The Madisonian., 1840-02-08
TWENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS-.
FIRST SESSIO
IN SENATE.
WEDNESDAY,, Feb. 5, 1910.

BY Mr. TALLMADGE From citizens Of New
York, asking the passage Of general bankrupt law
by Mr. WILLIAMS: From citizens Of Mane ask
ing The interference Of nations IN dong away the e
Of war.
REPORTS FROM coaMirFEEs.
By Mr. PRENIISS, from the Committee on The
Public Lands bill rs provide for satisfying oustand-
ing claims bounty lands for military services IN the
lae war. and for other purposes.
The bl to repeal certain acts respecting navy pen
sons and making further provisions N relation to navy
pensions was read a third time, and passed
Mr. PRESTON submitted the following resolution:
Resolred That the Secretary Of the Treasury be d.
reced 10 inform the Senate whether, IN hs annual re-
port made at the commencement o the present session
Of Congress- and the estimates therein contained oi ex
pe'dres proposed for the current year, he has lciud
ed any proposed any appropriation tor the con
slactlon and continuation OF The Cumberland koad.
aud, II not, whether the omission was unn,enilona or
designed.
Mr. p wished TO have it adopted at once, but Mr..
ALLEN obectng, 1t Will lie over one day,
DEBTS THE
The Senate having resumed the consideration of tho
report OF the select committee on Mr. BeDtons resolu
hons in regard TO the debts OF the States--
Mr. CALHOUN addressed the Senate at length
chiefly the subject OF distribution among the States
ola surplus the proceeds OF the public lands;
aud on the evils OF protective tanh, from which he
argued the enbauassments of the ccuutry had chiefly
arlsoa aud hat II was injurious even TO The manuac-
-7.
Mr. PRESTON argued briefly that all had been
done tins subject which could be done, ought to
be done aud that by the full concessions the other
side that the States amply able and wholly dis
posed pay the debts contracted by them great part
OF the mischief which the report might Otherwise have
done probably counteracled. lie therefore moved
to lay the whole subject aud the report on the table.
Negatived by yeas aud nays as follows:
YEAS-Messrs Belts, Clay, OF Kentucky, Clayton,
Crlteden, Dixon, Henderson, Merrlck, Phelps, Prem
tlss Preston, Ruggles, Smith, Of Indiana Souhard,
Spence. fallmadge. Whue-l6.
NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Benton, Brown, Buchanan,
Calhoun, Clay, of Alabama Cutbert, Fulton. Gmndy,
Hubbard King, Linn, Lumpkn, Mouton, Nicholas.
Notvel, Pierce. Roane, Robinson, Sewer, Smith, OF
Connecticut, Sturgeon, Strange, Tsppan, Walker,
Wall, Williams, Wright Young-29
The question being printing the usual num-
bers Of copies Of the report
Alr SMITH and Mr. HENDERSON briefly assign
ed their for voting IN avoro the motion, but
could not be heard by the reporter for the noise.
The usual number Of copies were then ordered to be
printed, by yeas and nays as follows
YEAS--Messrs Allen, Benton, Belts Brown Bu-
chanan Calhoun Clay Of Ala, Cuthbert Dixon, Ful-
ton Gruudy, Henderson, Hnbbard, King, Linn, Lump
kin, Mouton, Nicholas, Norve, Pierce Prenlss,
Roane, Robinson, Sewer Smith, OF Conn. Smith Of
Indiana, Sturgeon, Strange fallmadee, Tappan, Walk
er Wall, .Whi.e, Williams Wright, Youns--36
NAYS--Messrs Clay, OF Kentucky, Clayton, Crit
tenden Merrick, Phelps Rugscs, Souvhard, Spence
s.
On motion Of Mr. GRUNDY, the subject Of the re-
por, was postponed and made the special order for
Monday next
Mr. BENTON (h's motion being in order by
his having given previous notice OF ~ moved the
printing OF 80, 900 extra copies OF the report.
Mr.. PRENfISS said that he had Jnst gwen his vote
n favor Of the motion print the ordinary number OF
copies of the report for the use OF the Senate lie had
only felt bound but entirely willing to 60 thus far
whatever might be his opinion concerning the report.
tha nhpaad In
him. and he thought, also, that every member OF the
body ought have opportunity 10 read the document
before he called on to act upon the resolutions -
The question now presented was oil very different
nature. The question whether large, very un-
usual number Of copies should be printed for dis
tributlou among the People Upon that question, Mr.
p. said he should be Obliged to in the negative
and his for dong would be assiguod IN avery
few words.
An order to print for distribution the number pro-
posed Mr. P. thought, would be construed, would be
understood and received, giving the sanction and
thority Of the Senate to the arguments and doctrines
contained in the report. To Of the arguments
and doctrines he could by meals give his assent
and he intended TO act in such away would preclude
all possible implication OF assent on his part
As to the assumption by the General Government OF
the debts contracted by the States, MIR. p. entirely
agreed with the committee. lie thought such an as
sumption would be unauthorized by the Constl-
tuition, and would form precedent OF mos. dangerous
and pernclous influence
Mr. F. also though, that Of the States had act
ed very lmprovdenty creating heavy debts against
themselves aud he would neither do say any thing
to encourage them III such He reloced
lha, the State from which he owed no debt a, all,
aud he hoped she would persevere in the wise and
ludicous Jolicy. A misleading spirit had been abroad.
spirit Of cxravagsnce and wild speculation had per-
vaded most parts Of the country, and wise and
consderate had not been able the torrent
of popular feeling which pressed upon them, and urged
them on in i'll considered and Ill Judged terprises.
H,,t M said In ptaT lI,, III
from the arguments and doctrines OF the report the
subject OF the distribution among the States Of the pro-
ceeds Of the public lands He disagreed with the
mlttee both 10 the power and policy of the Govern
10 that particular He should 90 into srgu-
TO prove the existence of the power The argu-
ment, aud the whole argument TO be found
written in the Constitution and the deeds OF
ccssion. Nor should he attempt to show the
justice and policy OF such measure. He wonlj
only say that, II the land bill which was passed by
Congress- few years ago had been allowed BY the Ex
ecu,ive 10 become law, the country. IN his opinion
would never have been brought to experience the en.
barrassment and evils under which it had suffered and
was still suffering nor would 1t have been convulsed
and distracted by the many disturbing and exciting
questions with which had been, and he feared would
continue to be agitated.
Mr.. p. said his main objection to the tendency
OF the report ltappeared TO him that the whole pro-
ceeding was altogether ga,ulous aud uncalled for II
appeared TO him that nothing had occurred that nohpq
existed, ~ the circumstances OF the country, Justify
the proceeding lie felt convinced that the sending
the report abroad could do possible good but would
beiikely 10 do great harm It's effect must be TO de-
press the-value OF the State stocks here aod in Eurone
10 bring hto question, and render suspected the faith
and honor oi the states TO impair their credit and cha
ractcr; and, what was worse than all and most 10 be
deprecated, to awaken among the People a disposition
10 nd themselves. any how and by any means of the
burdensome debts which the report told them had been
nprovldently, most improvdently, and unlus,ly i'm
posed upon them.
Such being Mr. ps views Of Inc tendency of the re-