Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-06-26
.Moaday, Jnnc -, lslu.
Lat GENATE

MI. n ~
dave aqo q The subject of Reporters, and 10 his decla-
ration al that time that the Chaplain TO the Sena'e was
politically opposed to the majority of that body, SAID he
had now risen TO correct that statement. lie had been
assured BY the Chaplain that he was no party man,
either in the majority or IN the minority. lie ieit II
his duty to refrain from %meddling with politics at all,
thinking il would do more mischle! IN other respects
fhon good in respect TO politics. Mr.. L had heard from
several persons that the politics Of the Chaplain were
decidedly what Mr.. I. had represented; but, having
been assured of the contrary by the gentleman himself,
MI. T. cheerfully re,ractcd the statement winch ne
had made on this point.
NJ WRIGHT presented a memorial from merchants
of New York and other citizens, on the subject OF the
bankrupt law, declaring that whatever was their OPT
Mon of the expediency OF passing such a law at th'S
time, thew were all agreed that the consent OF the ma
iority Of the interest of creditors should be made neccs.
sary 10 the release Of the debtor, and that the bill
should not 90 into effect TIL one year after It's passage.
Mr.. WEBSTER asked, from whom was this memo
rial?
OF New York.
Mr.. WEBSTER moved that the memorial be print
ed, with the names; which was ordered accordingly.
On motion Of Mr.. LINN, the Senate took up the bill
for the relief of certain companies OF Nl'Ssoiri 'oiuh'
teers.
Mr.. LIN briefly explained and advocated the bill.
MI KING was in favor of paying these troops II they
were called out and employed IN accordance with me
acquisitions of the Constitution. But he INSISTED that
implicit faith on these points ought not TO be reposed by
Congress in the Judgment of the State Executive, hut
correct accounts of the occasion and manner oil call
ing out and employing such troops ought to be gwen to
Congress, that they might decide on the constitutional
points. -
MIR. INN argued in favor of securing tranquility as
we'll as safety where invasion was threatened, and m
sisted on the necessity of trusting a good deal on these
points TO the discretion and judgment OF the State Exc
cutive.
After SONG further remarks from Messrs. HUB
BARD, KING, and BENTON
The bill was amended 50 As TO be somewhat more de-
finite on the points under MscussIon, and was tlen or
dcred 10 be cngroSscd.
The following were then taken up, and, after beng
considered in Committee OF the Whole, were scvera!iy
ordered to be engrosscd:
A bill for the relief Of the executor OF Thos. Cooper,
deGS7Se drsuIu,Icn Ior me rciIri ., nans,.re :, o.,u.
livan.
FALMOUTH AND ALEXANDRIA RAILROAD.
The Senate proceeded again to consider the bill CIV.
ing the assent of Congress 10 the acts of Virginia lncor-
porating the Falmouth and Alexandria Railroad Com
pany, and for other purposes.
MIR. TAPPAN and Mr.. HUBBARD opposed the bill
on the ground of its inexpediency and demonstrations
atty.
Mr.. MERRlCK and Mr.. WALKER again advo-
Gated it as constitutional and important to the compile
ton of great line of railroad, and for the conveyance
of the mail.
Mr.. ALLEN spoke long and with much earnestness
in opposition TO the bill, as comforting the eternal priyi-
lege of carrying the mail on . corporation, which Mr..
A. insisted Congress had not the power To DO, and he
for companies and not for the country.
MIR. WALKER characterized this bill as a simple
contract for carrying the mad, and 1t was therefore no
more unconstitutional than contracts made by the Post
General. And the eternal privilege complained
of, carrying the mail, was one which sir. W. had no
doubt the Company would at any time he glad 10 get
rid Of. Besides, the Senator from Ohio had himself
lately voted for 4 bill granting land to the State Of Mi
chigan, on condition Of the eternal privilege OF convey
ing troops, munitions, &c, on the railroad 10 be con-
structed By that State. The eternal privilege, he in.
sisted, was TO this Government, and not 10 the State or
Company.
Mr.. ALLEN dcrided the idea of placing corporations
on a footing with the States. Were these corporations
already sovereign States:
Mr. WALKER again insisted that this was not n
question Of putting corporations on any footing, but ola
contract for carving the mail. The Government, might
withdraw the mail at any time, but they could not with
draw the money, nor could they withdraw the land from
Michigan and other States to whom it had been granted
on similar conditions.
Mr.. ALLEN. Then the money would be lost.
Mr.. WALKER. And would not the land be LOST
Mr.. w. could see no distinction bctwce, The two cases;
and the Michigan bill was voted for by the Senator from
Ohio, and very nearly all his friends, rhe Isl Of whom
Mr.. w. read)
Mr.. ALLEN said he should vote for every bin which
was based on the same principle, but he would neither
sink States to the level of corporations, nor raise corpo.
rations 10 the level Of States.
MIR. ROANE said, he would al any time Compare
all his votes, as respected their rigid constitutionality
with those of the Senator from Ohio. Mr.. r. had de-
nounced the Cumberland road as unconstitutional; but
if that was not unconstitutional, MIR. r. could not see
Tor his life how this bill could be so. Was this the
only ten miles square in the country III which Con-
gress could not make appropriations tor the construc.
ton of roads,
After some further remarks by Mr.. ALLEN and Mr..
ROANE-
Mr.. WALL opposed tbs bill, chiefly on the ground
that this Virginia company was not authorized TO make
contracts IN respect TO roads beyonds the limits Of Nir.
ginia,
This new pom, was debated by Messrs. WALL,
MERRlCk, ~CRlTTENDEN, BUCHANAN, and
others.
Mr.. BUCHANAN also objected to the principle Of
the bill, which, he SAID, was 10 advance a sum of mo.
ney for the construction OF the road, on condition that
the interest on this sum should pay forever for carrying
the mail. If Congress should do this for this company,
they could not refuse to do it for any other company in
the country.
Mr.. CRITTENDEN insisted that the true principle
Of the bill was to provide for constructing a great
thoroughfare through the District, which on both sides
had reached its limits. And IT Congress should re.
fuse to do so for this or any other great thoroughare
that had reached the District, what would be their atti-
iudes The Government must be regarded rs a sort OF
eyil-genius in the midst of the land, placing obstruc-
tons in the way Of all communications. Mr.. I. insisted
that the principle of this bill had nothing TO do with
companies that had not constructed roads TO the limits
ofthe District.
Mr.. WALKER, in reply TO the argument that the
money would be wholly lost if the company should
cease to carry the mail, read a portion of the bill, IN
which it was provided that, after the company should
construct the road go mies) TO the line of the District,
the Secretary of the Treasury should pay out, monthly,
the sums actually expended in constructing the road
within the District, to an amount not exceeding three
hundred thousand dollars.
Some further remarks were made by Messrs. WAL
KER, CRITTENDEN, BUCHANAN, MERRICK,
ROANE, WALL SMITH of Connecticut, TAPPAN,
CALHOUN, and HUBBARD, till the question was
loudly called for.
The question being on a motion BY MIR. APPAN
10 strike out the third section Of the bill containing the