Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-03-16

| souri,, (a1r. Benton had been discussed. n,
decision had taken place ON any of them
| The lndisposition ofrhat gentleman, and the
| usual courtesy of the Senate, had influenced
| that postponement. Ii was no longer desired.
however, on that ground, and therefore il had
become necessary for the Senate now to de-
eide whether they intended 10 act on the sub
Ject during The present session. Mr.. Ii. had
understood, from several ofthe members, that
they deemed the present period unfsyorabla
10 The adoption of any amendment to the
Constitution, and too much excitement was
supposed to exist IN relation to the subject
matter oi the amendment-YHe Presidential
fdec'ton He had been informed that a ma
JorIty of this House deemed IT inexpei;ent ~
act ON the subject during the present session
MIR. Hayne was not disposed to press for de
cision on The amendments, If such WAS the
fact. But, as public attention had been ey-
cited, and the people certainly were waiting
with some anxiety for our decision, Mr. Hayre
hoped that iiie Senate would now say wheth-
er these propositions shall 10 discussed and
acted Oh during the present session, or whettl-
or they should he indefinitely postponed. For
The purpose az bringing this 10 The FEST, he
would move that these resolutions be made
The order ofthe day for Monday next, and
ne hoped that no gentleman would vote for
mai proposition, who vas not disposed 10 acf
dccisivcly on the subject before the adjourn
mcnf of Congress.
The motion Ia take up the resolutions pre-
vailed. Mr.. King ofNew York, then moved
Tor The indefinite postponement of the whole
subject. This motion gave rise Ia cOusidera-
BILE discussion, in which Nessrs King of n. z.
itayne, Van Buren,, Lnwre, LLOYD Of Mary
land, Mills, Holmes OF Maioe, Bell and Dick
erson, participated. Ii was contended, On
the one hand, tina, il could not be expected,
~ Ilp lam rf :
of the different propositions could be adopted,
at the present session-ihat there was much
other business more immediately important,
TO be acted upon as the amendment IL
adopted at ALL could not be adopted in season
10 operate upnn the peXt cection-and That
a time when the public mind was pot so much
aGtaied on the subject az an election, AS AK
tresent, would be more favorable 10 the die.
cusson as there might be some parts of the
country which were yet waiting, in vain cx-
pectation that some amendment would be
adopted at the present session, which would
effect the particular course which they might
see ut 10 pursue, in regard To the next al. c;iun
la the course fthis dehste, Mr.. Van Buren,
said, he hoped III. motion made BY his col
league, for indefinite posponement, would not
prevail. There vas not, IN his Judgment, any
reason why the Senate cOrld not act upon
me SUBJECT as we'll now as al any other time.
80 NV .'"'' w '''ht'e oh 'ne part OF Inc mem
b"rs oil the Senate could possibly be supposed
TO create IN objection To acting upon the mat
ter at this session, it was TO be regretted that
that consideration bad not had an earlier influ-
ence. We lad commenced this business IN
der circumstances peculiarly suspicious the
varirns propositions submitted had been re
ierred 10 committee of high respectabilily
who had, with great unanimity, reported
proposition. He thought there was ade-
qnate time To oct upon the one reported lie
differed from his colleague in his impression
that there was any portion ofthe Union which
expected that the constitution would he a.
mendcd in season for the next election. That
WAS rendered impossible by the necessary pro-
cess through which the amendments proposed
must pass, and such. he was satisfied. was the
understanding of it and there was, therefore.
no reason arising from that consideration
which would renderit proper to stop now,
after so much progress had already been
made in the subject.
Wi'hou, taking The question on the motion
to postpone
The Senate adjourned ill Tomorrow.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
On motion of MIR. Cooke il was