The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-17

bic Senator forget what was due to the Senate when
he talked about enforcing this Infringement on the
freedom OF debate He was very quiet man, and
confined himself strictly questions before the Sen
but he held that this attempt TO interfere with the
freedom OF debate was at with the very first prn
cples OF our Government and for one he would resist
unto the DEATH He desired that they get rid of the
subject before them first He was disposed to decide
the question: ana ascertain whether such measure is
10 De rVeued on the country and not to consume
time than to present their objections to it, and then
leave the country to decide between them
Mr.. BENTON said he concurred with his friend
and was willing to take the question on the bill now
unuef consideration, on Monday which might be &C
inmate between long speeches and short amendments
An amendment OF one word in bill oitentimes had
the greatest effect on the bill few years ago. they
found word which was introduced in a pension
nil and which had passed unnotced cost the Govern
| ment one million OF dollars. He was opposed to in
troduce the previous question in the Senate ALL but
| as for Introducing it in Committee of the Whole, OF
| the quasi Committee, for the purpose Of cutting of
| amendments, whenever that motion came forward he
snoniu treat as tearing up the Constitution of the
United States-as expunging the legislative authority
OF the Senate, and just efectuay putting an end
the authority of the Senate as if Dictator should
| come and bid them jump out of the window and
| OIL. Whenever this Senate reduced to the regis
tering edlctS which were prepared in the Committee
room, or in some of the Departments, and were sent
down here to be crowded through without amendment
he would consider his legislative life ended, and
would sneer at the whole legislative existence after
that. He for the purpose of backing his friends
BY considering it tomorrow and Saturday by Mon
day evening they would finish up the bill. They said
that; and he wanted the public 10 notice it, and the
note-takers to remember what the Senator from Ala
bama and himself said, that they would with evening
stings finish the bill on Monday.
Mr. CLAY, of KY said the Senator (Mr. Cal
houn) had given an answer to his own proposition,
that we take the question Saturday for of his
friends had been called away by serious indsposton
OF his family and therefore he knew very well that 1t
| could moi he acceded to- They would 90 with bu-
sness as well as they could and the best way was to
Keep good humored heir opponents might talk as big
as they pleased, let them be as menacing, indignant
and nmidating as they pleased and if existing rules
did not enable them to despatch the public business
he for one Was ready TO execute that provision OF the
Constitution, which gave them the power to make
rules to transact public business, in spite Of all the de-
nouncing, menacing and bullying (if there should be
| bullying) used it would have no effect at all He
wished TO remind the Chairman Mr.. Wright Of the
Committee on Finance of last session, how his party
treated the Treasury Note Bills. The discussion on
them was never protracted more than day. and ge
neraly passed in one hour. This was the scheme o.
the late Administration; and the necessity of the
Treasury was generally plead requiring that no de-
lay should take place Many of his friends voted fol
those bills, and no attempt whatever was made or
their side to proract the subject with view to its de
feat or delay. The Treasury note scheme was thu
financial project of the late Administration the Loar
bill of the present They wanted TO get rid of Trea
suly notes; there were some of them who doubted iii
constitutionality and all doubted its expedency ant
he had hoped that there would be recprocaton of thu
Kindness and that they should be allowed to get loan
especially when he had told gentlemen that there wa
such deficiency in the Treasury. He gave motto
that when they came out of Executive session, hi
should move to take up the Loan bill.
Mr.. CALHOUN said he was really struck will
the analogy Of the language which gentlemen uset
now, and with that used on the alien and seditior
law; it was exactly the same that they were goinl
on to relieve the people from their distress, and the
measures were to be regulated by the party now in
power. The gentleman 10 judge, and if they
| would submit to his discretion he had no doubt ht
would be very kind master; and tell the gentlemen
with the utmost GOODNESS, try when you please ant
you will find no easy job. They had been allowed
perfect freedom of debate for fifty years, and for tn
first time, they now warned that they were to b
yoked as the House had BEEN There never was
deberative body on earth SO distinguished for cour
tesy as this Senate, where deberatve speech ha
been disabused less than in this; and this sesso
there had not boon wanton debate, and not on
speech Of an hour and q half He gave notice
! gen lemsn of the majority TO bring this measure
when they pleased, and it would be resisted to tn
last
Mr.. LINN rose to speak, but
The PRESIDENT informed him that the morr
ing hour had expired.
Mr.. LINN had but few words to say, and az
pealed to the Chair to be allowed to proceed He wa
answered that it was in the power of the Chair
grant this request and was then, by Of the Sc
nate, permitted TO proceed.
He said there was an old Scotch proverb tina
threatened men never live long, and he regretted tina
their opponents had seen fit to make any threats Il
them. This body had always been distinguished TO
its courtesy for its general stream Of queness run
ming through the body, and no disposition to consume
the time unnecessarily; at all events not to degree
10 call on the majority to muzzle the minority. His
friends had never done it when in power, but &
reasonable and proper time had always been given fol
the consideration of all questions. He knew The ho
norable Senator from Kentucky, and his frnds were
placed in very peculiar and trying situation in rela
ton to this measure, which affected the whole policy
of the Government; and was it wrong to ask for q
reasonable period of time for its consideration! lie
begged the Senator not to make his own judgmen,
altogether the criterion by which the Senate was to
be governed in this subject.
| Mr.. CLAY said he had endeavored in no ms ance
to make his own udgment the cerioni but had only
asked that the Senate the majority of the body should
control
Mr. LINN said the Senator had said if they were
governed by his individual wishes, he would bring
this debate to close Very well' said Mr. Clay )
1t in reference to this he Mr. Linn) had remark
ed that the Senator was placed in very trying posi-
ton. This measure was of great importance TO the
country; and were they not to have fair opportunity
of discussing it That was the question The gen
teman saw plainly that their Whiggery was fading
away, and II they did not pass this Dill now, lhey
would 90 home disgraced party, and were ruined
He said to them pass this bill but give reason
able and proper time to discuss the most mportan,
measure ever yet brought before the Senate of the U
States.
The morning hour having elapsed
| Mr. BERRlEN moved that the Senate proceed tc
Executive business. The question about to b.
put, when
Mr. CALHOUN rose to point of order-they haG
rule that daily after the morning hour they should
take up the unfinished business before the Senate and
they could not proceed to other business, unless by
general consent.
The CHAIR did not understand; but decided
that in order TO move to 60 into Executive bust
ness at any time.
Mr.. CALHOUN asked for the reading Of the rule
1t lead and provides that during this session, the
Senate shall after the expiration of the morning hour
proceed to the consideration of the unfinished business
unless otherwise ordered"
The CHAIR again deciding that the motion was
| in order.
i Al. 1.