Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-02-05
s II EE CHI.

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SPEC H.
1t is not my purpose, Mr.. President, (said
ne to make any remarks on the state OF
cur 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 o
recommendation by him of such measures as
he thinks it may he necessary and proper
for Congress to adopt. ! do not icipate
him. do not forcrun him. In this mos,
important and delicate business, it is the
proper du,y orthe Executive to 90 forward
and |, for one, do not intend either to be
drawn or driven into the ead'-When
official information shall be before us. and
when measures shall be recommended upon
the proper responsibility. shall cndeavour
to form the best judgment can, and shall
act according to its dictates.
rise now, for another purpose. This
resolution has drawn on debate upon the
general conduct Of the Senate during the
session of Congress, and especially in re-
gard the proposed grant of lhree 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 tie con
duct of the Senate fairly 10 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 generally of too title Importance
TO be made he subject Of much rent *, I
hope | may be permitted to say that, in
matter, in regard 10 which there has
heen so much Misrepresentation. wish
to say a few words for the sake Of defend
nu my own reputation.
This vote for the three millions was pro.
posed BY he House OF Representatives as
an amendment 10 the f1rllfcalion bill; and
the loss of hat hill, three millions and all,
is the charge uhlch has been mad. upon
the senate, sounded over the land, and
now again renewed propose to give the
true history Of this bill, lis progress and
its loss.
Before attempting that, however, let me
rematk. f,r II Is worthy to be remarked.
and remembered, that the business brough,
before the Senate last session, important
and various as 1t was, aud both public
and private, was all gone through with
most uncommon dispalc CHI and promi'udc.
No session has witnessed more complete
CLEARING of and finishing Of the subject
before US. The comunlcaiions from the
other house, whether bills or VIVA fever
else, were especially attended to in pruper
season; and with that ready respect which i:
due from one House to the other. re-
collect nothing Of any importance which
came to us from he House of Representa-
tives, which was here neg lectcd, overlook
ed, or disregarded
On the other nand, it was he misfortune
Of the Senate, as think. the misfortune o
the country, hat owing to the state OF busi
ness in the House of Representatives TO
wards the close of the session, severa
measures which had been maiured in tn
Senate, and passed into bills. did not recclv
attention, so as to be either agreed to o
rejected. in the other branch o: the Legis
lature. They fell, of course, by the tel
minatlon Of the session.
Among these measures may be mention
ed the following, viz:
The Post Office Reform Bill which pas:
ed The Senate unanimously and OF the nect
si,y for which the whole country is Gel
tainlv now most abundantly satisfied.
The Custom House Regulations Bill, whc
also passed nearly unanimously after a vel
laborious preparation by the Committee {
Commerce. and full discussion id Il
Senate.
The Judiciary Bill, passed here by
majority of thlrty-one to five, and whit
has again already passed the Senate at ii
session with only single dissenting volc
The Bill indemniiying claimants
French Spoliatons before 1900.
The Bill regulating the deposite of I
pnblic moneys in the Deposne Banks.
The Bill respecting the tenure of certt
offices, and the power Ct removal frol
office which has now again passed to
engrossed, in the Senate, by decls
majority.
All these important measures, MAJ VI
and passed in the Senate in the course
the session. and many others whose mp
t,nce was less, were sent 10 the House
Representatives, and we never heard
thing more from them. They there 10,
their graves.
1t is worthy Of being remarked, also I
The attendance of the members of the S
ate was remarkable full, particularly
wards the end of the session. On the
day every Senator was in his place I'LL
near the hour ofudjournment, as the jour
will show. We had no breaking up
want of quorum-no delay-on call
the Senate-nolhlnG which was m
necessary by the negligence or lnalten
of the members Of this body. On the
for the three millions Of dollars, which
taken at a abcut o'clock in the even
forty-eight votes were given, every men
ofthe Senate being in his place and ans'
ing to his name. This is an instance
immortality, diligence and labor, contlI
10 the very end of an arduous sesslon,w
" without example or parallel.
The Senate, then, sir, must stand IN
judgmeu, ofevery man fully acquitted