The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-09-12

country DO referred TO q Select Committee Ways
and Means and that so much as relates to bankrupt
Law, be referred 10 the Committee on the Judiciary
with power TO inquire into existing laws connection
with orders aud regulations adopted by the Treasury
War and Post Office Departments, which now tend to
prolong the endorsements Of the people, and extend
injurious influences throughout the political as well as
the agricultural, commercial and manufacturing ine-
rests Of the Union, and 10 provide such judcious
strants upon the abuses Of Executive power conferred
by legislation relation the currency, revenue and
patronage may be deemed proper TO afford permanent
and general relef-Said Commute TO consist OF one
member Of each State appointed by vote Of the
House
The amendment was lost, and the original motion
was agreed 10.
Mr.. BELL offered the following resolution. which
(he rule being suspended for that purpose) agreed
Resolved That the Secretary Of the Treasury be d.
rected, with little delay possible communicate
to this House the amount Of the appropriations of tho
past and present year, remaining unexpended the
amount required fulfil all existing engagements con-
acted por the LIST day Of June last and all existing
engagements contracted since that time also the
amount of moneys drawn from the Treasury and placed
10 the hands Of discussing officers agents The LIST
day of May last and at the present time and that he
also report what objects Of public expenditure csn with
the least injury TO the public service be wholly dis
pensed WITH during the present year. or bear any mate
rial reduction
Mr.. SMITH OF Maine, said he wished to offer re-
solutions with view to the OF the House
in regard the continuance Of the session and the sub
jects which should come before Congress The Presi-
dent, he said, had not recommended that any subjects
should be attended to other than those prescribed in his
message He offered the following resolution
Resolved That the action Of the several standing
Committees OF this House all matters embraced
by the Message Of the President Of the United States,
TO the two Houses Of Congress- communicated on the
second day Of the current session, be suspended until
the Of the annual session Of Congress in
December next, and that the consideration Of all petit
tons such suspended matters be also postponed to
the period above specified
Mr., f. WHITTLESEY contended that it was the
duty Of Congress- If they sat but six weeks take up
the general business Of the session AT least twenty
per cent would be saved to the country by expedtng
the passage OF the appropriation bills He did not think
the gentlemans objection had any weight, either in
gard to private claims the various branches Of the
public service. He hoped should 90 to receive
petitions and endeavor to render the session seceable
TO the nation.
Mr.. LEWIS WILLIAMS moved to postpone the
subject till "Wednesday, as the House was not, he said
now prepared to act upon it.
Mr.. SMITH opposed the postponement. To-mor-
we should have abolition petitions and Texan petit
tons; and, in a few days, shond be so involved
IN these and other questions, that attention would
be Withdrawn from the business for which spe-
clay convened. II it was determined to open Pondo
ra's box upon the House, he ready any one
for it. But he had presented tho question for decision
whether the House should conne their attention to the
state Of the country which called us together or not
He was willing, friend Of the administration, to
at whether he would not act upon the subjects
referred to the committee Ways and Means, and to
consider those solely. If side has project to
offer, then upon the other who had, would devove the
responsibility Of the action of the House He called
both upon the opposition and the friends Of the admin
straon to say nowupon the threshold of the session.
what course Of action they intended to take.
Mr.. BELL was opposed 10 the postponement, but he
felt difficulty, to his opinion the gentle
mans proposition. No one would doubt that the sub
ecs presented in the message OF sufficient magni
tude to engross the whole attention of Congress and
he anxious to know what would be the course Of
the administration and its proper organs herewhat
they intended TO bring forward II those gentlemen
would tell what course Of action they intended to
propose, he would with less difficulty, decide upon the
resolution. He called upon the chairman Of Ways and
Means to inform the House what would be the course
proposed by that committee. He wished to know whe
Their they intended to conne themselves to the minor
topics of the message, whether they would also bring
before the House the Subtreasury project II that alb
surd and mpractcable project he deemed it, for the
regulation Of the revenue the only to be pre-
scented u.s. need sit here long, before dis
pose Of it, It would not take long time to act upon
that He would venture to say that the friends |
Of the administration would not dare to urge the adop
ton OF that scheme upon the country. At the same
me he believed it to be in the power Of the friends of
the administration here to bring forward modified pro-
position which would command the serious and favor
able consideration Of this House IL it intended to
present any modified project for the relief and the arrest
Of existing evils, he should then oppose any adjourn
ment, until it had been duly and aentively considered
He would feel happy if the gentleman from New York
(Mr Cambreleng) would enghten us on this subject.
In the former which he had put the session need
not continue many weeks in the latter it might be
cessary to proong it,
Mr. CAMBRELENG said the gentleman must be
perfectly sensible that the present situation OF the
committee of ways and means-it having been just ap
pointed-he would only for himself: but he be-
eved that he might say for all that the committee would
give an early and close attention to the subjects COM
mted to them and report upon them, without delay.
In his opinion, they would first report upon the
minor topics, in distinct bills and, when they come to
the great question Of the mode Of keeping the revenue
the House would determine whether to postpone
sideration till the first Monday Of December, 60
with it. In regard to that question: he would not now
express opinion, would be premature engage
in debate uponit Since the proposition TO which the
gentleman had referred had been presented he hoped
that gentleman in the opposition would be bold and
frank the President Of the United States had BEEN
The glove had been thrown down to them. Let those
who talk much Of non-committasm, now tell us what
their plan Isl and whether not to have the ques
ton of the Bank of the United State That question,
sir, may be postponed till after the fall elections, but to
that complexion will they come at last. The grand is
is to be between the Bank OF the United States and
the dispensing with all Bank agencies He hoped the
majority Of the committee Of ways and means would
unite with him in reporting bill disconnectlng the GO
vernment from all banks and then it would be for the
House to determine whether they would postpone its
consideration till the next session.
Mr.. BELL said, if there no disposition on the
part of those who controlled the action Of the House. to
urge any plan OF substantial relief the session need not
be prolonged. After what had fallen from the Hon.
Chairman Of Ways and Means he felt it proper for him
state that he here with favorite project Of
his own, for the relief Of the country, but to cooperate
any practical plan that might be presented by those
in power He had repeatedly stated to his consti-
tuents, before he left home that in his opinion Bank
of the United States, even if chartered Immediately
would not afford relief to the country for two
wears He had held out no such delsiye nrospect He