The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-18
Tmentp- Seoemth Gomgrsss.
s1 FIRST SESSION.
IN SENATE,

.aas .. SATURDAY, Sept. IL, iS4l.
rrh. pRESfDENT of the Senate laid before the
ho5v a communication from the Treasury Depart
ment. in compliance with resolution calling for the
amount of money belonging 70 the United States IN
the Pennsylvania Bank OF the United States The
report was ordered lie the table and be printed
Mr. CLAYTON, from the COMMITTEES on the LII
brary reported without amendment the joint resolution
from the House Of Representatives providing that the
public printing for the Executive Departments shall be
executed at rate not higher than that paid for Con
gressiona printing, as established by the two Houses
of Congress, with recommendation that II be indeh-
nitey postponed. aas s".7.al s.sus-.
This report led to some remarks from Messrs'
CLAY, CLAYTON, KING, CLAY. Of Alabama
WOODBURY., and others; when it appeared that
there was law now in force directing the Depart
to issue proposals and contract for the pruning
to the lowest bidder. The recommendation Of the
committee was concurred in, and thus the resolution
postponed indefinitely.
The Joint resolution from the House Of Represen-
tatives fixing the adjournment of the two Houses on
Monday, the 18th inst at IL o'clock, A. M, was then
taken up.
any obstacle to the resolution, as the two bs no oe
sired to see disposed of before any day was liked Tor
the adjournment had now been disposed Of II might
be inquired, however, WHETHER in case OF cerdin
spens taking place it would not require little more
time. He would suggest a slight amendment OF the
resolution, to strike out the words o'clock, which
would then leave the whole Of that day at their dis
cretion. .... .... ...s., .. ..
Mr.. WRIGHT though it better to pass the reso-
luton at once in its present form though he mad no
material objection to the suggestion ofthe Senator from
Mr.. PRESTON moved TO amend the resolution BY
inserting that which he had offered yesterday, " de-
clarng inexPedent to adjourn until some law were
passed for placing the public money under the control
of law" SC. He thought the deposite act OF 1886,
with some light modification, would effect the object
he had in view. He was aware OF the disinclm'tion
which gentlemen felt to remain any longer at tns not
and exhausting season. With regard to himself, how
ever individually he would make any personal sicr-
fee to attain SO desirable an end.
Mr.. CLAY asked if the question could not bedi-
vded for while he would have no objection to lhe
assertion of the insuciency of the act OF i7o9 lor
the sae-keeping of the public money, yet the otier
branch ofthe proposition might be attended with some
difficulty He had objection to say that the purse
and the sword should not be in the hands Of the Pre-
sdent but to remain until some plan was devised BY
control Of law, might not be SO convenient. The
President had signed the bill for the repeal Of the sub
treasury and the pet bank system, and in his (Mr
C.s) opinion very properly; but then he had refused
to sign the bill for National Bank, Mr. g. would not
say very improperly, but only that he regretted very
deeply What other system then could be devised
likely to meet the views Of the President? If the ho
norable Senator from South Carolina will say what
sort of system he proposed which would neither
be sub Treasury, pet-bank, National Bank, that
would meet the othe President and tat he
time effect the object which all much desired he (Mr
CO. would like to be informed of it, and then he might
be disposed to remain until it could be brought to ma
turity. He very much doubted If the wit OF man
could devise plan unconnected with the three sys-
tens he believed that he had wit but certainly
not enough effect this object. Painful the
alternative of leaving the sword and the purse in the
hands of the Executive, (true, was an empty purse
he feared it must be yielded to for the present. The
President had said he would prepare plan which he
would submit at the opening of the next Congress.
What this plan would be remained to be SEEN Il had
been said that it institution to act fiscal
agent, free from all constitutional objections. .J-
Mr.. WRIGHT expressed the hope that these old
grounds would not be travelled over again, but that
gentlemen would confine themselves to the question
before them, which was fixing the time Of adjourn
ment VI tt3 ras& sE45.ga 1S 3 7tSt 81 atiHou4 81 IS
Mr. KING objected to the Senator from South Ca
rolina Mr. Preston) appendng to a resolution to ad-
journ Congress matter with which It had no proper
His proposition should be put by itself,
and the resolution either adopted or modified. He
hoped the resolution would not be embarrassed with
this addition. 1r"5>>
seemed to be kept out of view that the repeal OF
the Independent Treasury and the deposit bank sys
TEN was pressed upon the President, and he yielded
expecting Congress would offer him constitutional
hn ons Of did thew 0 sp
away the law which protected the Treasury Why
were they in such imprudent haste TO sweep away
what they called the rubbish" which stood in the
new
the Treasury was not under the control of law.
Because they could not get United States Bank,
they forced 70 leave the Treasury was left for
many year, under the control of the law Of l7S9-
That law would be found as efficient now as it ever
was As to the cant about the union Of the purse
and the sword all that was well understood by the
country and might go for what il was worth. 1t did
well enough the stump, for electioneerng purposes
but the day was gone by when American statesmen
could make use Of il, with any effect in the councils
of the nation. t Mr. ,-.-s,l,,y
Mr. CLAY said the Senator from Alabama was
mistaken in supposing that any reproach had been
offered intended to be offered against the President
but Ieproaches from that side had been made against
them for repeating the sub Treasury measure which
had been recommended by the President well al
substitute for it at the time, which every
body then understood to have meant Bank of the
United States. The measures were taken up pretty
before the President at the same time and he signed
the and rejected the other The bills were placed
before him. in order that he might in the Of
signing the bank BILL have refused to sign the other
When he (M. CO. was pressing the bill for the re-
peal of the sub Treasury, gentlemen the Other side
protested against it, and said it was treating the Pres
dent with indelicacy; that it embarrassing him
and the like, to bring this measure before him at a
time when the bank bib was pending but Ee and his
friends thought it right that the whole subject should
be placed before the Executive, that he could act
his discrt ton. ~ " KIT. sa.. ,.4,..,g s
After some further remarks from Messrs. PRES
Ton, WALKER, CALHOUN, TAPPAN, HEN
DERSON, and WOODBURY., .ssft MA s sa..,
MI. PRESTON withdrew his amendment, as not
seeming TO find favor on either side Of the Senate.
Mr. CLAY then moved to strike out the words
eleven o'clock" which motion was agreed TO.
And then the Senate proceeded to the consideration
OF Executive business in which they continued du-
ring the day. Ma. a.. INK. III.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
aE 3 SATURDAY, Sept. IL, l84l.