Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-08-13
Tuesaay's Proceedings.

Tho mo,ion of Mr. Benton to take mp the proposition
to print the Fauquer resolutions was voted down. MI
CLAY of Kentucky Directing, and calling The yeas ana
nays-yeas -, nays % .
i s Alabama proposed an amendment, postponinS the
oncra,ion of the act until the public debt shall have
hecn ex,inguishcd. This brought on prottacted de-
haa IN which NIcssrs. Clay Of Ny. and Smith Of lndl-
ana opposed the amendment, and Ncssrs clay OF ha,
| Calhoun. King, Woodbury., Wright and Linn, advo-
Gated it.
The friends of the amendment urged that, 10 dstrl-
bute The public lands before the new burdens in the
shape of debt extngulsied would necessarily de-
stroy the compromise act-that the twenty per cent
od raor,r upon every thing taxable would not raise
the amount which, according TO the organ OF the Urea
sury in the House the chairman of the Committee Of
WAYS and Means would be required by the public scr
vice which he stated at twenty seven millions; that
the estimated revenue under the compromise act could
reach only eighteen millions. This would leave al
least nine millions TO be provided Tor annually. Here,
then it was insisted that means sufficient could not be
provided under the compromise act, to meet the cur
rent expenses Of Government, without reduction
Of expenditures, much less the payment OF the public
debt now about 10 be created To distribute the pub
lie lands under these circumstances, was TO make a
national debt perpetual and perpelnally increasing.
Mr. Clay Of Kentucky, in opposing the reservation
of the proceeds of the public lands, until the newly
rising debt should be eStngnshcd, urged that when the
compromise was adjusted, it with an understand
ing that the lands should not be looked To
{, In this assertion Mir. Clay confronted Is Mr..
Calhoun who said that he had never heard OF such Z
suggestion until within few days back-thc assertion
of the fact having been made in the National latei
pencer within the past week He sald that 50 far from
his entering into any understanding when the compro.
mise was passed. that the lands 10 be excluded as
source OF revenue, lie had, at the very session al
which the compromise act passed, voted against their
distribution, and in this way he gave direct voc 10
retain them revenue.
MIR. King of Ala, said that he would not have scn
in the debate, bu for statements made by the Senator
from Kentucky mir. Clayl in relation TO the under
standing which he said prevailed at the time OF the com
promise that the land be surrendered source
of revenue lie said that he took deep interest in the
measure compromise throughout lis progress and had
frequent and free conversations with the Senator from
louisiana NOV no more) who took very active part
IN the compromise: and never from him, or any other
who participated in the Transaction, did lie hear wins
per OF this surrender Of the pubic lands as forming par!
o, the considerations entering into 1t.
I Mr.. Rives Of Virginia said he was a member OF the
Committee with which the compromise originated
and never, in the discussions OF that Committee, OF
out of il, did he hear the SUGGESTION tina, the abandon
nient of the Public Lands source OF supply 10
the Treasury, understood To have share IN sell
Ting the terms of compromise He certainly had not
entertained any such views much less entered into any
obligations in regard the disposal of Public Lands
revenue He believed he had then, and always wlirii
the question up, voted against the Distribution
bill He should con,inne 10 do unless II was made
perfectly clear to his mind that the duties, under le
compromise bill, would meet all the public exigences
aud leave nothing apprehend to the establishment
OF permanent public debt.
I Mr.. Clay Of Alabama SAID he was member oil Inc
other branch Of Congress when the compromise OIL
was under discussion, and member o: that body III
tered intimaton In countenance the ground now
boldly assumed By the Senator from Kentucky. lie
said the land distribution had been the topic OF discus
son at every Congress since the compromise was pass
ed and it amazing that some Of the Trends oil Tie
measure had not mentioned this agreement now sci up
as part of the compromise support OF the distribution
scheme from that hour until it brought forward
at the present moment. The compromise act, every
body knows, insisted upon OIL one side HOW
1t that the other side, now claiming TO distribute
the land in virtue OF II, had never brought up
the faith plahcd in the tariff arrangement, TO enforce
their demand: -
Mr. Clay of Alabama considered the suggestion OF 1t
now, for the first time, 10 be an after thought
Mr. Clay of Kentucky said that he did not insist upon
il contract entered into by the parties 10 Inc com
promise, but understanding which grew ont OF
the law liseli-and laying hold of the statute book he
said here the bond and on that he relied lie read
The following from the compromise act:
"A!l duties upon imports shall be collected IN ready
money: and all credits now allowed by law ~ III. pay
men Of duties, shall be, and hereby abolished, ana
such duties shalt he tail far the purpose Of raising s"ch
may be necessary 10 economical adnin's-
\ tranoa Of The Government
Mr.. Clay laid great stress upon the passage marked
! IN Italcs ana insisted that TINS was postNe
ton resign lands as revenue, aud raise It al from
customs
Mr.. Wright stated, as he was member OF The Be-
nate when the compromise was adjusted, he ieit his
duty state his impressions in regard TO the pom! now
made bv the Senator from Kentucky. lie Knew mat
the land distribution bill pending while lie CON-
promise act under consideration, but he never
heard the idea suggested that the one depended upon
the other that there the least expectation that the
distribution Of the lands would be the consequence
oi the compromise Ga the contrary, he was one OIL
those VINO confidently expected that the land Gsri-
button bill would he defeated, as it was defeated 40
had looked upon the deira, of the distribution bill
any breach OF the understanding under winch the
compromise act passed.
Mr. Wright did no, think the language Of the COM
promise quoted BY the Senator from Kentucky,
would bear the Interpretation he had given 10 IT, lie
looked upon the words providing that "sach dufifs
Sfcu9 Je lad far Tic purpose Of the raising Of srh re-
reaae as may he necessary 10 an economical ddmhss
tration OF The torern'atn az merely an additional re-
strcilon 10 the per centage directed in the aw-ano
meaning nothing more than that If ian economical
administration" did not require the whole amount
possible under the to be levied, only such ununt
of duties should be laid should be necessary for an
economical administration.
Ii is manifest that if Mr. Claws Interpretation CT
the clause which he holds 10 be bond that the Gene
raj Government should have surrendered the lands,
and not looked to them as source OF revenue, would
hold, that the same construction would have required
the surrender OF the STOCK ana civuehus
in the Bank of the L. S II It stipulated that all
the revenue should be raised by duties, he IN
sis,. public stocks well the public lands.
under the interdc, not 10 be used 10 lessen the
Tariff.
The question was taken the amendment and de-
cided in the negative as follows:
TsaMessrs Alien. Benton, Calhoun Clay Of Alabama cuh-
bcr. Fulton King Linn. McRobe. Mouc Nicholson, Pierce
Sh Connecticut, Tappan Walker, Williams Wood
bur, Wrsh-i9.
Sap,-cssrs Archer Barrow Bates Biyard Been. Chnaie
Clay ot Kentucky Clayton Dixon, Evans Graham. Henderson
Huntingdon MeTrck, Miller, Mo.ead, Phelps. Porter
rnt,>, Preston, Rves Simmons, Smith oil Indiana faradse
White, Woo!hdse-2'.
Mr. CLAY Of Alabama then moved 10 amend the
bill by inserting the ID section, line 10, after the
word States, the words, sand such sums may be
paid any Indian tribe for the purchase of any portion
of the public lands.
On this amendment the question was taken without
debate, and decided in the negative, follows:
fsasMcssIS. Alien, Ren,en, Buchanan, Calhoun, Clay Of
Ala. cuhher Fulton. King. Linn, McRobes Moucn, Nichoi
Pierce SEWER, Smith OF Connecticut raPan Walker VIII
| iiau>, wccdhury Wright. innnr-24.
.NaysMeSrs Archer Barrow. Bales Bayard Becn, Choar
Ca, uf Kentucky. Clayton, Dixon, Evans Graham huntington
Kcrr MercS Miller Morehsad Phelps Porter prrn.iss, Pres
al Tallmad.r Woodbridge