The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-30
TwENTY-FIFTH COMPRESS.
in SENATE
TnUasD.Y, December ., 1891.

the inhsbitants OF the northwest section Of Ohio
PRAYING thar the alternate sections OF land reserved
10 the United States on canal in Ohio ard Illinois
might be sold and that the excess over 81 20 per acre
might be appropriated 10 the construction 81 roads,
SC. inthat quarier. .
BY Mr.. BUCHANAN from the Union Bank of
in the Post 0.kce at Baltimore by the admission ola
stranger within The Office,
By Mr., LINN, three memorials relating 70 certain
harb,rs in Wisconsin
And by Mr. NILES, on an individual claim.
The following bills were introduced, on leave,
read twice, and referred
BY Mr. NILES, a bill 10 provide for the erection
Of monument 10 the memory OF Nathan Hale.
BIZ Mr.. LYON, bill for the relief Of the heirs Of
By Mr.. Upton. a bin for the relief Of Michael
Cassea.
BY Mr.. DAVIS, a bill providing for The final set
Element of claims BY the States OF The United states
for interest on advances made by them during the
Mr. DAVIS stated that this bill had already pass
ed the Senate at former session and expressed the
hope that il would now be acted on speedily
MONEY IN THE MALL
The Senate having taken up the resolution before
offered BIZ Mr.. NILES, relative 10 an insurance oil
the saie transmission Of money in the mails,
Mr. NILES ffered substitute for that resolution,
requiring the Postmaster General TO communicate 10
the Senate his opaiOs Of the propriey and advanla-
geS of authorizing by law the transmission IN the
mail of sums Of money, not exceeding scvsrally
ceriain amount at the risk OF the Department; The
rate per cenlage which ought 10 be charged by the
Department, for that risk aud such o:her iiorma-
ton on the subject as he might think proper, and
within his power f-
Mr. CLAY, of Kentucky, asked whether ii had
ever been the practice OF the Senate 10 call on the
Heads of Departments for their opinions On any
measure proposedl Congress had the right TO call
the Secretary of the Treasury for plans, DC and
. require him TO attend personally in either House,
bat Mr.. g. knew Of no example in which The Posi-
m ser General had b,cn ccllcd en- for his cr:rion
on the expediency Of any measure. If he mightgive
his opinion In writing, why not as well have seat
in the Senate, 10 defend that opinion, and take part
in the discussion Of questions as was the practice OF
members Of the British cabinet? II suca opnions
ought TO come here they ought 10 b. explained and
defended. A call tor Information as 10 facts or any
thing Of that kind, Mr. G. though, proper and parlia
mentary.
Mr.. NILES was willing 10 modify his resolution,
50 Us to make il call for information en- lie subject
He admitted the improprie:y oil a call Tor mere
opinion; and information, in detail was the object
which he had in view. He went into minute de-
tail Of the advantages Of plan OF insurance OF this
kind, and Of what he deemed The hes: means OF at
tanning these advantages. The objection, he said
was merely technical.
Mr. CLAY said he did not mean 10 give any opin-
ion, or make any objections TO the plan which the
Senator had in view. His objection was 10 the prac-
flee of calling on the head OF Department for his
opinions. The Senator from Connecticut might at
tain his object in the customary mode, by resolu-
ton authorizing an inquiry on the subject by the
Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads, who
would of course, call on the Department for infor-
ma,ion, if they thought proper. His objection, he
said was not technical, but grave and important, in
volying the dignity as well as the parliamentary or
der ofthe body itself
Mr. GRUMPY said he should feel obliged to vote
against this resolution. He never knew, and hoped
be never should know, Of an instance of call
by The Senate for the opinions Of any executive Off
Ger Of this Government i was proper to call on
them for information but this resolution did not call
for information, bal mere matter OF opinion! Mr..
q. also expressed his opposition 10 the plan proposed
II would make great many postmasters re ponsible
and involve the Government in great m;siy small
AZ irs Of money. He was willing, however,, that
committee should make the usual inquiry; but had
never vo:cd 70 call for an opinion as was proposed,
and he did not think he ever should. h,
H Mr. NILES, after few remarks moved To lay
his resolution on the ablei which was done accord
ingly.
On motion of Mr. NICHOLAS,
Iesolred, Thatthe Committee on the Publ Lands
inquire into the expediency ofa (certan) survey in
the southeast district of Louisiana
On motion OF Mr.. LINN, the Secretary 81 war
called for information as to (certain) surveys
in Wisconsin.
4 On motion Of Mr.. SEWER, @ ss
Eesolc-d, That the Committee on Roads and ca
mails inquire into the expcdicncy OF making 4 pro
pria,ions to open the raft on Red liver
Mr.. NORVELL rose 10 lay som resolutions upon
the table, and TO move that they b. printed Several
days ago, MIR. ~ said after the Vermont resolutions
were Introduced into this BODY certain petitions
The subject ofabDton wereput into his handsb The
Representative from Michigan, who was then lids
posed to b. presented to the Senate. He had CON-
mnnicaed with some friends in relation 10 their pre-
sentation and stated to them his intention when they
were presented, 10 submit resolutions TO meet the
case He had By them been advised 10 defer the pre-
sentaon Of the petitions until the resolutions passed
BY the Legislature OF Vermont should again BE-
brought up, bal the Senator from South Caroline
h,v tarTa laid plptto ~
and having iniimated his wish that they should be
discussed, thar the subject generally should b. dis
cussed fore the Vermont resolutions should be ia
ken M, Mr. Marvell begged leave 10 lay the follow
ing on the table, and ask that they be printed
Rssolred, That the Government of the United
Safes is national government only for the general
purposes specified in the Federal Constitution:
That the States oflhis Union, in all their rescrv-
ed rights and powers, are separate independent and
sovereign political communities
That any interference By or more States or
by the people of one or more States, with the do
mes.ic institutions of any other State of this Union,
or with any offs reserved rights and powers over
those Institutions. is palp bic and dangerous in
fraction Of the spirit Of the Constitution 81 the Uni
ted States, tending directly to disturb the peace and
tranquility Of The Union, and 10 sever the links
which connect MS together one People
That the Senate Of the United States composed
Of the representatives of the States in their sovereign
capacities, and bund to protect the reserved rights
and powers left 10 them in the compact of Union,
would regard any attempt on the part Of the Fcde-
raj Government, under the preext of regulating y
commerce among the several states, or Under any
other preiext whatever, to prohibit the domestic
trade between any Of the States or the citizens off
any OF the States, allowed by them in any kind If
property, recognised such BY their laws, UNI
constitutional in spirit and in letter: Therefore Z,
R,so,rcd, That the Senate Of the Uniied States
will neither receive entertain any petition, me-
mortal resolution or other paper, praying Congress
10 prohibit any such trade. s, 81
R.solred That, as il would BE- a bres Oh Of The !
pubri6 filth of the nation 10 abolish slavery in the
Dist4ct of Columbia without the consent of The pccA
pie Of the District, The Senate will neither receive,
nor entertain any petition, memorial, resolution, or
o;hee paper praying for the adoption Of such med@
sifss nnless il proceed from TIC people ofihe Die