Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-05-15
TWenty-fiNh COnsress---2d Sess
Thursday, May 10.
In SENATE.
NORTHEASTERN BOUNj

n " SSSS'
Thursday, May 10.
IN SENATE.
NORTHEASTERN BOUNDARY.
Mr.. Webster rose, and said that, q few days ago, one
Of the honorable members from Maine presented certain
proceedings of the Legislature of Maine upon the impor
tant subject of The Northeastern boundary. 1t is gene
rally known {said Mr.. w thst the Commonwealth OF
Massachusetts, has a deep stake in this question, and her
Legislature is sensibly alive TO It's importance, and 10 It's
present state, as a question pending between the United
States and England. During its lale session, the subject
was referred to a committee of the Legislature, and a re-
port made, which think a very able and satisfactory expo
silion of the matter in controversy. On this report, the
Legislature adopted sundry resolutions; and l now pre-.
sent both the report and The resolutions, and propose that
they be printed for the use Of the Senate.
II is my purpose, Sir, when the subject shall be called
up, as understand it will be in a few days, 10 say some.
thing upon it. The honorable member from Maine Will
naturally take a lead OH this subject, so far as any thing
is to be said or done here; but | propose also to take
some little part, for the purpose of explaining to the Sc
nate, if | can, the true question existing between the
two countries, and its great magnitude and importance
to the States concerned. It has become indispensably
necessary, in my opinion, that the two Houses Of Con.
gress should be induced to give to the subject their I'M
mediate and serious attention.
Mr.. Williams gave notice that he should ask leave to.
morrow 10 bring in a bill for the survey OF The North.
eastern boundary.
MI. Buchanan presented the memorial OF the trustees
Of the University Of Pennsylvania, asking Congress TO
grant a portion Of the public domain to that institution,
and to others of a similar character, for The purpose Of
promoting the cause of education. This memorial (said
Mr.. B } states, and with perfect truth, "ihat while our
country abounds in collegiate Institutions, few, If any,
possess those appendages which ihave rendered so Illus
trious and SO perfect the institutions of older countries.
Appropriate Libraries, complete museums Of natural sci.
ence, extensive philosophical apparatus, in short, coIec.
tions illustrative of the progress and attainments of sci.
ence abroad, and furnishing the most perfect means OF in
s,ruction at home, are yet wanting, aud are not likely 10
he secure with the present defective means of our COL
leges."
The memorial was well calculated to attract public at.
tention TO this important subject. He therefore moved
that it should be printed, and referred to the Committee
on Public Lands; which was ordered accordingly.
STATE OF THE TREASURY.
A message was received from the President Of the U.
States, through Mr.. A. Van Buren,, his private Secreta'
ry, representing the Treasury 10 be almost wholly desti'
tule of available means, and recommending the prompt
passage of some measure Of relief by Congress, aud es.
Pecially an authority for the Secretary OF the Treasury
10 reissue the Sl0,0 U0,0 900 Of Treasury notes authorized
By Congress at the extra session. The message was &C.
compsnied by a report made to the Executive by the Sc.
cretary Of the Treasury, giving The details ofthe embar-
easements Of the Treasury. Both documents were read,
referred to the Committee on finance, and ordered to be
printed.
MIR. Davis, from the Committee on Commerce, to
whom had been referred two Senate resolutions relating
TO lighthouses, made a report on the subject, which was
laid on The table, and ordered 10 be printed.
Mr.. Rives gave notice that he should Tomorrow ask
leave to introduce a bill to %reorganize the Marine Corps
DISTRICT HOSPITAL.
The Senate took up, on its third reading, The bill 10
construct a Hospital in the city of Washington.
MIR. Niles spoke briefly against the bill, but i~naudibly
TO the reporter.
Mr.. Roane spoke in reply TO MIR. Niles, and IN favor
Of the bill.
MIR. Morris argued At some length against the consti-
tu,ional power OF Congress to pass the bill, on the gene.
raj ground that they had no power to make appropriations
10 the District for local purposes.
Mr.. Buchanan opposed the bill exclusively on the
ground Of the present destitute condition Of the Treasu-
~. He moved that the bill be postponed 10 the first
Monday in December next, and called for The yeas and
NAYS on the question, which were ordered.
Mr.. Williams spoke in favor Of the bill, and in reply
to Mr.. Niles, who had made a statement which he thought
incorrect.
MIR. Calhoun opposed The bill, both on the ground of
its cons,ilutionality and eSpediency.
The bill was postponed to the first day OF the next SEES
sion by the following vote:
Ysas-Messrs. Allen, Benton, Buchanan, Calhoun,
Clay, of Alabama, Culhbert, Davis, Fulton, Grundy,
Hubbard, King, Knight, Lyon, Morris, Nicholas, Niles,
Robinson, Ruggles, Smith, Of Connecticut, Upton,
Wall, White, Wright-23.
.Nass-Messrs. Clayton, Criltenden, Linn, Lnmpkin,
Merrick, Norvell, Pierce, Prentiss Preston, Rives, Roane,
Robbins, Smith, of Indiana, Southland, Spence, Swift,
Tallmadge, Troiter, Webster, Williams, Young-2l.
The bill 10 authorize the sale Of the bonds given 10
the Government for stock in the late Bank Of The U.
States was read a third time, and passed, and sent to the
other House for concurrence.
MIR. Wall from the Committee on the Judiciary, re.
ported q bill to prevent the counterfeiting of Treasury
notes. Read, and ordered to a second reading.
BANKS IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the bill to
continue the corporate existence Of the banks of the
District of Columbia.
Mr.. Benton moved, az a substitute for the bill, to ex.
tend the charters of certain banks named therein (ll
the banks) to the 4h day of March, 1889, provided said
banks should not issue notes OF o less denomination than
S5; that they should not pay out the notes Of non specie.
paying banks; that they should redeem all their notes Of
S when required, after the Ist of July next; and should
resume specie payments in full on the LIST Of September
next.
Mr.. Roane vas understood to speak in opposition to
this amendment, and in favor Of the bill as it was.
Mr.. Hubbard also opposed the amendment, and sent
an amendment of his own 10 the table; the import Of
which was developed only by the remark of MIR. II that
it proposed to extend farther the existing charters OF the
banks.
MIR. Upton spoke with much earnestness in favor Of
the bill as it was. He said it had been prepared with
of defeating The whole measure if I should be materially
altered. Five months of the session were gone, this
measure being put off from time to time, and now it al.
ready began 10 be said that too much time was gone for
this bill to pass. MIR. T. spoke ~feeiingly of the uncer.
tainty and distractions produced in the District BY the
delays of Congress to legislate in due time on District
concerns. He commended one OF these banks as being
one of the few that had resumed specie payments.
Mr.. Knight said he hoped we should not postpone this
opestion. but act on it al this time. He did not agree
with the Senator from Indiana 10 regard 10 one of the
banks of this city he meant the bank that had been pay.
ing specie for The last FIVE or six months. ! do not (saId
Mr. Ky consider tho conduct of that bank any more
meritorious than the others. What would have been
the condition Of the citizens of this District had the other
banks called in their bills, and issued none; why, SIT,
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