Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-01-21

himself think there would he little change in that
strength if the Senate should be full And believe
that, before three DAYS viii have passed, | shall have
the consolation, and it will be consolation, to have
my colleague here with me- and in that case he will re-
present truly, and in regard to tins measure, what nc
believes to be the views and feelings OF those ne repre-
scns; and 1t would relieve if he were here at TINS
moment. We shall then have made no great progress
in tic consideration Of the bill if we proceed to 1t now
and til that vacancy al least will be filled was m
structcd To the consideration Of it yesterday, from
which | was prevented, and gave week Jtce OF
that intention.
Mr.. CLAY. Ii gives me great pleasure to bear tes-
uony to the fairness Of the of the chairman OF
the committee, and it is every way worthy OF hm, and
highly reputable to him Chairman ofthe Committee
on Finance | now understand him to say that, with
out the possibility Of his concurrng in the postpone
ment, he submits it to the Senate as suggested
BY me- and he adds nothing that can seriously oppose
the proposition for delay Five Of the States, and
three of them most important, unrepresented
here, and this fact is unprecedented far my know
ledge extends in the history of the country 1t very
true the Senator says, that this bill has not been
fully discussed and it is very true, aso as stated BY
him. that the usual business of Congress is back By
one month. Still the considerations remain which
first brought up; and urgency here can accelerate
The movcmen, of the bill in the other House.
And while am up, | will make another suggestion
In the course of years past there has been rcver
sa-a Change very great change-and not an unm-
pnrtant one, it respects the orginaton of important
measures Prior to that time all such measures orIg-
mated in the House Of the People, and they ought to dc
So for the election of that House by the People ought
to be restriction US, and we ought to ann at aug
menting and strengthening the power Of that body
and that peculiar power which belongs TO the People, or
ought to belong to hcm and would, if the Government
duly administered, of guarding the public irea.
sury. We ought, think, TO the proprley of s'ich
bills originating with them. Bat If delay the
cnn Dft M be- 4
the benefit of the whole States five Of whom now
not fully represented; and trust the Senate, to whom
the chairman of the committee has, with so much pro-
pretty, referred the question, will concur in the mo-
ton which now make, though only suggested before,
that the consideration Of this bill be post pomed till Mon
day week am happy that the chairman of the com
mtcc will enjoy the company Of his colleague earlier
than anticipated, and | hope the two other great
States will be represented this floor, and the Sena-
from Michigan may be here before passing the bill,
If it should be postponed till that time.
have remark in reply TO the honorable chair
man. 1t is not essential only that his colleague, as
well other Senators, should be here simply TO record
his yea nay on the passage OF the BILL but he ought
70 lie here during the whole discussion and the consi-
Iteration of the amendments. In this trust, the Sc
nate will concur with me-
Mr.. WRIGHT | have nothing more 10 say in re-
ference to the time when the bill is TO be brought under
consideration. But will reply to one remar! OF the
honorable Senator in reference to the Introduction OF
cur fully with him in the change the great change,
which has taken place in the last ten years in the le
oiSlalion of the two Houses of Congress- and agree
with him that this change is to be regretted. But at
tor all do not think that the Committee on Finance
on this occasion arc to be charged with its author
ship and introduction. This is not appro-
priaion BILL There is small appropriation for carry
inr it into effect. but not touching any way the ra;S-
ing o: revenue Bat, al the first session ! was here,
and it short session, two most important bills
were passed one for the distribution Of the proceeds Of
the public lands, and the other the socard comPro-
misc bill; of them with appropriation most inn
porant and the other a. least very close bill
10 raise revenue. Both these bills introduced
here by the Senator from Kentucky and believe that
was one great step to the change OF which he
plains do not say this in the way of censure, but to
defend the committee and remind him OF the circum-
stances.
Mr. CLAY. In the first place, the honorable chair
man IS Inaccurate though he did not intend IT. in regard
to the character of this bill If am not mistaken, the
first section OF i makes appropriation to an indefinite
amount
Mr. WEIGHT There are two or :s.cc appropriations
to carry the bill into effect
Mr. CLAY Blu, an extremely indebted to him for
this opportunity TO show the origin of those two mea-
surcs 80 important TO the country-the land bill and
the compromise bill SIR. how did that land bill origi-
nate Has the Senator forgotten how it was thrown
upon a committee and the motives under which It was
thrcwn-on a committee of which was a member
Mr. WEIGnr. That was before was here.
Mr.. CLAY. The history Of it was this The Com
mittce on Manufactures, in which interest now take,
and have ever taken most lively concern, was raised
and some gentlemen entertained the extraordinary no.
ton that the sale of the public domain tax and
being So ect appropriate to the Committee on
and should De referred to that commit
tee. Against this cxpOStnlacd, protested, and I'M
plored that they would not send 1t to that committee
of which was member. And what was the result:
The political friends Of the honorable chairman uniting
to man. and apparently with view TO my personal
threw the bIect on the COMMITTEE on
Manufactures then said, gentlemen, since you have
thrown this matter upon me- will off coat and go 10
work; and so | did, and the bill to distribute the
proceeds of the public lands the result That was
not measure voluntarily assumed and it was not IN
violation of that spirit of the Constitution which am
happy find the Senator regards myself The
thrown, literally forced upon me, and
was passed by this House. and by majority OF more
than twohrs Of the other House. sent to the PrcsI-
dent, and (sad Mr.. c., striking repeatedly and en-
phatically his pocket) you know what became OF II
afterwards.
In regard to the other, the compromise BILL look at
the state of the country at that time civil war was
then threatening the country, and every measure had
failed Of accommodating the unhappy dic uy in which
it was involved. The House Of Representatives was
At stand in perfect balk pabe Of motion. In
that state of things proposed the compromise BILL
But was it a revenue bill: Was it TO raise augment
the tariff No; but TO reduce, TO cut it down. But
waive this point. A majority OF the Senate decided
that it was bill, such must originate IN
the other House But that bill III its progress
md final passage, while dsputing it here, the
House brought il up original bill their part, in
is very words, passed it by acclamation, and when
first heard of it here upon my feet 1t was then
in by the Senate approved BY the PRESIDENT
md became law of the land. Such is the simple MS
DRY of the land bill and compromise bill, and II the
Senator can make any thing out of il affecting the ar
,umcnt or which now adopt, he is welcome TO
he whole benefit.
Mr. WRIGHT The Senator seems to consider
$ hat / said a matter OF charge against him.
Mr.. CLAY. Not at all.
Mr. WRIGHT spoke OF these things as matters OF
clcrcnce, and though they refer to the other body OF
Congress, the only time that ever called TO or
Ter in my life was by the Senator from Kentucky Tor
elerring TO that body If is proper so to refer
it, the Senator viii agree with me, that in its bus'-
ness progress, it was never more cilectualy tea up
han now. TThis had reference to M CLAY apo
oey for introducing the compromise bill, that the
Iouse was baked and incapable of notion