The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1841-09-07
COngress---Extra Session.
Correspondence oftho Atlas.

sga WAsHrNeroN, August 24,.Is4i4
The new bank bill was sent to the Senate this
and on motion of Mr. Berren, referred TO
a new Special Committee to be appointed by tho
Chair. Before this was done, however, the Locos
endeayored to steal march upon their opponents,
for il having been expected that Mr. Calhoun
wond speak upon the land bill at the opening of
the Session, there rather a slender attendance
on our side. In generous consideration OF this, Mr.
Allen thought proper to move the indcinie post
ponemont OF the bank BILL Blu be fore they ayes d
noes were called, sufficient wing majority drop
ed in, and the motion was rejected, noes "a, ayes
90 IS IL - sr.,sse3.r ~
MIR Calhoun then made long speech against
the land bill, which he said Congress had no right
TO pass, innsmuch as the lands were ceded for the
common benefit of all the States. MIR Archer took
issue with him upon the meaning OF the word tcom
mon,' which Mr. A. commended was used in a disc
tributive and not in federaive sense. But he con
siderered the definition OF that word wholly unims
portant, il used only in the deeds Of cession
from the several States to the confederation while
the Constitution, subsequently made, distinctly
ferred upon the Congress the "power TO dispose of
and TO make all needful rules and regulations res
pecting the territory belonging 10 the UnitedStaes."
He thought the ground taken by the Senator, Who'll
y unenable, and built strong argument in favor
of the expediency of the measure, upon the ground
that taxes should always be raised in the least
pensve well in the least burdensome form.
In both these res poets the revenue from the land
office possessed the greatest advantages, and next
in order stood the duties upon imports, for these
latter were paid by those only w no could afford
indulge less in luxurious Qualifications.
The worst form possible was that of direct taxa
ton, to which the States were for the most part
compelled TO resort. Now 10 the people from
this burden, it was necessary TO reIve the State
gov ernments by giving them the benefit the
lest mode OF taxaton and TO place the expenses of
the general government proportonaby upon the
consumer of important articles. He ridicu!ed the
idea of calling this tax upon the poor farmer,who
in fact received in exchange for the money me paid
into tho treasury, parcel Of land ten fold more
valuable. sf ts39 la f1tta af Hs sts RR'i
In The House, the bill which appropriates $497,
600 to pay the debts of the Post Office depart,
taken up in the Committee OF the Whole, Mr. Evor
cit of Vermont in the Chair, and Mr.. Briggs, Chair.
man Of the Comm ittoe who reported the bill, made
a very clear statement ofthe exgences of the de
partnent and able argument in support of the
bill. He said the government has already Arcceiv'
ed from the Post Office, upwards Of 81 Joe ,000net
profits, so that objections could properly be
made TO the bill on the ground that the office ought
10 support itself-The present head Of the depart
ment had found it in very embarrassed condition
so much so, indeed that he had been unable to
pay its debts, even by the application which he
made ofthe receipts OF the second quarter, (to the
extent of $26O,0 00) to the payment of the arrears
of the first. The public credit had suffered much
and would suffer still more if the bill should fail,
by the inability of the department to fulfill its con
tracts, and the property of many of its creditors
had been attached 81 sold for the want Of that
ey which every acknow edged to be Justly due
them. Many ofthe mail contractors who had re
ceivod the drafts of the Office had been obliged to
sell them to brokers at ruinous discount and ma
ny others were unable to obtain even this scanty
and unjust remuneration. IL had always been deem
ed proper 10 allow the DEPARTMENTS retain a
surplus of so 900 tor contingencies and tho bill
proposed 10 appropriate this sum- not exactly as
surplus fund-for ii would necessarily be expended
at once in the liquidation Of debts.
Mr. Roosevelt of N. Y, was strongly in favor
ofthe bill, as was Mr. Bidlack ALSO who express
ed the highest opinion of The integrity and industry
OF the Chairman who reported the bill-but the
rest or the Locos seemed 10 be now much as ne Y
or, averse to paying the debts oftheir contract
ing tsN9h
Messrs Morgan, SaI,onstai ana Chisenden. a.
.tN ~