Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-02-15

two per cent not granted TO the States to make the
road bnt rcscrrcd by the General Government to make
one and that she is bound to construct ii under the
pacts at all events; that If the General Government
could be viewed in the light Of trustee TO the States
still she was bound for judcious and economical ap
pcaton of the whole fund committed her charge 10
the object intended, and she could not discharge her
self BY saving that the fund reduced By grants
donations the payment OF military bounties, reductions
Of price and precmptIons authorized by herself
could she escape from her responsibility BY saying that
she had laid her work scale too expensive for
the fund reserved by her TO complete that transfer
to Tie States Of the funds, annually, with the future
charge of the road, would insure continuous and
errec prosecution of the work upon the most econo-
mical principles. Each position, and others, arc
mined a: length
The bill was read first and second time; and the
report, on motion of Mr.. SMITH, with one thousand
extra copies, was ordered to be printed
RETALIATION OF FOREIGN COMMERCE
Mr. BENTON TO move the Senate to reprint
certain resolutions for the regulation of foregn com.
mcrce, principles Of reciprocity and mutual benefit
which he had brought into Tie Senate near ten years
ago but which had not then rpcncd into any lepisa-
tive action The resolutions then brought for
ward, in view of the approaching extinction of the
public debt, and the consequent ability of the Govern.
mcnt to make great reduction Of duties on foreign
imports: for which reductions he then bclicy ed as he
now believes, that both the Constitution of the United
States and the interest of the country required cqui.
vaent advantages 10 be demanded from foreign conn-
tries in return for the great advantages they would
ceivc from such large abolition Of duties on their
ports brought TO country. If the resolutions had
then ripencd into legislative measures the country
would not have to regret the annual importation
or fifty nrllIons Or free goods nom COUNTRIES varal Of
which cypress with enormous duties, and fettcr with
injurious restrictions, the products Of the L. ) which
70 to their ports.
Mr.. B. proceeded TO address the Senate at some
length, and presented his resolutions.
The bill to amend the "Act to provide for taking the
sixth enumeration OF he inhabitants of the
United States, approved March 3 lS39, was passed
ASSUMPTION OF STATE DEBTS.
The report Of the Select Committee to which was
referred The resolution of Mr. Benton and the esolu
ton Of Mr.. Lumpkin the subject Of the assumption
of the State debts by the General Government, being
the special order of the day, taken up.
Mr.. GRUNDl said he did not rise 10 discuss this
question: but merely ask that when the question on
the resolutions up might be taken on each Sc
parately, and by yeas and nays.
The first resolutions were then read, as follows:
!. Resulted, Tina, the assumption, directly or lndI-
recy, BY the General Government, OF the debts winch
BEEN may be, contracted by the States for To-
cal objects or State purposes, would be UNJUST both L"
the States and to the people.
=. RGSOtrCd, That such assumption would be mighty
mex pcdent, and dangerous TO the Union of The States
g. RfSoircd, That such assumption would be wholly
unauthorized BY, and in violation of, the Constitution
Of the L. States and utterly rcpusnnnt to all the OBJ
iecs and purposes for which the Federal Union was
formed.
l. Resoirsd, That TO set apart the public lands, or
the arising crcirom for the before mentioned
purposes would be equally unjust, ncxpcdien and uu
constitutional.
cir pRENTlSS moved to strike out the words, "di.
recily or indirectly from the frs, resolution
After some remarks BY Mr.. GRUMPY and Mr. PREM.
TISS, the latter Withdrew his amendment al the sug.
! geston of
Mr.. CRlTTENDEN, who moved to strike out all
after the word 'resovcd in the first resolution, and
as substitute for the whole series, insert tho fol.
lowing:
RGsOrsd, That the debts of the several States far
they known to the Senate, have been contracted
in the exercise OF the undouhed right and constitu.
tional power of SAID States respectively that there
is ground TO warrant any doubt Of the ability or
disposition OF those States 10 fulfil their contracts.
RtSoirrd That il would be inst and proper 10 dstri
butte the proceeds of the sales of the public lands
among the several States in fair and racable proper
tons, and that the condition Of such of the States
have contracted debts is such at the present moment
of pressure and difficulty rs 10 render such disribu.
ton especially "Xprd;cnt and important.
Mr.. CRITrENDEN submitted his reasons Tor pro-
posing the substitute, when
! Mr.. ALLEN int:maiing an intention Of addressing
the Senate ih,. subject. his motion il iniOr
ma'y passed over, and the substitute ordered 10 III
printed
The Senate then went INTO Executive business,
i And afterwards adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
The SPEAKER announced the first business in or
der TO he the reception of resolutions: and thcrcupon
the States were called in their order
! Mr. HAND Of New York, gave notice of his ncn
cu TO ask for leave to bring bill 10 establish
uniform rule of naturalization, and 10 repeal all act
heretofore passed on that subject
! MIR GLE Offered resolution providing for the ap
pointment of select committee the subject of com
age, and directing the said committee 10 inquire int
the cxpcdcncy Of disseminating the operations at tin
several branch MINIS of the United States, with lcay
TO report b. bill or otherwise
And Mr.. o. moved a suspension of the rule FOR Tin
purpose of considering the resolution at this tune, AM
asked the yeas and nays on that motion, winch wer
ordered and, being taken, wcrc-Yeas 81, nays lea.
So the rules were not suspended.
i FLORIDA WAR.
Mr. WISE offered the following resolution
R'S0irod, That Tie Secretary oil War be requested
furnish this House with all the information in his pos
session, file in his Department, respecting the i'm
poratIon and employment of bloodhounds and lhci
Keepers If foreign keepers have been employed) by tn
War Department or By the authorities of the Tcrrtor
in the Florida with the Seminole Indians.
Mr.. WISE said he already in possession of tn
information which this resolution called for and h
desired 10 take THIS opportunity TO state, III answer
inquiries from sevcra! portions OF the country, that III
War Department had admitted the fact, officially
him. that tR'a Government had authorized the employ
mcnt Of hioodhounds.
The resolution ordered 10 lie over one day.
ri Mir BELL, in pursuance Of notice heretofore gwen
asked leave TO introduce bill to secure the freedom
elections, and provide efectualy for the ADM
nistration of Executive patronage.
Objection being made
|, Mr.. BELL moved that leave be granted.
f Mr.. TURNKEY asked the yeas and nays; which wer
ordered.
Mr.. PROFIT called for the reading of the bill
which having been read
MIR. BELL said he did not feel disposed TO subm
$ any remarks in support of his motion for leave ii
would waive his right, because the bill was nearly
copy of one which had been twice or thrice introduce
here without objection. 1t seldom that any ohec
ton was made to the introduction Of a bill After il
introduction, the House might take what course
thought proper might pass reject IT at us dlscr,
ton. He did moi desire, however, now to occupy an
portion of day set apart for the reception of resolution
with discussion the provisions ofths bill; and h
would not do so, provided any thing like liberal tispc
st;on was shown by the House in allowing the bill
be introduced. He thought proper TO state that TIL
bill not liable TO of the objections taken
that which had been introduced in another part Of til
Capitol.
Mr. B. then proceeded to point out the difference
4 the provisions of the two billS-whcn question OF o.