The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-05-15
TwENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
IN SENATE
SATURDAY, May IL.

MIR. DAVIS presented the memorial Of about
500 legal voters of the town Of Worcester, Massa-
chuses, stating their fears that the treaty with the
Cherokees was fraudulently Obtained, never having
4 been asSenied 10 by the People any authorized
agents Of theirs and praying that no measure for
their removal shall be enforced against their con-
/ sent.
He asopresented memorial upon the same sub
| lec adopted al the yearly meeting OF The friends
belonging 10 New England. at Providence, Rhode
Island, desiring that no wrong or injustice may be
done 10 the Indians under the provisions Of that rea
W unless upon investigation, il shall be found to
have been fairly and Justly obtained
| All laid on the table.
| Mr.. BUCHANAN presented memorial from CT
tizens OF Erie county, Pennsylvania, praying Con-
gress 10 examine the statements made in the late
Cherokee remonstrance against carrying the alleged
treaty with them into effect and rescnd the treaty
If those statements should be found 10 be true. Laid
on The liable.
MIR, SWIFT presented memorial of the same
import which salso laid on the table.
Mr.. CLAY, of Alabama, presented memorial
on the subject OF duelng, praying Congress 10 pass
a law TO punish offenders in this way by disqualih
cation for office under the United States, and other
wise Laid on the table.
Mr.. LINN presented letter in relation TO the
claim Of Joseph Holland Referred.
A resolution before offered BY MIR, HuHBaRp, was
taken up, and modified by the mover TO the follow
ing import:
Resoired, That no original papers relative TO any
private claims shall be Withdrawn from the files Of
The Senate after they shall have been referred TO
committees and reported upon but the Secretary of
the Senate, when required, shall give certified CO
pies of The same, for the fees are charg
ed for similar duties in the State Department. which
fees shall be placed BY the Secretary the credit of
the contingent fund of the Senate
MIR. SEWER objected TO this increase of duty on
the part of the Secretary without allowing him any
additional compensation.
Mr.. HUBBARD re marked that the oversight OF
this Of The appropriate duties OF the Secre-
a rv = n
He would of course be authorized to employ ano-
Their clerk, if he should have occasion for more
Sistance.
Mr.. CLAYTON suggested the propriety OF fur
nishing the copies required free OF expense to the
wuhdrawerS, as they had heretofore Withdrawn their
original papers without expense.
MIR. HUBBARD would prefer this TO the with
drawal OF the original papers the retention ofwhch
he insisted was Of great Importance.
MIR. DAVIS spoke strongly in favor OF the resolu-
ton as calculated 10 prevent the maturing and boil
stering OF fraudulent claims He believed, if the
resolution should be adopted very few copies of the
papers would be called for, whether ornot any charge
Tor them should BE- made.
The resolution, as stated above, was then agreed
TO-
CONTEMPLATING TREASURY NOTES
The Senate took up the bill to prevent the coun-
terieting of Treasury notes, and other obligations
and securities OF the Government.
Mr.. PRESTON objected strongly to the second
section of the bill which provides that no person
cuset shall escape conviction, as by the common
law, account OF mere want of literal verbal tech
meal, or formal accuracy, He argued that this
principle OF the common law often rescued the nno-
cent from the impctuoSily Of power and he was un-
willing that this principle OF the common law should
in this way be invaded.
Mr.. WALL stated that this principle had been
given up in England and in this country TO con-
siderable extent, as often afiordiDg escape for
rogues
Mr.. PRESTON said it was better that ten rogues
should escape than that innocent person should
suffer Heregarded these technicalities difficulties
and delays in prosecutions as among the entrench.
ments of liberty which he was unwilling TO abandon
On motion of Mr. SMITH, of Indiana, and with
the assent of MIR, WALL, the above described second
section Of the bill was stricken out and the bill so
amended was ordered 10 be engrossed for third
reading .->
The bill for the relief of Hard & Longsireet was
read q third time, earnestly opposed by Mr.. KING
and Mr; NORRIS as earnestly advocated by Mr.,
PRES Ton, also BY Mr., ROBINSON, and was then
passed without division.
On motion of Mr. BENTON, the Senate held a
short Executive session. w..
Afler The Executive session, Mr.. BUCHANAN
(having called up the bill for that purpose) modified
his motion OF yesterday in regard 10 specie in the
Bank OF w aShington, so 10 require it. after the
Isl of January next, 10 have an amount Of specie
"equa 10 at least one-fourth of its circulation and
acreage prfrate deposs excluding special depos,es
This provision is of course designed to be made ge-
neral a
The Senate then adjourned.
gTThe motion Of Mr.. BUCHANAN, agreed to yes
terday, on the District bank BILL limiting the capital
to s335,0OO, was misunderstood by the Reporter 10
be applicable to each of the banks II applies only
to The Bank of Washington Mr.. b. intends still to
move to limit the capital Of each bank TO the amount
of its present actual capital excepting the Patriotic
Bank Of Washington, the capital Of which he is will
ling should be increased 10 800 900.