The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-01-15

il
| entered lie insisted that 1t was decidedly uncon-
stiiutiona 10 appropriate money for such purpose;
and, besides, the lime had come when there must be
relrenchmenl somewhere, il the revival Of the tariff
| was 10 be avoided and Il was best to make such re-
trenchment first on objects which were local or
| doubtful in their character
/ Mr. NORVELL expressed his establishment that
| the Senator from South Carolina should regard the
construction OF harborS on the lakes as unconslitu-
ional. II the People on The lakes did not import
foreign goods and in consequence, did not pay the
duties upon them directly, yet by buying and con-
Stunning those goods they in fact paid the duties upon
1 them just much as il they had imported them and
paid the duties directly. Mr.. ~ also argued on the
great importance and necessity Of barbors on lakes,
and especially on Lake Michigan on which scarce
| ~ any natural harbors existed.
Mr.. HUBBARD said II was a little too late to
question the constuonality OF this practice, which
had been so long continued by the Government Yet
very ,e had been expended on these lake harbors,
and i was the very want OF the hafbors which rem
dered The navigation Of these lakes and especially
Lake Michigan, exceedingly hazardous.
Mr.. LYON remarked that he and his colleague
were greatly interested In this subject, since Mchi-
gan had a greater extent Of coast than any other
State in the Union and this interest was greatly en-
HANGED by the fact that perhaps millions OF dollars
were annually lost on the Michigan coast for want
of these harbors. And as to the power OF Govern
ment TO construct them, that Government alone had
the right Of leyying tonnage duties well as duties
on importations and, as the States had given up
this right, Ito impose duties on tonnage how were
they 10 construct these harborsf they had no APP
propriae means of doing II, and II was, therefore,
evident that the whole subject belonged 70 this Gov
eminent.
Mr.. DAVIS said this was hardly the time to dis
cuss this resolution, and especially on the question
of the constitutional power TO make harbors. But
he would assure the Senator from Sonth Carolina II
they would give the committee the means, they
would give The subject as much attention as he de-
sired But the committee could never hope 10 re-
port any thing satisfactory on subject OF this kind
without something more than the mere resolution
Mr. ID. Wished to suggest, therefore, TO gentlemen
who moved resolutions Of this description, that if
they expected the compilee to report 10 the Senate
in satisfactory manner the requisite means Of in
formation ought to be provided. Mr.. D. added
few remarks, 10 the import that, II the proceeds of
the public lands appropriated to the States should be
used for the construction of harbos, the Senator
from South Carolina, (by whom II had been suggest
ed) should see such proposition carried before
resting the usual supplies for this purpose Mr. ID.
also admitted that these improvements by the United
States Government ought to be made only On at
the examinations of the great thoroughfares Of the
country.
gy. The Senator (Mr. Davis) might use his own.
And the word constructing" was substituted, and
the resolution adopted.
On motion of Mr.. WHITE
Resolucd, That the Secretary Of War be, and he is
hereby, requested TO report to the Senate the whole
amount Of expense incurred by the United States in
negotianga treaty with the Cherokee Indians to whom
The several sums expended paid, the sum paid to
each, and Tor what particular service.
Also, that the Secretary Of War report whether the
commission reported under the treaty between the
United States and the Cherokee Indians in 1885, for
the adjudication Of claims, has been terminated, and, if
not, by what authority the said commission has been
continued since the Esd Of May last. And further,
what has been the expense Of said commission to whom
the have been paid, and the paid to each
dividua
On motion of Mr.. CLAY, Of Kentucky,
Resooed That the Secretary Of the Treasury be di-
rected report the Senate the proportion Of the nett
proceeds Of the public lands which each State would
have received up and including the LIST Of January,
1885, under the Bill entitled act TO appropriate for
limited time the proceeds of the sales of public lands
of the United States and for granting lands TO certain
States, which passed both Houses Of Congress, and
would have become law if it had received the appro
baton of the President.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Rives some days
since, calling on the President for any correspon-
dence between the Secretary of War and agents of
The Bank Of the United States was, on motion of Mr..
HUBBARD, taken up and adopted
On motion of Mr.. CLAY, of Alabama,
Resoped That the Committee on the Judiciary be
instructed to inquire into the expediency Of amend
ing existing laws equalze the labors and emolu
ments Of the Judges Of the United States courts.
On motion of MIR. KING,
Resolred That the Committee Military Affairs
inquire INTO the expediency Of making compensation
to Lieut.. E b Thornton Of the United States Army,
for property destroyed in the steamboat Pulaski.
Mr.. CLAY, of Alabama, introduced bill to re-
organize the District Courts of the United States in
the State of Alabama
Mr.. ROBBINS submitted the following for con-
sderation:
Resolred, That committee be appointed, consist
ing Of five members of the Senate, jointly with such
committee may be appointed the part Of the House
OF Representatives 10 consider the expediency Of pro-
vdng an institution Of learning be established in
the city of Washington, for the application Of the le
gacy bequeathcd by James Smithson, OF London, to
the United States, in trust for that purpose also, to
consider the expedency Of charter for such nst-
tuition, together with the power and privileges which in
their opinion the said charter ought to confer Also
to consider the expediency Of ways and means to be
provided by Congress other than the said legacy but
in addition thereto and aid of such benevolent n,en
ton, and to report on the premises
, Mr.. r. addressed the Senate at some length in ex-
PLANTATION of his views the subject Of the resou-
lion; and, after few remarks from Mr.. PRES
TON, highly complimentary of the venerable mover
the resolution was agreed 10.