The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-12-29
CONGRESSIONAL.
Correspondence Of tho Boston A''a''
WAsuiyeToN, Dee. -. l'4O
Tuesday evening. !

'rbe fight has been warm one, to-day, alter he
fashion of the more memorable OF me C"nsressio"
al skirmishos ~hich distinguished The political
combat ants prior the great battle in November
The re neal or repeal is tho question, ana rom
the interest manifested in tho sanicct today, 1t may
become As Interesting as the repeal question IN Eng
land or Ireland, ,
The di.cusssion was altogether mn unexpected |
one but mono the less Interesting for that: me
preliminary business ofthe day had been disposed
of-.nemoriAis presented and ired-resoiutIons
read and tonsidered-biils reported and sent to
THAR COMM tees when, as the unfinished business
Of Yesterday, the resn luton of HE Senator rom
Kentucky was brought forward.
Mr. CLAW, with all the Info ana animation pecu'
liar to him, and in Just the frame Of mind which
Won may suppose him 10 be after rendering an ac
ccptabio service 10 his conG'ry, defended his reso,
ton in brief hut effective terms. wou'h c"ulh
nut npon paper manner ard laugnrgn both for one
10 apprecato Mr. Clay must and hear as we'll as
read. But Of the manner ynu must guess, and OF
language, too, for have in my hcad bat tho ideas
OF Mr. Clay, as presented to tho senate. 49, M
81 am not - said he, ''hbrut to argue tho sub
treasury bill. For three years, and nearly three
months, tho subject has been constantly hefnre the
country, and would ms soon think ofarguins the
Justice Of n sentence with condemned c. Iminal
with halter about his neck, ms would think OF
arguing, ut this day. The merits of the condemned
sub trunsury bill. Had not the old odions alien
and sedi,ion law been Temporary measure, the
question Of repeal would have been formally CON
sidered when Congress assembled. Obi ectiona-
BILE il was the pubic sontiment,i 1T would have
been repealed at once, and sir, continued MrClay,
fodious as this measure was in the eyes OF the pen
pie, i: more odious than The sub treasury
bill has proved during its brief aud Temporary
istence. The will of The people ia against it, the
nation repudates it. and Senators from nineteen
States instructed 10 vote against it. Upon ordi
nary occasions it might be dermed necessary to pre-
sent a question like this to delibcrntive assembly
in a more formal manner, but following tho recent
expression of public sentiment, cannot, in respect
efor that senmea., be too forward in submitting the
question tho Senate. Nineteen States have sol
omny given in their vcrdict against this expert
ment Of The dominant party, and however eXcuSa
BILE it may be for oi hers who have been sustained
in their defence Of this measure to Uphold it, there
left the Senators Of nineteen States who
find in my humble opinion apology for refusing,
at this time, to CONFIRM to the will of the people.
81 have to lbnnk Go1,' continued Mr. Clay with
great good humor, 'th;t 1.-Two far from any Of The
Receivers General under the sub treasury bill, and
I only wish that lived further than do.
have not, therefore, much of The operations
of this bill as others, but as far as have seen them
the system presents almost the same connection
with the banks as that which existed prior to July,
before the bill became the law of The land; the dit
ference, in n word is Just ibis. Prior to July the
Collector deposited lis money in bnnk to tho cred.
it of the United Sta,es, and since July the Collector
has deposited bis money to the credit of the Rccev
General who has deposited it 10 tho credit Of the
U. States. Certified checks have been used upon
the banks and the bank agency kept mp almost as
il existed prior to the passage of the bill? IndiviI.
nails have control of the money also, and may use
erations of This bill, and if wrong the Senator
from New York, or tho Senator from Now IIamp-
shire can enlighen me, for the Senaror from New
Hampshire" continued Mr. Clay, fncetiousy, sihas
n Receiver General in bis neig bood-has ably
and elnquenily defended The sub treasury bill and
with the Secretary Of the Treasury, WIN has ungra-
tiously turned upon his bene factor and driven him
from the very post where his willing service was
rendered" Mr. Clay had word two to say OF
tho Message. He regretted that the President of
the United States had not the manly franknoss to
m uIphnn Itutf bad,
cIsion against his favorlte measure. He did not
expect nor wish him to say that he had been wrong
but the country had right to expect m aclnowf-
edgement that his opinions and measures were no,
4hose Of the people
Mr. Wright was the first man to rise in reply. lie
appeared with all that assumed superiority pecu liar
to him. and rather as one to whom had been
said by his constituents 'well done good and faith
full servant" rather than one, who for three
years in succession, had received three signal re.
dukes that he was m,srepresenng the State of
New York and the will of the People whose po!it
cal interests were entrusted to his keeping. Mr.
Wright affected to he rejoiced that Mr. Clay had
brought forward his Resolution. He was wiling
20 meet it, and asked only that delay which would
show full Senate So far all wGs we'll. But with
saying much, Mr. Wright was not content, and
smartng under a personal and party rebnke, he
wen; back to the Will of tho People, and for the
hundred and iitieth time, reiterated tho old sian.
der that General Harrison had come into power
with no expressed opinions. For the first time in
the history ofthe Government he contended that
o.
pinions. For the first time in the history of the
Government that President had been elected
with no expressed opinions and with no principles
III the recent election had declared any thing il
had decided that this splendid edfce should be
torn down. and log cabin erected in its place, and
that instead of tho splendid painting and dranery,
which adorn the capital, coon skins should be hung
in their place.
All this was very witty, very, and amused some
few of the lncoioco Senators, and one or two kim
dred spirits among the audience, who | am sure
have not smiled once before since the second OF
November. Mr. Clay rejoincd to the Senator lie
was glad that he was pleased at the introduction
of his Resolution, for he liked TO confer pleasure
and te't,very mach in Tho mood of doing good for
eVi', and since the Senator from Nav York wisbes
tor delay, he shall have all he wants rhis wishes
are at all consistent. But cannot but remember
Nhat there was time, and that not long since
when this same Sub Treasury Bill was before he
Senate, and when plead for a DAYS de,nv. On az.
count of the absence of his colleague. The Sen,,or
declined. Nor can forget that when - Semator
from Maryland asked but for night, the Sena-
tor opposed him, but will not remember ,h;s n"J
trusting that an era of better feeling ia To ba 49,
manifest in the Senate, will forget it alteoe,ber
"Tbo Senator, added MIR Clay agaio. Gtbnm,t
General Harrison has given his opinion upon everv
subject, says that he is of no known nrnc;,
pie, and that his party without principle, are abou
to assume the reins of government Wbv what n,
acknowledgment is this. A party without nrinc;