The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-21

IN SENATE,
IN OENh IEi
THURSDAY, August 10, lS4l.

in SENATE,
THURSDAY, August 49, lS4l.
The following resolution, ofIeledby Mr.WRIGHT,
was adopted:
Resolped, That the Committee on Naval Affairs be
instructed 10 inquire into the expectancy OF provdng
by law for the appointment of the commissioned ot-
GERS employed in the revenue cutter service OF the
United States by the President and Senate in the
same manner that commissioned officers in the naval
of prescribing by law just and proper iank as be-
tween them and the officers Of the Navy when both
are employed together upon the same service; and
that the COMMITTEES report by bill or Otherwise at ths
next session Of Congres. ~ 800 t.r In K
Fl The resolution of Mr.. WOODBURY. directing
the Committee the District Of Columbia to inquire
into the nature and extent Of disturbances in the gal
lery of the Senate, in two instances this session. viz
the passage Of the Fiscal Bank BILL and the reading
of the Presidents Veto on said bill and also of the
disturbance at the Presidents House the night
ensuing said Veto and also the measures that may be
necessary 70 prevent the different departments of Gov
eminent from violent molestation at Washington was
taken up
Mr. MERRICK thought il was not the appropriate
business of COMMITTEES Of this body to investigate
dsorderly proceedings that might have taken place in
this city il belonged to the civil authorities, and il
they had not sufficient power for this purpose Congress
ought to pass the requisite laws Tor their assistance
II also inappropriate, and unnecessary 90 back
to inquire into past disturbances, which the Senate
had acted at the time and passed over; il might
be proper take measures to prevent future
of this kind in the Senate galleries or Hobbies.
Mr.. WOODBURY. advocated the resolution.
Messrs KING, PRESTON, and Others, briefly
gave their views, concuning in the importance of ne
cessary laws TO peace at the seat of Govern
ment, and security to public officers.
The resolution was then laid on the table, to next
session. &tG
The Distribution bill was again taken up, the ques-
ton being the amendment providing for the distri-
button according 20 the respective representation of
the States in Congress, as may be fixed under the
z The amendment was rejected by tie vote Yeas
81, nays 81.
4 Mr. SEWER offered an amendment, providing that
all the public lands, after remaining unsold 20 years.
shall be coded to the States in which they situated
This, after some discussion was rejected Yeas Is,
nays 80. ..-tg L..4 E@@''"
I. Mr.. CLAY of Alabama moved an amendment,
providing in case of the public lands remaining un
sold fol a specified time, for the reduction Of their
prices, first TO dollar, and then to seventy five
cents per acre. Which was rejected: Yeas 49, nays27'
E8i4 s a BANKRUPT BILL--A LAW. u. r.ag /.
A message was received from the President that he
had this day signed the Bankrupt bill.
FISCAL BANK BILL AND VETO MESSAGE
The hour Of twelve having arrived, the Bank bill
President, was taken up the question being Shall
Mr.. CLAY addressed the Senate with reference
10 the message of the President, accompanying the
return of this BILL and criticsing the Presidents
ton as inconsistent with the declaration made in his
Inaugural Address that he should Be guided BY the
lessons and examples of the fathers of the Republic,
with regard to his sanction Of financial agent that
might be established by Congress. He referred to
Washington, Madison, Monroe, and Jefferson, whose
H.
and at loss to know the example of what fathers
of the Republic the President had followed in reject
ing this bill He said the President in his message
had proceeded the ground that there was but one
alternative before him-to approve or dsapmove but
he Mr. CO. pointed out two other courses which
might have been taken one to have let pass without
action for ten days. and thus according to the Const
tuition become law, to have resigned his commits
sion This latter he did not DESIRE far from it, but he
spoke of these two other alternatives actually
sting although they appeared not to be recognised by
the President. He commended that majority Of the
people Of the United States in the late election had
distinctly declared in favor Of Bank. Its constitu-
tonalty had been maintained by the llustrous fathers
IF the Republic, above mentioned by the decision. Of
hve previous Congresses together with the present,
when Congresses had declared against it, and also
by repeated Judicial decisions. Under these crcum-
stances, he dwelt upon the propriety of the former
course he bad pointed outof letting 1t remain for ten
days and become law thus svoidng all constitution
time a1ordng the desired measure Of relief to
country. In concluding, he reprobated the idea Of
suffering the loss of this measure to cause dssen-
sions among the party, to which the country SO
anIiousy looking for measures of relief and express
ed the hope that they would pass their other measures
and return their constituents with the conscious
ness though not having accomplished all they desired
yet that they had done all that could do, under
similar circumstances. He had heardihat some of his
friends We're engaged in devising some financial
.ch -
partments of the Government: and which would af-
ford if not ALL yet Of the advantages to be de-
rived by the country from such an institution. He
would not hinder them in this undertaking. but babe
them 20 on. He could not say that plan which they
might devise would secure his support it should re-
ceiVe it if its form and principles admitted , st
il, Mr.. RIVES replied seriatim to the remarks of Mr..
Clay, and made able defence of the course pursued
by the President, in accordance with the principles
long maintained and openly avowed by that distin-
gushed individual TO an incupation of whose course
on this subject twothirds Of the Senator's remarks
had been directed The President could not consci-
entousy sign the BILL and he frankly returned it to
the body where it originated with his objections He
maintained the Presidents consistency in pursuing
the lessons and examples of the fathers of the Repub
lie, and directed his remarks particularly to the
opinions Of Jefferson and Madison, both Of whom
held the unconstitutionality of Bank. The Presi-
dent was possessed of too much of those high and
manly principles of Virginia promptness and decision
to shrink from fearless discharge of solemn duty
imposed on him, to avail himself Of dishonorabe
backdoor retreat from the necessary functions of the
Presidential office, by withholding action this bill
for ten days-thus suffering il to become law. Such
course was not contemplated by the Constitution,
which made it the duty of the President to preserve
protect, and defend" the Constitution. He was ever
ready to obey the wshessof his constituents, as was
demonstrated by that hgh-minded act Of patriotism,
in which he resigned his seat in the Senate of the
United States when he could not comply with the in.
structons Of his consttuentshe Legislature of that
State. The passage Of the Bank bill was not evil
dence of the will Of the people, to whom he was &C.
countable, nor of Congrcss itself IL was mea-
sure not approved in all its parts by majority
Of either House Of Congress, and il was especially