The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-29


liability OF immediate rupture with any nation. With
his friend from New Hampshire he thought that the
prospect of application Of steam defences ought to
be considered before further appropriations large
amount were made. He did not believe the appropria-
Tens OF last year were all expended and if they were
They ought to be informed in what manner He was
ready and willing to yield his assent to appropriations
Tor the defence OF the country he should ask how this
amount was necessary, and with his friend from Mis-
sssipp, INSIST on proper appropriation for New Or
leans where II was most necessary
MI hES ION said that the gentleman from New
Hampshire supposed that the proposed amount could
no' DC pended this year. and the Senator from Ala
bama had gone on the same ground All the docu-
ments on those points on which information was de-
sired by the gentleman before the Senate in regu
lar documents. The bill reported by the commit
lee OF the House 10 the exact amount considered ne
cessary, in the e,timate of the Secretary Of War
Gentiemen had spoken Of the distribution Of those APP
piopiations, and considered il too large sum in the
iuctuaiing system of defences, but he would call
their attention 10 the fact that Of this Tor re-
PAIRS and u appeared TO him that the existing forts
ought at least 10 be preserved in sfatu quo. There
was not a fertilization proposed at all but the
completion OF some was proposed, and the most
posed points had been directly aimed at. The whole
amount OF appropriations proposed here was about
seven hundred thousand dollars of which two hun
dred and fifty thousand was to be applied to the Gulf
OF Mexico. IL appeared to him that, instead of small
forts on the Gulf, large would be necessary at
Key West the Tortugas which was the Gibraltar of
the Gulf, and which, appropriately defended, would
secure the entrance He proposed an amendment 10
appropriate thirty thousand dollars for surveys in re-
ference to the military defences of the frontier inland
and Atlantic.
Mr. KING proposed that the Chairman submit the
amendments he intended to offer, and lei them lie
over and be printed.
Mr. PRESTON had no other amendments but had
no objections to this course as other gentlemen in
tended to offer amendments.
Messrs. EVANS and BENTON also submitted
mo Hunan oil pbi ri
Mr. BARROW said, as representative of Loui-
siana he convinced that the appropriations for
Barratara bay and the other parts Of louisiana
ample tie moved TO postpone the bill TO Saturday
next
Mr.. WOODBRIDGE hoped when the bill was ia
ken up for action, the Northwestern frontier would
be properly attended to-
MIR. PIERCE had examined the documents, No
80 and 81, referred to- and did not believe the sum
proposed in the bill could be expended. lie opposed
appropriations except as absolutely necessary, till
general plan OF defence adopted.
Mr. LINN would call the attention of the Senate
to the fact that no appropriation proposed for the
Western frontier, and when the bill up he
should move amendment to that effect. The
State of Maine had also been neglected He be-
lieved it would appear from the condition of the de-
fences of the country that the plan formerly proposed
by him, to appropriate permanently the proceeds of
the public lands to the detences of the country,
would be judicious
Mr. ENDERSON made some further remarks
relative to the disparity of the proposed appropra-
tons in this bill.
The motion was then carried, and the bill post
poned till Saturday next
THE FISCAL BANK BILL
was then taken up and read third time-the ques-
ton was " Shall the bill pass"
MIR BENTON attacked the amendment of Mr..
Clay, adopted yesterday, pointing out its defects, and
declaring that were the bill brought before the SUI
preme Court in writ of error, the charter could be
reversed, as he could walk in and state the
case to the Court The amendment was clear and
total surrender of the consttutonality of this char
ter He renewed the motion of yesterday to post
pone the bill indefinitely.
Mr.. DIXON would give the reasons why he voted
yesterday for the amendment. If the Senator from
Missouri correct, he had done in supporting this
amendment what he refused to do a few DAYS since
with reference 10 the amendment of the Senator from
Virginia, (Mr. Riyes) for which he would not vote
as he considered that surrenderng the power of
Congress to establish branches, without the assent
of the States This he did not conceive was surren-
dered in the amendment adopted yesterday. He
briefly supported the amendment in constitutional
point of view, contendng that it maintained the
power OF the General Government, and yet recog-
Missed the rights Of the States
MIR. WHITE said he would briefly state his rea-
sons why he had given his vote for the amendment
adopted yesterday On this question he desired to
act on the power of Congress and the Federal Gov
eminent alone. Had the amendment of the Senator
IL
stitution would have been dependent on the will of
the States; and on this ground he could in no way
have voted for the amendment But this amendment
obviaed this difficulty not surrenderng any power of
the General Government, and yet leaving the States
to decide Tor themselves as to admtance of branches
He desired not only 10 maintain his own consistency
but, having ms proportion OF power to establish this
institution, to maintain ii against those arguments
which were now suppressed, but might hereafter be
urged.
Mr. WOODBURY. was in favor of the motion of
the Senator from Missouri, MIR Benton to postpone
the bill indefinitely. He opposed the amendment,
contendlng that 1t was disrespecu TO the Sovereign
States; they asked the consent of the States, re-
curing their positive answer and if that was dis
sent they were to turn round and in the teeth of
this, establish the branch, if thought necessary by
Congress
The question was then taken the motion for in
definite postponement, and negatved as follows
fEAS-Messrs. Allen, Benton Buchanan, Cal
houn, Clay, of Ala, Fulton, King, Linn McRobcrts,
Mouton, Nicholson Pierce Sewer, Smith, of Conn,
Sturgeon, Tappan, Walker, Williams, Woodbury.,
Wright, Young-2l
NAfS-Messrs. Archer, Barrow, Bates, Bayard,
Berrlen, Choate, Clay, of Ky, Dixon, Evans Gra-
ham, Henderson, Huntington, Kerr, Mangum, NIer-
rick Miller Morehead, Phelps, Porter, Prentss Pres
ton, Rives, Simmons, Smith, of Ind Southard
Tallmadge, White, Woodbridge-2S.
The question pending then was, Shall this bill
pass, }" and was about being taken, when
Mr.. HENDERSON rose. He did not intend TO
make speech, but rather apology. He did not
vote on the amendment adopted yesterday, he was
not present when the vote taken had he been,
he should have voted against it. But he should vote
for the bill.
The question was then taken, and decided in the
affirmative, as follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Barrow, Bates. Bayard Berricn
Choate, Clay, of Kentucky, Dixon Evans, Graham
Henderson, Huntington, Kerr, Mangum, Merrick
Miller, Morehead Phelps, Porter Prentiss, Preston
Simmons, Smith, of Indiana Southland, Tallmadge
White, Woodbrldge-26
NAfS-Messrs Allen Archer, Benton, Buchan-
an, Calhoun, Clay, of Alabama Fulton, King Linn
McRoberts, Nlouton, Nicholson, Pierce Rives Sc