The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-05-15
Congressional.
WAsHINaroN, May 9.

Resolution proposing TO aid the banks in their eff
forts to resume specie payments. The morning
business disposedl of, Mr.. Clay called up his resou-
ton and asked the House to order it to a second
reading. Mr.. Wright, without why wherefore,
moved its reference to the Committee Of Finance
MIR. Clay asked for some reason for making this mo-
ton.
Mr. Wright gave and could give none other than
that the adoption of Joint Resolution TO aid the
Banks IN the resumption of specie payments was
unnecessary. The Post Master General and the
Secretary of the Treasury the former by allowing
the Post Masters to receive Bank Notes provided
they were willing to give credit in specie, and the
latter promising to pay more specie than was
wanted for the Government-had made It unneces-
sary to enact law to aid the Banks in their efforts
to resume specie paymens.-So talked the Chair
man of the Committee Of Finance, apparently
though be had appeared in the Senate Chamber
with the orders Of King Caucus pinned to his sleeve
Mr.. Clay answered Mr.. Wright by reasoning
that it would be quite we'll at least for tho Gov
eminent to receive the notes ofspecie paying banks
by authority OF law, without law and if the Post
Master General and the Secretary of the Treasury
had ordered such notes to be received from public
creditors for public dnes, there could be no harm IN
passing law endorsing theft dongs. Mr. Wright
once and again pressed his notions upon the Senate.
Mr.. Benton came to the rescue and in most vocif-
erous and ranng manner =" The Resolution be-
fore the Senate was designed to make this Govern
ment Shin Plaster Government, General Jack
brought all the Gold and silver into the couh-
try,"-the Banks had moral principle enough about
ing the moral principle of Bank) to resume"
"Tbey would resume whether or no" "They are
able to resume and it was folly to aid them in re-
sumption !" Mr.. Benton raved some thirty or forty
minutes, soon, however, forgetting the moral prie.
ciplc of the Banks and crowded upon them epithet
upon epiihet
MIR. Calhoun joined in the chorus and gave some
character and dignity to the opposition. His ideas
ultra almost as those Of the Great Expunger
from Missouri, but his language much more respect
full and refined. He spoke Of the Sub Treasury
Bill, as the healing measure, as one of the causes
of resumption He would never aid a union be-
tween the Government and the Banks Divorce,
diuorce, DIVORCE, was to be the watchword ofevery
patriot aud statesman. 1t the saving principle.
"A National Bank was national calamity and the
greatest calamity which could now befall the
try Mr. Calhoun hoped should have no such
institution. Nothing could be so bad and nothing
The divorce principle the salvation
principle. The Banks could resume without aid
from the Government. Mr.. Calhoun spoke warm
Iy and with feeling. Ultra had bee his three
speeches at the present session, have not heard
him utterr much Slamm- Bang, Ming Slingsm
before. Once again be is upon tho party track -
ready to go far the furlherest
Mr.. Davis, during the disc ussiou, replied to Mr..
Calhoun, and made some remarks upon the merits
of the motion of reference. Like most of the SEN
ators opposed the Administration he opposed tho
reference of Mr. Clays resolution to the Committee
of Finance because that committee hostile TO
the resolution. A majority of the committee were
decidedly hostile TO the banks and more dis
posed to crush, than To lend them helping hand,
even in SO good work as the resumption of specie
payments AS partial committee, they not
the proper jury to decide upon the merits Of the
case. Mr.. Preston advocated eoquenty the resolu-
ton. The Senate expressed its appreciation of one
part of the resolution by adhering 10 amendment
to the Sub Treasury Bill, introduced by Mr. Web
ster.-The Senate, far as its own action had gone,
had decided that there should be no discrimination in
tho kind of funds received for different branches of
the public revenue. The House, however, had
laid thph nj Amino fh,an Ia fba
and the expression OF opinion the part OF the
Senate in reference to it therefore nullifed.
The resolution of Mr. Clay contemplated such an
expression and was embodied in more acceptable
form.
Mr. Niles, of Connecticut, and Mr. King, of Ala
bama, now came TO the rescue of the Administra
ton. The vote was soon ordered upon the ques
ton of reference, and the result was2S ayes to 10
noes.
Yeas-Messrs. Allen, Benton, Brown, Buchanan,
Calhoun, Clay, of Alabama, Cuthbert, Fulton, Cruz.
ddy, Hubbard King, Linn, Lumpkin, Lyon, Morris,
Nicholas, Niles, Norvel PIERCE Roane, Robinson,
Sewer, Smith, Of Connecticut Trouer, Wall, Will
iiams, Wright, Young-28.
Nays--Messrs. Clay, of Kentucky, Clayton, Crit
tenden, Davis, Knight Merrick, Prentiss, Preston
Rives, Robbins, Ruggles, Smith, of Indiana, South
ard, Spence, Swift, Tallmadge, Upton, Webster,
Whte--l9.
The resolution, therefore, goes to the common
hangman. The COMMITTEES of Finance will forth
with chop off its head, and then swear that the
Wings, not they, opposed to resumption
The House were in session some seven hours
The old questions and the old notions were before
the House diving the day. Three hours nearly
were passed away in taking the ayes and noes upon
motions to ad journ and on calls of the House Tru-
ly men are but children Of the larger growth Ma
ny of the members here seem to have reached Sec
ond childhood
The only incident of interest during the discus
sion was little " flare up" between the Ex-Presi-
dent and Boon, from Indiana, who boosted of his
bribing collar man upon one occasion. Mr. Boon
was quite angry and quite abusve,--so much so as
to shake his puny finger at Mr. Adams, because Mr.
Adams said, what is notorious believe, that the
late duel, and the Investigation Of it, and the odinm
oft, administration measure. Mr. Adams
told Mr. Boon, very Significantly, that be acknowl-
edged the force of his little finger, but he hoped
survive it, He would give Mr. Boon certificate
that he, CHE very slave of partyD was no party
man.-and that he was exceedingly high minded,
liberal, and all that The scene was rich one.
Mr. Adams kept his temper very well. Mr. Boon
lost his, and was angry enough TO have fought an
elephant. The members of the House and specta-
tors, OF course, enjoyed the fun.
Wednesday, May 8.
D..