Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-06-15
CONG r E SIS.

In the Senate, on Wednesday, Mr.. Chambers
moved that the Senate proceed to the considera-
ton Of the bill relative to the French spoIaions
previous to the year 1900
MIR. Miller asked for the Yeas and Nays on
the question; and expressed hope that 1t the
motion should be negatived to-day, this decision
would be received an indication OF the indis-
position of the Senate to act on the bill during
the present session.
The Yeas and Nays we're then ordered.
The question was then put, and decided as
foows:-Yeas, 25-Nays 19.
So the Senate agreed to consider the BILL
Mr.. TaZewell then rose to move that The Sc
nate proceed to the consideration Of Executive
Business He stated his reasons to be, LIST, the
importance of the subject under deliberation in
Executive session; and. 2dly, the length of time
which this bill would consume If it were taken
up. If gentlemen were disposed to protract the
session to an indefinite extent, then indeed the
bill might be taken up; but he had no hesitation
i'm saving that the discussion Of the question
would occupy some weeks.
Mr.. Smith expressed disposition to take up
the bill merely to hear the exposition of the
views of the gentleman from Pennsylvania, MR.
Wilkins on the subject. The bill might then
be laid on the table.
Mr.. Chambers contended that there could be
no great difficulty-in understanding the charac-
ter Of these claims, aud their justice. OF all
people who had ever cone before Congress, these
were. in his opinion, the most entitled to an ear
ly settlement Of their demands. In very few
hours the whole OF the subject might be made
clear to every one.
Mr.. Webster stated that he was perhaps as
much interested in the speedy adjustment OF
these claims, as any gentleman; but he had vot-
ed against taking up the bill, because he cOnsid-
cred it as hopeless thing that it could receive
the final action of the Senate at this session.
We had now reached the middle of June: and
there were some important bills before the Sc
nate, and several subjects of vital interest which
required to be acted upon. He expressed his
conviction that these claims were founded in
equity; and stated that whenever a question
should be taken upon the bill, he would be found
voting in favor of them. But he could not agree
with the suggestion that the subject would Occu-
py so small portion Of the time of the Senate.
Mr.. Clay said he had voted to take up the
bill, in order to evince his disposition to 60 into
the consideration of these claims. He thought
that they were equitable and just, as regarded
the principle on which they were founded. But
there would be found to exist great difficulty in
settling the amount to be paid. His object was
to permit the Chairman Of the Committee to give
his exposition Of the grounds on which the bill
had been reported,n order that the Senate might
be in full possession Of all the facts, and might
come here at the next session prepared TO vote
upon the bill. After the Chairman. had been
heard, he hoped the bill would either postponed
or laid on.the table. He assured the gentleman
from Virginia that he had no idea, in voting to
take up the bill, to consider it to the exclusion
Of the all-engrossing subjects which so greatly
agitated the country, and which were now pend
ing before Congress.
Mr.. wilkins stated that when the memorial
on which this bill was founded was put into his