Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-03-12
CoNGREss---lst SESSION.
IN SENATE.
Friday, March 6, 1910.
THE SPECIAL ORDER.


The report Of the Select Committee on the assump-
lion of State debts, then taken up, and ster an
animated debate, in which Messrs. DAVIS, BUCiA-
NAN, PRESTON, KING, NORlELL, CLAY o!
Kentucky. BROWN, and CALHOUN participated,
Mr.. WEBSTER moved an adjournment; which was
decided in the negative.
The question then coming up on the resolutions re-
ported by the Select Committee,
The CHAIR stated the question as follows:
The Senator from Pcnnsy lvania, Mr. Buchanan, hac
moved to amend the resolutions OF the committee, by
adding the following:
Rcsoircd That the debts of the several States, so Tar
as they are known to the Senate have been contracted
in the exercise of the undoubed right and const:tu-
tional power of said States respectively and that there
is no ground to warrant any doubt OF the ability or dts
position of those States to fulfil their contracts.
For which amendment, Mr.. Norvcll offered the FOL
lowing substitute:
Rssolred, That while the Senate ol the I. states
s fully impressed with the importance and correctness
Of the principles contained in the foregoing resolutions,
il is not intended thereby to create any doubt OF the
constitutional right of the States to contract debs nor
Of their resources, disposition, or ability TO iilhi the
engagements which they have contracted TOR purposes
Of Internal Improvement, as well as tor other OBJECTS
within the range of their reserved powers
The question was now the substitute OF Mr.. Nor
,e which was agreed toayes -, noes i, as follows
YeQs-Nlessrs Allen, Anderson, ;rn'on, Brown,
Calhoun, Clay of Alabama Cu,hberl, t4i'on' Grundy'
King, Linn, Lumpkin, Mouton, Nicholas, Noryell,
Wall, Williams, and Wrght-2o
.Nuus-Messrs. Buchanan, Clay of Kentucky, Crit
tendeii, Davis, Dixon, Henderson, knight, Merrck,
Phelps Porter, Prentiss, Preston Rugges, Smith OF
Indiana, Southland Spence, Webster and White-lS.
The question then beng the adoption of MIR. Blu
chanan motion as amended, after some remarks BY
Messrs SMITH of Indiana, CRlTIENDEN, NOR
YELL, WEBSTER and KING,
On motion of Mr.. KING and by unanimous consent,
il was considered as withdrawn for the present
The substitute proposed by MIR. Cr,endeR for the
resolutions of the comm t;ee, then taken up, and
was as follows
Resoired. That the debts Of the several States, so
far as they are known 10 the Senate have been con
tracted in the exercise of the undouhted right and
Constitutional power OF SAID States respectively, ana
that there is no ground to warrant any doubt OF the
ability or disposition Of those States to fulfil their con
tracts.
Rsso'red, That il would h. just and proper to dis
tribute he proceeds of the sales of The public lands
among the saveral States IN fair and raeab!e proper
tons and that The condition CT such OF the States as
have contracted debts such at the present moment
of pressure and difficulty TO render such dlstrlbu-
ton especially exped'en, and Important
After some remarks by Mr. PRESTON, the question
on the substitute taken and it was rcjecteGaycs
IL noes %, follows
Ysas-Messrs Belts, Clay of Kentucky, Crit,enden,
Davis DIXON Knight, Merrick Phelps, Porter, Prem
lisa Rugnles' smith of Indiana, Southland, Spence,
Tallmadge, Webster, and Whlte-l7.
Naus-Messrs Allen, Anderson, Benton, Brown,
Calhoun, Clay Of Alabama, Cuthbert, Fulton, Grundy,
Henderson, Hubbard, King, Linn, Lnmpk'n, Mouton,
Nicholas, Norvell, Pierce, Preston, Roane, Robinson
SEWER, Strange, Sturgeon, TapPan, Wall, Williams,
and Wright-2S.
Mr. PRESTON then moved to amend the resolutions
of the committee by striking out all after the ~oFo re-
solved, and inserting the following as substitute
Resolrsd, That the debts ofthc several States SO TAR
as they are known the Senate have been contracted
in the exercise Of tile undoubted right and constitution
Il mower Of said States respectively and that there IS
no ground to any doubt of the ability or dispo
sition of those States TO fluff! their contracts
After some remarks by Messrs WEBSTER ana
KING.
Mr.. NORyELL said that the amendment offered by
him. and voted BY the Senate, had been withdrawn
with the general understanding that no other amend
,acnt should be offered until vote was taken on The
resolutions of the committee The course taken BY
The Senator from South Carolina would compel him TO
move the proposition which he had withdrawn as
substitute for the Seneor amendment and DC accord
iaglv made that motion.
MIR PRESTON then withdrew bis motion 10 amend