The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-02
BY Mr. PRESTON From William Stalker.


by Mr.. CLAY From Doctor E. TheIler
Mr. Clay, having briefly stated the import n
the petition, remarked, i'm effect that he wouId No.,
now call ia question the right Of Great Britain y,
condemn and punish for treason any indy,dpsI
found in rebellion against her authority within her,
territory but this petitioner stated that he had been
condemned on the express ground that he was onl,
| a BaturaliZed citizen Of the United States and VA
| a native OF the British dominions; and he fuubrr
stated that he would have been executed under M,
sentence, il he had not escaped from his prison in
! Quebec.
Surprising these statements TO be correct, MIR G
felt compelled 10 say that IL the tribunals of GTea,
| Britain condemned this individual on the ground
that be wasa naturalized, and native citizen Of
The United States, then the United States were bound
10 remonsiae, ADD 10 demonstrate in The most efec-
tual manner II the petitioner had been condemned
| as any native American citizen would have been
condemned, Tor rising against the authorities Of
| Great Britain, Mr.. G. would now have had nothiDo
10 say: but be must and would insist that all tG.
reigners, from whatever quarter who had been nat
uTazed as citizens Of the United States had right
and ought 10 be protected in all the rights of native
| American citizens.
| There were many modes of settling this onestion
one Of which was by treaty, which heretofore had
not proved successful. Il might be done by direct
act Of legislation, which should indicate TO Great
Britain that We should al all hazards protect all our
| citizens, whether native or adopted from foreign
countries, under our Constitution and laws without
Determinations and all on the same broad footing of
equality.
| Without indicating what ought to be done in This
case, Mr.. {. moved that the petition be printed, and
referred TO The Committee on Foreign Relations.
| Mr hORNELL said The petitioner was a citizen
Of Michigan, intelligent but great enthusiast. The
Senator from Kentucky was right in maintaining
that naiuraiized were much entitled protection
as native citizens bu, Mr ~ was understood TO
argue that this individual, by sugagng in foreign
civil war had in so doing, forfeited his citizenship
under the United States and all the Protection which
he might otherwise claim from It's Constitution and
its laws.
Mr. BROWN also argued tina, in doing this he
had e1patTialed himself and had no right whaever
to look TO this country for protection. Mr.. Cay
appeared 10 have been misunderstood. All he asked
that our native and naturalized citizens might
be placed on the same common footing
The petition was referred 10 the Committee on
Foreign Relations, and ordered TO be printed.
Mr.. KING from the Committee on Commerce,
made several reports, some Of which were not dis
tnctly heard the House bill for the relief Of Frede
rick A. Frey a. Co. with amendment: also, Hoase
bills for the relief of Gilbert A. Smith for the relief
| OF John Kern and John b. George with the inten-
ton of moving their indefinite posiponement when
they come up in order He also asked to be dis,
charged from the consideration Of the petition Uf
John Raney, and the memorial of the Chamber Of
Commerce of Charleston, South Carolina.
| MIR. NILES, from the Committee on Foreign Re-
ations, reported bill for the relief OF John Ran
dolph Clay. ....
Mr. SEWER, from the Committee on Indian AZ
fairs reported bill for the relief OF Richard Banks
| Mr.. WALL, from the Committee on the Judicial
ry, to whom was referred the bill TO prevent the in
reference Of public officers in elections, made a
special report.
The report, drawn up and read by Mr.. WALL, de-
nounced the bill 10 prevent the interference Of United
States officers in popular elections In the strongest
and most unqualified terms "unjust, unequal,
impractcable, tyrannica and unconstitutional; as
creating new crime, as drawing distinction be-
tween the higher and the lower officers OF the Co
vernment making slaves of nearly all Of them, with
"brdles in their mouths, and saddles on their backs
and it drew long and labored parallel between il
and the Spanish nquisition II asserted and vndi.
Gated, 10 the greatest possible extent, the right oil
Government officers to do any thing and every thing
in regard to our elections, which Is lawful Tor any
| class Of citizens.
Mr. CRITTENDEN AFTER few remarks wholly
inaudible to the Reporter said he only desired an
early day in which the poor sophstries and misera-
bic generalties of this report, which had now be-
the great vice of this land, might be discussed
1t also seemed that, instead of the peculiar language
of denunciaion which had been used, the ciIcum.
stances might have suggested TO gentlemen some
more temperate terms N which 10 express their dis
appreciation of this bill MIR. c. moved that 1t be
made the special order for Thursday next
Mr.. HUBBARD said he had no objection to the
motion. All he desired now was, that the report
should be printed, and he moved the printing of no.
600 extra copies of the bill and report
Mr.. NORVELL was understood 10 say that the
report had not been properly characterized by the
Senator from Kentucky. Mr.. N. regarded it
just and proper vndicaion of the constitutional and
zens and the attention of the people Of this country
could be earnestly called to the considerations
which it presented; and he would suggest that il
might be best TO print 25, 600 extra copies.
The bill and report were ordered to be printed
together, with 1000 extra copies of both.
MIR. LINN said he had been engaged on The Com
miltee on Private Land Claims now for three years
and with all the attention that had been given TO the
various claims presented, and numerous were the
bills that had passed the Senate in that period, only
two had succeeded in the House OF Representatives.
He hoped he should be more fortunate this session;
and, with view TO be prepared in time he would
move that Saturday be set apart for the special dis
cussion Of private land claims; which motion was
agreed to.
The bills which were ordered 10 be engrossed
yesterday, were read third time and passed
On motion of Mr. WILLIAMS,
Resolred, That the Committee on Finance, to which
referred the bill for the repeal of the salt duty and
abolishng fishing bountes also inquire into the exped
ency of repeating the dnty bread stufs beef and
pork iron, sugar, molasses, and lead
Mr. CRITTENDEN submitted the following,
which lies over:
ResoIrcd That the Secretary Of the Treasury be,
and he is hereby directed report to the Senate the
total amount Of from all sources which accrued
and received into the public Treasury, and the ag-
grcrate amount of the expenditures OF the General Co.
vernment in all branches Of the public service during
each year from the LIST January 1917 TO the LIST day OF
January, 1885, distinguishing the payments made IN
each year account Of the national debt and that this
information be reported in connection with that required
by the resolution of the goth January, 1882 directing
the Secretary Of the Treasury to report whether any,
and if any, how much would have been the deficit IN
the Treasury if an act entitled An to appropriate
for limited time the proceeds of the sales Of the public
lands Of the United States, and for granting land TO
certain States" which passed both Houses or Congress
had received the appreciation Of the President and been
acted upon up TO the LIST day Of January, 1899
~, I'M