Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-05-11

Findlay, Holmes, of Maine, jackson, Johnson>
Of Ken. Knight, Lanman, Lowrie, Mclivainc'
Noble Palmer, Ruggics, Seymour iaioos Aay-
lor, OF Ind. Thomas--21.
SO the Senate determined not to strike out the
proposed duty of Al cents per square yard, on
cotton bagging; and
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
POST OFFICE BILL.
Mr.. F. johnson made a few observations on
the necessity and Importance of taking up and
going through this bill, which has been already
partially acted upon, the system, extensive and
Icumbrous, required several notifications and
Improvements which had been carefully pre-
pared, after mature reflection by the Postnas-
| ter Gencral and the Committee of this House,
and nc should consider the vote of the House,
on going into committee of the whole on the
bill as indicative of its determination to pass the
bill or not, at the present session.
I The House then went into committee on the
bill, Mr.. ToIniinson in the Chair.
| Mr.. Johnson offered substitute to the 10th
section: which was read,
Mr. Clay now rose, and observed that bill
Of such great extent, containing more than for
ty sections, and involving some new principles
OF criminal law, could not, at this late period OF
| the session, receive that mature attention which
it required. There wns scarcely possibility
that it could pass both uses at the present scs-
sion, and it would only consume time peculiarly
precious: lie therefore moved, that the COM
mittcc rise, with an understanding that leave be
refused to sit again.
Mr.. L. johnson opposed this motion, on ac-
count of the Importance of the bill, &c.
Mr.. Clay replied, in few words, and the ques-
ton Oh rising was then decided in the afirma-
tivc-Ayes rs, uocs62.
The committee rose according; and, on giving
leave to sit again, there were ayes 70, noes 70.
| I, no ITnusn rptnSod leave In thc committee
to sit again, aud the bill was then laid on the ia
BILE.
FLORIDA TREATY AWARDS.
| On motion of Mr.. McLane, the House went
into committee of the whole, MIR. Lathrop III the
Chair on the bill sto authorize the creation OF
stock to an amount not exceeding five millions
of dollars, TO provide for the awards of the COM
missoncrs under tic treaty with Spain of the
god February, 1879"
/ Mr.. McLane, explained the object and pro-
j visions of this BILL Tic went into an examina-
ton of the stipulations of the Florida Treaty, and
contended that the United States are thereby
bound to pay the whole sum of five millions,
whatever mig hi be the proceeds OF the sales OF
, the lands ceaed. To do this, the treaty sug
gests three difercn. modes, and the selection of
one ofthcsc is aquestion Of cxpcdiency, OF which
= this government is to iudge-and he stated the
comparative advantages of different modes, and
2 contcnded that that provided in the bill is the
most advantageous. He objected to the crca-
, ton of a per cent. Stock payable out of the
. public lands and maintained that it would be a
, saving of nearly one million of dollars at once
, TO pay the money at the Treasury, borrowing a
like amount at n rate not exceeding five (possi-
, bly, four) per cent. per annum. He offered an
amendment, which would cause the clause a.
tnerded TO read as follows:
"That the Secretary of the Treasury be,
f and he is hereby authorized, with the approba-
IF ~
cause to be issued and sold to the bank Of the
United States, on to Others, at sum not less
than the par value thereof, certificates of stock,
, &C."
Mr.. F. johnson opposed the bill as premature
and thought it would be better to pay the
claimants for spoliations by Spain, by offering
them either stock or lands IN Florida. 1t would
be better to wait for the report ofthe decisions
g Of the Board OF Commissioners before provision
was made to pay the amour, of their awards
Mr.. McLaDe replied. The decision referred
to must, by the treaty, be rendered in .J,,ae
ncTt-so that provision must now be made tc
meet it.
$ Mr.. j. p. Barbour was OF opinion that the
payment of the capital of the five millions might
hc postponed till the public lands were sold; but
that, in the Interim tue interest must be paid on
the amount awarded.
MIR. Clay maintained that, by the treaty, we
F., are not bound to pay interest on the capital of
I'VE millions, and thought II was premature
10 pay at this time. The mode selected to
discharge the debt was the most onerous of thosc
j pointed out in the treaty, and though something
had been said of getting the money ut four per
cent he doubted if such turn out to be the fact.
! If 1t could be had at that rate, why was not
D such rate, put down in the bill? He went into
discussion Of the stpulatons of the treaty,
S and compared the three optional modes Of paying
i the money agreed on. He differed from MIR
Barbour in the opinion that the interest must be
paid, whether the lands are sold or not. He
thought both principal and interest were paya.
bic OUT of the sales of the lands in Florida. He
would prefer issuing stock, both the priucipa
: and interest Of which should be payable out O
the fund created by the sales of the Florida
J lands. The saving proposed by the bill between
five and six per cent. was deceptive The stock
, when thrown into the market, would not bring
| more than 70 per cent. and yet must be paid
at par. He opposed the bill, and gave warning
that, if its passage pressed, he should offer
amendments, the effect of which should be to
| make the stock payable only out Of the sales OF
the lands.
, .Wr. Storrs went into history Of the Florida
treaty. lie contendcd that by its provisions
the Government is bound to its citizens to make
satisfaction for the Spanish spoliati1ns, as soon
as the amount of their claims shall be liquidatcd.
He, therefore thought Congress had no moral
> right to leave this stock unproydcd for till the
next session. He insisted that interest ON this
stock must be paid, interest on all the other Go
vernmept stock is paid, and might not be left to
, run on TILL the lands shall be sold. He thought
the sooner the debt was paid, the better, espc-
ciay if the money can be had on low terms,
MIR. Mcbane rose in reply. He had spoken