Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-05-25
THURSDAY, MAY 90.
IN SENATE.

LIN ocINS
On motion of Mr.. D.ckerson, the Com.
mittee of Commerce and Manufactures, 10
whom was referred the memorial of A. b
Woodward, respecting the establishment of
an uniform system of Weights and Measures,
were discharged from the further consdera-
ton of that subject.
The Vice President, in few brief remarks,
in which he expressed his sense of the kind
and courteous treatment which he had eX
perienced from the members, collectively and
individually, sigpified to The Senate that he
should not preside over the body, during the
present session, after this day. He thea called
upon MIR. Gailard, to whom he relnguished
the chair.
The bill from the House of Representatives,
" to provide for the issuing of stock, not ex-
ceeding five tuiiiIons of dollars, To meet the
awards ofthe Commissioners under the Treaty
with Spain, of February ed, l819," was
taken up for consideration, In committee of
the whole. Mr.. Smith explained, at some
length, the objects contemplated by this bin,
and the obligation of the government TO meet
The awards of this Commission.
Mr.. Benton was opposed to the bill and
proposed an entire new bill, making the
amount of the awards of the Commissioners
payable, tn a sum not exceeding five millions
of dollars, in money, from the Treasury or,
il there should not he sO large sum on hand,
unappropriated 10 other purposes, that ceriii-
Gates of stock should be issued, payable, With
interest of six per cent. from the proceeds of
the lands ceded, by the said treaty, to the
United States or payable in such other way
as Congress may hereafter determine. Mr..
b. proceeded TO support his amendment. as
the least Dnerous mode of dischargng the d, bit
Mr.. LowTie agreed TO the construction put
a. al
Missouri; but he believed that Justice 10 the
claimants demanded that the government
should adopt other means 10 meet the aw ards
under that commission .nan from the proceeds
of the lands Mr.. l.. proceeded to an expo.
sition Of the reasons which Induced this Opn-
ion. He was opposed 20 the amendment, aud
IN favor of the OrlgInalbll.
Mr.. Holmes. of Maine, also supported the
bill as it came from the other House. He re-
piled to the remarks of Mr.. Benton.
Mr.. Brown spoke IN favor of the amend
meni, as one of the best modes of pay ment
that could be adopted by the government +;
and as furnishing To the claimants greater
remuneration for their losses than they could
ever have obtained from Spain, without the
intervention of this government.
Mr. Kelly considered the mode proposed
by the gentleman rom Missouri, of creating d
stock payable from the proceeds of the lands.
as the worst that could be adopted, both as 10
its Injustice towards the claimants under the
treaty, and the deplorabIe effects it would
produce upon that part OF the country IN which
the lands are located
Mr.. Talbot opposed the amendment. He
believed the faith, Of the government pledged
for the payment Of the interest annually and
regularly, from the Treasury, let the stock be
issued as il might. There was no other al
ternatlve, than to pay the money immedi-
ately, or TO create stock, drawIsg interest
annually. He considered the original bill as
provision to borrow the money at 4 per
cent. and pay it to the claimants, rather than
to pay them per cent. as the government
would otherwise he bound To do
Mr.. Flndlay was in favor Of adopting the
first section of the proposed amendment. lie
preferred the immediate payment of the mo-
ney 10 the creation of stock, upon which in
ierest mus be paid.
Mr.. Barbour considered the United States
as standing bound for the payment Of five
millions of dollars, to these claimants. He adj.
mitted that the payment Of the principal sum
might be based upon the sales of the lands
but denied that the payment of the interest
was refefrible TO the same source.
The question was then put upon striking
ont the original bill, and decided in the mega.
tire. So Mr.. Benton's amendment was lost.
The bill was then reported to The Senate
without amendment, and passed 10 be en-
crossed and read the third time.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The resolution yesterday offered 10y Stew
art, calling for certain Information from Che
President Of the United States, as 70 the ap
rlicaiion the money last year appropriated
for the repairs Of the Cumberland Road, was
taken up, and agreed TO.
MI. +. johnson moved to resume the con.
sideration Of the Post Office Bill,