JUNE 18, 1834.] [SENATE. Kent County (R. I. ) Memorial.—General Appropriation Bill. could he exercise the power to terminate one of these Sir, it is also stated that less specie was exported the commissions at an earlier period, however he might differ last year than usual. The increased importation has been from the officer in opinion? partly attributed to its great value here, and the exportaIf he was right in these views, the solicitude manifest-tion has been lessened in part by the same cause. But, ed by the memorialists, as to the alarming condition of sir, the operations of the United States Bank is another the United States, was entitled to attention. He would cause why it has not been exported. It is now known, not, however, consume any more of the time of the Sen-that, instead of shipping specie to Europe, and even to ate, but would conclude with asking a reference of the memorials. The memorials were then referred, and ordered to be printed. KENT COUNTY (R. I.) MEMORIAL. Canton, as used to be the practice of merchants, the bills of the Bank of the United States are sent-they answer all the purposes of specie in Canton-they pay for cargoes there-thence are sent to Europe, and thence to this country, performing all the purposes of specie; leaving the specie in this country to perform the office of a circulating medium, or as the basis of a paper currency. Sir, there is another cause, still greater, why specie has not been exported, and that is, the establishment and support of manufactures. If we manufacture for ourselves, we are not under the necessity of sending specie to Europe to purchase the cotton and woollen cloths, axes, spades, shovels, and other things we need and consume, as we must do were we not manufacturers. If our surplus produce is not paid for in manufactures of other countries, it will be paid for in specie, and the specie will be imported, and not the manufactures of foreigners. This appears to me to be a great cause of specie remaining in the country. Mr. KNIGHT rose and said: Mr. President, I am requested to present the memorial of upwards of 400 inhabitants of the county of Kent, in the State of Rhode Island. They state that this county contains a population of upwards of twelve thousand inhabitants; that more than half the population are agriculturists; that they have numerous manufacturing establishments in all parts of the county, furnishing ready markets for the productions of the farmer, and employment for the laborer. As the business of the manufacturer declines, the market and em ployment decline also. If the manufacturing business is ruined, all feel its loss. The memorialists speak of the currency of the country, and of the vast importance a sound and stable currency is to them, and pray Congress to adopt such measures to sustain the currency as experi But, sir, if we compel manufacturers to abandon their ence and sound legislation may dictate; and also a resto-business, we must import similar productions; and, if we ration of the deposites to the United States Bank. import all the manufactures we consume, it will take much of the specie of the country to pay for them. GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL. On motion of Mr. WEBSTER, the bill making appropriations for the support of Government for the year 1834, was taken up. Sir, the manufacture of cotton, which has given such an impetus to industry, and to commerce and agriculture, I move, sir, that the memorial be printed, and referred was early established in this county. The second cotton-to the Committee on Finance. Agreed to. mill erected in the United States, was erected in this county. From this little beginning (and little it was) more than seventy-five thousand spindles, with their workshops, machinery, and villages, have sprung into being in this county alone-and I wish it were in my power to cheer them on, and to assure them of a fair prospect of their industry meeting its reward. Not even the last prayer of the memorialists can be looked to with any hope. The House of Representatives has already placed its veto on the resolution of the Senate, directing the deposites to be made in the United States Bank, after the first of July next. But, sir, there is a gleam of hope held out to them. It is said the distresses of this country has attracted the attention of Rothschild and other capitalists of Europe, who are now transmitting funds to this country, to be invested in such stocks as shall afford them a better and greater profit than they can obtain at home. I am willing, sir, to receive this little aid, and hope it will, in some measure, relieve our citizens from some of their embarrassments. A long discussion then took place, on a motion by Mr. PRESTON to postpone the consideration of the bill until Tuesday next. In this debate, Mr. PRESTON, Mr. WEBSTER, Mr. FORSYTH, Mr. CLAY, and Mr. GRUNDY participated. Mr. PRESTON then withdrew his motion to postpone. The Senate then proceeded to consider the amendments reported by the Committee on Finance. Several intervening amendments having been agreed to— The last amendment was arrived at, which proposes to strike out the second section (including the clause in relation to the compensation of officers of the customs) and insert in lieu thereof the following: It is also said, more specie was imported into the country And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the within the last year than in former years. This, sir, to Treasury be, and he is hereby authorized to pay to the my mind, is the natural tendency of things in the com-collectors, naval officers, surveyors, and their respective mercial world. Whenever bullion or specie is of greater clerks, together with the weighers and markers of the value in one country than another, it will find its way to several ports of the United States, out of any money in that country until an equilibrium is produced. If specie the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, such sums as is very scarce in this country, and will pay a better freight will give to the said officers, respectively, the same comthan other merchandise, it will be brought here in prefer. pensation in the year one thousand eight hundred and ence to other merchandise, paying less freight. A mer- thirty-four, according to the importations of that year, as chant will never bring specie when he can make a larger they would have been entitled to receive if the act of the profit by bringing coffee, tea, or other merchandise, and 14th of July, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, he will not bring coffee or tea if he can make more by had not gone into effect; and that the clerks employed bringing specie. So, on the contrary, when specie is of by the respective collectors, naval officers, and survey. greater value in Europe than in this country, it will be ors, together with the markers of the several ports, shall shipped there, notwithstanding the great hazard and dan-be paid for the year one thousand eight hundred and thir gers that a cargo of specie (if it may be called a cargo) ty-three, as if they had been specifically included in the may be exposed to on the high seas. We all know there third section of the act of the second of March of said is more danger in a shipment of specie than other mer-year, entitled "An act making appropriations for the chandise. Pirates and freebooters seek for it, when other civil and diplomatic expenses of Government for the year merchandise might pass in safety. one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three:" Provided, SENATE.] General Appropriation Bill. [JUNE 18, 1834. however, That in no case shall the compensation of weigh- That part of the amendment now under consideration, ers, gaugers, markers, or appraisers, whether by salaries, which fixes the maximum of emoluments to some of these fees, or otherwise, exceed the sum of two thousand dol-officers, is, in my judgment, (said Mr. S.,) preferable to lars each per annum; nor shall the union of any two or the provisions of the second section of the bill, for which more of these officers in one person, entitle him to re- this part of the amendment is offered as a substitute. ceive more than the sum of two thousand five hundred The second section of the bill provides that "in no case dollars per annum: And provided, also, That no officer shall the compensation, by salary, fees, or otherwise, be shall receive under this act a greater annual salary or permitted to exceed-of a collector, $3,000 per annum; compensation than was paid to such officer for the year of surveyors and naval officers, $2,500; and of weighone thousand eight hundred and thirty-two. ers, gaugers, markers, appraisers, and all others connected with the collection of the customs, $2,000 per annum." Mr. WEBSTER, in support of this amendment, gave a brief explanation of its provisions; and, after discussion by Messrs. CLAY, WEBSTER, SILSBEE, and WRIGHT, Mr. PORTER, after some remarks, proposed an amendment to the amendment, providing that the number of officers of the customs shall not be increased; when, after debate, On motion of Mr. FORSYTH, the Senate adjourned. [The following are the remarks of Mr. SILSBEE in the debate on the last amendment to the above-mentioned bill, being the only notes taken of the brief and desultory conversation which grew out of the various propositions to amend by the Committee on Finance:] By the existing laws, the emoluments at seven of the collection districts are limited to $4,000 for the collectors, $3,000 for the naval officer, and $2,500 for the surveyor. At all the other districts they are limited to $3,000 for the collector, $2,500 for the naval officer, and $2,000 for the surveyor. And, by the amendment, the emoluments of the weighers, gaugers, measurers, markers, and appraisers, are limited to $2,000 per annum; except when two or more of these officers are united in one person, who may, in such case, receive $2,500. So that the only difference between the bill and the amendment, in relation to these limitations, is, that by the bill no collector can receive more than $3,000, and no Mr. SILSBEE said, that he had, for some time past, naval officer or surveyor more than $2,500; but by the believed the existing rates of pay of the officers of the existing laws, seven collectors may receive $4,000 each, revenue to be so unequal as to call loudly for revision; and seven naval officers $3,000 each; which limitations and that, under this impression, he presented to the Sen-are not disturbed by the amendment: and where the ate, two years ago, a resolution calling for such informa- weighers, gaugers, measurers, or appraisers, discharge tion as would enable the Senate to revise the acts by the duties of more than one officer, they may, by the which this pay is established, and that he was informed, amendment, obtain $2,500 per annum. towards the close of the last session of Congress, by the Believing, as I do, said Mr. S., that $3,000 is not then Secretary of the Treasury, that such information enough, and that $4,000 is not too much, for the collecthad been collected, as would enable him to make a report or of such a district as that of New York, I prefer the upon the subject at the commencement of the present amendment to the second section of the bill, and shall session. But, finding on my arrival here in December give it the support of my vote. last, (said Mr. S.,) that the information on this subject, I will, now, said Mr. S., communicate, as concisely which had been collected by the Secretary, had been de- as I can, the information which I have gathered in the stroyed by the burning of the Treasury office, I offered a examination of this subject, to which I have alluded. resolution, early in this session, directing an inquiry by The act which may be considered the basis of the presone of the committees of this body, whether any, and, ent rates of pay to most of these officers, is that of if any, what alterations might advantageously be made March 2, 1799, and the pay established by that act is as either in the amount or mode of payment of these offi- follows: to some of the collectors, fees and commissions This inquiry led me (as a member of the commit-varying from of 1 per cent. to 3 per cent.; and, to tee to which the resolution referred) to an examination the other collectors, fees and salaries varying from $100 to which, though it has not yet afforded sufficient informa- $1,000; to naval officers and surveyors, fees, or fees and tion to found a report upon, has convinced me that there salaries, to inspectors $2 for every day "actually emis even a greater necessity for a revision of the existing ployed;" to measurers 30 cents per 100 bushels of grain, laws upon the subject than I had anticipated; and my 50 cents per 100 bushels of salt, and 60 cents per 100 principal object in addressing the Senate at this time, is bushels of coal. For weighing and marking, 1 cent to communicate some of the information which this exam- per 112 pounds in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Balination has afforded me; but, before doing this, I am in- timore, and Charleston; 1 cent per 112 pounds in Norduced to say, that the Committee on Finance of the last folk, and two cents per 112 pounds in any of the other session, (of which I was a member,) were, according to districts. For gauging and marking, eight cents per cask, my recollection, induced to recommend that provision of three cents per case upon wine or spirits, and one cent the general appropriation bill of the last year to which my per dozen for counting bottles of beer, &c. colleague has alluded, (and which does not, I think, dif. By the act of April, 1802, it is provided that no collectfer materially from a part of the amendment which he has or shall realize a higher pay than $5,000; no naval officer reported to the bill now under consideration,) by a belief more than $3,500; and no surveyor more than $3,000. that, without such provision, some of the principal offi- By the act of April, 1816, fifty per cent. was added to the cers of the revenue would get but little pay for their ser-pay of inspectors, weighers, gaugers, and measurers, as vices for that year, in consequence of the decrease of established by the act of March, 1799; making the present duties on a number of articles, and admission of some oth-rate of compensation, to inspectors $3 per day; to measuers free of duty, under the act of July, 1832, which would rers 45 cents per 100 bushels of grain, 75 cents per 100 cause a considerable reduction of their emoluments, and bushels of salt, and 90 cents per 100 bushels of coal; for which could not, at that late period of the session, be otherwise provided for; and, (said Mr. S.,) the reasons which influenced me to sustain that provision at that time, will induce me to vote for the similar provision now reported by the committee, with a hope, however, that, before the close of another session, some act will be passed upon this subject, of a permanent character. cers. weighing and marking 14 cents per 112 pounds at Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Charleston, 24 cents per 112 pounds at Norfolk, and 3 cents per 112 pounds at all the other districts; for gauging and marking 12 cents per cask, 44 cents per case of wine, &c., and 1 cents per dozen for counting bottles of beer, &c. By the act of May, 1822, the emoluments of the collect JUNE 18, 1834.] General Appropriation Bill. [SENATE. ors, naval officers, and surveyors at Boston, New York, at Philadelphia is reported to have received, last year, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston, Savannah, and New $3,481; and the surveyor of that port seems to have reOrleans, were limited to $4,000 for the collector; $3,000 ceived $2,900; when, by the act of May, 1822, no surfor naval officers, and $2,500 for surveyors; and at all the veyor is to receive more than $2,500. Mr. S. made the following statement of the number of weighers, gaugers, measurers, inspectors, accountants, and clerks, employed in each of the six principal collection districts, in the years 1824, 1828, and 1833, and their pay in 1833: AT BOSTON. Weighers and & clerks, Markers, Watch, NEW YORK. Weighers, 1821 1828 1833 w 7 PAY IN 1833. 8 7 Dolls. Cls. Dolls. Cts. 26,003 67, or 3,714 81each 6 5 20 22 5 25 12,280 70, or 2,456 14 do. 1,095 each. other districts, they were limited to $3,000 for the collect- In the list of revenue officers in the "Blue Book," or; $2,500 for the naval officers, and $2,000 for the sur-there are a number of names against which the pay is not veyors; and these are the existing limitations to the emol-stated; but there are 1,271 officers whose pay is given, uments of these officers. The naval officers and surveyors and that pay amounts to $1,035,191 60; which is rather are paid by fees, or fees and salaries; some of the collect- over $814 per man. ors by fees and commissions, others by fees and salaries—| the rate of commissions to the collectors varying from 3 per cent. to one-sixth of one per cent. Of this class of officers there are now in the public service, 96 collectors, 13 naval officers, and 51 surveyors. Of the 96 collectors, II of them receive each $3,000 and over, 5 of them receive from 2 to $3,000, 21 of them receive from 1 to $2,000, 30 of them from 500 to $1,000; and 29 of them receive under $500 each, per annum. Of the 13 naval officers, 4 of them rece've each $3,000; 1 receives $2, 175; 3 of them from 1 to $2,000 each; and 5 of them from 500 to $1,000 each. Of the 51 surveyors, 4 of them receive over $2,000 each; 5 of them from 1 to $2,000 dollars; 9 of them from 500 to $1,000; and 33 of them under $500 Measurers, each. Inspectors, The emoluments of some of the subordinate officers Accountants exceed those of any of the superior ones, and the emoluments of a large number of the subordinate officers excecd those of many of the superior ones. For instance, there are four of the weighers, gaugers, and measurers, the pay of each of which, for the last year, exceeds that of any one of the collectors, viz: In Philadelphia a weigher Gaugers, received $6,079, in New Orleans a weigher received Measurers, $6,403, a gauger $5,822, and a measurer $4,835; while Inspectors, the highest rate allowed to any collector is $4,000. 1 Accountants think said, Mr. S., that, after the collectors, the apprais& clerks, ers may be considered amongst the next most important Markers, officers of the revenue. No appraiser (except three of Watch, those at New York, who get $2,000 each) can receive more than $1,500 per annum, but there are 54 weighers, gaugers, measurers, and markers, who received, last year, $149,995, equal to $2,777 each, and nearly double the rate of pay of appraisers. There are 29 of these officers Inspectors, Accountants whose pay, the last year, equals that of 37 of the highest paid collectors; and there are 37 of these officers whose & clerks,-13 13 pay exceeds the 37 highest collectors by $32,548; there Markers, are only 12 collectors whose pay exceeds the average Watch, these 54 weighers, gaugers, measurers, and markers. The business of marking" is, by law, a part of the Weigher, duty of the weigher and the gaugers, and included in the Gauger, rate of pay allowed to them; but, in two or three of the Measurer, largest districts, it is made a distinct duty, with distinct Inspectors, pay, from that of weigher and gauger; but by what authority I have been unable to discover. Inspectors are entitled to three dollars per day for "every day he shall be actually employed;" and this provision of the law seems to be generally complied with in the smaller districts; but in the larger districts every in spector (and at the port of New York there are 127 of them) receives three dollars per day for every day in the year, or $1,095 per annum. 55 63 127 29 50 ཡཐཱཎམྨཊྛ 94 500 to 1,050 each. 9 1,095 to 4,331 57 each. 547 50 each. 6,097 49. N. ORLEANS. There should, certainly, be a sufficient number of officers, in each and in every port, to enable them to dis- Marker, charge all the duties which may devolve on them, in such manner as to prevent any unnecessary delay to those who have business to transact with the custom-house; but it seems to me, said Mr. S., to be hardly possible that 127 Gauger, inspectors can be "actually employed" at New York every day in the year. Of these officers, there are 273 who Marker, receive $1,095 each, or $3 per day the year round, and Inspectors, Clerks, 2) more who receive but a fraction short of $1,095; making 293 who received, last year, $319,802, or over $1,092 Watch, each, being a higher rate of pay than was received by nearly two-thirds of the collectors. A deputy inspector VOL. X.-128 19 600 00 to 1,500 each. SENATE.] Toulon Accident.—Signers of the U. S. Bank Memorials. [JUNE 19, 1834. Whole number of officers in each of the four largest are granted to the widows and orphans of deceased seadistricts, and amount of their pay, viz: At Boston, 1824. Officers. Pay. 1828. Officers. Pay. 1833. Off. Pay. men, and can, therefore, frame a bill to suit this peculiar case. He had heard that there was, on this unfortunate occasion, an unpardonable negligence on the part of the 100 87,693 dolls. 70 102,360 dolls. gunner of the American frigate, and that he had been 174 174,712 65 83,785 322 335,888 75 92,259 93 88,830 dolls. New York, 133 127,975 Philadelphia, 50 60,123 New Orleans, 31 37,068 Amount of commissions and fees received by the collectors at each of the four principal districts, in the year 1833, showing about the quantity of business done at each of them, viz. At Boston, New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans, one-sixth more than at New York. $20,238 19,918 54,517 $63,750, being Mr. WAGGAMAN assented to Mr. CLAY's suggestion, and, on his motion, the message was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, and ordered to be printed. SIGNERS OF THE U. S. BANK MEMORIALS. The CHAIR communicated an additional report from the Secretary of the Senate, made in compliance with a resolution of the Senate, showing the number of signers At N. York. to the various memorials presented to the Senate of the 127 United States, on the subject of the national finances, and the expediency of a national bank, for and against the measures of the Executive on these subjects; and, on motion of Mr. CLAY, to print them for the use of the Senate, Mr. FORSYTHI asked for the reading of the Secretary's report; and the report having been read, 94 256 By which it appears that at Boston, Philadelphia, and New Orleans, where the amount of commissions and fees were one-sixth greater than at New York, only about half as many of these officers were employed. Mr. FORSYTH said his object was to ascertain from the Secretary whether any attempt had been made to purge these memorials, to learn how many signatures Mr. S. said, that since the present rates of pay of the were to be found on different sides. Memorials and counofficers of the revenue were established, the business of ter-memorials had been sent in, in both of which, in many many of the districts had changed; in some of them it had instances, the same names were to be found. He recolgreatly increased, and in others it had as greatly diminish-lected the many memorials from Philadelphia, coming ed; that his object in making these statements was to from classes, separated into merchants, mechanics, proshow the great inequality, and, as he thought, injustice of fessional and business men, and young men also like the present rates of pay to these different officers--the the stage-players, where one man represents several difdifferent apportionment of the business, and of its emolu- ferent characters. There was another circumstance, also ments, in different districts-and the necessity of an early to be taken into consideration, and that was, the natural revision of the existing laws upon the subject. THURSDAY, JUNE 19. TOULON ACCIDENT. A message was received from the President of the United States, transmitting despatches received from our minister to France, covering a letter from Capt. Ballard, of the frigate United States, detailing a fatal accident, which led to the death of some French seamen, in firing a salute, three of the ship's guns being charged with ball. The message recommended Congress to grant pensions to the heirs of the deceased, and to the wounded seamen, at the same rate as is allowed in similar cases in the naval service of the United States. Mr. WAGGAMAN moved to refer the message and documents to the Committee on Naval Affairs; but with drew the motion at the suggestion of a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations, and moved to refer it to that committee. disposition of human nature to complain. Those who were satisfied with the present state of things were not so apt to come before Congress with complaints as those in the opposition, whose object is to magnify imaginary grievances. The largest meeting, he believed, from which a memorial had come was the one at Baltimore, and that was against the bank. Mr. F. said, he would not, however, oppose the printing, though he believed it perfectly unnecessary. The Senate might take the question, and decide as it pleased. Mr. CLAY said, it was somewhat remarkable that the honorable Senator, though he thought the petitions and memorials which had been presented to the Senate were no test of public opinion, and were of very little value, should have taken so much pains to blunt the effect of the hundred and fifty thousand names of individuals who had solicited relief. If it was worth nothing, the honorable Senator had better reserve his speech for a more suitable occasion than the present. What! was the right of petiMr. CLAY observed, that he had conversed with the tion worth nothing? Was it of no consequence to honorchairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, on the able Senators that thousands of their fellow-citizens should subject of this message of the President; and, from this send to them petitions and memorials, complaining of an conversation, and other considerations, he had arrived at act of Executive authority? Why, the honorable member the conclusion that the most proper reference would be to had said, that there were a great many of his friends who the Naval Committee, as first proposed by the gentleman would have come here, but they were apprehensive lest from Louisiana. On hearing the message read, he per- they should find unwilling ears. Now, who could believe ceived that the President recommended the same provis-it? Why, then, did they not go to the House? What ion to be made for the families of the two unfortunate sort of ears would they find there? Honorable Senators French seamen, as the laws provided for the families of knew, that, in point of fact, memorials had generally been our seamen killed in action. Mr. C. heartily accorded in duplicate, and the same number had been sent here as with this recommendation of the President, and hoped it to the other House. Why not go there? But the honorwould be carried into effect by the two Houses of Con-able member had said there were many instances in which gress: but he still thought that the most proper reference the names of those whose petitions had been presented would be to the Committee on Naval Affairs, as they were here did not appear. So there were, and he (Mr. C.) most conversant with the principles on which allowances wished that all of them could be obtained. In proof of JUNE 19, 1834.] Compensation to Mr. E. R. Potter.-French Spoliations. [SENATE. one day's pay and mileage, which ought to be provided by law. what the honorable Senator had said, he alluded to the Philadelphia meeting, which was attended by 15,000, and the Baltimore meeting, consisting of 6,000. Now, he (Mr. Mr. WRIGHT briefly supported the amendment. C.) believed that there was a much less number at Balti- Mr. KNIGHT was in favor of allowing an equitable commore, and a greater at Philadelphia. That, said Mr. C,pensation to Mr. Potter, to be provided for in an approwould make our number 165,000, and the honorable Sen- priation bill. ator's 23,000. After some further remarks from Mr. BIBB, Mr. So far from petitioning and memorializing Congress KNIGHT, Mr. CLAY, and Mr. TALLMADGE, the heing no proof of public opinion, he (Mr. C.) consider-question on the resolution, as amended, was determined ed it one of the best tests of public opinion, next to in the affirmative, by the following vote: the evidences which the ballot-boxes afford, and that YEAS.-Messrs. Benton, Bibb, Brown, Chambers, the honorable Senator would get too soon for his com- Grundy, Hendricks, Hill, Kane, King of Alabama, Knight, fort. "The Campbells were coming," and the gentle. Linn, McKean, Moore, Morris, Preston, Robinson, Shepman would hear next fall what evidence the ballot-boxes ley, Silsbee, Tallmadge, Tyler, Waggaman, White, Wilafforded of public opinion. Now, the honorable Senator kins, Wright.-24. asked seriously the question, whether the Secretary had purged the memorials? He (Mr. C.) would ask the honorable Senator seriously, whether he expected an answer? What did they know as to the course the gentleman's friends pursued in Philadelphia? There was a petition-22. got up in Philadelphia relative to a glass factory, and some of the honorable Senator's friends abstracted a part of the list of names attached to it, and tacked it to a memorial in favor of the removal of the deposites. He (Mr. C.) would repeat his wish, that all the names could be had. If, however, they could be obtained, the gentleman would find himself in a much more slender minority than at present. NAYS.-Messrs. Bell, Black, Clay, Clayton, Ewing, Forsyth, Frelinghuysen, Kent, King of Georgia, Leigh, Mangum, Naudain, Poindexter, Porter, Prentiss, Smith, Southard, Sprague, Swift, Tipton, Tomlinson, Webster. FRENCH SPOLIATIONS PRIOR TO 1800. The special order being the bill to provide for the indemnification of American citizens who had suffered by French spoliations previous to the year 1800, was then taken up for consideration. Mr. FORSY TII moved to postpone the consideration of the bill to the next session of Congress; saying that the attempt to pass it this session was utterly hopeless. Mr. WEBSTER did not think the attempt hopeless, and he trusted the friends of the bill would now give it due consideration. With regard to the figurante of this drama, they are confined to the gentleman's own theatre. In one of the memorials from New York were to be found the names of John Doe and Richard Roe, and also the worthy name of yourself, sir, (meaning the Vice President,) who could Mr. CHAMBERS expressed a similar opinion, and said not possibly be suspected of signing such a memorial, the bill stood as good a chance of passing through the and certainly a great many others that were improperly other House now, as if it had been presented months ago. affixed to petitions. Purge the memorials! The Sena- Mr. TYLER said this was a very important bill; the tor might as well try to purge the General Post Office. principle involved was important, and he considered the It could not be done: he (Mr. C.) wished it could. Why, subject entitled to the most mature consideration of the if the memorials were purged, the honorable gentleman's Senate; now, whether Senators would take it up at this 17,000 names would be melted down to 6,000. He (Mr. late period of the session, was for them to decide. He C.) was glad to see that, worthless as the names were al-believed the claims did not stand upon any sound foundaleged to be by the honorable Senator, he was willing to tion, and when the time of the final passage of the bill arallow them to be printed. Mr. C. begged to tender him rived, he should express his reasons for voting against it. his most profound acknowledgments, and trusted that the names would be printed. After the order for printing should have been taken, he would then move that another thousand should be printed. The question was then taken, and the printing of the report was ordered. On motion of Mr. CLAY, it was ordered that an extra thousand copies of the report be printed. COMPENSATION TO Mr. E. R. POTTER. Mr. CLAYTON, from the Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the resolution providing for the compensation of the Hon. Elisha R. Potter, reported the same to the Senate, with a request that the committee be discharged from the further consideration of the subject. Mr. C. then explained the reasons why the committee reported against the allowance of compensation to Mr. Mr. CALHOUN hoped the bill would be postponed. If this were not done, a discussion would certainly take place upon it; and the Senate had not now one moment to spare for such a purpose. The only object in taking up the bill at this time was, to procure the sanction of the Senate by a vote-and be submitted whether Senators were prepared to give a vote upon the subject. The principle upon which the bill was urged, would lead to an expenditure of thirty millions of dollars; and would induce a debt half as large as that of the Revolution. The question was one which demanded the greatest deliberation; and he ventured to say, that, beyond the committee, not a single Senator had bestowed the least attention upon the subject. Mr. SPRAGUE said, the bill was no new thing; reports had been made upon it from many committees, and only one of these reports had been opposed to it. The subject had been up for many years; the opinions of all were fixed in regard to it; and he was content to take a vote upon it now. There were thousands of claimants under this bill; and their claims were as clear as any that were ever due between man and man. He hoped the matter would now be settled: and to prevent the expenditure of time in discussion, he would recommend that the friends of the bill should say as little as possible, suffering the opposite party to say as much as they pleased. Mr. POINDEXTER was one of those who implored the Senate to defer an adjournment, till they could see the absolute condition of the business before the Senate; but he had been overruled by his friends, who were desirous |