The Madisonian., 1840-02-01
IN SENATE,


The following memorials and petitions were present.
ed
BY Mr.. PHELPS Resolutions from the Lepisla-
ture Of Vermont demonstrating against the ccdng Of
the public lands TO the States in which they lie
BY Mr.. WEBSTER: memorial, numerousy and
respectfully signed by citizens Of Boston, asking draw
back the coal used in the steam packets As the
subject was already before the Senate, from another
quarter and had been reported on he would that
It lie the table.
BY Mr.. DAVIS: From citizens Of ST. Josephs,
Florida, asking for the division Of collection district,
Also, from citizens Of Appslachcola, asking that
gh,-h be erected al Cape San Bias
BY Mr.. FULTON From citizens Of Arkansas, ask
ing for an appropriation for the Improvement Of Bayou
Bartholomew.
BY Mr., STURGEON: From citizens Of Phladel-
phia, asking that the laws in relation the sale and
transfer of ships be amended.
Mr. GRUNDY, from the special committee appoint
ed the resolutions offered by Mr. Benton in regard
to the debts Of the States made report, concluding
with resolutions, concurring amos. wholly with the re-
solutions referred.
The rcpor, was read by Mr.. G., and its arguments
chiefly directed against the debts Of portion
Of the people being paid by another against getting in
debt at all and long and decisively against any
distribution among The States Of surplus revenuc or
of the proceeds Of the public lands
Mr.. BENTON moved the printing Of 10000 extra
copies Of the report
Mr. CRITTENDEN rebuked the Administration
Senators for the lecture they had given the States and
cited resolutions Of Mr. Calhoun. adopted past tlne
in regard to this very question OF interference. Mr..
Crittenden read these resolutions full (they Of
fered by Mr. Calhoun upon the subject Of slavery -
They declared that Congress could intermeddle with
this subject, and Senators, Mr. c. said, had voted for
these resolutions who had brought forward this
port expect the Senator from South Carolina to 90
with me in sustaining these resolutions They are his
own, and they oppose the report before the Senate,
which report insults the States. They interfere and in
tcrmedde with the rights Of the States Mr.. Crt,en-
den further contended that the report stated what was
not true in regard to State Debts II misrepresented
the facts the case and treated the States with dis
| respect.
Mr.. GRUNDY, chairman Of the committee, con,
tended that the report not disespectful and that
there misrepresentation in it. It would be
found respectful when read. Mr. Grundy further said
that he had but conformed to the duty assigned him as
chairman OF the committee in making the report he had
| read.
Mr.. G. further said ,ha, he had adopted Mr. Flspe's
statement OF the debts of the States, as his own He
stated them to be $3.50 900 He believed they
than $500, 100000 In the report he
had estimated them at the latter SUN. Mr. Grundy
stated that ne did not wish to nure the credit Of the
| States.
| Mr.. CRITTENDEN said he believed otherwise
The report, Mr. G. said, would do an injury and great
! injury to the States.
Mr.. GRUNDY still denied this and said the CON-
mlttse were IN favor Of posponng the subject for the
present until at least the report should be printed
Mr.. CRITTENDEN said thai the Senator had
Inexperienced him, or dexterously avoided his
argument call upon the Senator to make good an
enormous overcharge against the States call him
TO prove what he says. He cannot do il. He does
not attempt to do it, But he tells us, in all the luxu-
rance OF language, ot what he thinks and believes
Something CLEANS family upon his memory-some-
thing which ne remembers to have seen year gone
oy-a statement Of gentleman Of New York. Upon
this authority he asserts what have stated He
charges upon the States what he cannot prove-and
yet he tells us that he in this nothing offensive
TO The States. He tells the country and the world
that the States enormously In debt and vet he
means them, he says, no harm.
Sir, said Mr.. Crittenden, does he not wrong the
States in making the random statements contained
in his report? He has gone out OF his way unasked,
nnadvised, without cause, to wrong the States.-
Truth should be the great object Of a state paper
truth, tried and purified II was nothing that the Se-
nator meant no harm. He had done il in effect and
this was enough in intermeddling with what did not
concern him. Unasked, you say to the States that
you viii not go security for them In the ambiguous
verooshy OF your report, you place the States in
position where they are begging your favor
Mr. CT,ttenden said he was in favor Of rescuing
ms own state from the blight which this report was
designed to infict upon her credit. Kentucky ac-
cordIng to Mr.. Flaggs statement and the report Of
the Committee of which the Senator from Tennes-
see was chairman, was four or FIVE millions in debt
ana the trulh was, she was but iaion in debt
Similar misstatemens were made in regard to other
States
The debate was continued throughout the day with
great animation and earnestness, by Messrs Nicho-
las, Smith, Of Ind, Souihard, Brown, Preston, King
and Webster.
On motion Of Mr.. KING, the report was recon-
mitled to the same committee without instruction,
TO be modified by them according 10 their views after
this debate
The Senate then adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
THURSDAY, Jan. 30.
pnINr nr-