Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-02-07
MIMETEENTH CONGRESS. /.
FIRST SESSION.
MONDAY, JANUARY 80, 1926.
IN SEN

MONDAY, JANUARY 80, 1926.
IN SENATE
The Vice President communicated a letter from
John White covering a pamphlet, containing
charges Of misconduct preferred BIZ him against
Hehry Cahoone; commander of the Revenue Cut
'er' oil the port OF New York; which letter was
read and referred to the Committee ON Commerce.
WI. Dickerson rose to submit resolution. lie
sad as by the report of the Secretary of the Trea
sury, II appeared, that, after the year 1880, the
whoie amount OF the public debt, on the principles
assumed IN that report would stand at about forty
H'''ions OF dollars, and as our revenues upon COM
merce are Increasing in a way to leave large sur
piusses, Beyond the exigencies of the General 60
vefnment, 1t has been deemed important that such
surplus shoulc be appropriated to the purposes of
hcucatlon and Internal improvements; but as these
improvements, by the arm Of the United States,
meet with constitutional well as other obiec-
''ons' the only way to obvate these difficulties,
ana AT the same time serve the public interest
would be TO distribute these surplus funds to the
diferent States and Territories for these important
purposes, to be appropriated according to their dis
erection. The sums to be distributed may be taken
IN part from the sinking fund in part from re-
Uehehments In our present expenditures and in
part from future excuses ofrevenue above the pre-
sent receipts.
MT d. concluded by offering the following re-
solution:
ResOlred. That provision ought to be made bv
law TO authorize and require the Secretary of the
treasury To distribute, annually, TO the States and
territories OF the United States, three millions of
dollars Tor the purposes of Education and Internal
tmprovenent-io be apportioned among the States
anu Territories according to the rate of direct
taYation
MIR. Holmes submitted the following resolution:
Hcs0foed, That the Select Committee on Roads
and canals be instructed 10 inquire into the expe-
diency OF providing for a survey OF the lands and
waters between the Androscoggn and Connecti-
cut rivers, and OF those rivers so far as to
the practicabiliy of uniting their waters, with an
estimate otthe expense.
Mr.. Mobiles resolution, relative TO the payment
OF money due to Lieut.. John Weaver, was taken
up and agreed &c.
Mr. Harrison rose, and withdrew the resolution
which ne submitted on "Wednesday last
The resolution submitted by Mr. Benton. on
Friday last, calling for inquiry as to the expe-
dlency OF subscription on the part of the Govern
ment OF the United States, for 1000 shares in the
Louisville and Portland Canal stock, was taken up
and agreed to.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION.
Ihe Senate then, according to the order of the
day, proceeded TO the consideration of the resolu-
tons proposing amendments TO the Constitutions in
regard to the election of President and Vice Pres
dent of the United States.
Mr.. Van Buren, rose, and said, that the resolu
ton under consideration referred to a subject con-
iessedly -of great interest: il had been but short
lime since laid before the Senate by the able report
OF the committee, by whom the matter had been
considered; and, If there disposition on the
part oil the Chairman of that committee to urge The
subject at this moment, it would perhaps be well TO
postpone it for short time. He should therefore
move that it be postponed to- and made The order of
the day for Monday next.
Mr.. Hayne said, as one of the Committee who
had reported that resolution, he should not object
to any reasonable postponement asked for by the
gentleman from New York, or by any other gen
tleman. But it was subject of such vital impor-
lance, that he hoped, when it should be called
up, it should be for the purpose Of decision. and
tina, gentlemen, if any there were, in the Senate
that objected 10 the provisions of that resolution
would come prepared, TO submit their objections.
The Committee had made elaborate report
stating the grounds which they supposed the
amendment could be supported. He, therefore
hoped that gentlemen would examine that report
and come prepared TO show, either that these arpu-
ments were not well founded, or to give their
hearty support to the proposed amendment.
Mr.. Benton said, that, in making their report on
this subject, it was the design of the committee TO
accelerate the consideration and decision of il,
The committee had before them two modes of pro-
ceeding; one was, by submitting a resolution. and
when called up for discussion, for the Chairman
or some other member OF the committee, to rise
ard explain the reasons in support of it. The other
method was, by exposing their reasons by means
of report, in the first instance. The Committee
had adopted the latter mode, thinking it the most
respectful TO the Senate, and in every way the
best. Il was thought that every gentleman, hay-
ing before him the reasons on which the committee
acted, when the subject was set for day, il might
be taken up that day, and acted on withou,
further delay. He acquiesced in the motion which
had been made for the postponement as the gen.
tleman from South Carolina had done, in the hone
and expectation that, that day, it would be taken
up in earnest, and disposed of
The motion was then agreed to.
And the Senate adjourned