The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-08
IN SENATE,

ell and LAID on The table:
BY MIR LINN From James 3, Edwards and ano-
ther for compensation for printing and binding the
laws OF the Territory OF Iowa. in the years 1889 and
1870
BY Mr.. CHOATE; From citizens of Massachu-
sets
BY Mr. WHITE: From citizens of Covington, In
diana, asking the enactment of general bankrupt
law. '#F
BY Mr. STURGEON From tie Board of Trade
of Philadelphia in favor ofthe establishment OF Ma
tional Bank
Mr. MANGUM, from the Committee on Naval
Affairs, to which had been referred the correspon-
dence In relation 10 the return of the United States
squadron from the Mediterranean, asked to be dis
charged from the further consideration OF the same.
Mr.. M said the Committee had looked carefully
into all the correspondence, and had come To the
dusion that il any action necessary, it deyolyed
properly on the Navy Department. The Committee
thought IT but right TO state that the pursued
by the Minister at the Court of ST. James, there was
nothing in the shape of departure from proprIey.
The very great excitement that pervaded the public
mind in England very naturally led TO the conclusion
that II would be well TO put the squadron on its guard
locked up as It was In narrow For the Minis
ter TO have done more, would have been improper; 10
have done less, would have been delinquency.
Mr. KING expressed the satisfaction he felt that
the Minister had been, exonerated from blame. He
thought that under the peculiar circumstances of the
case any diplomatic agent not having conveyed the
information, would not have done his duty Nor
that would have failed to make the communication, So
that the squadron might be put in position to escape
from the narrow strait, where they might have been
hemmed in 10y superior force. Ii was well known that
the conduct of England was always to strike a deer
slye blow before any animation was given. He hoped
that the Senator from North Carolina would cons ent
to lake the papers back and make awTltten report not
only exonerating the Minister from any blame but
say ng that he had done his duty in conveying the in
formation So much at least was due 10 Justice, as
al pfII bpp hpT NpT m nrl
blamed in certain newspapers, for the part he had
taken. .-' .8
MIR. PRESTON stated that the object he had in
view in ealing for the correspondence in relation To
this business to ascertain the cause of return Of
a portion of that squadron which had savored some,
thing of flight Mr. Stevenson had written To advise
the fleet to leave the Mediterranean One ofthe ships
had returned under circumstances peculiarly delicate
and painful, which had excited both astonshment and
remark by every body at the time The correspon-
dence had spoken for itself and the subject properly
coming under the supervision of the Secretary, ano-
ther officer had been appointed TO take command OF
the ship. With regard TO the interference OF the Mi
mister he agreed with the Senator from Alabama Mr..
king) that il there good reason 10 apprehend an
attack then the Minister behaved correctly in warn
ing the fleet but whether it was a duty when no in
formation in his possession admitted of very great
doubt. From all the facts submitted in the case, there
did appear to have been great excitement IN Lon
don but, standing in the attitude the Minister did
with the means of communication SO frequent and so
certain between the two countries it did scent him
that he had shared literally in the panic which had
been created by the ministerial press OF England On
careful survey Of the whole ground, he not dis
posed TO Judge MI Stevenson hashly lfthat gentle
man thought within the bounds of strong proba
blty, his course in conveying the noim nation was to
be justified He Mr.. p. had never the Minister
assaed in the papers, but on the contrary, his con-
duct had been justified Certainly, he MI. P) had
never passed any direct censure on that officer.
Mr. MANGUM said that he had entertained diff
ferent opinions from OF his friends relation to
this matter. The committee did not mean to express
any opinion but to leave to the Department where
it properly belonged. The committee had considered
1t best to leave the subject where when first
into the Senate. But with regard t. any rebuke
upon the Minister, the committee had good
ground to ccnsure his course. What the precise
ground was which he had botomed the information
they could not very well tell All knew the violent
excitement that had been created from report thrown
from another quarter OF the Capitol and that the Br
fish ministerial prints had openly spoken OF fleet of
sail OF the H. having been mmediaey ordered TO
be fitted out. Ii struck hun, therefore, that to
have warned the fleet would have been an act OF den
quency. The views taken by the committee were
perfectly in accordance with his own, and he hoped
the committee might be discharged
The report was adopted, and the committee dis
charged accordingly
Mr.. LIN moved to take up resolution submitted
by'him on Saturday last in Ration to change of the
hour of meeting OF the Senate, from 10 To A. NJ.
ME- L. SAN ne llhuEh the UOur bi eleven every way
preferable to 10 for the hour Of meeting. 1t better
Tor the health OF Senators and ii would better enable
them to attend to their duties in the committee rooms
and To the business of their constituents at the public
Offices
This was further debated by Messrs. CLAY,
MANGUM, LINN, WALKER, PRESTON, Sc
WEIR, CALHOUN and KING, and then rejected
Yeas - ays3l.
The Senate then proceeded to the consideration OF
the special order being the bill to incorporate the sub
scribers the Fiscal Bank OF the United Slater the
amendment of Mr.. BArARD to the amendment Of Mir.
RivEs pending,
MIR. BERRlEN said as member OF the Select Com.
mtec having concurred in the report from the Com
mee and one Of the representatives of State
deeply interested in this subject, he desirons OF
giving his views very briefly, Under the admonition
from the other side OF the House, remembering that
they who advocated the passage of the bill had
sumed more of the time OF the House than lis oppo
nents lie referred to the excitement that had taken
place in this discussion and expressed his pleasure
IT'S settlement, and now said nothing to prevent the
calm deliberation of II IN future.
The question was presented as one arising between
the friends OF this bill Tue amendment assumed
three things
The first was, that this question Of the constitu
tional power OF Congress incorporate Bank Of the
United States, was an unsettled question, which ag
taies and dsturbs the American people
Second that the mode Of the exercise of this power
which proposed by the amendment, calcu-
lated 10 remove the constitutional sctupes of those
who doubted the power OF Congress on this subject
that il efficient Cor the purpose for which this
bill was instituted for the purpose II constituting
great fiscal and constitutional agent tar the Govern
ment
And third, that II this proposition be adopted, il
would have the effect of alaying the hostility which
er stcd against this nstitutiont would give an agent
equally efficient, while its operations would be more
harmonious and successful, because the opPoron