The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-03-23
Ist ScssiOn---2 4th Congress.
SENATE. MoNnAY. March L.

ME- Leigh presented the Credentials of
the Hon. W. &. Rives, elected Senator
from the state of Virginia.
Mr.. Riyes thereupon qualified and
took his seat.
ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS-.
Mr.. King, OF Ala. said as one half OF
the usual time for the sitting of Congress
had passed over, and it was desirable that
they should proceed to the dispatch of
public business without unnecessary de-
bate, he would submit resolution fixing
the - day of May next for their ad-
journmeni. He LEFT the day in blank, TO
be filled up at the pleasure OF the Senate,
and now desired TO have the resolution
laid on the table. SO as to call the attention
Of Congress to the importance of an early
adjournment.
The resolution lies over for consldera-
ton.
SURPLUS REVENUE
Mr.. Ewing. of Ohio, pursuant TO the
intimation given by him on Friday last,
moved that the special orders should be
postponed for the purpose OF taking up
the bill to distribute the proceeds OF the
public lands amongst the several states.
Mr.. Wall moved that they should pro-
ceed to take up executive business.
Mr.. Naudan remarked that owing TO
indispositon, there were many Senators
absent, and under such circumstances the
latter motion ought not TO be pressed.
Mr.. Benton was of opinion that before
they took up any bill to distribute the sur
plus revenue, they should as first in order.
dispose Of the current appropriation bills.
They would have time enough hereafter
to divide any surplus whatever it might
be-whi!st If they meant to so on with
the public works with the new fortificu-
lions, they ough. 10 lose nc time.
Mr.. Ewing said he thought this bill Sc
cond to none IN general importance i
should be recollected that it passed the
Senate last session, it had also passed the
House of Representatives, and would not
therefore require much discussion. He
had given way on two occasions for OBJ
jec:s of, what were termed then, pressing
necessity. but SO it was, there was no
pressing necessity apparent, until this
hand bill was called up.
Mr. Calhoun believed it by far the most
importam: bill which they could have up
this session he should regard the taking
up OF any other bill in preference to it, as
a decision whether, il was their intention
to distribute the surplus revenue, or rot.
lie might be peculiar in his views, bat his
opinion was, that if Congress separated
without passing Il bill for that object
when they next met, they would have
little, possibly, to dispose of. The prcsept
large sales o.! public lands that were made
was perfectly easy to account for. The
whole circulation OF the country was dis
eased. and would continue worse and
worse, until the result would be, that the
general Government would have paper,
rags. for their lands. With the u. s.
Bank stock they now had 3G or 40 mil
lions Of dollars-they would have in the
Treasury on the lst Jan. fifty millions,
uuless heavy appropriations were made !;
and were they TO sit there and see that
vast fJnd further Increasing ic put to
the Senators from the West, if they or
those ofthc South, were willing to aban-
don their proportion Of the public re-
veruc or would they rather let 1t lie in
Deposite banks, to the general injury Of
the country
Mr.. Benton said rs there was many
large appropriations yet tc be introduced,
and the Bank stock was moi 10 be counted
on--the surplus revenue could not be so
large for distribution as was anticipated.
He would be anxious to see the money
taken from the Deposie Banks, and eX-
pended Oh works of public Improvement,
ds Il means to avert Il crisis which he
kaew was coming, and which he attrlbut-
ed to the conduct pursued by the Bauk of
the United States, in expanding and con-
tracing their paper issues and in which
their example was but too well followed
by the State Institutions.
The motion was ncgatiyed-Ycas 90,
nays 26.
SO the Senate refused to take up the
bill to distribute the proceeds from the
pubic lands.
After which, on me.ioa Of Mr. Bucha-
nan, Executive business was taken up
until the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE. The resolutions heretofore
presented by Mr.. Gillet'. from the Legis-
lature of the State of New York, in rela.
ton to the reorganization of the Militia
system, throughout the United States,
came uPas the first business in order, the
consideration OF the same having been
postponed until this day.
The pending question was, on the mo-
ton Of ilr. G.. TO commit the Resolutions
TO the Committee on the Militia, with IN
struc,ions to report substantially as fol-
lows:
First, That all free white male citizens
between the ages of II and ID, should be