Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1837-03-10


Of the act Of last session.
The amendment vas briefly debated by
Mr.. Calhoun, Mr.. Wright, and Mr.. Clay,
twho asked for the Yeas and Nays which
were ordcred) Mr. Buchanan, Mr.. Rives,
Mr.. Cu,hbcrt, Mr.. Niles, Mr.. Cri,lenden,
until the hour arrived for taking q recess
without coming to a conclusion.
At five o'clock the Senate resumed the
consideration Of the subject. q quorum be-
ing assembled.
Mr.. Brown then addressed the Senate
against the practice of attaching TO a bill,
by way Of amendment, subjects entirely
dlssmlIar, and particularly against the
amendment of the House TO this Bill, pro-
vidmg, as it did, for contingency which
might never occur.
Mr.. Clay then said few words in dc.
fence Of the amendment, stating that the
adoption Of it, if there was surplus, would
proven, the Banks from holding it in their
possession twelve mouths, while If there
was no surplus, no mischief could be done,
because the Bill would merely be inopera-
tive. The act of last session was hailed
every where a measure of great muniii
ccnce; and it was satisfactory to sec that
IN all the various purposes to which the DIT
fercnt states had directed their several pro.
portions, there had been no IN udcious ap
plica,ion Of the money. He resisted the
idea that the adoption Of the amendment
would have The effect Of checking ncedful
appropriations, by showing that no such eff
feet had been produced by the Bill of last
session. The objection was founded in
belief that the people entertain q distrust
OF the Legislature, and Of their Senators
and representatives, aud in dislrust on
the part of him who made the objection, of
the competency of the people for self gov
eminent.
Mr.. Ewing, of Ohio, took similar view
Of the operation of the amendment. He
expressed hope that the Compromise Bill
would not yet be disturbed. Nor was he
without a hope that the bill giving away
the public lands would still fail to become
a law. TO no such objects would he give
his assent, merely to prevent surplus rev.
enuc. II these measures did not pass, and
if we did not get into practice Of making
extravagant appropr iations, there would
be surplus. He estimated that :hc re.
ccipts from Ihc Customs, for the present
year. would be from 2 to ) millions. All
this would have to remain in the Banks,
unless some provision be now made to take
it from them.
Mr.. Calhoun said there was at present
large surplus in The Treasury, and he be
lIeved that the revenue from the Customs
would be 81 millions. The cotton crop
will be equal to the last. Rice commands
better price and the crop will be good
The tobacco crop will deterorale to some
extent. On these bases he founded hia col
culalIon that the lmposts Will amount TO g
millions. From the best information he
calculated that unless the Land Bill in the
other House should pass, the revenue from
public lands would be 8 or 0 millions. The
whole available means Of the wear would
not be less than SO or "a millions, including
what would be received from the U. 5.
Bank He left out of his calculation The
) millions left in the Treasury now, and the
5 millions in lie hands Of dlsbursing officers.
Our expenditures ought not exceed - nil,
lions, but perhaps will be run up to 90 or
81 millions. And even then the surplus
would be at least - millions lie descrl-
Dcc our political system as in congestive
state, It's energies weighed down by a su
pcrabundant fluid, which requires TO be
thrown of in order to give relief There
are but three Alternatives LIST, VIII we
leave the money in the banks for them to
lend out To spectators al G per cent? 2dly,
| Wii we distribute among the S'a,cs' Or
3dy, VIII we raise our expenditures te the
scale Of our income?
Mr.. Buchanan said if the Senator from
South Carolina could carry out his views,
he would prove himself the best Tariff
man in the country. Ii he could establish
this system OF distribution, depend on it,
the Tariff would never be reduced He
Mr.. i had always been friend to the
Land Bill, considering it as ou- safety
valve, aud he was sorry 10 believe that 1t
was now a life'css corpse, Abandoned by all
It's friends, and he left to be the oly.
mourDcr. They who had advocated the
Land Bill, had now deserted it, and taken
up this bantling Of annual distribution, in
its room, He disclalmcd any want of con-
f1encc in the virtue and intelligence of the
people, but there were corrupt individual.
among the people, who would put the mo
| ney IN their own pockets. The country
was pie horlc in lis condition last year, il
danger of ap0pexy, and we bled The pa
licnt but now, when he is described as
very Don QulXote, or like the poor apothe
r cary Of Shakespeare, dying of consump
ton, and it will scarcely be prudent now t.
2 bleed him. Did the gentleman from Ar
e kansas believe if this amendment pass thi
evening, tina, the Army Increase Bal, St
t nee ssafy for his State, will ever pass?
G Mr.. Benton-Nevcr.
y Mr.. Buchanan---lt never will. II
= should vote against the amendment and
there should be surplus next year whe
q CONGRESS meets. he WOull nct as WislOI