Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-19
CONGRESS.

In The Ae,aie on Monday, Mr.. FoIndeXier
III. red the iU,io~ lug resou Ion
Resoiued, That the Secretary Of The Treasury
be directed to report to the Senate, with as little
delay "a. practicable. detailed statement OF the
article, of foreign grow tn or manufacture, on
which, in his opinion, the present rate OF duties
ought to be reduced. specifying particularly tue
am,unt of reduction on each article separately,
so AS TO produce the result Of an aggregate reduc'
ti,p Of the revenue SIX millions Ut do,iars, OIL
sucn manufactures as are classed under the gene
.g'i's..,i Jss.aaftel articles: and thai
artl les deemrd To be "es>enti3l ~ our national
independence IN time of war;" and which there
lore ought, IN his opinion, to be exempted from
Incorporation OF the propused reelection OF duties.
On motion of Mr.. Poindexter, the resolution
was ordered to De printed
On motion OF Mr.. Smith, the Senate proceed
ed to the consideration It the juint resolution
offered by him relative 10 the printing OF the An
nual Statement of Commerce aud Navigation.
The resolution being before the Senate a. in
Committee of the Whole,
MIR Holmes suggested TO the mover the pro-
prety of 80 amending the resolution. as to pre-
Guide any superstition that the object was TO take
away the printing Of his document from the pub.
lie printer and to give II to party printer. He
presumed that it was entirely owing to an mad
yertence that the resolution was so worried as TO
leave room TOR such construction. 1t was Gus.
tomary for the puic documents to be sent to the
Srnare IN manuscript, and they ordered the print
my Of such number as they thought Prnper, by
their own printer. He was sorry the resolution
did not gn further. and present some mode of
getting the inform nation furnished at an earlier
period. He was of opinion that II Is IN the paw
er of the Secretary To repair the evil 10y reporting
the negligence Of officers to the President, and
that this would De sufficient to produce punctu
allt, wthou, a penalty.
Mr. Foot objected to the resolution, because
its Eff ct would br to exonerate negligent officers
from the punctual performance Of that duty
Ii there was any negligence, he would not exc.
neI ate those who are guilty OF 1t. II the Secre-
tary had not the power to enforce the law, he
would pass an enforcing law. But he believed
that the Secretary had the power. Ii was Of no
use TO send the copies to members during the re.
cess. lie was opposed TO the resolution, and de-
sired that the law as 1t now exists, may be en-
orced.
Mr.. Smith said it was Of no Importance to him
III lou p9,dopg sum uOl,nIossI sql Isqlsqm
should, hereafter, have nothing To do with these
matters But ii was his object to accelerate the
Of this document There was a vast
deal Of printing pressing upon the public printer !
It the time when this document was beure
lin. How long time it must take to examine
he proof sheets, which are filled with figures,
md require the most minute inspection, he could
lot say, but he supposed it must occupy two
persons for two weeks. II re copy was sent
rom the Department, sheet b, sheet, and print.
ID under its supervision, the publication would
De grr atty accelerated.
Mr.. Foot said that he also,lik the Senator from
Mary land, was not likely hereafter to be bene-
itted by the publication of any legislative docu.
nent But while he remained on this floor, he
houltl perform his duty.
Mr.. HoIme, said that he also like the two gen
lemen who had just spoken, was legisIatins for
osterity. H. had to go out OF the Senate, like
many others. on the 4th Of March. Sumo of the
senator's who had to go out we're bachelors. and
ad nothing to do with po,teft,y, and consequent
: cared very little about pcsterlty. Many of
'em. therefore. had no personal interest ~ the
opposition Of this resolution.