Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-03-19

tons. from the Select Committee upon the subject
Of State Debts disposed Of before the adjourn
meat.
The unpleasant personal controversy, Of which
gave you some notice in my report Of Friday, was
continued at some length, aud when finished the
quarrel became rather general than personal
one.
Mr. DAVIS, in vindicalioa Of himself, said, in con-
GLIDING his second speech that he had expressly a.
vowed TO the Senator from Psnnsy lvana that u ne
did not mean TO mpugn his motives 10 charging n,in
with a misrepresent alton. he was salts ned II NC
did, and he hoped he did not, he repealed snch IN
putaiion with scorn aud contempt Mr.. DucnsnA"
had chosen 10 put such an imputation upon ,nr 90
duct Of the Senator from Massach usetis, anu ..se
fore, reluctant he 10 do SO, MI u. 's'' al
der the necessity Of characteFising Inc cohuuc' VI
the Senator from, Pensyiva uncoarteous, 40 =
iust uuparlismentary, and such as no gentleman
would have been guilty OF.
Mr. BUcHANAT again responded win the use Oh
.he words s'hagitious, !" "ungentemsnly, and ''pe
coliarly infamous" applying them to Mr.. Davis.
Mr. DAVIS returned the compliment, and the de-
hate closed, far the personalities Of the two
Senators went
40 unpleasa controversy should have been wit
nessed He must say, however, that he appTehen-
led the Senator from Pennsylvania, when making
his speech, as the Senator from Massachusetts had
He considered the remarks made by him in favor
Of the destruction Of the Banking system, but he
was reloiced 10 hear him say now what he did. He
hoped others who had before made these denuncia-
tons would come forth aad say they did not mean
what they had said.
The debate closed after few remarks from Mr..
BRowN and Mr.. BUCHANAN, and the following Re
solutions then adopted:
/. Resolved That the assumption, directly, or in.
directly, by the General Government, of the debts
which have been, may be, contracted by the
States for local objects State purposes; would be
unjust, both to the States and to the people-Ayes
30, Noes |.
,. Resolred. That such assumption would be
highly inexpedient, and dangerous to the union OF
The States.-Ayes 90, noes 3.
3 Resolved. That such assumption would be
wholly unauthorized by, and in violation Of, The
Const ituton Of the United States, and utterly
pugnant TO all the objects and purposes for which
4. Resolved. That the assumption Of such debts,
either openly, by drec. promise to pay them, or
dsguisediy, BY giving security for their payment,
or BY creating surplus revenue, or by applying the
national funds TO pay then, would be gross aud
gagrant violation Of the Constitution. and wholly
unv arranted by the letter spirit Of that nstru-
meut.
S. Resofced, That while the Senate of the United
States is fully impressed with the importance and
correctness Of the principles contained in the fore.
going resolutions, il is not intended thereby to cre
ale any doubt Of the constitutional right Of the States
to contract debts, Of their resources, disposition
or ability TO fulfil the engagements which they have
contracted for purposes of internal Improvement as
we'll as for other subjects within the range Of their
reserved powers.