Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-09-08
RICH M0ND w HIG.
or THE UNITED STATES
UNITED STATES SENATE.
NAVAL. ORDNANCE.

UNITED STATES SENATE.
NAVAL ORDNANCE.
Mr. MANGUM OF n. &. from the naval commi,
tee, having reported from the House n bill som
time since for naval ordnance, SC, appropriatin
100000, called 1t up this morning. MIR NJ. eS
planned the objects Of the bill, and gave reason
drawn from the reports of the Secretary OF the Ma
Wy, and from the Board OF Commissioners, IN refer
ence to the necessities OF the Department. MIR Man
gum stated that he wished To postpone the subject
and would not have moved to take 1, up had not the
interests of the Department required the appropra
ton.
MIR SEWER opposed the Bill, and thought as an
appropriation had been made during the last Con
gross, il was hardly worth while to make ap.
Precipitation during the present year.
Mr. ALLEN proposed an amendment to the ei-
feet that the 100000 proposed for ordnance be Ia.
ken from the proceeds of the sales OF the public Do
main. Upon this amendment Mr Allen made a
speech ut length, repeating his old objections TO the
Bill for Distribution and almost IN the same lam
guage,
MIR MANGUM said the Sonat. had, bu, a day or
two since, made similar decision IN reference TO
the Land question.
The amendment of MIR Allen was voted down, IS
toIs, when the bill was laid upon the table.
REVENUE BILL.
MIR CLAY, oi Ky. called up the Revenue Bill
and addressed the Senate for an hour and halt IN
review OF the condition of the Treasury and the ne
ccSsiiy for the passage of the Bill. Nest OF the
speech contained figures, and though important to
the country, will hardly be deemed OF sufficient IN
tcrcSt to be given IN full.
The amendment Immediately pending was that Of
Mir MlngUm, TO strike out tea and coffee from the
articles paying 20 per cent. duty, and admit them
duty free The most important matter for Con.
gross to consider, MIR. Clay conceived, the cx-
istn- avs of the Government Loan Bill had
been passed by which twelve millions OF money
were to be borrowed, and prior Bills Tor the issue
Of Treasury notes had passed former Congress,
and the issues be redeemed In making
out his case therefore, he would look only to the
actua condition OF the Revenue, deducting the Re.
ccips from the Expenditures, and stating the time
OF the Receipts.
For the first six months of the present year there
were full returns. From the Receipts OF Customs
for the year the Treasury had received the sum OF
S6,ll3.OuO, from Lands $4,000 and from Bonds
IN Bank, amount which DID not hear stated.
The totai however S7,6i2,OOO. Including
Treasury notes to he redeemed and trust funds the
amount was Sl4,O2i 600. The half year ended on
the lst Of July, and the receipts Tor the two months
last were as follows: In luy Floss 900; August
minus day or two SSS2,9 900. For Lands there
were received-in July >7s,OoOi and in August
$4,000.
For the last six months OF the present year, the
eStimltes were as follows: From Customs and
Lands tho sum OF 81 6i2 900. The expenditures
OF the same time will amount 10 Sli, 100000.
MIR Clay estimated the receipts OF the asi half
year from the receipts Of the first half year, and IN
GLIDING notes to he redeemed, and other matters, he
showed there would be, IN addition to the deficit Of
the first SIX months, S9OOOOOO deficit on the Sc
cond, or a dcGrt during the whole year, amounting
tee oil finance conSItTcd an appalling state OF tacs,
for the expenses OF the Extra session were not in.
cludcd, and those, with the appropriations now
made. Amounted to 2i,6S7,OOO. The actual cN-
penseS of,he year would be something more than
S2S .OOO, 900.
Mir Clay thought deficit OF 100000 in one
year was enough 10 alarm any man who regarded
the prosperity OF the country, for It wei. cs-
ilbIished truth, that well regulated Government,
like a correct iNdividual IN trade would make the
receipts and expenditures OF the year correspond.
Coming down then to lS4l, Mr. Clay showed a
deficit Of $4,000 600, and from this fact il was
clear that il would be necessary at the next session
OF Congress TO make loan IN addition TO the loan
made the present year. The consequence was IN.
evtablo. The late Administration had left tie
debt, and the honor Of the country required should
be paid.
In regard TO the Public Domain, Mr. Clay said
the receipts from sales the present year would not
amount more than 81 500 900, and the falling of
m receipts from S2OOO0,OOO TO 81 500, 600 should
convince oil that It not right to depend upon
the sales Of land Tor The support Of Government
There was no dependence 10 be placed upon the
amount sold.
Leaving 1871, Mr. Clay made an estimate Of Re-
cepts for the year 1912. For the present year from
Customs the Receipts would Ue Sl2,25O,UOO. Out
OF this, 100000 would have 10 lie paid on the
loans, suppOsing one-th!rd 10 be redeemed during
the year, and - 100000 Outstanding Treasury
HoiesAeavng, unless the Revenue Bill passed. the
sum ofSd 900 fur the support Of Government
Mr.. Clay then proceeded 10 state what would be
the condition OF the public service provided the Bill
passed Omittlng the detail ofhS statement, which
cannot give you very accurately, and will there
fore not give It all, he the conclusion with
the las, six years Tor an average, that the Compro
mise would lie preserved and the receipts into tie
Treasury yield the sum ol S23,0OO,GOO. Mr. Clay
said he should be the last infringe upon the Com
promise Act, believing, he did, that the public
service could be supported without It, lie, how
ov r, was under some apprehension, that it would
be difficult matter 10 support the Government az
present. There was room for reform and economy,
he knew,-buI not to the extent wh ch would bring
down the expenditures OF the Government from
$4,000 900 10 Sl4,OOO,OOO.
In reference 10 Tea and Coffee, he hoped the
amendment proposed would not prevail. lie
thought the price OF the articles would be unaffected
whether the duty was put upon them not, and
gave the most abundant evidence Of the TACT IN the
record of prices for years. The Treasury needed
the Revenue also and could not get along without
H. The amount which these articles would pay
would be s3OoOOOO Tea, by the proposed tax,
would pay cents per pound, and Coffee one and
one. eighth Of cent. No patriotic citizen would
Object 10 the p ymcnt OF this amount when told It
was for the honor OF the country.
MIR WOODBURY. and MIR CALHOUN both
replied, and Mr. CLAY reoIncd. The vote was
taken md the result was that the amendment pro-
posing TO strike out Tea and Coffee from the lrt-
ces paying 20 per cent. duty, and to place them
among the articles duty free was carried, 80 To 10,
and The items are therefore stricken frOm the Bill.
Mr. ALLEN next moved that sal. be put among
the free articles.
Mr. WALKER moved 10 amend the amendment
hy adding "gunny bags" 70 salt.
MIR BENTON was wrlthy that the amendment
should be added 20 the amendment, and replied with
good deaf of feeling and attempted sever y, pend
ing which the Senate adjourned.