The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-14
TmRmtg=Sehemtil Congress.
FIRST SESSION.
IN SENATE,
THURSDAY, August 10, 1871.

1HohSDAfb hugust IL, iofi'
Mr.. TAPPAN presented the proceedings and reso-
utons of meeting Of citizens Of Ohio, condemning
the measures of the extra session. and asserting ths
right and duty of the repeal of the Bank charter al
SO, against distribution against national debt and
setting forth the inconsistency of the present Admins
tration which came into power with professions Of
economy and with their opposition to "gold spoons
extravaganza, &c.
Mr.. r. made some remarks, declaring the respects-
bity of the meeting and his full to their sent
ments He moved that they be laid on the table and
printed; which was agreed to.
MIR. BUCHANAN presented memorial of NUNS
rous merchants of the city of Philadelphia, remon-
strating against high duty silk and other goods
the 20 per cent proposed by the BILL and
suggesting the propriety of the usually taken
increase of duty, of giving suitable notice Of it,
and stating the time of two months notice. and longer
me according to the distance from which the goods
are imported before the act goes into effect.
Mr.. CLAY presented memorial from citizens of
Philadelphia, manufacturers of chloride of lime and
bleaching powders asking an imposition of duty Of
free fu p cent On '''D'' A'N ''"' : ''N WY
Both which memorials were laid on the table.
Mr.. SMITH, Of Indiana, said the Senator from
Alabama (Mr. Clay) had introduced resolution a
few days since with regard to appointments Of clerks
in the General Land Office. He Mr.. 81 had moved
to Law il on the table, but now moved to take it up
He believed it had been modified by an amendment
offered by the Senator from South Carolina, Mr..
Preston, SO to call also for the removals and APP
pointments in the four years from 1929 from 1888 and
from 1887 with the therefor and the salaries
paid.
Mr.. CLAY, of Ala, said he had not accepted the
amendment, although he had suggested modification
of it. While he was up he would ask why the Sc
nator from Indiana had changed his views the sub
ject Had he received information from the Land Of
fee that they could make out report which would
appear satisfactory ~.
Mr.. SMITH said he had changed no views on this
subject He had before not been opposed to the in
formation called for in the resolution but doubted the
propriety Of it, and had raised that question the Sc
nate. As to the Senator'S inquiry, he would state
that he had received a communication from the Land
Office requesting that the call 70; this information
should be made. The Commissioner felt anxious that
this inquiry should be made. He (Mr. Smh) would
move an amendment to the amendment which he had
no doubt the Senator from Alabama would agree to,
viz: wheher any extra clerks besides the regular list
were employed during the time and if so, for
what services, and what amount was paid to each and
to the whole"
Mr.. WOODBURY. read from former report Of
the Commissioner of the General Land Office, show
ing the reasons why the number Of clerks had been
reduced, much extra work having been accomplished
Without further debate the amendment to the
amendment, and the original amendment were agreed
to. The resolution was then adopted.
DISTRIBUTION AND PRE-EMPTIoN BILL
This bill was then again taken up, the question
pending being the amendment offered by Mr. LINN, to
strike out the distribution section of the BILL and insert
provision to apply the nett proceeds of the lands per-
manently to the defence of the country -
Mr.. LINN continued his remarks Of yesterday, GO
ing into the deenceless condition of the frontier and
contendng that the money derived from the sales of
the public lands should be appropriated for the public
defence.
Mr. BENTON followed in a speech Of great length
in favor Of the amendment declaring that to take the
money from the public lands to distribute among the
States would be TO strip the country Of its resources
and add to thoss of foreigners.
Mr. WRIGHT, after briefly replying to the con-
stitutional argument for distribution made by Mr..
Smith, Of Indiana directed his remarks to this impor-
ant amendment to provide for the defence of the coun-
try. He rapidly glanced at its defenceess condition
at the attempts that made when the surplus rev.
enue was hand, to apply it for this purpose con-
tending that this by far the best application of the
proceeds of the lands that could be now made He
then adveted particularly to the situation of his
of the Union was entirely undefended. The import.
ance of provision for that, affected not New York
alone, but all the Staes whose commerce centred
there He then traced the extended line Of lake coast
on the Northern and Northwestern frontiers of that
State, on which the important town of Buffalo.
and others within gun-shot of British territory with
no means Of defence; and then noticing the present
threatening attitude Of this country and Great Britain
and the more immediate excitement in that State
growing out oft Mcleod case, he closed with an
appeal to the friends of the country to provide for its
defence appropriation Of the proceeds ofthe lands to
this purpose instead Of giving them as miserable
pittance TO the States.
Mr.. TALLMADGE promptly replied TO the false
issue made by his colleague between defence of the
country from foreign aggression and leaving il under
Tended. He would 60 as far as his colleague or any