Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-03-12
he first resolution Of The Select Committee was then

IL by the General Government, OF tue oeuts Which
have BEEN or may be, contracted by the States Tor
local objects or State purposes would be UNJUST both
10 the States and TO the people.
| Mr. PRENTlSS moved to strike out the w".ds "dl-
rectly or indirectly, and insert "or guarantee
After some remarks BY Mcssrs. KNIGHT, PREN-
TISS, and GRUNDl, -.
Mr. WEBSTER moved an adjournment, "hich was
ne gatlyed-ayes 10, noes "a.
The question was then taken on the amendment pro-
posed BY Mr. Prentiss, and decided in The negative
yeas G. nays q, as follows:
feas-Messrs Belts Dixon, Knight, rhelps' rteh-
tiss and Ruggles-G.
.Naus-Messrs Allen, Anderson, Benton, Buchanan,
Calhoun, Clay Of Alabama, Cuthbert, fulton, Grun-
dy, Hubbard, King, Linn, Lumpk'n' Moutoh' Memo
las Norvel, Pierce, Roane, Robinson, Sever, smith
of Indiana, Strange, Sturgeon, laPpah, wall WI
liams and Wright-G.
Mr. RIJGGLES then moved to amend by striking
ont ..or S,,te purposes Mr. K. assigned reason,
that the debt recently incurred by the State OF Name
IN defending her frontier might be considered State
debt, and by this resolution, the future payment OF II
debarrCd ;,
Mr. WILLIAMS sald as his colleague had objected
10 This resouton and as he intended TO vote for it, he
wished to give n for 80 dong. He considered
the debt incurred by his State IN defending the From
tier az not the debt of Maine, but the debt of the
United States, which would, he expected, be pad WIN
Mr. BENTON. Certainly. The boundary OF Name
was the boundary Of the U. States. In this scntl-
ment, there was a very general acquiescence
Afier some further remarks by Messrs. RUGGLES
and WALL,
Mr. NORVELL said that the defence of the State
of Maine was the defence of the United States The
protection of the Northeastern boundary OF Name was
The protection Of the boundary of the nation The
expenses incurred in that defence and protection were
national expenses; and he would tell the Senator from
Maine (Mr. Ri oGLEs) that if he came here 10 claim
reimbursement of the moneys expended in the main
tenance OF her boundary rights against foreign
power on the ground of It's being local object or a
Stale purpose, he would, in his Judgment, 60 home
without success. The worthy colleague of the Sena-
tor MIR Williams had taken the right view of the sub
iect The resolution against the assumption of the
State debts contracted for local objects and State pur
poses had reference to such the defence OF
State against foreign aggression.
| Mr.. RuGGLES demanded the yeas and nays on his
amendment, but they not ordered and was mega
tived without a DIVISION.
The question was then taken on the hrst resolution,
and it was agreed to-ayes 80, nay !, as follows:
| Yeus-Messrs. Allen, Anderson, Benton, Brown,
Buchanan, Calhoun, Clay of Alabama, Cuthbert, Dix
on, Fulton, Grundy, Henderson, Hubbard King, Liun,
Lumpkin, Mouton, Nicholas, Norve Pierce, fren,iss,
R"ane, Robinson, Sewer, Strange, Sturgeon, lappan,
Wall, Williams and Wright-3O
.ay- Mr. Smith OF Indiana.
The second resolution was then read as follows
| g Resoired, That such assumption would be highly
inexpedicn and dangerous TO the Union OF the States
After some remarks from Mr.. DIXON il was agreed
| to-ayes % noes 3, as follows
IeaS-Nlrssrs. Allen, Benton, Brown, Buchanan,
Calhoun, Clay of Alabama, Cuthbert Fulton, Grundy,
Hubbard KING, Linn, Lumpkin, Mouton, Nicholas,
Strange, Sturgeon, Tuppan Wall, Williams, ana
| Wright-2S.
.Nays-Messrs Dixon, Smith of Indiana, aud White
l-3
| The third resolution was then read follows;
| 3. Resolced That such assumption would be wholly
fhnri, k,o M
the United States and utterly repugnant to all the OBJ
jects and purposes for which the Federal Union was
| formed.
| And il was agreed to-aycs - noes 2, as follows
isaS-Mcssrs. Allen, Anderson, Benton, Brown,
Buchanan Calhoun, Clay of Alabama, Cuthbert, Ful-
ton Grundy, Henderson, Hubbard King, Linn, Lump
kin, Muuton, Nicholas, Norvell, Pierce, Prcntiss,
Roane, Robinson, Sewer, Strange, Sturgeon, Tappan,
Wall, Williams, and Wright-2J.
.mys-Nlessrs Dixon, Smith OF Indiana, and White
3.
The fourth resolution was then read as follows:
a. ReS0rcd That TO set apart the public lands the
revenues arising therclrom tor the before mentioned
purposes, would be equally unjust, inexpedient and
unconstitutional.
Mr. BENTON moved to amend BY striking out all
after the word Resolved, and insert, THAT the
sumption Of such debts, either openly, BY direct pro-
mise to pay them, or disguisedy, by giving security
for their payment, by creating surplus revenue,
by applying the national funds 10 pay them, would be
wholly unwarraned BY the letter spirit OF that IN.
/ strG.ncnt;" which agreed 10, without division.
| Mr. NORVELL then moved 10 amend by adding the
| following:
s. Resoircd, That while the Senate Of the u. S. is
fully impressed with the importance and correctness Of
the principles contained in the foregoing resolutions it
not intended thereby to create any doubt of the
sutona right of the States TO contract debts, of
their resources. disposition, or ability to fulfil the en-
gagements which they have contracted for purposes Of
| internal improvement, well as for other subjects
wi,nin the range Of their reserved powers.
| Which agreed to-yeas %, nays :, as follows
! Ycas-Messrs. Allen, Anderson, Benton, Brown,
Buchanan, Clay of Alabama, Cuthbert, Fulton, Grun-
| dy, Henderson, King, Linn, Lunpkin, Mouton N:cho-
las Norvc Roanr, Robinson, Sewer, Sturgeon, Wall,
| Williams and Wri@ht-23
Naps--Messrs. Calhoun, Hubbard Pierce, Smit
/ Of Indiana, Strange, Tappan, and White
Mr.. BELTS then offered the following as an amend
ment:
Rssolred That to set apart the public lands, or the
revenue arising thrrefrom, for the before mentioned
purposes would be equally unjust, inexpedicnt, and
/ unconstitutional
Mr. WRIGHT asked for the yeas and nays on this
amendment. He wished to if the Senator from
Connecticut would vote for his proposition; or if,
at this late hour Of the evening, propositions made
which the Senators Offering them will not vote for
| themselves.
Mr.. BELTS said he would not vote for it, but his
object was to get direct vote of the Senate the
proposition.
After some remarks from Mr.. CLAY of Alabama,
on the improperly and rregularty Of offering propo-
ston identical with one which had just been acted on,
Mr.. KING said, If the Char decided the motion 10
be in order appeal could be taken from the decision
of the Chair and it would then be Time enough 10 de-
bate the motion.
! The CHAIR decided the motion TO be out Of order.
Mr.. PRENTISS then moved further to amend the
resolution by inserting the following:
"Bnt nothing contained in the foregoing resolutions
is to be understood denying questioning the right
or power Of Congress 10 make an equal distribution Of
the proceeds Of the public lands among all the States
according to the terms and conditions of the deeds of
cesSion"
The amendment was disagreed to- ayes 6, nays %,
rs f lows:
Yeas-Messrs. Belts, Dixon, Prentss, Robinson,
| Smith of Indiana and White-G.
.Nays-Nessrs Alien, Anderson, Benton, Brown,
Calhoun Clay of Alabama, Cuthbcrt, Fulton, Grundy,
Hend rsoa, Hubbard, King, Linn, Lumpkin, Mouton,
Nicholas, Norvel, Pierce, Roane, Sewer, Strange,
Sturgeon, Tappan, Wall, and Wr;ght-23.
Sn the resolutions agreed to, rs follows:
| Rrs0frcd That tho assumption directly or indI-