Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-04-21

In THE SENATE-Ihe adoption Of new rule
proposed bv~Alr Benton, has given new AMI
nation 10 - -usiness pending The rule re-
quire ..at the special orders Of the day SHAH
not be jailed until one O'Clock, SO that three
hours are allowed for the consideration Of pri-
yaie business.
The following bills were, in consequence, ia
ken up and passed to a third reading-"A bill
directing the Courts of the United States for
the District Of Vermont, to be holden at Mont
peIier." ga bill to exempt the officers and stu
dents of the Columbian and Georgetown Cole
ees, from Militia duty" "a bill to authorize the
purchase of site, and the erection ola Custom
House al Newport, Rhode Island;" ga bill for
the relief of Davis Floyd;""a bill for the relief
of William P. Could" and "a bill for the re-
lief OF Otway Burns"
MIR. Barton Of Missouri, in Offering reso-
luton in relation TO the conduct OF the United
States officers in the State of Missouri, stated
that between 4o'and $4,000 were either lost, or
in imminent danger of being lost 10 the United
States, by the the defacation Of the late Survey
or General Of that Country--and that, from
some cause or other, the sureties Ci TINS othcer
would be found not to be responslbe--lhai near
100000 had been taken away by the Receiver
of Public Moneys for the Western District OF
Missouri, and that, in his case, no responsible
suretes had been given--and that S $4,000, OF
ths proceeds of our Public Lands, had been de-
positcd in the Bank OF Missouri, and that an A
rent, unknownt TO the laws Of the United States,
had been employed to secure or collect this
sum; and that, SO far as he could learn, this a
mount was either lost, or In danger OF being
lost, Mr. B. further stated, tha, within the last
seven years the people of the United States had
been dcfrauded of nearly SjOo,ooo, within the
limits of Missouri alone, by the inhdelity OF pub
lie officers, agents, and uuslees--and that with
in given wear, in that STATE, more money had
been lost, than would defray the expenses OF
the whole Diplomatic establishment of this L
nion-the Mission to Panama inclusive. The
object of the resolution was 10 ascertain the real
state Of the case and the laws on the subject, TO
know how to apply the proper remedy.
The Senate then resumed the consideration
of the following resolution, submitted by Mr..
Branch, OF North Carolina:
"The President Of the United States, in his
opening message at the commencement OF the
nresent session, informed Congress that inyi-
tations TO this Government 10 attend and take
part in the deliberations at the Congress of Pa
mama, had been given and accepted, and that
Ministers on the part of the United States
would be commissioned, and, having further,
in his Executive communication to the Senate
of the Goth of Dec. last, accompanying the
nomination of Richard Z Anderson, of Ken.
and John Sergeant, of Pcpn. to be ENJOYS Ex-
traJrdinary and Ministers Plenipotentiary to
the Assembly OF American Nations at Panama
and VIM b. Rochester, of Ncw-York, to be
Secretary Of the Mission, thus expressed him
self: "Although this measure was deemed to be
within the constitutional competency of the
Executive, have not thought proper to take
any step in it before ascertaining that my
pinion Gifts expediency will concur with both
branches of the Legislature" Therefore.
Resolved, That In the opinion OF the Senate,
the proposed measure.was not within the con-
stitutional competency of the Executive And,
also, resolved, as the opinion OF the Senate that,
inasmuch as the claim Of power thus set up by
the Executive, might, if suffered to pass unno-
ticed by the Senate, be hereafter relied upon to
Justify the exercise of similar power, they
owe it TO themselves and 70 the States they rep
resent, to protest, and they do hereby soiemnly,
but respectfully protest against the same"
Mr.. Harper Of s. C.. took the floor in favor
Of the resolution, and spoke for about an houi
and half, and was succeeded by Mr. Lloyd on
the other side.
Mr.. Tazewell, the Hercules Of The Opposi-
ton, in consequence of conceived impulation
upon the report Of the Committee of Foreign
Relations, rose to rescue it from error Mr.
LLOYD diselaimed having made any imputa-
ton; but Mr. Tazewell persistins in his
opinion, proceeded TO make his speech
He contended that the doctrine laid down in
the message of the President, showed clearly
that he Claimed the power, and that, in submit
ting it to the Senate, it was mere matter OF
courtesy, and good will, on his part, not con-
viction that il was within the sphere OF his du-
W he pronounced the language of the Presi-
dent rash and hasty, and proceeded to vindicate
his own report, on the ground of the exPedien-
CIV of the mission to Panama, from the charges
which he supposed had been brought against
it, After getting through with the report,
the honorable Senator attempted to strengthen
the argument of Mr.. Berrien, of Georgia, de-
livered in secret session, and with his usual
sstuteness, established positions, which nobody
could see, and arrived n conclusions, which
were satisfactory to all, who were determined
that the mission should not be sanctioned upon
the ground of any thing like reason and policy.
He proved any thing and every thing, logically
and sylogistical!y. The President of the y.
States had usurped powers which did not be-
long to him, and the gentlemen who were con-