Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1841-01-29
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WASHINGTON, Jan. Goth.

evening and it is true, / believe, that no Pre-
smption Bill ever passed that body by daylight.
Mr. HUNTINGTON, of Conn, came into the Sc
nate in tn. morning with half dozen amend.
ments,--all OF them carefully drawn and design
ed to improve the Bill. The friends of the mea-
sure, who are the stronger party in the Senate,
consented to the adoption Of two or three of them,
intended to prevent frauds and make the prin-
eiples Of the Bill consistent with the provisions.
The member from Connecticut deserves well
Of his constituents and the country, for his per-
severng Efforts to improve the Bill. The few
amendments adopted will have the goodcftct Of
preventing frauds, and confirming the act, in
measure, to actual settlers
The dcbatable amendment of the day was
proposition to limit the Act to two years. Some
Of the friends of the measure took fire at this pro-
position, and prepared the way both for discus
sion in reference to the land question. and also
for controversy in reference to the condition
OF the Treasury,-the opinions of the candidates
for the Presidency, successful and defeated, and
for the consideration of all matters debatable
growing out Of the late political conflict There
was a brilliant display Of skill, wit, and inge-
nuity, between Mr.. CLAY, of Kentucky, and
Mr.. BUCHANAN, of Pennsylvania. Thrusts were
made and parted in perfect good temper. The
blows came thick and fast OH both sides. Mr.
Buchanan was not clothed in so strong and ar
in the skirmish--Ihe sparring was the best
conducted Of the session, and ended as all such
conflicts should, in perfect good temper on the
part of both the assallants, Mr.. Buchanan, sem
stvc as he is, even consented to be rallied at
little for being an old bachelor, as unfortunately
for himself and some fair lady he is. Mr. Clay
Of Alabama, took part in the fight, but he is too
sour and ill-natured in appearance, which he
can't heir, and in his ideas, which he can, to
sc, :,
seems to be desire to discuss everything for
partisan effect, ant! the Senator seems to think
that to make good speech il is necessary to
steep it with salt and vinegar. The end of the
Pre- emptlon Bill will come Tomorrow in the
Senate. In the House it will have bricf exis-
tencc, be laid upon the table, laid out and sent
10 the tomb of the Capulcts.
The debate on this bill was continued until
long after candc-light, there appearing deter.
mined feeling OH the part of its friends to sit it
out, and feeling almost as determined on the
part OF its opponents to resist its enCrossment.
The cession and distribution being alike defeat.
ed, the question resolved itself Oh the pre-
cmption principle, which was ultimately car
rled by vote of 80 to IT, There is little doub,
Ii will be met in the morning with new objections
and new motions to rc-commit. Mr.. Clay was
more than usually eloquent on the bearing which
this bill might have on the finances, as well as
its tendency to disturb the venerable land svs.
tenn which had worked well for tho last hall
century
Mr.. Bell, Of Tenn, has had the day to him.
self in the House, on the Treasury Note Bill
With MIR. Evans and Mr. Barnard he has paid
his respects to the Secretary of the Treasury,
who is deservcdIy harpooned by every man who
can get blow at him. Mr.. Bell, after careful
deliberaton and examination, shows defcien.
cy in the Treasury at the end ofthe present year,
including the estimated receipts, Il SS,5OO,O0O
Ten or fifteen millions he thinks may be neces-
sary. lie alludes to an Extra Session of Con.
gress as contingency likely to happen in the
event of refusal on the part of the present Adj.
mnstraton to provide the ways and means for
the support OF Government and this event most
assuredy will come. Mr.. Buchanan, in some
remarks in the Senate to-day, more than init.
mated that such would be the result.
The L'Amistad case did not come on in the
Supreme Court today. The 10th Of February
the Court have fixed upon for the trial.
1t is ascertained that Thomas H. Benton is
the author OF the rabid articles in the Globe at.
taking General Harrison, Daniel Webster and
Henry Clay. Mr.. Benton dare not DENY it, and
the truth of the statement imagine will stamp
the little character left to Senator from Missouri
with reprobation. More of this anon.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2lst
INTERESTING DEBATE IN THE SENATE.
The PRE-EMpTToN BILL hangs upon the Sc.
naie, like consumption upon its marked victim
The engrossInent which was ordered last even
ing was not followed by the final passage to-day
as was expected, though the darkness drove the
Senators from the Capitol before an adjourn.
ment.
The motion to recommit the Bill to the Com.
mlttee on Public Lands, with instructions 10
report IN favor OF distribution and pre- emption.
was submitted by Mr.. CRlrTEypEN of XIV. dur.
ing the day. and defended in a brilliant and mas.
terly specch,-playful at times, sarcastic where
the weapon of sarcasm could be well used, and
at times again arg1nentatvc. The principle Of
distribution was ably defended
M1st interesting OF all were the opinions Of
Mr., Webster. Mr.. W., TO sum up his IDEAS.
which were sufficiently compressed, IN the re.
marks made to the Senate, defended the princi.
PIE OF distributing the proceeds from the sales of
lands upon the ground Of equity to the states
and justice to the general government
Ihe distribution principle he thought would
De adopted at the next session of Congress, with
aPre-emPt,on principle attached to i, and pro.
visions snfic!ently guarding the interests of the
new states
In regard to the deficiency which would he
created by the Presumption Bin, he nroposea 70
meet it by tax upon articles Of luyury-unon
wines and silks But independent of any such
principle, he would vote for distribution. Right
and good in itself, he would vote for il.
Inc principle, however, Mr. Webster re-
marked, he had regarded as a financial one, and
the remedy he mentioned did away with ali ne.
oessIty Tor bringing the sales from land into the
Treasury: The question was whether il was
better to have the sales from the public domain
distributed and tax upon articles of luxury, or
no tax upon articles mainly used by the atfl1ent,
and the proceeds from the "a les of l,,I, nm, ;,
the Treasury
M, Mr.; Webster argued too, in reply to Mr.
wright who stood upon the opposite ground
that the Government might rely upon the ems.
toms tor the ways and means Of support. The
experience of the country, the paymeu, Of ,he
national debt, and other proofs are given of the
correctness OF the principle
Nisa wen known maxim in political economy
SAID Mr. Webster that when you raise rev
nue. tax, you do not Thereby of necessity decrease
me amount OF Importation, nor does vas
duty Proportionably increase the price or Diminish
the amount OF importation. Part falls ma, tbr