Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-05-18

ONLY considered, anu IOE tndt reason was "
sidering the proposition Of the gentleman from virginia
Mr.. Cambrelepg would correct the gentleman from
Massachusetts in one particular. Mr.. u never
been, was not then, and probably never ohouiu oe'a
lawyer. a
would no, have pressed il, but the committee must oe
aware, that if this proposition was deeioea u Q ~ Is
der, a discussion Of one monln IN 'nat tiouse ouuo
inevitable II discussion on the Independent treasury
bill and the opposite bank system be in order as an amend.
ment TO this bill to borrow money ne did not know what
hill or what proposition might not be considered In OF.
dee. II it should be ruled to be in order, they would
mol only have a mon,h's discussion, but they must pre-
pare themselves for a Treasury, without means tor The
whole Of that time. 1t was only on that account he
pressed the question, and he insisted upon 1t that 1t was
a distinct, a perfectly distinct, proposition.
Mr.. Haynes differed from MIR. Hopkins, that The rails,
ing of money was necessarily and properly connected
with Its safe keeping.
Mr.. Mercer insisted upon IFS being in order, as in
Committee Of the Whole there should be no restriction.
The Chair {Mr. Ingham) cited the first section of the
AID rule, which is as follows: -
"No motion or proposition on a subject, different from
that under consideration, shall be admitted uhoef eoof
of amendment"
Now. in view Of tsas rule, the first section of the pro-
position of the gentleman from Virginia, would be IN
order; but inasmuch as that section formed d saosta"u.e
part Of the whole proposition, ano inasmnch - u .
lance of it was clearly a distinct ProPositioh' having u
connection yhatever with the subject under consldera'
tion. the Chair had no hesitation whatever IN pronounc'
ing The whole to be out OF oroer. .,ta.,
Srba <onmittee acuuiesced in the decision without
M Riyes rose and said if no one wished to address
the Committee, he would move that they rise ana report
'ns o"i n sG "a ne Would no, take an appeal from the
Chair. He did not offer the amendment 10 embarrass
the House, though he thought the decision Of the House
erroneous. He did not rise to discuss the merits OF Inc
bill; but he thought, considering the character OF the bill,
the authority by which 1t had been produced, and lhe
tone and manner by which it had been supported, that
it deserved full and deliberate discussion. 1t deserved
deliberate discussion, not only on account of the tone IN
which it had been urged upon the House but it was
a new fiscal scheme, a plan which he supposed was to
be rendered permanent as the system OF the country
1t had been urged that speedy action should be had upon
it, because of the urgent necessity OF the Government.
But he wanted now accurate information concern.
ing the state of the Treasury. Neither the report OF
the Secretary, nor Of the chairman of Ways and Means,
gave any correct information Of the state OF the Teve'
nue.. It wa, impossible 10 tell the amount OF the
revenue, whether they were increasing or going BACK
ward; and he bad never known q more gross, snatne'
full, and deliberate attempt to impose upon The House
and the country. In regard 10 the suppression OF IN
formation upon financial subjects, he did not think the
House had ever been treated with so much contempt
Mr.. B. then alleged that the bill was deceptive upon its
title and face, and was only adopted to answer It's pro-
fessed purpose, in case no extraordinary aPPoPriauons
were made by Congress; and did not gentlemen of vari.
Gus sections expect increased appropriations Tor the ar
my, and for Indian treaties, and Indian wars: he then
alluded TO funds in the deposite banks, TO the trust fund,
which he said might have been used, and to moneys in
the hands Of receivers, about which no accurate inturinu'
ton had been given. He alluded to this to show, that a
few days discussion was proper, and that there was no
urgent necessity for forcing the bill through the House,
though he did not desire a protracted debate.
Mr.. Cambreleng said the gentleman from Tennessee
had made some very extraordinary charges, which he
would briefly reply TO-. The gentleman had asserted
that the Secretary Of the Treasury had deceived the
House and the country in the statement furnished by
him of the condition Of the Treasury, that they were
without the necessary information ind that no commu.
nica,ion has been sent in by him. Why it was not q
fortniVbt o,pco m rpeponaa c1ua in FINN that ofncer in |
answer 70 the gentiemans own inquiry; and it was
within a week only that MIR. c. himself had submitted
to the House a statement of the condition of the Trea.
sury. In what had the Secretary been Deficient lie
had stated the whole amount which, according to law,
he had a right to draw for. The gentleman asks,
where is the trust fund? Why, Sir, said MIR. Cam.
breleng, has it come to this, that the House expects
the Secretary Of the Treasury to violate the law and
the Constitution, by appropriating the trust fund 10
the public expenses? But, said the gentleman, fiji be a
trust fund why not invest it, MIR. c. replied, because
Congress had given him no law which would empower
him 10 do SO. If the gentleman's docuine were correct,
the Secretary would have the right, Of his own will, to
violate every law and every pledge OF public faith. II
he did as the gentleman seemed 10 wish him TO do, the
gentleman himself would te the first 10 arraign him, and
would be wanting in his duty if he did not. MIR. {. in
sisted that the Secretary had given every particle Of in.
formation he was required to do, and had included every
fund he had a right 10 draw upon.
Mr.. Bell still thought there was a law requiring the
investment Of the trust fund, but if not, there should be,
and the fault was in Congress.
MIR. Halstead moved that the committee rise iost-
SO to SO.
Mr.. Robertson said he understood the amendment of
fered by his colleague had been decided to be out OF or
der, and that the discussion reverted to the original bill.
He would offer an amendment eonhnea 10 tne hts'
clause OF bis colleagues amendment, which, he under
stood, was decided to be in order, and he assented 10
the decision that the other clause was not. He objected
to this indirect mode of raising money, and thought 1t
would have been better for the Chairman OF the Com
mittee of Ways and Means to have come forward fairly
and candidly, and to have stated that the government
wanted money, and must have it. lie was willing they
should have il, so far as it depended upon his vote; but
not in the way they wanted it. He would assent 10 q
loan; or, if there was no other way to raise money, he
would resort TO direct taxation, and let the people ieel
the condition of the country. But ne thought there
were other means to obtain necessary funds, and he
would resort 10 them in preference to the bill now under
consideration.
Mr.. R. then offered an amendment, in substance the
same a. the first clause of the amendment oil Mr. Hop
kins, as given above.
Mr.. Mason of Virginia at half past six o'clock, took
the floor, aSd said il must be obvious that they could not
get through this bill to. night, and give it that mature de-
liberation its importance merlted, and he therefore moved
that the committee rise.
The question was taken BY tellers, and ,ost-63 to sc.
Mr.. Mason opposed the original bill, and after proceed
ing for some time, gave way to
DIR. Menefee, who moved that the committee rise
Mr.. Mason again proceeded, and at half past 7, yield.
ed The floor to
Mr.. Hopkins, who renewed the molten for the com.
mittee to rise, but they again refnsed-ayes ~, noes e9
Mr.. Mason again proceeded till + o'clock, when he
gave way 10
Mr. LessIo, Who maur u IL earliest aPpvai 10 the com.
mittee, and moved that it rise, report, and ask leave to
sit again. He remarked that they had been in continu.
Gus session for nine hours, and were all more or less con.
siderably ~fatigued; and as he himself should probably be
found in the majority on the bill, he did hope the motion
would prevail.
The committee, however, refused 10 rise, the vote tax
en- by the tellers, being ayes 80, noes SO.
Mr.. Mason resumed, and avcwed himself in favor of
the special deposite system, for the safe keeping of the
public moneys, and notified the House that, in due time,
he should submit a projet to that effect. With reference
to the measure under debate, he avowed himself willing
to 60 for such u limited issue of Treasury notes as would