The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-21
IN SENATE,
TUESDAY, August II, lS4l


~ ".e IN SENATE, <H~.
TUESDAY, August II, lS4l.
The resolution submitted some DAYS since by Mr.
LINN, requesting the President to give notice to the
British Government in order to put an end to the
joint occupation of Oregon Territory was taken up
Mr.. BENTON spoke at length in relation to the
Importance Of this Territory. .." 81
DISTRIBUTION AND PRE-EMPTIoN BILL.
This bill being now in order, Mr.. BENTON sug-
gested, an hour only would intervene between then
and the time agreed for taking up the Veto Mes
sage of the President the Bank BILL that the inter-
mediate period had better be occupied in small matters
connected with the business of the Senate. And he
moved TO lay the bill on the table for the present.
On this motion the yeas and nays were demanded,
and the vote stood as follows: ..".
YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Archer, Benton, Buchan-
an, Calhoun, Clay, Of Alabama, Cuthbert, Fulton,
King, Linn, McRoberts, Mouton, Nicholson, Pierce,
Rives, Sewer, Sturgeon, Tappan, Walker, Williams;
Woodbury., Wright, Young-23. .,.,..
NAYS-Messrs. Barrow, Bates, Bayard, Berrien,
Choate, Clay, of Kentucky, Clayton, Dixon, Evans,
Graham, Huntington, Kerr, Mangum, Merrick, Mil
Ter, Morehead Phelps Porter, Preston, Simmons,
Smith, of Indiana, Southland Whte-23.
So the motion was lost. p fIs#.s .4a.e a.
The Senate then proceeded 10 the consideration Of
The general order of the day, being the distribution
amendment of Mr.. Guar, of Aiaboma, that there
should be in the Treasury at the time of such distr
button, surplus equal to the amount of said net,
proceeds after meeting and satisfying all demands
against the United States for current expenses and
appropriations and the necessary provision for the
payment of any portion of the public debt which may
fall due. E ....%..
Mr.. CALHOUN said it was a simple naked ques
ton whether money should be raised for the purpose
of distribution; and where in the Constitution, did
4 find ha To do IJa ,nt h,x.
such measure as the distribution bill could ever en-
ter into the mind of man.
Mr. MERRICK did not consider it question OF
raising money to distribute, but whether they gave
the money to whom it of right belonged. ..
Mr.. CLAY, of Alabama, said if the surplus was,
above all the demands equal to the nett pro-
ceeds then it might be distributed but the bill
stood, the whole amount of the sales of the public
lands could be distributed if there not dollar in
the Treasury. Now he asked if there was any man,
friendly to the compromise act, that could for q
ment object to the proposition which he had submit
ed And he hoped there would be majority found
in its favor
The question was then taken on the adoption of
the amendment, and decided in the negative, as fol-
lows:
YEAS-Messrs. Allen, Archer Benton, Calhoun,
Clay, of Ala, Cuthbert, Fulton, King, Linn, Nc
Roberts, Mouton, Nicholson Pierce, Rives, Sewer,
Sturgeon, Tappan, Walker, Williams, Woodbury.,
Wright, Young-22
NAYs-Messrs Barrow, Bates, Bayard, Berrien,
Buchanan, Choate Clay, of KY, Clayton, Dixon,
Evans, Graham, Huntington, Mangum, Merrick, Mil
Ter, Morehead, Phelps, Porter, Prentiss, Preston,
Simmons, Smith, of Ind, Southland, White, Wood
bridge-25.
A debate here sprung up between Messrs. Benton,
Smith, of Ind, Merick and McRoberts.
PRESIDENTS VETO MESSAGE.
The Senate then proceeded to the order the day,
which was the reconsideration Of the bill charter
Fiscal Bank, together with the Presidents objec-
tons thereto
Mr.. MANGUM moved to postpone the considera-
ton of the subject until to- morrow at IL o'clock.
Mr.. BENTON insisted that the motion was out OF
order inasmuch the Constitution required the Sc
nate to proceed Immediately to the reconsideration
Mr.. CLAY, Of Kentucky, individually, had nc
wish for the postponement but Senators around hin
had expressed such a wish, and he was willing to
cede their desire. As to the question of the Senate
power to postpone, it was impossible to doubt
The yeas and nays having been demanded and Ia
ken, the vote stood as follows:
YEAS-Messrs. Archer, Barrow, Bates, Bayard
Berrien, Choate, Clay, Of KY, Clayton, Dixon, Evans
Graham, Henderson, Huntington, Kerr Mangum,
Merrick, Miller, Morehead Phelps, Porter Prenti's,
Preston, Rives, Simmons, Smith, of Ia, Southland,
Tallmadge White, Wood-bridge-29.
NAYS-Messrs. Allen, Benton, Buchanan, Cal
houn, Clay, of Ala, Cuthber Fulton, King, Linn,
McRoberts, Mouton, Nicholson, Pierce, Sewer
Sturgeon, Tappan, Walker, Williams, Woodbury.,
Wright, Young-2l.
So the Senate resolved to postpone the considera-
ton Of the veto the Bank bill till IL o'clock To-
morrow.
Mr. SMITH, Of Ia, then moved to resume the con-
sideration Of the Land Bill. For the motion ~,
against il 81. So the bill was taken up.
Mr.. McROBERTS concluded his remarks, obserV-
ing that if the Territories were included he could not
object TO the District His only object was to do JUS
tice TO the Territories.
Mr.. BENTON said, as it was general plumber, he
for letting all in. He desplsed the whole SYSTEM
but il it was to be forced on them Missouri would not
be SO sordd seek to increase her share by dimi-
nishing that of others.
Mr. WOODBURY. made some remarks in favor OF
the amendment, and the justice Of admitting the Ter
rtores to their share enable them to build churches
improve their schools, SC.
Mr. PRENTISS was understood TO oppose the
amendment on the ground that the Territories well
as the District were provided for by Congress,