Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-02-04
MIR. WEBSTER'S speech.
THURsvAY, JANUARY ID.

| ne SENATE having resumed the consiueTu
ton of the resolutions moved by MIR. BENTON
for setting apart the surplus revenue for the
defence Of the country. After Mr. Benton
Mr.. Clayton, Mr.. Ewing, Mr.. Goldsborougb
and Mr.. Porter had spoken,
Mr.. WEBSTER addressed the Chair. II i.
not my purpose Mr.. President, (said he,) t.
make any remarks on the state OF our affairs
with France. The time for that discussion
has not come, and | wait. We are in daily
expectation of a communication from the
president, which will give us light; and we
are authorized to expect recommendation
! by hinf of such measures as he thinks it may
be necessary aud proper for congress TO a
dopt. do not anticipate him. do not fore.
run him. In this most important and delicate
business, it is the proper duty Of the Execu.
tive to 90 forward, and !, for one, do not in
tend either to be drawn or driven into the lead.
II When official information shall be before us,
and when measures shall be recommended
upon the proper responsibility, shall endeav-
our to form the best Judgment can, and shall
act according to its dictates.
/ rise now, for another purpose. This res
oution has drawn on debate upon the gen.
eral conduct Of the senate during the last
session of congress, and especially in regard
to the proposed grant of three millions to the
president on the last night Of the session.
My main object is to tell the story Of this
transaction, and to exhibit the conduct of the
senate fairly to the public view. ] owe this
duty to the senate. owe it to the committee,
with which am connected; and although
whatever is personal to an individual is gen.
orally of too little importance to be made the
subject of much remark, hope may be per-
LIMIT tad t,p Aut inn an in arl 90
which there has been so much msrepresenta-
tion, wish to say few words for the sake
Of defending my own reputation.
/ This vote for the three millions was pro-
posed by the house of representatives as an
amendment to the fortiication bill; and the
| loss of that bill, three millions and ell, is the
charge which has been made upon the senate,
! sounded over all the land, and now again re-
newed. propose to give the true history Of
this bill, its origin, its progress and its loss.
Il Before attempting that, however, let me re-
mark, for il is worthy to be remarked, and re-
nembered, that the business brought before
the senate last session. important and various
as it was, and both public and private, was
all gone through, with most uncommon de
spatch and pronptitude. No session has wit
, messed more complete clearing off and fin
ishing of the subjects before us. The com
municatons from the other house, whether
bills or whatever else, were especially attend
ed to in proper season, and with that ready
respect which is due from one house to the
other. recollect nothing of any importance
which came to US from the house ofrcpresen-
tatives, which was here neglected, overlooked,
+, or disregarded.
II On the other hand it was the misfortune
Of the senate, as / think, the misfortune of
the country, that owing to the state Of busi-
ness in the house of representatives towards
the close of the session, several measures
which had been matured in the senate, and
passed into bills, did not receive attention, SO
as to be either agreed to or rejected, in the
other branch of the legislature. They fell
of course by the termination of the session.
Il Among these measures may be mentioned
the following, viz:
THE PosT OrrIcE Reform BILL, which
, passed the senate unanimously, and of the
: necessity for which the whole country is GER
tainy now most abundantly satisfied.
The Custom HOUSE REGULATION BILL
which also passed nearly unanimously, afte
: a very laborious preparation by the committee
. on commerce, and a full discussion il the
senate.
4 The JUDICIARY BILL, passed here by a ma
ljorty Of thirty to five, and which has a
gain already passed the senate at this session
' with only single dissenting voice.
III The BILL UNDERWRITING CLAIMANTS Fol
FRENCH sPoILATIONs BEFORE 1SOO.
II THE BILL REGULATING THE DEPosITE OI
II THE PUBLIC MONEYS IN THE DEPOsITE BANKs
Ill The BILL RESPECTING TIE TENURE Ol
1 CERTAIN OFFICES, AND THE POWER OF KEMov
r AL FROM OFFICE; which has now again passet
to be engrossed, in the senate, by u decisiv,
majority.
III All these important measures. matured ant
, passed in the senate in the course Of the ses
sion, and many others whose importance wa
, less were sent to the house Of representa-
tves, and we never heard any thing moro
from them. They there found their graves.
I'll II is worthy Of being remarked, also, tha
thc attendance OF members Of the Senate wa:
remarkably full, particularly toward the enc
4 ofthe session. On the last day every senator
was in his place till very near the hour Of ad
journment as the journal will show. We hat
no breaking up for want Of a quorum-no de-
. lay---no calls Of the Senate-notbing whici
was made necessary by the negligence or in
attention Of the members Of this body. Or
the vote for the three millions ofdollars, which
/ was taken at about o'clock in the evening
forty-eight votes were given, every member
of the Senate being in his place and answer.
ing to his name. This is an instance OF
IIpunciuality, diligence, and labor, continued
to the very end of an arduous session, who'll
Dy without example or parallel.
The Senate, then, sir, must stand in the
Judgment Of every man, fully acquitted OF oil
rcmssness, all negligence, all inattention, a
midst the fatigue aud exhaustion of the clos
ing hours Of Congress. Nothing passed I'M
heeded, nothing was overlooked, nothing for
gotten, and nothing sliqhted.
And now, sir, would proceed Immediately
, to give tie history Of the Fortfcation Bill, II
I IL were not necessary, as Introductory 10 thai
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