The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-24
Gmemtp=Senerth Congress.
IN SENATE,
FIRST SESSION

IN SENATE, ..~
SATURDAY, July II, ls4l
Mr.. CALHOUN presented the proceedings of a
highly respectable meeting of citizens Of Buckingham
county, Virginia, expressing their opinion relative to
the extra session, in seven resolutions. They
sdered this extra session of Congress emnently inu
dicious, and subectng the country to useless ex-
pense They denied that the Bank question had been
at issue in the late Presidential contest and declared
that Bank of the United States unconstiu-
tiona in whatever FORM and exercised the most dead
ly hostility to the liberty of the country-conferring
benefits on the few at the expense of the many,
ruptng in its nature, and tending smother the voice
of the people was their right and duty wage
intermihable war against it, and, if passed. TO re-
peal it. Also against the Distribution bill, and as
unconstitutional. ,1 .H.
He needed not to say that he fully concurred in all
these sentiments from this highly respectable quarter
1t the first voice this subject from the ancient
Dominion, which had ever stood in the front ranks
for the defence Of the principles Of the Constitution
He also took the opportunity to say that the repeal of
this was their object, if it was passed-that they had
right to repeal it, and he believed its existence in
compatible with the interests of the country ".
At his motion, the proceedings Of the meeting were
read laid on the table and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. CALHOUN said as he had the floor, he would
perform personal duty. He referred to an article
in the Natiopal lntelligencer of this morning. under
the editorial head which he said had for its object to
recommend to the good people of the United States
their advocating it. if they pleased but they had, in
its Justification referred to the proceedings of Con-
gress in 1872 and very strongly implied if they had
not declared that it was used and supported by him.
(Mr. Cahoun,) IN the passage Of the bill declaring
war against Great Britain. He then went on to cor
rect this false idea saying that the previous question
was not used In reference to this bill and relating
some of the circumstances attendant on its passage
Mr.. CLAY replied with reference to the facts of
the case showing that another question was then in
use which obviated in great degree the necessity of
the precious question, being question OF considera-
tion, viz: Will the House now consider
MIR. CLAY said he was willing to admit, that in con-
sultaion with his political friends, there had been dis
cussons in relation to the adoption of some mode Of
abbreyiatng the debates, and shortening the present
session. and he for one was prepared to give the ma
1m soaS
Carolina had doubt heard of these little consulta.
tons and this might have been the reason why he had
used the term gag" which he had endeavored to
make out to be analogous with the alien and sedition
law. But was that the fact The alien and sedltlon
law was made to control the masters who spoke
against their servants-to prevent the people from
writing speaking against the high functionaries OF
Government; while the one contemplated to be here
adopted would be for the benefit of the people;
one make the servants do the business of the nation
and stop taking and spending their masters time and
money Mr. G. said he ready, for his part, to de-
pve the Opposition Of the power Of breaking up the
session without finishing the business Tor winch
had been convened. ~.
MI. CALHOUN said the alien and sedition law
was bad enough; but what Mr.. Clay proposed was
worse. That gagged the people, while this would
gag the peoples Representatives.
The Loan Bill was then taken up.
Mr.. ALLEN offered an amendment providing
that the money raised under the loan, after supplying
the immediate wants of the Treasury, should be ap-
piled only to the defence Of the country.
He said he had yesterday endeavored to ascertain
from the friends Of this bill, how much was actually
required for the supply Of the immediate wants of the
Treasury.
Mr.. CLAY repeated the statement of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury, which he had yesterday pre-
scented, showing that there deficit in the Trea-
sury for the current year of twelve millions dollars
This excluded all reserve fund which had been uni
formy considered necessary by all the Secretaries OF
the Treasury to include hch, and also necessary
appropriations for Home Squadron, for ordnance,
and for the War Department, made deficit Of nine
teen and half millions dollars. But excluding from
this calculation the reserve fund, and the two and
half millions for Notifications still left fourteen and
half millions deficit being two and half millions
more than proposed by this bill.
Mr.. ALLEN said the present condition of the
Treasury matter of doubt and the report Of the
Secretary involved in so much mystery that none OF
his friends agreed on the present condition of the
Treasury He referred to an article of correspon-
dent of the National Integencer, who professed to
have an accurate knowledge of the condition of the
Treasury which stated that the deficit amounted to
three and half millions dollars Now, here
meet expenses of the first part Of next year They
might as well bring in bill for one hundred thousand
dollars making provision for future wants.
He proposed to confne, by his amendment the loan
TO the actual wants of the Treasury, and the appro-
priatons for defence Of the country, which might be
made at this session and also to provide by any pos
sbility against distribution Of the proceeds of the
sales Of the public lands If this distribution was
made they would have memorials from all the States
founded on caculatonso give them their whole share
now, instead Of giving il in instruments. The States
would never submit TO having this distribution in in
salments--the moment they admitted the right Of the
States to the land they would claim il insanter and
the whole question now was will you divide up
all your public lands now Z Then they would find
logrong in our legislation here, is called in the
West when different interests conflict. This propo-
son would rally to its support the entire banking in
terests Of the country.
Mr. HUNTINGTON, in his remarks this
amendment, which would be very brief, should not
touch the Distribution BILL but went on this bill from
the documents submitted to them by the Secretary Of
the Treasury. The amendment proposed to limit the
loan TO payment present debts and such future debts
as might be contracted for the defences of the coun-
try His objection was, first, that the Senate yes
teriay decided that they would not, by this BILL fore
stall future legislation; but from the wants Of the
country they would vote for this bI and then when
other bills came up, they would decide on them
Might not the Government be called on Tor money lot
objects other than the defence of the counry Should
they say in ADVANCE that they would tie up the hands