The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-09-09
TWENTY-FIVE CONGRESS,
EXTRA SESSION.
IN SENATE.
WrpsE.p.Y. Sept. 9.

SD rule OF the Senate. The rule provides Tor the APP
pointment OF Committee the District OF Columbia.
The amendment proposed % add, COMMITTEES on Pa
tents and the Patent Office. He asked for tie consid
Grafton Of tho resolution at this time.
Mr.. CLAY, Of Kentucky, reminded the Senator that
resolutions TO alter the lies lie one day for
consideration and he hoped this would take the regular
course.
Mr. HUBBARD said he had not anticipated any
objection to his motion bot as il was objected TO- he
would substitute motion that the Senate will to-mor-
proceed 10 the election Of the Standing Commit
tees.
Mr.. CLAY said he had desired 10 put question to
gentlemen on the other side, who would be able TO
him. He desired to learn whether 1t was intended
to urge this session the appointment Of all the Stand
ing Committees, only Of Committees TO consider the
special subjects referred to them by the Message OF the
President The President had informed them that he
had called them together for particular purposes his
message had also stated to them what that purpose
and that when they had finished this work. he would
send them back to their homes. Now il had been as
for him TO leave home at this Of the
year. as it could have been TO any and no one
could be gatifed with the opportunity Of return
ing to his home than he would; but he would never
consent leave this Capitol, unless something had
been done for the relief Of the country He knew Of
no utility in appointing the Standing Committees. The
subjects referred them by the message special
and none Of the general Of the country
adverted to. No reference is made to the contest
the subject OF the North Eastern Boundary, any of
the subjects connected with our foreign relations and
therefore he could benefit to be derived from the
appointment Of the Standing Committee on that sub
ject
Mr.. HUBBARD said few words in He
considered the appointment Of the Committees pro-
per, because it had been tho regularly adopted
at the commencement OF every session lie desired TO
return home much any one and hoped the business
before them would be transacted, TO give them
opportunity OF returning home IN q few weeks and
that with more time, something would be done to re-
lieve the country 1t this a special ses
sion Of Congress, but the people had right to present
themselves here with their petitions and It was proper
that there should be Committees to whom these petit
tons could be sent for examination.
The motion was agreed to without division, and
The Senate then adjourned.
THURSDAY, Sept T.
The Senate proceeded TO consider the resolution Of
fered yesterday by Mr. HUBBARD, to amend the SD
rule by inserting, after the provision for Committee
on the District Of Columbia, provision for Commit.
tee Patents and the Patent Office.
The resolution being under consideration,
Mr.. GRUMPY advocated its adoption in few
words in which he stated that hitherto the business
ating to the Patent Office had been referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary and the consequence
that ths Committee oyerburdened with business
which did not properly come within the sphere of its
duties He had no doubt that in the hands of sepa-
rate Committee, interests would be much better at
tended to- than they could be by any other Committee.
The resolution adopted.
Mr. BUCHANAN presented memorial from GER
tain delegates assembled at Erie, in Pennsylvania pray
ing for appropriation to make MacAdamzed turn
pike to connect the national road with Lake Erie As
he did expect that at this session, any other than
the special business for which Congress convened
would be taken up for consideration, he would merely
discharge his duty by laying the memorial the table
and asking that it might be printed, which motion was
agreed to- '.. VIZ.
Mr. BUCHANAN also presented memorial from
the Trustees Of the Allegheny College, asking for
grant OF land which also laid the table and
dered to be printed
STANDING COMMITTEES.
On motion Of Mr. HUBBARD, the Senate proceeded
to the order Of yesterday to elect the Standing
Committees according the practice which requires
the election of the different Chairmen in the first place,
the Senate balloted for the Chairman, and
Mr.. Buchanan elected Chairman OF the Commit
tee on Foreign relations.
Mr.. Wright to be Chairman of the Committee
Finance.
Mr. King Of Alabama, to be Chairman Of the Com
On counting the ballots for Chairman Of the Commit
tee Manufactures, it appeared that Mr. Niles had 81
votes and that only 25 ballots put into the ballot
boxes ".
The Vice President having announced the fact that
no quorum had voted,
Mr.. CLAY Of Kentucky, expressed wish that the
tedious process OF baloting ght be dispensed with,
and that the Vice President should, by unanimous
sent, appoint Inc committees AT this extra session.
Mr.. GRUNDY expressed hts acquescence on the
proposition that 1t had been made by the Senator
from Kentucky. 1t would be the most convenient and
agreeable mode, but he should call to the recollection
Of that Senator that it by the vote Of his political
friends aided perhaps by his vote, that the mode Of
electing the Committees had been introduced, and the
appointment taken from the presiding officer.
Mr.. CLAY said it was true that such was the
At that time the opinions oil the President pro tenn
political subjects differed from those held by the MAORI
- n A. II.
that the Committees should speak the sentiments Of the
majority he considered the change proper at the time it
made. The opinions of the present presiding Off
conceded with those Of the majority of the Senate,
and therefore the principle would be carried out
by committing the appointment to his hands for this par
tcular occasion.
Some further conversation took place, in which Mr..
King Of Alabama Mr.. White, and Mr. Hubbard took
part and in which it expressed as the general sense
that the change on this occasion should not invadate
the existing rules. The motion was agreed to, and the
Vice President authorized to appoint the Commit
tees.
On motion Of Mr. King, OF Alabama, the Senate
proceeded the consideration Of Executive business
for the purpose Of having read some Executive
sages received to-day and, after sitting for short time
with closed doors, the doors re-oponed, and
The Senate adjourned.
FRIDAY, Sept. 8.
The Chair announced the following the list of the
Standing Committees
Foreign Rclatoas-Messrs Buchanan, Tallmadge,
King Of Ala, Clay Of Ky, and Rives.
Fnaaee-Messrs. Wright, Webster, Nicholas, Ben
ton, and Hubbard.
Commeree-Messrs, King of Ala, Davis Brown,
Rnggles, and Norvcll
Manufactures Niles, Buchanan, Preston,
Strange, and Pierce
observation-disclosures, Smith OF Conn, Spence, Linn,
Mexican, and Black
Mtttary Agdrs-Messrs. Benton, Preston, Upton,
WALL and Allen
Mii,n-Messrs Wall, Swift Clay Of Ala, Mouton,
and Smith of Indiana.
N4eal AGnrs--Messrs. Rives Southland, Tallmndge,
Cuthbcrt aud Williams.
Pabiic Laads-hlrssrs. Walker, Fulton Clay Of
Ala Ro,ne and Prentss