The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-06-19
IN. SENATE,
THURSDAY. June II, lS4l.

all removals and appointments made py MIN, or py ei-
Their of the heads of Department. by any of the Col
ecors Of the Customs since the fourth of March last
= Laid on the table, and ordered to be printed
Mr.. TALLMADGE presented petitions from New
York city, and from Albany, for General Bankrupt
law. Referred to Judiciary Committee.
Mr. HENDERSON introduced resolution, call
ing fol report the delay in the intended survey OF
the coast, from Apalachcola to the Mississippi
Passed.
Mr.. NICHOLSON introduced a resolution call
ing for information as to the ntere of the State OF
Tennessee in public lands, particulars not heard
Mr. MERRICK presented memorial from the
Union Bank of Georgetown praying for more time to
wind up their business, which was referred. -,
Mr. MERRICK submitted resolution calling for
the reasons of the delay in the repairs of the Potomac
Bridge, which was agreed to.
DISTRICT BANKS,
The Bill to revive and extend the charters of GER
tain Banks in the District of Columbia was taken up
on its second reading wheR
On motion Of Mr. EVANS the consideration OF
the bill was postponed until Tomorrow
The unfinished business Of yesterday was then
Mr. EVANS rose in reply to Mr.. Woodbury.. The
Senator from New Hampshire had avowed il to be his
object point out enormous errors in the report
of the Secretary of the Treasury while great part OF
his speech was occupied in dsproving what he had
admitted that the Secretary had not asserted He set
out with proving that great part of thirtyone mil
lions stated by the Secretary unnecessary appropr
atoms, not debt Of the last Administration. No
one had asserted that it was The Secretary had
made no such assertion and the Senator had himself
admitted that he picked up the information from ale
house politicians. ... tu..g..s Nd.
The Senator had also found a remarkable coinci-
dence between the calling extra session and the
issuing of instructions to the Attorney General
the subject of Mcleod And he had pronounced the
extra session to Q unnecessary, and seemed to be
puzzled to find reason for it. He would give that
Senator reason. The present Administration, on
coming into office, had found declining revenue and
existing debt. The estimates of receipts made by
the last Secretary Of the Treasury found to be
falIacious far exceeding any actual results which any
could reasonably anticipate. And thus far the re-
ceipts have fallen far below the estimates that there
must be deficit Of some millions, the receipts of the
year not being likely to exceed fifteen millions. 1t had
become necessary take step to sustain the pub
lie credit Not thought was bestowed on the future
wants of the country and the means to meet them, by
the last Administration and it was apparent that the
Treasury must be exhausted before the end OF June
II therefore became necessary to call Congress to-
gether. ....- H.. r.. 81. nt
In the other House, at the last session, he Mr.
Evans) had himself earnestly appealed to Congress to
make such provision for the future would render an
extra session unnecessary. But these appeals were
voted down, and he presumed, with the knowledge
and consent of the Senator He then took view Of
the number Of Treasury notes which had been now
issued and Of their origin and effect and the history OF
their introduction. Hc exposed the allacy of the po-
son taken by the late Secretary Of the Treasury that
Treasury notes be considered in the light Of
anticipation Of the revenue and not public debt.
They were not redeemed but by the substitution OF
new notes which he was authorized by Congress to
issue the of Eve millions He estimated the
whole Of the outstanding debts from Banks little
above three hundred thousand dollars while the Trea
sury notes had been issued to the amount of eight mil
lions. An addition would be required to enable t.
meet fha expenses of the year for which be
believed it would require twelve millions. Was il
not necessary then to call Congress together for the
purpose Of making provision for this state Of things
fhA INN xxh he frOr
New Hampshire had attached 10 error Of the prin
ter of the Senate in printing figure for figure s.
although the error was exposed by the table to which
the report referred, and by the House copies of the
report. And this error the Senator claimed magma
nmity for not charging on the Secretary. 1t has
been attempted to show discrepancy between the re-
port of the Secretary and the message of the Pres
dent and he showed that there existed real dscre-
pancy.
At the same Time Mr. Evans protested against the
grown up practice of the President interfering with
the Secretary Of the Treasury. He is the officer Of
Congress, and such he regarded by General
Washington. 1t had now become the practice of the
President to give the Secretary certificate of good
behavior. From this point he proceeded to criticse
the pretended deficit in the receipts of the year from
the estimates. The statements of the two officers
harmonic to an iota, and show that there must be
deficit even when all the Treasury notes are included
The only slight difference hat which from
the issue of Treasury notes between the preparation
of the message the 9th Of May and the report of
the Secretary Of the Treasury the LIST of June.
The other discrepancies indicated by the Senator
either of like unmportant aspect or easily ex-
painable and explained. He himself could regret
slight differences in figures which only had the effect
of urging investigation and correction of error.
Mr.. Evans commended that the amount of thirty one
millions, instead of being high was in fact too low
because it did not include the revenue bonds due in
1886, but which were postponed in consequence Of
the great fire in New York, and which had since
into the Treasury, amounting to between four and
five millions. In reply to the exception taken by Mr.
Woodbury. to the years selected by the Secretary on
which found his comparison of receipts and expen
dtures he showed that the receipts and expenditures
of every year. from 1916 to this time had been taken
in order to satisfy the public that whereas until with
in the last four years. receipts had exceeded our
pendtures during those four years has been the re
verse
The Senator from New Hampshire considered tn
extra session to be unnecessary because, as be says
there was no deficiency He replied to his suggestion
that the country was in abundant condition by
ferring to the report Of the Secretary and to facts
There had been usually at the end Of year abou
eight millions balance, and it would be seen that in thu
estimate of unexpsnded appropriations chargeable or
1S4i il estimated at eight millions, when it In
fact was nearly twelve millions.
Mr.. WOODBURY. explained that the estimate
was made by the subordinate officers but was not his
Mr. EVANS resumed II was usual to look to the
Head of the Department for the acknowledgements to
the subordinates, and he commented strongly the
neglect OF applying these appropriations during the
year 1910. The appropriations made last year were
about $l2 300 0O0 according to report Of the Secfe
tary of the Senate, and of this small part only was
expended leaving the aggregate of outstanding appro
priations above twenty eight millions The Secretary
proposes 10 expend nineteen millions, which would
leave an responded balance Of about eight and hall
millions. He would thus leave exactly the amount Of
balance which the Senator had said the customa-
ny balance
Mr. Evans then referred to the practice Of the for
mer Secretary Of inteposng his power between an APP
preparation made by Congress and its expenditure by
me proper department. and expressed his establishment
m rs a Secretary should assume great power
This practice had grown up 10 great extent and had
INDUCED Congress last year to control their appropra
nuons we were building steam frg aes, without an
APPROPRIATION, but by borrowing the money from the
New Pension Fund thus creating a delhi wb;cb mns,