Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-02-11


| Mr.. PRESTON submitted the following motion for
consideration
Resotrcd, That the Secretary of the Treasury be dl-
reced TO inform the Senate whether, in his annual re-
port, made at the OF the present SEES
sion oil Congress, and i'll the estimates therein con-
tanned OF expenditures proposed for the current year,
he has included any sum, proposed any upPropr.a-
ton, for the construction and continuation o the Cum.
bcrland road, and if not, whc Their the u.s.
| intentional or designed
| Mr.. CLAY of Alabama submitted the following
| ton for consideration:
Resoiecd That the Committee on the Public Lands be
instructed TO inquire into The expeddency Of establish
ing higher minimum price for the lands contained III
the Miami reserve, situated in the State of Indiana.
Mr.. BENTON, from the Committee on Military At
fairs, reported bill providing for the enlistment OF
800 men, for the defence of Florida which was read,
md ordered to second reading.
ASSu MP1lUS or STATE DEBTS.
The Report OF the Select Committee on the as
sumption b the Government Of the debts of the
States taken up, and MIR. CALHOUN addressed
the Senate length in defence of the doctrines OF The
report.
Er. PRESTON, after few remarks moved TO lay
the report Oh the table, which was negatSea-yc&s
i6, nays - as follows:
Yeas Messrs. Belts, Clay of Kentucky, Clayton,
Crittenden, Dixon Henderson, Merrch, Phelps, Prem
tiss, Preston, Rugges, Smith of Indiana, Southland,
Spence, Tallnadge, and White-l6.
.Nays-Messrs. Allen Benton, Brown, Buchanan,
Calhoun Clay of Alabama Cuthberi, Fulton, Grundy,
Norve, Pierce, Roane, Robinson, Sewer, Smith of
Connecticut, Strange, Sturgeon, fappan, Walker,
Wall, Williams, Wright and Young-29.
The question then coming up on printing the usual
number oil The report,
| NJ. SMITH of Indiana stated that, though he was
opposed 10 the doctrines Of the report, and had been
one of The minority the committee which made II,
he yet thought due to the committee, and TO the
members Of the Senate agreeing with them in opinion,
that the usual number Of The report should be printed
For these he should vote i'll favor Of the
ton.
Mr.. HENDERSON expressed similar sentiments.
The motion WAS agreed to-aycs '6, noes z ~ FOL-
lows:
feas--Nlessrs Allen, Benton, Belts Brown Buclan.
an, Calhoun, Clay of Alabama, Cuhbert, Dixon ful.
ton, Grundv, Henderson, Hubbard, King Linn, Lump
KIM Mooil, Nicholas Norrcll Pierce, Prcntss, Roanc,
Robinson, Sewer, Saith of Conn, Smith Of Indiana,
Strange, Sturgeon, ralmadge, Iappan, Walker Wall,
White, Williams, WTgh. and Young-3G.
.NayS--lessrS. Clay Of Kentucky, Claytun, Crtcn.
den, Merrick Phelps, kugglcs Southland, and Spence
Nr GRUMPY t.cn moved to postpone lis further
consideration and make it the sPcra order Of The day
Tor Monday next; which was agreed 10.
hir. BENTON said, IN pursuance Of the :"tiac he
hal given he row moved that thirty Thousand add
tional copies of the rrpurt be printed
Mr.. LUMPkIN said, that though member Of the
Select Committee which submitted this report, had this
question been submitted when the report was brought
in, he would have voted for the extra number. But
now when IT has been attacked with unprecedented
violence and comments il circulated lar and wide.
before half Of the members OF The Senate have had
IN opportunity Of examining II. h" for giving ii
wide circulation as tie comments made mpon it, He
would, therefore, vote for tie extra number
The question ras then taken and agreed to-aycs =,
noes II.
Til. following is the report
Sir. GRUMPY, from the Select Committee. ap-
pointed on The Eth Janary last, made the following
The following resolutions, introduced BY Senator
from Missouri Mr.. BcntoDl referred by the Sc
nate to a Select Committee.
| Reso!scd, That there is nothing in the Constitution
Of the United States which can authorize the legislative
power of the Union to the debts of the States
which had been contracted for local objects and State
purposes
g That the assumption Of such debts, either openly
BY direct promise To pay tcm disgusedly by going
security for their payment, or by creating surplus rcye
nue. or applying the national funds pay them, would
be gross and fragrant violation Of the Constitution,
wholly unwarrantedby the letter spirit Of that nsru
ment, and utterly repugant TO all the objects and pur
poses for which the Federal Union formed
g. That, besides its ag ant unconstitutiona!ty sGc
assumption would be unjust, unwIse, impolhIc, and
dangerous, compelling the non-ndcbtrd States to IN
cur burdens for others which they have refused to in
for themselves dvcrtng the national funds from
national objects State Objects and thereby creating
necessity for loans taxes, issues of federal pa
per money to supply the place Of the funds go Diverted
prosratng the barriers Of economy, moderation and
safety in the creation Of State debts b. separating the
function of contractor from that of payer of the debt
exiting nshng the Of responsibility in the con-
tractor, and making the Federal Government the u
mate payer Of all the cations contracted by the States
for their purposes: establishing d#ngcrcUS pTecc
dent which must soon be followed up by new debt; o.
the part of the States. and assumptions on the
part Of the Federal Government: invading the rights
and mortgagnG the property of postcry, and loading
unborn generations with debts not their own; creating
new national debt OF large amount at the start, and Of
increase continually Ms own amount, ana TO
perpeua,c lis existence; begctting spirit III Con-
prcss which must constantly cater for distributions by
preventing necessary appropriations, and keeping up
unnecessary taxes laying the foundation for new and
excessive tariff of duties on foreign imports TO tall nne-
oualv on different parts Of the union and most heavily
on the planting, graingrowing and provision raising
States TO their manifest nirr; and probable great dis
content involving disastrous consequences either TO the
Union itself or to its members, as tending to the con-
sodaton of the States, and their ultimate AFFECT depen-
dence on the Federal head the fountain of their sup
plies; or tending the annih,aton Of the Federal head
itself BY stripping it OF aLits means of national defence
and selt.suppor and reducing it to the helpless nbe-
ci!ity Of the cid confederation giving new impulse
to the delusive of the paper system, already III
a state o dangerous oreractlon; cnsGring the esta
blishment ofanothcr National Bank and finally, be-
rc,.:nr passion for periodical ditrbutions of lands
and money! and extensions OF Federal credit, which
could find no limit to its demands until the national
domain was exhausted, the Federal Treasury emptlcd
and the creG,t of the Union reduced to contempt.
A. That the debts of the States being now chiefly
held by Foreigners and constituting stock in foreign
markets now greatly deprecated, any legislative at
tempt to obtain the assumption or sccurItyslp OF the
United States for their payment to provide for their
payment out of the national funds must have the effect
Of enhancing the value of that stock TO the amount Of
a great many millions of dollars 10 the enormous and
undue advantage of foreign capitalists and of jobbers
and gamblers in stocks, thereby holding out induce
ment foreigners to interfere in our affairs, and to
bring all the influences of moneyed power to operate
upon public opinion, upon our elections, and upon
State and Federal legislation TO produce consumma
ton tempting TO their cupldy, and 50 profitable to
their interest.
s. That foreign interference, and foreign influence
in all ages and in all countries have been the bane and
curse of free Governments and that such interference
and influence far dangerous in the lnsIdious
BILE iuvasions Of fleets and armies.