Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1839-02-16
Congress---3d sess.
In SENATE.

IN SENATE
!honday february ] !, 1857.
The Chair announced a communication iron the &c
crelary Of War, in lhr resolution OF the Sc
nate Of the 2oth utimo The subject OF the ABANDON
ment Of Fort Armstrong in the State oil Illinois, aho
the disposition subsequently made Of il; and on motion
OF MIR Young, il laid on the table, and ordered 10
BE- printed.
The Chair announced a communication from the
American Silk Company; which, on motion OF MI Be
ver, referred 10 The Committee on Agriculture, and
ordered 10 be printed.
Mr. Clay Of Alabama presented the preamble and joint
resolutions Of the Legislature Of Alabama, on the SUBJ
lec' OF the srency, and the various questions when
have 0gaieSt In. country which were read, LAID on the
table, and ordered to be printed.
Mr. Soulhard presented report made in the Legs
latu!e Of New Jersey, accompanied by certain esoiu'
tons on the subject Of the disposition OF The pubic
lands laid the table, and ordered TO be printed
MIR. Smith Of Indiana introduced joint resolution oil
the General Assembly of that State deprecatng any IN
reference the part of the Legislatures OF The states,
or of Congress, with the domestic institutions oil the
sIaveho!dmg States without their CONSENT hch on his
m"lon read ordered TO be printed aud lud on Tie
table
Mr. Morris presented several petitions praying for the
abolition OF slavery in The District OF Columbia, and
against the annexation OF Texas 10 the Union, anu NOV
ed that they be received.
Nh Nicholas submitted The following motion, which
was considered, by unanimous consent aud agreed to
Resotred That The Secretary of War be directed to
dong, towards increasing the depth of water in line
lhs OF the Mississippi the orders given, and the re-
ports received in relation thereto, the amount OF aPpro
patIon now necessary, If any, for the continuance OF
the work, and deaIied statement OF the expenditures
under iuTnEr appropriations
CUMPROMISE A r.
Mr. Berton observed that days ago, IN The dis
cussion Of bill then before The Senate, he had occasion
to take notice OF the compromise act ana lie Then
made statement Of what had passed in relation 10
between hIurse and gentleman who was then Sena-
from the Stale OF New Jersey and head vi the Com
mtee Manufactures Since making that state ment lie
had had TO address letter TO the gentleman whose
name he mentioned Governor Dckersun) on The sub
Jecl, and he had received an answer winch ne would
read The Scnale aud Then let that stand as
his statement. MIR. b. here read The following: 1900
SUcKAsuNSY, IN J } Feb s. 1880
Dear Sir Last evening received yours OF the 3Oh
u which, no doubt, had been detained on the road
day or two consequence of the heavy rain by which
country has been lately teiuged
Your Letter contains extract from The National In
,plligencer, in which it denied that Mr. Webster had
said 10 me that he had not been consulted as 10 the com
promise bill &c and you ask for my ecolIecllons as TO
this hasten 10 relate 10 you the facts IN THIS case,
so fat rs can now recollecl them On the day before
Mr. Clay introduced this bill into the Senate, he men,
toned that he had given notice that he should ask
leave introduce the bill on The next day, some OF the
leading features Of which he slated 10 had not heard
the given He said he had intended 10 show the
the bill, but had been prevented BY multiplicity OF bu.
sness in whch he had been engaged, but that should
il in The morning.
Next morning waited upon Mr.. Webster and asked
him if he that such hill was TO be introduced:
lie assured that he and thai he he'd not been
consulted upon it, and expressed himself strongly OF The
ceiyrd in New England ,,;.,,,oo r.
~ ,ha morning / arrived at my seat some minutes al.
ter u L,incss Of the day had commenced, and iound
that Mr. Clay had made his motion for leave 10
his bill Had arrived before the business OF the gay
had commenced 10 doubt should have had The opp0r
tuity OF perusing the bill before 1t was presented AS
II was | never saw it until il was IN PRINT
MIR Webster as well az my self opposed tins bill, ana
both voted ogans, it, If you read the debates mat LOOK
place in the Seua'e the subject, on the 2ls ara
23d February 33, think you viii be conV'ncea .na'
neither MIR Webster nor myself could have had any
previous notice of this bill have not the file OF pa
prrs by me- but you may easily find them al Washing
ion. | will, however, refer you to hI webster
speech upon this bill, reported IN Niles f'pasfr, 7'n
series vol g page T. in which you will hnd abundant
nrooc thai he could not have heen consulted as 10 It's OBJ
rcls or details Among other expressions ae 'htse:-
"There was no expectation al The commencement VI
his short session that such bill would b. passed ne
Senate had had time TO know The pleasure n' tne
n kno,risdpe of either tie course Of pu6i,c opHtcH orMc
tfet of ms measure the pubic interests II Mr
Webster had been consulted on this bill, would he nave
nnd- such declarations: or II maze, "ou'u 'ney nave
passed unanswered: ;. ,n
Al, Cipv had rviousy stated 10 his Fears that Mr.
Vernunck's bill which he considered as an Admnslfa'
lion measure or some other bill originating from The same
source would pass greatly TO the injury, II not dcsTuc.
,n Of the ma featuring interest Of the country, aud
ngges,ed the proprely of making further CONCESSIONS
addition To- those of The law Of 81 the only means
nr Ga vipn even part Of the protective system, bu WIN
uui s,arInu what those concessions should be- an
,cd him that did not fear Mr.. Ferpunck bill that
= cord meyer pass; that il already so altered ana
amended ,hal did not believe MIR. VerpIanck would
vote far il himself and that, at all events, we should
sufr the law of 1882 to 30 INTO complete operation De
fare we should make any alterations IN It's provisions
There was no obligation on the part oil MI Clay 10
consn me on on his bill; what he said to me consider
ed as mere act of courtesy. The bill originated win
bImeer without any participation OF the Committee on
Mounf,c,ures of winch both he and were members -
IN. l,c however. that was associated win MN o"
,bat committee led TO belief that must nave oeeh ac-
on,n,ed with the provisions of the bill before vas ma
nred and subjected unpleasant inquiries, as
-, the fact in one of which, doubt, stated 10 you
tho conversation had had with MIR. Webster.
regret extremely being called on 10 state converse
tons long past with gentlemen whose recol!ee'ons now
or understanding at the time, may not be precisely 's
same as nv own; more especially as there was much
isappreenslun IN public papers as 10 The DEBATES
upon this bill.
| am, with great respect,
Your obedent servant,
MAHLON DlCKERSON.
Hon THOMAS H. Benton,
Washington, ID {.
a., % aid h had G.I, bimsrlf called on 10 write 10