The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1840-02-11
TWENTY.SIKTH CONGRESS-,
FIRST SEs s | ON.
IN SENATE,
FRIDAY, January 3, l64Os

IN SENATE,
FRIDAY, January 3, l640|
Mr.. Clay, Of Kentucky, gave ndice, that
tomorrow he would ask leave to ltroduce
bill in relation to copy rights.
Mr.. G. stated that he regretted that he
was detained by indisposition this sorning,
and prevented from being present wAee the
hill was introduced by the Senator hbm
South Carolina mr.. Calhovn] for ceding
the public lands to certain States within
which they are situated. He had wished to
suggest some other reference of it than to
the Committee onthe Public Lands; but,
unless some Senator would move recon
sideration Of the order of reference to that
committee, he could not offer the suggestion
which he wished to make.
Mr.. Souihrd then moved the reconsid.
eraticn.
Mr.. Canoun remarked that he hoped the
Senate would not agree to the motion, unless
some good reason should be assigned why
the bill should not be referred to the Com
mittee on the Public Lands. It was the ap-
propriale committee, and the bill referred
itself to it as matter of course, unless there
should DO more specific and sufficient OBJ
lection.
Mr.. Clay said he was indifferent as to the
disposition of the matter, but, as the com
mittee was constituted, four Of its five tnem-
bers were from the new States. Hefneant
TO offer no disrespect to them; but HI must
say that this was a measure which, disguised
40 it may be, and colorado as its privisions
were, was, in effect, donation Of Upwards
of one hundred millions Of acres Of tie COM
mon property of all the States of thl Union
to particular States. He did not hink il
right that such measure should be commit
ted to the hands of Senators exclusively re-
presenting the donees. He thoughtthat a
committee ought to be constituted ia which
the old States should have fuller and fair
er representation. We should at least pre-
serve the decorum of legislation, and not
violate the decencies of justice.
Whilst up, Mr.. Clay would be glad to
learn whether the administration is in favor
of or against this measure, or stands neutral
and uncommitted, this inquiry he should not
make, II the recent relations, between the
Senator who introduced this bill and the
head of that Administration, continued to ex-
ist; but rnmors, of which the city, the cir
cles, and the press are full, assert that those
relations are entirely changed, and have,
within = few days, been substituted by 9TH
ers Of an intimate, friendly, and confidential
nature. And shortly after the time when
this new state of things is alledged to have
taken place, the Senator gave notice of his
intention to move to introduce this BILL
Whether this motion has or has not any con-
nection with that adjustment Of former diff
terences, the public would, he had no doubt,
be glad to know. Atall events, it is impor-
portant to know in what relation Of support,
opposition, or neutrality, the Administration
actually stands to this momentous measure;
and he lMr. c. } supposed that the Senator
from South Carolina, or some other Senator,
could communicate the desired information
Mr.. Calhoun replied, that this was not
the proper occasion to discuss the merits Of
the bill; but if it were, the task would be an
easy one, to show that the Senator had most
characterized it. The question
at issue is on the reference, and he must ex-
press his surprise at the reason assigned by
The Senator why it should not be referred to
the committee to which il had been. His
reason is, that the committee was, for the
most part, composed of members from the
new States, and would, therefore, be too fa-
vorable to the bill No one knew better
than the Senator that all bills should be re-
ferred to committees favorable to them
There is no principle better established in
the parliamentary code. 1t follows, that the
very reason he has assigned for not making
the reference, is the strongest to prove that
il should be made.
But the Senator did not limit himself to
objections to the reference. He introduced
other and extraneous personal matter, and
asked whether the bill had the sanction Of
the Executive, assigning as a reason for his
inquiry, that if rumor was to be credited, .
change of personal relation had taken place
between the President and myself within
few days. He (Mr. c. would appeal to the
Senate whether it was decorous or proper
that his personal relations should be drawh
in question here. Whether he should es-
iablish or suspend personal relations with
the President or any other person, is a pri-
vato and personal concern, which belongs
to himself Individually to determine on the
proptiety, without consulting any one, much
less the Senator. 1t was none Of his con-
Germ. endAe has no right to question mo in
relation q Il.
butthe SeuatoF assumes that change in.my
personelrplations involves change Of politi-
cal position; and It is on this that be founds
biz rifht e make the inquiry. He judges,
doubtless by 10 own experience; but
would hayehim q understand. said Mr.. G..
that what my Be truei ID his own case on q