The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-08-14
Tmeutp=Seoeuth Congress.
FIRST SESSION.
IN SENATE,

.
Mr. TAPPAN presented the proceeding. and reso-
lutions Of meeting Of citizens of Ohio, condemnng
the measures Of Il extra session. ane asserting the
night and duty Of the repeal of the Bank charter al
80, against distribution against national debt, and
setting forth the Inconsistency Of the present. Admins
tration, which came into power with professions Of
economy, and with their opposition 10 gold spoons,
extrayagancc, &c
MIR + made some remarks, declaring the respeca-
bl,y Of the meeting and his full 10 their sen,
ments. He moved that they be laid the table and
printed which agreed 10.
Mr. BUCHANAN presented memorial Of hume
rous merchants OF the city Of Philadelphia remon
stfating against 50 high duty silk and other good.
suggesting the bobr1ety o the course usually taken
an increase OF duty, OF giving suitable notice Of it,
and stating the time of two months notice and longer
time according TO the distance from which the goods
are imported before the act goes into effect.
Mr. CLAY presented a memorial from citizens Of
Philadelphia, manufacturers of chloride Of lime and
bleaching powders, asking an imposition OF duty Of
20 per cent them and that indigo be admitted duty
free
Both which memorials were laid on the table
Mr. SMITH, Of Indiana, said the Senator from
Alabama MIR Clay) had introduced resolution
few days since, with regard TO appointments of clerks
in the General Land Office. He CMr 81 had moved
lay il on the table but now moved TO take II up
He believed il had been modified by an amendment
offered by the Senator from South Carolina (Mr
Preston SO TO call also for the removals and APP
pontmens in the four years from 1929, from 1888 and
from 1897 with the causes therefor, and the salaries
paid,
Mr. CLAY, Of Ala, said he had not accepted the
amendment, although he had suggested modification
Of 1t. While Ire was up, he would ask why the Sc
naor from Indiana bad changed his views on the sub
ject. Had he received information from the Land OF
fee that they could make out a report which would
appear satisfactorily
Mr.. SMl1l III said he had changed no views on this
subject lie had before not been opposed to the in
formation called for in the resolution but doubted the
proprcty Of it. and had raised that question the Sc
nate, AS TO the Senator'S inquiry he would state
that he had received communication from the Land
Office requesting that the call 70; this information
should be made. The Commissioner felt anxious that
this inquiry should be made lie Mr. SMITH would
move al amendment 10 the amendment, which he had
no doubt the Senator from A abama would agree To-
VIZ whether any clerks besides the reguarIist
were employed during the time and it So for
what services, and what amount was paid to each and
to the whole
Mr.. WOODBURY. read from a former report Of
the 'ommlt soner Of the General Land Office show
ing The reasons why the number Of clerks had been
reduced, much extra work having been accomplished
Without further debate the amendment to the
amendment and the original amendment were agreed
to. The resolution was then adopted
DISTRIBUTION AND PRE-EMprIoN BILL.
This bill was then again taken up the question
pending being the amendment offered by Mr. LlNN 10
strike the distribution section Of the bill and insert
provision 10 apply the nett proceeds of the lands per-
mancnty 10 the defence of the country
Mr. LINN continued his remarks OF Yesterday 90.
ing into the dcienceIess condition OF the frontier and
contcndlng that the money derived from the sales OF
the pubic lands should be appropriated for the public
defence
Mr. BENTON followed in a speech Of great lcnuth
in favor Of the amendment declaring that to take The
money from the public lands to distribute among the
state. would he to strip The county OF ITS resources
and add 10 those of foreigners
Mr. WRlGH +, after briefly replying to the con
st,tutinna argument for distribution made nv Mr.
Smith, Of Indiana, directed his remarks to this npor
ant amendment 10 provide the defence of the coun
try lie rlpidiy glanced al s deiencecss condition
at the attempts that were made when the surplus rev
enuc was hand, TO apply it for this purpose con-
tending that this b. far the bcs, application of the
proceeds of the lands that could be now made lie
then advCted more particularly the situation OF his
own Statc-s great commercial emporium and that
of the Union was entirely undcicnded The support
ance of provision for taat, affected not New York
alone, but all the Staes whose commerce centred
there lie then traced the exenJedline Of lake coast
on tho Northern and Northwestern frontiers of TINT
State, on which was the important town of Buffalo
and others within run-shot Of British territory wuh
no means Of defence; and then noticing the present
threatening attitude OF this country and Great Britain
and the immediate excitement in that State
growing out of the Mcleod case he closed with an
appeal the friends of the country to provide for us
defence by appropriation of the proceeds ofthe lands 10
this purpose instead Of giving them as a miserable
pittancc To the States.
Mr. TALLMADGE promptly ellicd TO the false
issue made Ivy his colleague between defence of the
country trm foreign aggres ion and leaving under
Tended. lie would go far as his colleague or an