reasons why he will not vote for the printing, the majority was greatly relied upon, and he was incli- and he does it by assailing the report of the majority of ned to pay proper respect to it. It was certainly conceiv- the committee. ed in a very kind spirit; there was no sort of passion cause, and then gave the evidence. That is, the commitmanifested in it at all: none. They began by condemn- tee, after considering for four months, drew their concluHe says that they first adjudged the ing without bringing proofMr. CLAYTON. Will the gentleman name the cases? lates that evidence, which is just as if a judge should say, sions from the evidence before them, and then recapituMr. BROWN. The report, he believed, abounded in "I think from the evidence that the plaintiff is entitled instances of that character. ded censure, and the proofs were afterwards given. It of stating the evidence first, and pronouncing his opinion It commenced with a deci- to recover;" and then state the evidence at large, instead was like beginning at the end, and ending at the begin- afterwards. But where was the gentleman's evidence, ning. The mild and moderate manner in which the gen- before he ventured on his condemnation of the committleman from Ohio spoke, he thought, must have stricken tee? May not this committee, from the evidence before the minds of almost every individual here. He (Mr. B.) them, and after a long examination, make up their opinshould not vote for 30,000, because he did not see any ions, state them, and then give the evidence on which thing in the report, or the circumstances connected with they were founded, without being charged with having it, which entitled it to precedence over every other doc-prejudged the case? But we have in the gentleman's ument. What, he asked, was the practice of the Senate speech a topic which, at all times and under all circumin regard to the President's message? So far as he was stances, is to answer all charges against the administrainformed, there were never more than 6,000 copies print- tion, and to shield all its corruptions from investigation. ed. One of the most important reports which had been it is the monster the bank. made to the Senate, was presented by the gentleman from look into any irregularities in any department, the cry is, Massachusetts, and related to the removal of the depos-"The bank! the bank!" Mr. S. would like to know how The moment you attempt to ites, and of that there were but 6,000 copies printed. He any supposed corruption in the bank is to show that the was not aware of any report, no matter how important, Post Office Department has not violated the laws. He of which there had been ordered more than 6,000. Why, should like to see the logical deductions from such a posithen, was there such great solicitude in regard to this re-tion; he should like to see the links of the chain by which port? He had no doubt, if the motion to print 30,000 the gentleman would connect his conclusions with the ascopies should prevail, they would not be in the possession sumption. But the gentleman admits that the conduct of the members of Congress until next fall. There was of the Department is indefensible; that its borrowing of a fact within his own knowledge, and that was, that after money was without the authority of law, and in violation the rise of this body last year, some documents which of the constitution. Well, if this be so, how is it that the had been ordered to be printed before the adjournment, committee should be charged with having prejudged the were not received by himself until September or Octo-case? ber, and probably such would be the case with respect to these reports. The gentleman says there have been great and lavish Mr. B. said, in conclusion, that, although the public the opposition to the administration. What, sir! The expenditures of the public money, and charges them on printer might be benefited by ordering so large a num-minority in the Government to be charged with the public

expenditures? Is the minority, the weaker party, to bear the blame of the acts of those who hold the power of the Government? Are those who have no power to do any thing, to be charged with doing every thing?

[SENATE.

ry section and corner of the country. He found, by a very simple calculation, that, in case this large number should be printed, he should be entitled to from 600 to 625 copies, and he felt sure that he could not send to his He did not intend to go so far into this debate, and he State a single one of those copies until they would be fahad said more than he intended when he first rose. He miliar to every person to whom he might send, by an earwould conclude, however, with making one more re- liar copy furnished through the newspapers. Instead, mark. His colleague [Mr. SHEPLEX] had said that the therefore, of communicating information to his constituopposition papers in Maine did not quote the public doc-ents, he should communicate dead and useless mattter, uments truly, and that those papers in favor of the admin-except to those who might be in the habit of preserving istration did. Now, he did not understand how that could and binding up documents of this important character, be. For himself, he had been under a different impres- furnished to them in a form susceptible of that disposition. sion. He did not, however, refer to any unfairness on Entertaining these impressions, he was compelled to think the part of the papers on the other side. But he did say, that the expense would be a useless and injudicious exthat such was the difference in the politics of the two par- penditure of the public money, and therefore unjustifiaties in that State, that the one side did not believe the pa-ble. Mr. W. said he would most cheerfully vote for the pers of the other. printing of a number of these reports equal to the highest Mr. BROWN explained. The gentleman from Maine number of copies which it was the practice of the Senate considered my defence of his constituents inappropriate. to print of any document whatever. This number, he The gentleman had charged him with having introduced believed, was 6,000, and he could not believe that any the "monster" into the debate. Now, he (Mr. B.) had not thing in relation to these documents required that we the honor of introducing the monster. It was first intro- should tax the public treasury to print five times the highduced by the gentleman from New Jersey, and then by est number known to the Senate. his (Mr. B.'s) honorable colleague, [Mr. MANGUM.] The gentleman from Maine was correct in trying to escape from the monster to the Post Office, as he must be naturally anxious to get out of such bad company.

Mr. W. said he must notice another point which had been brought into the discussion by the honorable Senator from North Carolina, [Mr. MANGUM.] He alluded to the Bank of the United States, and to the effort of the Mr. WRIGHT said, it was upon his motion that the honorable gentleman to charge with inconsistency those yeas and nays were ordered upon the question of print- who supported the administration, in their conduct toing 30,000 copies of these reports. He would not still wards the bank and towards the Post Office Department. have troubled the Senate with any remarks upon the sub- How was the fact? It was not charged as a fact, either in ject, had not a private conversation of his been introdu- the reports, or in the debate, that the Post Office Departced into the debate, connected with other subjects and ment had expended money for political objects; but it with individuals, which compelled him to notice the ref- was said that suspicions were entertained that such expenerences made. But being thus called up, he felt bound ditures had been made. It was admitted by all, that the to say that he could not enter into the debate upon the bank bad, within the last four years, expended more than merits of the questions involved in the two reports, as he eighty thousand dollars, purely for political objects, and was not able, from the mere reading of documents of for the printing and distribution of speeches in Congress, the length of these reports at the Secretary's table, to and other political matter. Had the Senate taken any remember sufficiently their contents to debate them upon steps to investigate that expenditure? He was aware of their merits. He could not remember in what material none, other than the effort made upon the motion of the particulars those reports contradicted each other, and honorable Senator from Missouri, [Mr. BENTON,] at an wherein they corroborated each other. He could not early period of the session, and promptly rejected by the even say what were the material points in issue between vote of the body. Where, then, was the inconsistency the different members of the committee, and much less of the friends of the administration? The bank has made could he undertake to say, from his recollection of the political expenditures without investigation from the Senreading of those documents, what were the facts and ate, but an unsupported suspicion against the Post Office inferences of the two reports relative to those points. has called from this body a prompt investigation. Still, He had ever made it his practice to possess himself of the fact of political expenditures is not established, but the facts before he attempted to discuss the questions merely suspected, and the bank remains undisturbed with arising from those facts, because he had always believed the fact admitted. Again: the doors of the Post Office it was better parliamentary practice to understand the Department have not been shut against investigation; but facts, and then discuss the questions, than to discuss the questions and then obtain an understanding of the facts. Thus much, Mr. W. said, he thought it his duty to say in relation to the pending debate, which he un derstood to be upon the merits, or what gentlemen assumed to be the merits, of the questions involved in the reports, while the reports were long, and had been merely read here and ordered to be printed. They must, therefore, have left the Senate chamber for the printer's office two days ago, and must be now in the hands of the printer. It ought to be expected that, in a day or two, we shall have copies of the reports printed and laid upon our tables, and when he could have time to examine them, he should be ready to enter into a discussion of any questions which they might be found to involve.

every call of our investigating committee has been promptly answered. All the facts called for have been furnished, and no complaint is made of resistance to the efforts of the committee. Can the honorable gentleman say this for the bank? Has it opened its doors to the committees of Congress, and spread the truth before us? No, sir, it has shut its doors and refused investigation. Shall we then be accused of inconsistency and partiality, because we oppose printing this extravagant number of these reports? Mr. W. said, he must hope that the honorable Senator would abandon his charge of inconsistency and partiality, until he had gone as far in his efforts to expose the abuses of the bank, as the friends of the administration had gone in their willingness to expose and lay open to the public the whole affairs of the Post Office Department. He repeated, he would vote to print a His objection to the printing of this unusual and ex-number of these reports equal to the highest number travagant number of copies of these reports, arose from known to the practice of the Senate; but he would not the fact that he was fully satisfied that before these extra vote to print five times that number, when he was satiscopies could be furnished by the printer to the Senate, fied the extra documents would be so late as to convey no the reports would go, through the public papers, to eve-valuable information to the public, which would not have

Mr. W. said, this closed all he had to say in relation to the question properly before the Senate. He felt bound, however, to reply to some remarks from the honorable Senator from North Carolina, [Mr. MANGUM,] of a character, so far as he was able to discover, not in any way connected with the subject under discussion. He hoped he should not be held out of order, as he would pledge himself to the Senate to confine his reply strictly to the remarks made, and to be as brief as possible.

[JUNE 11, 1834.

At

been preceded by the same information conveyed through should not have made the frank reply he had, if he had the newspapers. not understood the allusion to have been made in good temper and in good feeling. He could not say who were this frightful body, called the Albany Regency. home it was wholly undefined. Here it seemed to have taken a definite shape, and in that shape it was that he had spoken of the individuals. He intended to have fulfilled his engagement to the honorable Senator, and to have given him the introduction he wished; but, on the morning after the request, all the gentlemen, save one, a member of the Senate of New York, left town, and, as The Albany Regency had been again introduced upon he, Mr. W., supposed that the gentleman's curiosity the floor of the Senate, and a private conversation of his would be wholly disappointed if he failed to see the in reference to that undefined body, had been referred to, group, he did not call upon the honorable Senator and which demanded a reply. He had now concluded to make put him to the trouble to visit the hotel for the mere the reply which, upon a former occasion, he had refrain- purpose of seeing the single individual that remained; ed from making, because the subject was too painful to though he could assure him and the Senate, that that his feelings, and because he did not then consider the in- gentleman would have been found intelligent, gentletroduction of the subject into the Senate as authorizing, manly, and in every sense worthy of his acquaintance and from him, any extended remarks. Now, to quiet all ap- respect.

prehension from any quarter, he said he had concluded to Mr. W. said he had himself, for several years, been hongive a full statement of the facts, and to leave to the Sen-ored with a reputed membership in this body, called the ate and the public its pertinency here, and its importance Albany Regency; and he had not been sensible, during any any where. portion of the period, of any change, moral or political, He would not undertake to be precise as to time, but, wrought upon him by the association. It gave him pleas as his recollection was, within the last month the Attorney ure to state that all the individuals who were most comGeneral of his State, a gentleman of high standing as a monly designated as his Regency associates, while this recitizen, of such standing at the bar of the State as to en-puted connexion continued, were men of the first standing title him to the office he had received, by a very unani-as to capacity and integrity, and none stood stronger with mous vote of the State Legislature, and in all respects a the people of the State.

He pre

sumed he must have been a bad scholar in this branch of the so-much-dreaded New York politics, for he could assure the honorable Senator, that, so far as tactics, drill, discipline, or management, were evidenced by action, he had never seen, any where, stronger evidences of a perfect system, than he had uniformly witnessed in this chamber, and prevailing in full force with those who dif fered with him here, and who were the opponents of the administration.

worthy individual, had, after a most laborious official em- New York tactics, too, Mr. W. said, had, upon the ployment of more than four months, during the annual present occasion, been the subject of remark. session of the Legislature, and with health seriously impaired during the time of the prevalence of that fearful pestilence, the cholera, in the city of Albany, in the summer of 1832, and not yet restored, left his residence and travelled to this city, mainly for the benefit of his health. Mr. W. said he was not aware that any individual accompanied the Attorney General, who had excited alarm here. Some two days after him, the printer of the State, two of the members of the Senate of the State, and one of the circuit judges of the State, came on together from Mr. WILKINS said, I am not going to speak of the Althe city of New York to this city, and here they united bany Regency, or of New York tactics, nor of the bank, with the Attorney General at the same hotel, and, for nor of nullification, nor of the force bill. I hope, for the some two or three days, remained fellow-lodgers at the sake of harmony, we shall let those topics alone. Nor same house. These five individuals, thus situated, at once will I speak of internal improvement, or of the American obtained in the Senate the appellation of the "Albany system; I am too much attached to those two objects to Regency;" but whether they obtained that appellation talk much about them. I will merely say that I shall vote elsewhere, he was unable to say. His first information of in the negative of the proposition now before the Senate, the existence of the reputed body in this city was obtain- because I think it an extravagant waste of the public ed in his seat, and by the introduction of this "Regency" money. To print so great a number of copies, would be into this hall. At the time, the circumstance gave him to throw upon the hands of honorable Senators more than unpleasant feelings, as all the individuals were personal they could possibly distribute at this late period of the friends, men whom he had long known, and who, from session. I am willing, for the sake of disseminating personal knowledge, he could say, were gentlemen of knowledge-an object which comes home to every man character, patriotism, intelligence, and integrity, second in society-to vote for six, eight, or ten thousand copies. to no men he did know; and he would make no exception I differ from many of my friends, as to the expediency of circulating so many of these documents in pamphlet form. It was true, that, after the mention of these individuals I know that they will be highly prized by a vast portion in the Senate, the honorable Senator from North Carolina of the community. I am aware that many valuable docu. [Mr. MANGUM] came to him, Mr. W., in the recess of the ments are disseminated through the newspapers, espeSenate, and the conversation was held which the honora-cially those of a large size, which are costly, and can only ble gentleman had truly recited. be taken by those who are, comparatively speaking, [Here Mr. MANGUM explained. He said he would not wealthy. But those papers which are published in the say that he had recited the conversation truly. It was small villages, and circulated amongst the honest yeomanpartially jocose, and he had not laid it up in his recollec- ry—the farmers of Pennsylvania-are, from their small tion. He had not referred to it from any ill feeling, but size, unable to contain such documents as we now propose he had entertained a curiosity as to that body, called the to print; therefore, these pamphlets will disseminate Albany Regency, and he had an anxiety to see the individ- knowledge among them in regard to the Post Office, in uals composing it.]

whatever.

the operations of which, almost every man in the commu

Mr. W. then asked for the yeas and nays.

Mr. WRIGHT proceeded. He said he had not under-nity feels an interest. stood the honorable gentleman as referring to this subject from any ill feeling or personal disrespect, and he surely

Mr. GRUNDY rose to state the reasons why the yote he

JUNE 12, 1834.]

Lyme (Conn.) Memorial.—Tompkins County (N. Y.) Memorial.

[SENATE.

was now about to give, would be different from that he not control, they would have borne them as becomes pafirst intended, and as he had intimated to the Senate the triots and Christians; but, considering it in the power of other day. When the proposition to print thirty thousand the National Legislature at once to remove these evils, copies of these documents was made by the Senator from the memorialists earnestly implore Congress to attend to North Carolina, [Mr. MANGUM,] he thought the number the subject, and restore the country to its wonted prostoo great. But, on hearing the remarks of gentlemen perity. yesterday and to-day, in which were statements on sub- The memorial was referred to the Committee on Fijects they could not possibly understand, without a prop-nance, and ordered to be printed. er examination of the documents, and under the belief that they could scarcely remember all that they heard TOMPKINS COUNTY (N. Y.) MEMORIAL. read, and notwithstanding made declarations certainly Mr. WEBSTER presented the memorial of nine hunvery incorrect, he was willing to vote for printing the dred and thirty-seven citizens and electors of Tompkins whole number proposed. He wanted to correct these county, in the State of New York. The memorial, he misapprehensions and misstatements, and what was the said, was short, and to the point. The signers declaredbest corrective? Why, it was to throw the whole subject "That they have for several years past, and until the before the people; and odious as these extras of the De- last six months, enjoyed, in common with the people of partment had become, he would, for the benefit of his the United States, great and increasing prosperity. Trade friend on his right, [Mr. MANGUM,] even vote for the and commerce flourished; agriculture, manufactures, and printing of extras upon extras of these reports. He all mechanic skill yielded a fair profit to industry and inwould therefore vote for the whole thirty thousand copies,genuity; the currency of our country was considered safe, though he still believed the number too great. and a sufficient supply was in circulation for all business

The question was now taken on printing thirty thou-transactions. This state of prosperity continued until the sand copies of the report of the committee, and the unfortunate "experiment" of removing the public monstatement of the minority, and decided in the affirmative, eys, which has brought ruin and dismay to many of our as follows: most enterprising citizens, and loss and inconvenience to

YEAS.-Messrs. Bell, Bibb, Calhoun, Chambers, Clay-all. The produce of the agriculturist does not yield an ton, Ewing, Frelinghuysen, Grundy, Kent, Knight, adequate return for his labor; the enterprise of the Leigh, Linn, Mangum, Naudain, Poindexter, Preston, merchant is paralyzed; the manufacturer, artist, and laRobbins, Robinson, Silsbee, Smith, Southard, Sprague, borer, look in vain for their accustomed business and the Swift, Tomlinson, Tyler, Webster.-26.

NAYS.-Messrs. Benton, Black, Brown, Forsyth, Hendricks, Hill, King of Alabama, King of Georgia, Morris, Shepley, Tallmadge, White, Wilkins, Wright.-14. On motion of Mr. CLAYTON, the printing of the documents was ordered to be done under the direction of the committee.

The Senate then adjourned.

THURSDAY, JUNE 12.

LYME (CONN.) MEMORIAL.

Mr. TOMLINSON presented a memorial signed by a large number of inhabitants of the town of Lyme, in the county of New London, and State of Connecticut, condemning the removal of the public deposites, and praying that Congress would speedily re-charter the national bank, with suitable modifications, and replace the public funds in its custody.

reward of their toil. Your memorialists, witnessing the deranged state of the currency, and the general prostration of business, call upon you, as their agents, who possess the power to give them relief. The constitution has vested you with ample power, and your memorialists call upon you to exercise it for the relief of your constituents. We are no bank applicants-we ask for a national currency placed beyond the power of any one man, with which to try experiments. This will restore confidence, and money will circulate in its accustomed channels. Business-men, and all, will be cheered at the prospect of returning prosperity. With the hope that some measure may be immediately adopted, they pray," &c.

The county of Tompkins, Mr. W. said, was an inland county; he had not had the pleasure of visiting it, but knew its interests to be the great interests of the country. The memorialists were not bank men; not men who were panic makers, nor men who are panic struck. They ask Congress to look to the interests of the people, and act wisely for the whole country, and they are confident their own interests will then be safe. They demand a safe currency; they desire security for property, and encouragement to labor.

With several of the memorialists, Mr. T. said he was acquainted; and he had great pleasure in saying that they were highly respectable, and entitled to the public confidence. They state that formerly the population of New London county was composed principally of farmers; but Mr. President, we have now received memorials, lathat, within a few years, large investments had been menting and deprecating the course of Government, from made in manufactories, and in the whaling business; that, almost every quarter of the Union. Notwithstanding the until near the close of the last year, their agricultural, signs which some branches of the Government manifest, manufacturing, and commercial interests, had been con- to resist all change in the present unhappy and disastrous stantly improving; that every industrious man could find state of things, and notwithstanding the near approach of employment; that there was a ready demand for the prod- the end of the session, these memorials continue to make uce of their diversified labors; that money was suffi- their appearance daily. I hardly know, sir, when any ciently abundant, the circulating medium equal to gold one act of the administration has spread so widely, and and silver; and that their county presented an almost un-affected so universally, the daily comfort and prosperity interrupted scene of thriving and contented industry. of a whole community. The circumstance proves how The memorialists further represent that, within a short intimately the happiness of all its members is blended with period, they have witnessed in that county a most distress the operation of law, and how deeply Government is reing and unexpected change, laborers without employ-sponsible for the happiness of society. ment, manufactories shut up, the products of industry The memorial was ordered to be printed. selling at prices ruinously low, and credit annihilated, After the reception of sundry reports of committees, which they deem the natural results of the ill-judged and disposing of some resolutions and bills— measures and rash experiment of the Executive, in relation to the national currency. They add, that if the evils they suffer and deplore, in common with others, had been produced by any cause which human agency could

The Senate, on motion of Mr. WILKINS, proceeded to the consideration of Executive business; and, after remaining for some hours with closed doors, The Senate adjourned.