Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-01-18
CONVKEssIONNt'

uho anDOuileco
nate.
Mr. Black presented memorial OF number
.,,;,;,cns oi Mississippi, relative t" tic frauds
..,,,, ALLEGED 10 have been committed in that
:, tho sales of the public lands, involving at
.,o millions of acres, which, after some dis
,.,s referred. The Secretary Of the
- ,,s also called on for such irforma-
ion !, he nigh, be in possession OF touching this
matter.
One the same day,
Clay rose and said, il must bc obvious to
LOW. observer of passing events, that our affairs
.i.r,,,c. are becoming every day more and
Wv" ;,,,s IN their character, and arc rapidly
NV =, crisis. Mutual rriaiions are daily
'..;ns from, the anmadversons OF the public
,,d among individuals, in and ont Of office,
La,, countries. And state oil feeling, greatly
" In deore,a,cd if we are TO preserve Eerolations
20 ncarc. must certainly be the consequence.
" trc,rdine to the theory of our Constitution, our
1;.lom,,r concerns with foreign countries are en-
.a,s,.d n the President Of the United States, un-
"a hoy rcacI, a certain point involving the qucs-
,;,, nj pcace or war, and then Congress is to de-
,.rminc on that monicnous question. In other
cords tie President conducts our foreign inter-
,rs.. CONGRESS alone an change the intercourse
-, ,caceabc to a brlligcrcnt one. This right, to
J.c;J the question Of war, carries along with it the
,oI, 10 know whatever has passed between our
executive ard the Government oil any foreign
Power No matter What may BIZ the nature of
~. ,orre.pondcncc-u hciher official or moi
whether formal or acknowledgements has the
,;,h, Ia any and all information whatever which
nav he in the possession of the other branch OF
Oh. Governp,cnt No Senator here could have
f,lcd 10 have been acquainted with the fact thar
,hc contents Of most important despatch or
,,cuncnt has been discussed ard Il mos, M
variant overture canvasscd in the different news
papcrs-in private and political eirclcs--bv n-
diyidual. every body, in fact, knows what
has taken place. except the Congress Of the
United States. The papers friendly TO tic td-
,ninistratioE-inIced, the whole circle of the
American prcss-are in possession Of the contents
O, paper which this body has not been yet allow
ed to sec and have one journal, Southern Nd.
mnisration journal, before me, which states i
new and important fact in reference to it. have
said that our situation with France grows every
day more embarrassing aspect of our ella
,ions withher more and more dark and threatening.
I could not, therefore, longer delay in making the
following motion. ! should have done before,
hut for a prevalent run,or that ,lc President would
soon make communication to Congress, which
would do away the necessity of the resolutions
which nov Submit, by LAYING before Congress
the Information, winch is the oh Get of my motion
lie has not, however, done so, and probably will
NOT. without call from the Senate.
AR. CLAY then offered the following reSolu-
lions. which lie upon the table on. day:
R,olr,d, That the President be requested to
communicate 10 the Senate Gi it be not, in his OPT
MON. Incompatible with the public interest, whether.
since the termination of the last Congress, any
oycrturc formal or Informal official or unofficial,
Ia. been made by the French Government TO the
Executive of the United States, To accommodate
me difficulties between the two Governments re-
.pce,ing the execution Of the convention of the
24h day of July, 1881 and particularly whether
despatch from the Due de Brogle, the French
Minister of Foreign Affairs to the French Charged
AFares at Washington, was read and a copy Of il
furnished By him ITO the Secretary of State, for
the purpose of indicating mode IN which these
difficulties CHIT hr moved
Rtsolrtd ato undtr the resolution above mcn-
toned in the event of any such overture having
becn made, That the President be requested TO
inform the Senate what answer WAS given 10 II;
aud. if il copy ofanv such DIES aicl was received,
that he be further requested 10 communicate Il copy
Gift to tie Senatc.
The resolutions lie one day under the rule.
Mr.. BENTON offered the follow ing resolutions,
which lie one day under the rules:
Resolred, That the surplus revenue OF the u
ni,pd States and the dividends Of stock receivable
from the Bank Of tho Uunitcd Slacs, ought to be
set apar, and applied to the general defence and
permancm security of the country.
Rt,olred, That tie President be requested TO
cause the Senate to he informed Of
lst Tic probable amount that would be ncecs-
sarv for fortiiy the lake. maritime, and guilt from
tier ofthc United States, and such points ct the
land frontier may require permanent iorlilica-
ton.
ID. Tie probable amount tina, would he neccs-
sary-t construct an adequate number OF armori's
and arsenals in the United States 10 supply the
States with field artillery Especially field pieces
Tor til ir militia and with side and pistols for
their cavalry.
3D. Improbable amount that would be nrctssH-
ryto supply the United States with ordnance,
arms, and munitions of war, which IA proper re-
gard to scf-doirnce would require 10 be always on
hand.
4,h. Tie probable amount tina, would be ncecs-
.ary to place the naval dcfcnces of the United
States (ineludng the increase of tho navy, navy
yards, dock Yards, and steam floating baicries)
upon the footing Of strength and responsibility
which is due to the security and to the welfare at
the Union
The bill to repeal ,c lst and I'd sections of an
act TO limit the terms Of Office Of certain officers
therein nancd-so as to abridgc the patronage and
power of the Federal Executive, was passed, ayes